New Year 2009

Hello.... Happy New Year 09 to everybody!

I have nothing to post, so I post the pictures of our brunch yesterday for NY lazy day. We walked to IHOP which is 2 blocks from our apartment. It was cold but we're prepared this time. We walked back to the apartment and just did nothing basically, wathing Monk marathon and playing sudoku together. Took a short nap and then we're hungry again, so I made indomie soup for us... What a precious lazy day... I love it....




Steve's food: Egg Benedict + Hash Browns

My food: Spinach&Mushroom Omelet + a cup of fruit

Here I come......

Finally.... !

Everything is beautiful in God's timing. Yes! I am really going to see my family in Indonesia. This is like my dream come true, the answer of my prayers.

I'll try to update my blog if I can find an internet cafe there. OK I hope you all have a good one....

Our little Trips

Sorry for not updating the blog. I was occupied with many things, but I had lots lots of fun these days. Thank you Jesus for your blessings everyday in my life and for all my family and friends who made my life so beautiful.

Last week May 18, we had the opportunity to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. We went to Williamsburg VA and spent the night there. Williamsburg is a colonial town that you can get to know American history.

We left fairly early on saturday morning, drove about 3 hours and we got there around noon, checked in hotel, and we walked to downtown to have a nice lunch where we can sit outside (Steve always wants to sit outside wherever we go). We walked back to the hotel and took a nap, our favorite thing to do together LOL...

In the evening we dressed up and went to Collonial Inn to have a special dinner. Steve wore a tie and suit, I wore a dress because in this restaurant, you have to dress like that or they will rent you one LOL. I had duck breast, and it's so good, so tender and melt in my mouth. Steve had a plate full of seafood. Steve told the waiter that we're celebrating our anniversary, and after that, she brought us a surprise for our dessert, everyone knows what this is, so lovely.

Then, Sunday May 25, since we had a holiday on Monday, Steve wanted to spend time out of town again.

He said, we're cruising babe.... yeepee...thank God we really enjoy spending time together and exploring new places, driving or by foot. My husband knows many things, he is also my personal GPS. One thing I like about my husband, when I think he drove in the wrong way, he never turned around, or asked direction (no way! so girly), he just kept going, and said we'll get there and thank God that Steve discovered our universe is round not flat. What a fun trip I always have with my husband.

So this time he wanted to go to Charlotsville, VA to see ThomasJefferson house. We left in early evening after the church, and for two hours driving, we got there and had dinner at downtown. We sat outside and had several appetizers and beers.

The next day we had breakfast at the downtown, we really enjoyed spending time there. Then we went to Monticello, the house of Thomas Jefferson. Beautiful house and garden. After that we went back to downtown and had lunch there, drinking beers again.... when the day is hot like that, the iced cold beer just what we need. We drove home by passing by the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Mountain, the view was amazing. We got home late, but I was hungry for Indonesian food. So I made Indomie for both of us... hmmm so delicious.

Thanks baby for the wonderful trips, many many years to come, and I love you so much.

Netty's Baby's Shower

Ike, Netty, Yuyun, me, Eny and Yaty

We're preparing for the tumpeng
Tumpeng Komplit
All Photos courtesy by Yaty Yasir

When Indonesian girls get together, you know what happens, its always so much fun, great food, great laughs. We can't do this so often tho, because we all live apart. Our friend Netty is expecting her first baby, so Eny and I made her a surprised baby's shower. Not everybody could make it because it was a holiday weekend, but the party must go on, and yes, was successful, there are things I forgot to do or to take, but not a big deal. I got a panic attack when I fried the perkedel, they exploded successfully. We indeed had a blast time. My emotion was undescribeable, I could laugh and cry at the same time. The house filled with our loud voices, laughs, sometimes screams. Eat so much foods. We gathered together all the food to make tumpeng komplit. Netty, the mom to be, made us lontong sayur. So much foods, rujak, talam ubi, es buah selasih from Yaty, just perfect meals for everybody.

Thanks to Netty& Jim for your unexpected welcome to us, Eny+Tom, Yaty+David, Fetty+Bob, Ike, Yuyun, and kids.... love you all, and hope to see you again pretty soon....

I am officially a cake lady

My first decorated cake

I'm so proud of myself. Seriously if you're not a baker, decorating a cake could cause many problems such as severe headached, twisted your back bones or carpal tunnel syndrome. I came to work the other day with my hand still sore. After 4 weeks taking for course 1, finally last night I got my diploma. Steve couldn't believe when I brought home this cake that I and Lucy made it and because it's so beautiful, he refused to cut it.
I am glad that I can proudly pronounce myself as a cake lady.

So I want to take this opportunity to thanks many people:

1. Steve, my husband: Thank you for paying this course for me.
You are my inspiration and such a supportive husband and I know that you want me to spread my wings and do what I really love to do which are baking and cooking. Eventhough you are not a sweettooth person but I want to thank you so much that you, since the day we got married to be my guinea pig.

2. Ibu, My mother: I dedicated this whole baking ideas and work for you because you are my teacher and the first person who introduce me to baking and cooking world.

3. Sonia, my Wilton teacher: I was so fortunate to have you taught our class. Thank you for being such talented person and so patience specially to me and Lucy eventhough we're always behind and slow learner. You are so nice to us and I think you should have punished Lucy for not bringing her cake last night but you didn't. We hope to have your class again in the future.

4. Lucy, my partner in crime: Too much to say about you, but we better stop talking too much and get to work on our "Big Project", wedding cake business as our dream.

Me and my partner in crime

Me and Sonia my teacher

Selamat Jalan Sahabatku

Pagi ini aku dikagetkan dgn sms dari mbak Tini, yg aku nggak tau maksudnya, trus dia telpon aku, sambil nangis kalau teman kita tercinta, Endang Powers udah nggak ada. Aku kaget banget, wong lagi nyetir ke kantor, sampe nggak konsen.

Aku nyesel banget, langsung kayaknya aku salah besar, soalnya gini. Minggu lalu Endang telpon aku, tapi aku lagi di ruang doa, trus dia left message, katanya minta aku balik telpon karena mau doa bareng. Suaranya bagus banget nggak kayak waktu itu dia di rumah sakit, so aku seneng dia pasti sudah sembuh. Aku nggak sempet mbales telponnya krn ada aja kesibukanku untuk gereja atau rumah. Selalu tiap aku angkat telpon mau telpon dia ada aja halangannya. Tapi aku tetap berdoa sendiri secara khusus, hampir tiap hari. Waktu weekend aku sempet belanja buat dia, aku beliin baju tidur dan slippers. Baru sempet kemaren siang aku kirim paketnya beserta surat kecilku dan aku buatin dia handmade pembatas buku 2 biji dgn ayat2 kesembuhan. Terus sekitar jam 4 sore aku telpon dia di rumah tapi nggak ada yg angkat dan nggak bisa left message. Aku pikir dia lagi bobok siang. Memang ternyata dia sedang bobok, mau dipanggil Tuhan. Tiga jam kemudian dia dipanggil ke pangkuan Tuhan.

http://johnendang.multiply.com/

Tuhan, aku mohon pengampunan atas kesalahanku yg tidak sempat membalas telponnya. Saya percaya Tuhan mengasihi Endang dan Tuhan punya rencana yg sangat agung melalui kehidupan dan kematiannya. Sampaikan salam rinduku buat sahabatku Endang, sampaikan permintaan maafku.

Jeng Endang, cintamu selalu akan ada di hatiku dalam hidupku, kamu memberiku banyak berkat melalui perjuanganmu melawan cancer. Bahkan kamu beri aku semangat dan kekuatan waktu aku harus menjalani operasi. Aku bersyukur diberi Tuhan kesempatan untuk mengenalmu, walau belum pernah bertemu muka, hanya melalui suara di telepon. Tuhan memang ajaib, dan aku yakin kamu sekarang ada di alam yg ajaib yg kita semua belum pernah melihatnya. Kamu sudah bertemu dengan penciptamu, bahkan ada di pangkuanNya. Sekarang kamu bisa melihat Kemuliaan yang nyata, hidup kekal bersama Tuhan Yesus.

Selamat jalan sahabatku...

I missed you terribly...

Weekend Blogging

Lunch: Lamb Gyros as my "after the gym meal"

Steve b-day dinner: Flank steak, shrimp fajita, baby back rib, grilled chicken, mashed potato and corn on the cob from Austin Grill.

Bench it like Beckham

Can't say this anymore, coz he was really playing last nite, not sitting on the bench. Not that I'm a huge fan of beckham until last nite I saw him in person. First of all I want you to know that I was dissapointed to myself not to buy tickets long time ago. When I knew the tickets were sold out, I realized how big this game gonna be. I wanted to get this for Steve b-day's present. Some people held tickets to resell with crazy prices I didn't want to spend that kind of money to see this guy. The lowest offer was at least double price than normal. So I put an ad in craigslist like this:

Help me...help me... 2 tickets needed for DC United vs Galaxy on Aug 9. I'm looking for someone with a good heart to sell their tickets to me with a fair price. I know there is a good person out there willing to help me with a birthday surprise. Please contact me.

No body replied to my ad, so I had to post again and again with different words, and until the 4th ad someone email me and wanted to sell those tix with the price affordable, still not cheap though. Short story, I set up appointement to meet the guy/girl. I was praying that that was not a scam and the person was not a serial killer or something like that so meeting at a public place is the smart choice. So, I met her, yes thank God it was a girl and nice. I got the tickets in hand and after I got home I wrapped it and gave it to Steve and told him was his early b-day present. He opened it and he was surprised of of he saw. He was so excited and jumped around. Gals, when you see that kind of moment it was really priceless, and I thank God, I didn't waste the money to pay.

The next day, he took me to a soccer store to buy soccer's jersey. He wanted to wear DC United and he was shock that I told him I wanted to wear number 23, and I couldn't change my mind. Then he made rules that I cannot cheer for that blonde guy and his team, I can only cheer for our home town team. Yeah yeah yeah....

At the game...

The stadium was full and all seat were filled with 47,ooo people. I never saw a game like this where almost all eyes were watching to one guy. Whatever he did, people clapped for him. Yes, include me, and I missed seeing the only goal DC made, then Steve told me twice, "you have to pay attention to the game!!!! you'll see when he's in the field playing. People got crazier when he got up from the bench and warming up coz that's a chance he's about to play. And when he took off his outer jersey, I was screaming with all Beckham fans, and Steve asked me," what are you cheering for?" coz that's nothing going on the game, and I was screaming. LOL.

He finnaly got in the field and played for 20 minutes, whew what a record. Steve thanked me for getting the tickets and he had a good game, but I really...really had a blast time! DC beat Galaxy 1-0, but who cares?

Honey, I didn't see beckham...

What a reap off! $23 meal for fish$chips and brisket sandwich.

That's the blonde guy

My Weekend

Girls nite out on my mother in law 85th b-day dinner

This is what I had, tenderloin steak and arugula with parmesan cheese

Girls at Indonesian Independence day's bazaar.

Me, Iya, Nuke, Hessy and Ike

All You Can Eat

I didn't cook this weekend, instead I went out with Lucy and Liza and hit a buffet restaurant called Tysons. We spent about 3 hours there until we all full and cannot stand of any foods anymore, then we left the place.

It's a new restaurant around here, and we always want to try. Not that I'm a big fan of buffet restaurant, coz I usually got sick after eating a buffet's food, either I overate or the MSG in the food, but I was just there too on Friday for lunch with my colleagues. LOL.....

Can you believe that most of Indonesian people I know here love eating at a buffet restaurant, for family party or anything and specially on ramadhan month, yes... the places were like Indonesian's meeting joint there. We had been invited so many times, so Steve asked me, why do Indonesian people eat so much? *note: Steve only took one plate for main dish and one plate for desserts, that's it! and for me at least 3 plates of main dish, a bowl of soup, a plate of fruits, a plate of desserts and ice cream... all unlimited......

I guess it's not that we eat a lot, we just love to have lots of many many variation to choose as we can go back to the table as many many times we want, unlimited food you name it, clams, crabs, sushi and DIMSUM (heavens)....whatever...and any drinks you want, all under one price, $7.95 for lunch, and weekend $11.95 whoopeee.....

You know, I think it's all about FREEDOM. Yes, freedom of choice and freedom of eating!

Well, these are few photo of my plates, not include the soup, desserts and fruits....coz my friends kept asking me why I took picture of all my food. ..hmmm gals...don't you ever heard about a blog?

Arizona

I, steve, his mom, Denny, Missy went to visit Richard&Mirriam family in Phoenix, AZ for a week. Yes, what a crowd and I cannot explain or describe in the right words of the trip. Just couple of words maybe, the view was amazing, and the food were incredibly delicious. We were also invited by the Hamlin for an unforgetable luncheon. Imelda cooked tons of foods and desserts that's hard to forget for a long time. She also invited Wulan, kevin, Henny, Tari, Asri and Rachel. Most of them had to drive long hours to meet us. What a wonderful people we met specially the host, Imelda dan Dirk. They are very friendly, kindness and generous. We cannot thank you enough for the warmest welcome when we were in your place.

Richard, Miriam, Itzy and Richie, thank you so much for the hospitality during our stays. Miriam and I had a wonderful time together, thank you for taking me to places and I hope I brought you a little peace in your heart, if you know what I mean.

Friends, my love is always with you all wherever we are, and I'm hoping to see you again there or here in DC. See you....!

My New Hair

Snow Day at work

Not many people showed up at work and only the "dedicated" employees are here, don't feel like doing work, just sitting back and dicussing about the wheather. What a tipical snow days in America. Good thing my boss is in the other part of the universe.

I'm not an alien

Not much to say, i'm no longer an alien in this country. After 11 years dealing with "you know who", today I feel like I have won the battle, yup..that's why I got the flag! It was a beautiful ceremony, Steve and my mom in law were with me. I was glad I had the wheelchair today becoz it's a big building. But... elevator was out of order! so Steve had to carry me on the stairs, long stairs. After ceremony, we went back to town and had lunch at Bartucci. I ordered Linguini Primavera to be my first meal as an american, and ate em all, nothing left, yes I overate, just try to fit american way of eating...hahaha. The pictures above are not great, I just want to have them for the proof. This is a blessing from the Lord, He has granted me more power and freedom to live in this country. God bless America.

Walking with God

I called this is my journey with God. I hope nobody is like me, wait for long to make decision. Starting with pain in my abdomen in a specific area, I went to see a gynecologist, found out that I had what it called uterine fibroid http://www.myuterinefibroids.com/do.php?gclid=CKXajc7Qs4kCFRZXFQodP3uSUA , and I should have it removed. What? surgery? Nightmare. No way! I don’t like needle. I have tried everything to avoid surgery such as no meat diet and all kind of traditional medicines.

Nothing worked, and I began losing my hope. In that point I have to find a way to be healed. I didn’t know how. So I start watching Praise the Lord on www.tbn.org . I found lots of hope from the songs and worship which Jesus is the Greatest Healer. So I prayed and accepted Jesus to be my Lord and savior. I made a commitment with God that on New Year 2006 I want to make a further step; I want to go to this church http://www.ibcchurch.cc .

Every single day is a new day with God, He changed me so much, and He wants to restore every part in me.

My life has changed, I love people more than before. I am blessed with many things in my life, lots of love from friends and family, specially my husband, Steve who has never a single time complained about my health condition and did not leave me because of this sickness I was unable to have a baby. And I know that is only the Love from God can do that. My faith began to grow and with His power I surrender all to Him and I went to the doctor and accepted to have a healing process. My fear of needle and surgery did not go away, I walked to the doctor office like walking in a death row. But I have to make the step, I want to be healed, and with all prayers and scriptures, I did that first step. The rest, here I am, back in home and ALIVE!

God gave me a miracle. Yes, the miracle to be walking with Him, which everything is possible in Him, and I can do all things through Him who strengthen me. The surgery is a miracle for me, I was afraid of it so much, and I passed the test. It’s so over. I have to always remember that I never face any problem by myself, the Holy Spirit is with me, I am surrounded by many angels, and God the Father are always wacthing me from Heaven. Thank you Jesus, you made me new.

Many thanks to:

• Steve, you are always a sweetheart to me, thanks for all your loves, all you do and being with me in this situation. Just look at the bright side, you can get to play nurse with me *wink wink*. You are my sunshine, I love you very much.

• All my family in Indonesia and US, specially my mother who went thru the same problem like me in the past. Bapak, Mas Tegar, mbak Vivien, mas Unggun, and Entong. Kay (my mom) for everything, Denny, Diane, all the Doyles for your loves.

• Mbak Anna family for praying for me everyday

• All my friends from Bethany Washington DC church who have been praying and supporting me the whole time. With you, I feel I have extended new family, and that is true. Thanks for visiting me in the hospital.

• Yuyun and Ike for your the special prayer and spending time with me a day before the surgery.

• Also thanks for Lucy, Lee, Liza, Larry for taking your time to visit me.

• Jeng Endang Power www.johnendang.multiply.com for everything. I have learnt so much from you, because you have gone through this before me. You told me that surgery is not as bad as we thought, and that comforted me. I love you, sayang.

• All my friends from www.indousacouples.com who prayed for me. Thanks for being my friends.

• Dr. Marvin Rosenblatt, all paramedics, and nurses. You all are my angels from God.

I know words cannot express the way I really thank you for everything you have done for me but I can pray that God will bless your kindness with multiple blessing in your life

Lunch box

This is one of my choice to eat only when I'm really..really...really hungry. Maxim supermarket at Rockville. The food is OK, but the quantity..oh boy, you can feed 3 football players with this. It's a lunch box for $4.50, you'll get lots of rice plus 3 kind of dishes, and all in large quantity. I always got this combination, rice, beef in brown sauce, spicy tofu and green mustard.

all you can eat

Today, I got a really a nice treat from Ike, she bought me lunch at Fortune Star, a buffet restaurant. She took me there to treat me for my birthday gift ( I know..I know.. enough story about my birthday, I won't mention any birthday no more...). So there we were, two hungry little girl like us eating at a buffet restaurant like there's no tomorrow. Thanks Ike for the lunch and a special card you made for me. These pictures showing my plates only.

can't buy me with flowers, my dear...

Sorry that I have to post something related to my birthday, but I feel that I want to share this. Steve forgot my birthday....... fine.... and I didn't want to make a big deal so eventhough I felt blue on the day of my birthday I tried to chill out. I kept saying to myself, its okay..its okay..cos I've got my birthday present early this week. And he noticed that, and asked me more than once why I was so quiet, he thought I was sick. I just dont want to tell him "TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY" like announcement, you know. And then finally he found it out when I gave him my b-day cake, and he asked me, your birthday is tomorrow, right? .... I was asking to myself, ok, do I tell him or just let it be history of my life.....but I couldn't resist so... here it goooo...I said, yes it is today (tried to be flat without emotions)..... boom!! he was shocked and almost cried that he could swear he thought was the next day. Then I knew that he really forgot the date, cos he planned to have special dinner with me. But I had to comfort him since he kept blaming on himself and I told him that I was fine and I wasn't mad at all. So last night, we got in home after dinner with my mother in law at Jaleo, he bought me flowers and a beatiful winter hat, scarf and gloves, all in REDDDD. I really love the color, sweetie.....and thanks for the lovely note, next year, keep forgeting my birthday again, it'll cost you an arm and a leg.

my birthday is today

Yes, it is today, my special day, the BIG DAY! I got in the office today, and there was a big breakfast served on my desk. Two over easy eggs, bacon, potato hashbrown, toasts, and a bagel with cream cheese on the side! Who else did that if not Larry, the carrot dude. I walked to his office and gave him a pumpkin pie I made last night, but he was on the phone (as always to pretend that he's doing something). Back to my room and ate all the energy I'd need for today, then Larry came by and ....OMG...another surprise! A birthday cake, everyone! And is not Larry if he doesn't do silly things. Eventhough he want to be nice and do a special thing for me, he always pull out a joke. He made the baker wrote Happy "40th" crossed out!!! wow..I'm not there yet, ladies and gentlemen, chill out....
It took me a while to decide whether I want to cut it or not since I just ate those humungus breakfast. Then, ok, I want to blow the candles and have a piece, and yes, I want to have a real birthday. So here is the proof that today is my special day, MY BIRTHDAY.