LITTLE HELPER FOR NESTING PROJECTS

We have some nesting projects around the house to do during our time off.  Praise the LORD, we not only got a help ... but two, three, ... oh no .. FOUR HELPERS which includes the little helper Maxie.


Maxie was as busy as the adults.  Here are some photos and a video of him during the down time.  Of course when he takes a break, he needs to do what's fun for him ... can you spot what that is from the 3 pictures below???

Akong is prepping the door extension while Maxie is ...

Akong and Uncle Marcel are measuring the door extension while Maxie is ...

Akong is cutting the door extension while Maxie is ...

Thank you, Ci Kiki and Ko Chris, for sending your little helper to our home.  It's always a great joy when he's around.  While he's not helping or doing his favorite thing, he is definitely entertaining us with some story telling or funny comments.  When are you coming again, Maxie?  We miss you already.

MANNY'S JOURNAL: 20 - 24 WEEKS

Dear All,


For now, my name is Manny.  I heard Mamah and Papah will tell me my real name pretty soon.

Anyway, I've been making Mamah's tummy my new home for the past 24 weeks already.  It's still very spacious inside.  I can twist and turn as much as I want.


Papah said that I'm a little soccer player; Mamah said that I'm a little Karate kid; all those name callings are because I like to kick.  Actually, I've been kicking since I was a lot smaller (this video is my proof; fast forward to 3:20 for some of my actions).  But Mamah couldn't feel me till recently.  I could hear her ask me, "Manny, are you still there?  Are you OK?  Can you please kick Mamah to let Mamah know that you're OK?"  I kicked and kicked and kicked.  But she just didn't feel them.


Now that Mamah and Papah can feel my kicks, I always look forward to the tummy time ... the time when Mamah and Papah talk or sing to me; and I respond to them by kicking.  My favorite time is before bed.  I can't really show them if I'm happy or sad yet.  So I tried to kick differently to tell them how I fell.  Like in the morning before Papah goes to work, I would kick softly to tell him that I miss him already.  At night when he comes home, I would kick joyfully and forcefully when I hear his voice.  As to show my food preference, I would rub Mamah's tummy gently and continuously to thank her for the lovely food she's feeding me.  But if she lets me eat something I choose not to eat (ex. = fish sauce), I would either stomp real hard to stop Mamah from eating more or not kick at all when Mamah asked me, "How's the dinner, Manny?"  Hehehe.


I guess, I really AM an active baby.  But you know what?  There were times I tried not to kick Mamah too much.  I heard that Ngiama was sick a few weeks ago and that Mamah was quite worried about her.  Mamah tried to ask Tuaih and Jiih's help to get Ngiama to the right doctor.  But they're all so busy.  I heard Mamah crying when she prayed and talked to Papah.  So I decided to stay quiet inside for two days until I heard Mamah saying, "Manny, are you OK?  Why haven't you been kicking Mamah?  Were you sad when Mamah's sad?  Don't worry, Baby, Mamah's not mad at you.  Mamah just wishes to be in Indo right now."  Hehehe, now that she's feeling better, I'm back to the normal and active me.  :-)

Lately, I've also been able to hear more and more sound from around me.  Ema, Engkong and Encek are here for the holidays.  I'm SOOOOO happy to finally hear their voices so closely.  Normally, I just heard them talking to Mamah and Papah via the G+ Hangout (video conference).  Now that they are here, they actually talk to me too.  Wahooo.


Ohh, how I can't wait for the day when I can see all of them next year.  Talk to you real soon, All!!

CHRISTMAS - GOD'S CURE

Well well well, Merry Christmas, Friends.  As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us be reminded that:

Life is uncertain,

Death is sure;

Sin is the cause,

Christ is the cure.

- Anon -

And a Happy New Year!!!  May this be a blessing!

YOUTUBE ON DIRECTV

I have been a major YouTube fan for many many years as you probably know already.  I love YouTube so much as it offers a lot of varieties for our education and entertainment purposes.  I not only learn stuff (ex. = cook, make-up, etc) but also watch relaxing shows (ex. = Korean Running Man, Family Outing, etc) for FREE on YouTube.  Recently, I introduced Marcel to using YouTube so he can watch his favorite shows (ex. = Detective Conan) on tablet while at the gym because the gym we go to doesn't have a dedicated TV on each machine.


At home, we used to have a 3-month promotional package from DirecTV.  Since we are both busy and not big TV fans anyway, we decided not to continue  the extended package and go with the basic channels.  Of course that means less channels that cater to our like.


Tonight, however, is a great night.  We found out that we can watch YouTube videos on our TV using the DirecTV.  Oh my, this is fantabulous.  Marcel, Mario, and I have been spending our shoulder-to-shoulder time watching Detective Conan and laughing our tummy off on Running Man.


I love spending this time off with my loved ones like this.  If you have DirecTV at home and would like to know more about how to watch YouTube videos from your very own TV, feel free to let me know.  I'd love to share our finding with you.  If not, I hope you have a fabulous rest of the year with your loved ones!!!

SPECIAL PARKING SPOT

Finally!!!  We can now park at the special VIP parking spots HEHEHE.  This is one of the privileges I've been wanting to experience being pregnant AND showing :-).  Not many places offer this kind of spot.  When they do, I do treasure it.  :-)

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (7 of 7)

Here we are in the last post of the Christmas countdown series.  Still not Christmas yet.  But I hope you have started to feel the joy of Christmas already.  Cause everyday is the Lord's day right?


Unto this year's blessing.  As I write this post, I am still unsure of the outcome.  But deep down in my heart, I have a strong conviction that God makes no mistake to bring this circumstance around us this time.  Just like He didn't make mistakes in the years before.


My mom had on-again-off-again fever for several weeks.  The doctors found multiple conditions in my mom with some of them being more concerning than the others:


1) Her liver is swollen and hardening (as hard as an eraser on the pencil tip).  She has been a Hepatitis B carried for the last 15 years.  In order to make sure that this does not grow into Liver Cirrhosis, the doctor performed multiple tests on her.


2) She has pancreatic cysts.  The first time we found out about this was right after my wedding when she suddenly fell sick and had to be admitted to the ER.  The cysts have been benign all along.  However, today just now started to grow more concerned about them.  Hence, additional blood test and sonogram were performed.


3) Her diabetes and protein level are too high.


Once the blood test results come out, my sister and I will need to make a decision whether we have to fly her to Singapore for treatment in January.  Several friends from Church again joined hearts to pray with me and my sisters every day.  Even though I do not know the outcome of my mom's condition as yet, the fact that my sisters want to join in the prayer for mom is already a blessing of its own.  God definitely works in a miraculous way, doesn't He?

This year's Christmas gift: my mom's health condition.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"Our help is in the name of the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth." -- Psalm 124:8

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (6 of 7)

We are only a day away from the countdown series.  But Christmas is still days away.  Christmas oh Christmas ... hurry come.


Anyway, unto 2010.  The doctor found seven bumps in my sister's breasts around Thanksgiving time.  Biopsy was immediately performed.  Some bumps were more concerning than the other.  Again, friends from Church joined hearts together with me and Mom in prayer for the whole process.


After further investigations, treatments and lots of prayer, it was a great news.  None of them was cancerous.  However, my sister would still need to be under cancer watch twice a year.  Not a problem.  We still got to celebrate Christmas with joy and thanksgiving that year.  And the power of prayer still works.


That year's Christmas gift: my sister's healing.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." -- Mark 11:24

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (5 of 7)

We are in 2009 on our countdown to Christmas.


It had been 6.5 years since the last time Marcel and I were able to visit our families in Indonesia.  A lot had changed since our last visit: we graduated; we got engaged; and we got married.


We initially wanted to visit Indonesia sooner in the year so that we could visit Marcel's grandma in Padang.  Her condition did not allow her to come to our wedding.  So we would call her every now and then instead.  But her hearing had greatly reduced in the recent years ... making phone conversation a chore for her.  Earlier that year, she started to get more sick and her eyes could no longer see much.  Due to some scheduling conflicts, Marcel and I could only make it home later that year.  But it was too late.  Ama had passed away.  I never got to see her.


However, our visit was not in vain.  It was still VERY memorable.  We FINALLY got a chance to see the family from both sides and hung out with Marcel's cousins who were literally Marcel's childhood best friends.  Marcel's mom has 16 siblings.  My dad has 9 siblings.  Plus relatives from Marcel's dad and my mom. So it was quite a reunion.  We're glad to finally be able to visit them in person.


That year's Christmas gift: our reunion with both sides of the family.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"We love Him because He first loved us." -- 1 John 4:19

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (4 of 7)

Here we are in 2008.  And the countdown to Christmas continues.


My only brother suddenly fell sick.  The doctors speculated that he was a victim of sorcery since they could not explain the sickness medically.  Long story short, over several months, my brother suffered from broken bone, seizure, to dry-and-split tongue with multiple symptoms and suicide attempt in between.


Several friends from Church set aside time each day to join my mom and I in prayer.  It was not till almost Christmas that he was freed from all those miraculously.  The weird symptoms never returned to date.  And I could only give the credit to the LORD who hears and answers our prayer and took the battle for us.


That year's Christmas gift: my brother's healing.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." -- Matthew 7:7

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (3 of 7)

Let's fast forward to the end of 2007.  Marcel and I got married; but I still had to go back to TX due to my working visa limitation.  Living apart after marriage was not our ideal situation to start the family.  But God had a greater plan and unfinished business that He wanted me to carry on for Him.


During a Small Group, I was challenged to answer, "What do you think is too big for God to do for you?"  I remembered answering, "Saving my dad.  How could God use me to minister to dad if we're far apart?"


Weeks later, my church in TX was hosting a free 3-day conference on The Way of the Master with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron.  After finishing that and getting more equipped, I was so eager to share the Great News with my dad.  I made the call home to find dad being out on a fishing trip.  The call took an amazing yet unexpected detour.


I ended up talking hours with mom.  That very night, my mom accepted her salvation.  It was a great night of celebration.  Even better, God assured me that nothing is too big for Him to solve.  If He cannot bring me home to minister to dad, He will bring the closest one to him ... my mom.  Amazing, isn't it?


That year's Christmas gift: my mom's salvation.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

'Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?'

Then I said, 'Here am I!  Send me." -- Isaiah 6:8

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (2 of 7)

Click here for Christmas blessing in 2005.


To continue with the Christmas count down series, I will now take you to 2006. Marcel and I were engaged and settling down with our first jobs by then.  We decided to host our own wedding the year after.


That's the year we started to experience the life without any financial supports from our parents anymore.  Our savings accounts started from zero again.  We made adjustments with our lifestyle so that we had sufficient supply for daily needs and enough savings to visit each other while still saving for the wedding and some emergency funds. I must say, it was quite a challenge.


We knew with what we have, we could not have a lavish wedding.  We were OK with that since we never dreamt of having one.  Slowly but surely, friends and family reached out to us initiating help in any area they could.


We ended up having a small but VERY memorable wedding.  Some highlights were that our cousin officiated the wedding; my college best friend made my wedding dress; my high school best friend and Marcel's new friends from Church photographed and documented our special day; my wedding shoes were "designed" by my sister and made by her friend; and our wedding rings were "customized" by our mothers.


Our Christmas gift that year was an outpouring love and care from our family and friends.


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 4:19

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (1 of 7)

Christmas has been my top favorite celebration for awhile.  Our family does not do gift exchange for Christmas.  But Christmas has always been the time when our family receives the best and most precious gift every year.


In counting down to Christmas, I would like to share those blessings with you to testify that God STILL works in our lives even to this day.


To start the series, I will bring you back to 2005.


Marcel and I were just weeks away from graduation.  We were both not sure what's ahead of graduation: where would we end up working, which company, in the States or not, would we like the independent life with no support from our parents anymore, would we end up in the same place, etc


But one thing that never occurred to me was, "What would happen if I were to die tonight?  Where would I go?  What would happen with all the thoughts and plans I have after graduation with Marcel?"


At the time, I had been attending a 3-people Small Group for couple weeks already.  One night, the leader Deb challenged us to answer the question.  And that very night, I received the first and greatest Christmas gift: my salvation.


Finally, I was able to say, "Marcel (then boyfriend), thank you for your family who has been really patient with me and being a great testimony for the family I want to have one day in the future.  Now, we are the real family in Christ ... inseparable  :-)  " 


May this be a blessing!  

"Life is good because the Giver of life is good."

"A man's heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps." -- Proverbs 16:9

HUBBY TAG

Since we don't have a door that separates our master bedroom and the bathroom, we normally take advantage of the showering time to fill up our love tank (which is through quality time).  Tonight, as Marcel was taking a shower, I started asking him random questions while sitting on the bed waiting for him to finish.  And here are some of the answers that made laugh so bad and smile from ear to ear because I feel like Marcel really knows me.



Q: What was your first impression when you met me?
A: She makes kid-like voice!!!



Q: What is my favorite type of sandwich?
A: Bread with peanut butter.
(I love peanut butter so much that I named my first car SKIPPY)




Q: If I were to collect anything, what would it be?
A: LOTS OF BABIES
(Is that even legal???)


Q: What would I eat everyday if I could?
A: Peanuts
(Just like Maxie boy ... Like Annie like Maxie)



Q: Who is my closest best friend?
A: Definitely me ... you share the most secret and sensitive stories, ups, and downs ONLY with me

The best friends with the shoes they picked and bought for each other

Q: What is my unique talent?
A: Babysitting
(Maybe because I love acting like a kid sometimes; they are so happy, honest, pure, and care-free)


Q: What's my favorite sports team?
A: It used to be San Antonio Spurs.  But now since I made you watch soccer with me, you like Manchester United.
(Yep, that's my new favorite shoulder-to-shoulder time with him ... anything I can do together with him to fill up our Love Tank in the midst of our busy routines)


Q: It's my birthday, what would you bake for me?
A: We both don't like to eat cake EXCEPT Bertha's Indonesian cheese cake
(That's why we prefer to have Mee-Soah for birthday instead of cake)


Q: What could I spend hours doing?
A: Browsing YouTube
(Yep, I'm a visual person.  I learn from watching instead of reading.  From YouTube, I've learned how to do my make-up, to cook, to sing, to do house cleaning, to do sign language, to speak other languages ... and watched some Korean Variety Shows for entertainment)



Q: When did you know I was the one?
A: When we were in a long distance relationship.  That's when I realized our relationship had stood the test of time and distance.
(Yep, we spent 4.5 years apart out of the 6 years we were together before our marriage)


Anyway, I want to close this post by wishing you the best and most joyous time with your family and friends this Christmas time.

WHY XMAS?

Regardless of where we live, we can't deny that we live in the society that gets busier and busier.  Often we sacrifice the quality over convenience.  Christmas season is no exception either.  


One thing about Christmas culture that still breaks my heart is the use of the term "Xmas."  I used to be guilty of using that term too to replace the word "Christmas."  Until Marcel rebuked me the Christmas before we got married.  I was simply following "other people."  I thought it's cool to use that term.  I was not thinking of offending anybody.  I just did not understand enough at that time.


Starting this Christmas, let's remember why we celebrate CHRISTmas.  Let's honor and appreciate our best and first gift of all.  It is our CHRIST.  Let's stop using "Xmas" because the "X" does not stand for "CHRIST" but "cross" like in "PED XING."


May you all experience the true joy of Christmas in your heart this year!!!

CRAVING: STEAMED MEATBALL AND TOFU

"Baso tahu kukus" a.k.a Indonesian steamed meatball and tofu.  When still in Sukabumi, I used to have this every Sunday after Sunday School class.  The whole portion would cost me only one thousand rupiah or $0.10.  So cheap.


These days, I have the luxury to go to an Indonesian Church in my area where there are lots of aunties who can cook traditional Indonesian food to satisfy my cravings while being far far away from home.


This past weekend, Tante Sri made me this Baso Tahu with peanut sauce because she knows how much I love this thing.  It had tofu, potato, egg, cabbage, and bitter squash ... all stuffed with meatball mixture AND steamed.  Then I added Bango sweet soy sauce, Belibis chili paste and fried shallots on top before eating.  Nom nom lunch for sure!!!!

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of pregnancy that I can enjoy food without feeling guilty.  Thank you for the blessing of food that nourishes Manny and my bodies.  Thank you for the blessing of aunties and friends who care for us and celebrate this pregnancy with us.

SLANT

A few nights ago, Marcel was talking to Manny.  He put his face really close to my tummy.  All of the sudden he cracked up and said, "Eh .. mulai bodong."  (English: Eh, it starts to flatten).


I didn't know what Marcel was referring to.  Then he explained how my belly button has started to widen and flatten due to Manny's growth.


So he took a picture of my flattening belly button and commented, "Which one is more flat?  My slant eye or your belly button?"  The picture gave us a great laugh.  Even Manny joined us in the joy by kicking vigorously.

May this turn your frown upside down too.

CRAVING: INDONESIAN FRUIT SALAD

Here's another pregnancy craving that hit Marcel and I recently.  :-)  This time, both of us craved for the same food ... "Rujak Cocol."  Rujak can mean salad.  In our case, it's a fruit salad.  Cocol means to dip because the sauce is not meant to be poured over the salad.  So all in all, Rujak Cocol means something like fruit salad with a spicy brown sugar and vinegar dipping sauce.  :-)


We did not make this because we are blessed to have a Sundanese aunty at Church (Tante Sri) who is really good at making this.  In it, she put mango and jicama (for me) AND apple and pear (for Marcel).  I still have leftover sauce.  So I think I am going to add the Pomelo (jeruk bali) that I just bought yesterday hehehe.

Hmmmm, it's so nom nom nom.  I love embracing my pregnancy craving.  Our Manny loves this Rujak Cocol too.  He kept asking for more ... even before bed time last night.

MANNY'S KICKS

Dear Manny,


Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 9:43PM


Mamah was lying on the bed, rubbing my tummy, and talking to you about the great time we would have in that next few days because we were going to Maui to celebrate Papah's project launch.  I also asked you to eat more during the vacation because you had not been eating much.  Your response was a popcorn's-pop-feel-alike kick.  That was the first time I felt your move.  My response: tears of joy.



Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 6:35PM


We were on the way out of the airport after picking up Ema and Engkong.  That's your first time hearing their voices in real life.  You normally heard them from G+ Hangout.  You must had recognized their voices and were excited to be with them for the holidays.  Your response was LOTS of swimming-fish-feel-alike movements and still popcorn's-pop-feel-alike kick.  You moved and kicked non-stop for a good half an hour of excitement.  My response: tears of joy.



Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 6:38PM


We were watching a recorded singing contest X Factor while waiting for Papah.  The singers were dancing and singing to the theme ... Michael Jackson.  I guessed you enjoyed it because I could feel you move and kick throughout the show.  Then I rubbed my tummy to tell you that soon we would go and pick up Papah at the shuttle station.  Your response: a strong Michael-Jackson-feel-alike kick.  That was the first time I could feel your kick from the outside of my tummy.  My response: tears of joy.


Those kicks felt AMAZING!!!  If only I can put those tears in a bottle.  :-)  I now appreciate mothers' tears of joy more and more.  Thank you, Lord, for this son.

"[God] ... Put[s] my tears into [His] bottle ..." Psalm 56:8