Unforgettable Childhood Memories

Day 25 and I am still here for #BPN30daychallenge2018
How about you, gals?
I hope we will finish it with flying colors!

This time, I will talk about unforgettable childhood memories.
Some are sweet, some are not.
But for sure it's unforgettable.
I actually have so many unforgettable memories when I was a kid.
But I'm just going to write three of them, as I still have the photos from those events after I posted them on Facebook.
Well, I do have more but most of them are in my mom's house back home.

Being raised as the oldest in the family, my brothers and I spent so much time together in Lampung, our hometown.
My beautiful hometown!
As we spent most of our childhood in our family house, many of those early childhood memories took place there.

And because of that, I miss my dad so much! 
May he rest in peace, al-fatihah.
I'm daddy's little girl indeed.
And I remember vividly his smile, his laughter, his voice, his energy.
He had this natural way of making things merrier and more fun.
Istirahat yang tenant yaaa Pah, we all love you so much.

Now...back to those unforgettable childhood memories!
Let's check out what I have on the list!

Breaking my hand on my 5th birthday

me on the far right, with ribbons on my hair

Seriously, this is what happened when I was celebrating my 5th birthday.
I was just a tiny kindergarten kid when my parents invited our family and friends to come to the birthday party in my grandparents' house.
And you know what caused all this fiasco?
My new shoes!
Thanks to the newly renovated pave way and the new shoes, it was proven to be a recipe for disaster when you combine it with a 5-year-old girl who ran around like crazy.

I remember going to the hospital and being slightly sedated when they took care of me. 
I went home with gypsum on my left hand and some signatures, birthday greetings and smiley faces written on it. Surely something you won't easily forget, right.

Going to Dunia Fantasi when I was in elementary school

Dunia Fantasi!
Impian semua anak kecil di jamannya. Arena bermain dan theme park paling hits yang masih tetap ngetop sampai sekarang.

The first time ever I came to a theme park and my jaws dropped!
I was dumbfounded looking at all those cool rides, singing statues, and giant Bekantan, huge monkey, performing a serenade. I can say it was one of the best day of my life!

I was 10 at that time, on the 4nd grade of elementary school.
I remember I was wearing a white-and-blue ensemble (latest model at that time) and we all came completely with my parents, my brothers and our caretaker.
I think I had one album full of those photos and Gajah Bledug was inaugurated as my favorite ride. I don't know how many times I have been coming back here again but for sure, I won't forget my first time!

Happily joining the Parade on Kartini Day

This is one event I won't forget because I keep the photos and my friends and family keep asking about my partner in that parade!
Plus I look exactly like my kids, particularly Obi.

cheers :)

I was wearing baju Bodo from Manado, North Sulawesi, complete with big traditional necklace and earrings and huge red rose corsage. My mom dressed my and I love it!
Now you see why I always remember that day!

So those are some of my unforgettable childhood memories.
I still have tons of stories but let's start with these three.
What's your childhood memories now?
Anything interesting you want to share?

Unaccomplished Goals - End of the Year Notes

How many times you think that life is so unfair?
All the time?
Or rarely?

I have might say all the time some times ago, but now I have made peace with myself and try to be grateful for every single thing I enjoy up to this moment. I remember how ambitious I was when I was younger. So full of energy, so self confident. Yet time teaches me to slow down, pause a bit, enjoy the beauty of life while I can.

Now it is December already.
In less than 20 days we will be welcoming the new year.
2019 is waiting and I just can't wait.
So many new thing and new places that I would explore with my family.
So many exciting new plans have been made and kids get super excited as well.

But before we step into the new beginning, let's take a moment to see some of our unfinished business.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Apparently, I still have a long list of unaccomplished goals but I'll take my time to finish them. What are they? let's take a look.

Umroh and/or hajj - Pergi umroh atau ibadah haji

Umroh and Hajj are two things I have not done.
Plans were made but again some things come up and we haven't really done it.It is still in the pipeline and wish us luck, so that we can eventually realize it.
Ngga papa ya kalau aku berkali-kali menulis umroh dan/atau naik haji sebagai salah satu hal yang belum tercapai atau hal yang menjadi sesalan karena belum aku lakukan sampai sekarang?
Harapannya kalau doa ini disebut berkali-kali insya Allah akan terkabulkan ya.
Aamiin YRA.

Losing weight - Pengen kurus

Waktu nulis ini, aku tuh senyum-senyum sendiri.
Tepatnya mentertawakan diri sendiri.
Sibuk pengen kurus tapi I haven't really done a lot for that and I keep eating here and there. Aku harap Aku punya semangat dan energy untuk kurus di tahun mendatang, tanpa aral melintang. Terkadang aku membatin bisa ngga sih kurus because I have been plump like this since I was a kid. Yang penting sehat ya..dan kayaknya kalau ngga gemuk pasti bisa lebih sehat lagi. Ayo Indah, semangat.

Writing My Book - Menulis Buku

I have joined some collaborative writing and printed some books with my stories on it. But I haven't really written my own book. Maybe one day I can finally get a change to do , when things get quieter. 

Sebenarnya ide untuk menulis buku sudah baanvak, tinggal menuliskan semua ide itu. Bahkan saya juga ingin menerbitkan buku yang berisi foto-foto Perjalanan yang oku dapat. Plus aneka cerita di belakang layar selama bertugas. Aaah uda kebayang seru.

Learning how to sew - Belajar menjahit

I have been wanting to learn how to sew for a loooong time.
My hubby does it much, much better than I do.
I guess it won't take that long s long as I concentrate, right.

Cita-cita biar bisa menjahit memang terasa sederhana sekali tapi aku asli udah pengen banget bisa menjahit. Kebayang seru kalau segala baju dan jaket tenunku bisa aku sendiri yang jahit. Bisa ngga ya? Pasti bisa kalau serius!


Well, although the assignment is asking for 5 things, but 4 is a good number.
So, do you review your year as well?
Tell me the things you haven't accomplished and let's compare our notes.

Living with No Regrets

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way...


I was listening to Frank Sinatra’s famous song, My Way, on my way back to Jakarta.
It was raining. And I took the train to take me back home.

One sentence from the song strikes me here
About regrets. 

And just like Frank, I’ve had a few as well.

When I read the question for the next #BPN30dayChallenge2018 abot things that I regret now, I take some times to ponder.

Can we live with no regrets?

Knowing that we have tried to do our outmost in this life?

Thinking that we can not have it all?

Convinced that our path of life has been written as is?

Bicara penyesalan, saya kok jadi langsung termenung.

Di antara semua kegembiraan dan keriaan hati, terselip rasa sesal karena beberapa hal yang belum tercapai.

Belum saya lakukan tepatnya.

Entah itu karena belum sempat, belum ada waktu, belum rezeki, atau entah alasan 'belum' apa lagi.

Beberapa ada yang belum saya lakukan karena saya kerap menundanya.

Nanti, nanti, nanti.

Besok, besok, besok.

Dan kita tidak pernah tau umur, rezeki dan kesempatan yang diberikan oleh-Nya kepada kita.

Kalau sudah begini, penyesalan memang datang terlambat.
My mind suddenly remembers all those things that I procrastinate.
Well, one of the my bad habits is procrastinating.
I am not always a procrastinator, but there are times when I haven't tried hard enough to realise all those pending issues.

First, I haven’t done Umroh and/or Hajj. 

Saya belum sempat juga menjadi tamu Allah dan mengunjungi Baitullah.

Padahal cita-cita sudah ada sejak penempatan pertama saya ke Swiss tanin 2007 - 2011. Rencana kala itu adalah umrah sekembali dari penempatan di Jenewa, Swiss. Apa daya kami pulang membawa Obi yang waktu itu berusia hampir 6 bulan. Sebenarnya bisa aja umroh membawa bayi tapi Udi mengingatkan bahwa kondisi bayi yang memerlukan perhatian khusus malah membuat kita tidak bisa konsentrasi dan berpotensi mengganggu orang lain juga. Akhirnya kami ngga jadi umroh. 

Kemudian saat di NYC, saya dan Udi sudah berniat untuk haji jika memungkinkan, atau at least umroh. Namun Allah memang punya rencana lain. 2 tahun pertama saya di NYC diisi dengan proses pengobatan kanker payudara yang saya derita. Menjelang kembali ke tanah air, rencana berubah karena saya diperpanjang dan anak-anak plus Udi kembali lebih awal karena mengejar sekolah. Kami pun berkonsentrasi pada pemberesan biaya cicilan dan renovasi rumah. Padahal kami berniat naik haji dari luar Negeri arena antriannya tidak selama mika mendaftar dari Indonesia yang kuotanya selalu penuh.

Kalau sudah begini, saya dan Suami suka membatin kalau ini yang namanya belum rezeki. Ada aja penghalangnya. Tapi saya yakin, Allah SWT punya rencana terbaik untuk kita semua. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...semoga kami bisa segera menjadi tamu-Nya dan menjejakkan kaki di tanah suci.

Second, I haven’t seriously looked for an oncologist in Indonesia.

This is bad! And I really need to find one ASAP. Well, I have been in touch with a few hospitals but somehow I haven't found the one that I like. And the bad thing is, I haven't looked for more seriously. My hubby and my family keep reminding me but somehow, I was either stuck with the works or I have to go out of town. Well, here's me being a procrastinator. And now that I remember my priority again, I will look for it ASAP! With me luck!

Aku masih punya beberapa 'penyesalan' yang rasanya masih bisa segera ditindaklanjuti sebelum benar-benar terlambat.

Doakan Aku yaaa.

Kalau kalian ada penyesalan apa yang massiv dirasakan sampai saat ini?

Share ya di kolom komentar.

Full-time of Part-time Blogger? You Decide

"Bang, can you read what’s written on my t-shirt? Obi asked her big brother.
“My mom is a blogger. Why, dek?” Responded Bo, my son.
“I though mama is a diploma... , aren’t you, Ma? Obi smiled at me as she said that.
“Well, what do you think, kiddos? What do you want me to be?” I teasingly answered their question with question.
“I think you are both.. like working as a diplomat at the office then blogging from home, right, ma?” Bo tactfully answered my question.

Well, this is not the first time my kids ask about my job.
And they got 2 answers
A diplomat and a blogger.
Sounds cool, right?

Now, which one is your real job?
Can I be both? 

I haven't really thought of the answer to that question as my kids haven't bombarded me with that one. 
But what intrigued me is that whether I want to be a full-time blogger or a part-time one.

Full-time of Part-time Blogger? You Decide!

Let's see what I have in mind about that question from #BPN30dayChallenge2018.

When I declared myself as a blogger, back in 2013 (or even before that), I never thought life will be so much different afterwards.
Starting it as my digital digital diary and photo albums, my blog has taken me to places and events I never imagined begore, meeting cool people along the way.
I get to learn so many new things from bloggers from every corner of the globe.
My horizon is widening and my knowledge is far deepening.
In short, blogging is so much fun!

But I love my job as well!
Being a diplomat is also fun!
It's not always a rose-colored glasses experience and frankly speaking, there are tons of tears, sweat, heartburn (literally) and pain along the way.
You might have seen us traveling around to different parts of the world, meeting people of all walks of life and visiting awesome places.
But behind all those wonderful achievement, smiley faces and cool pose, we must go through endless meeting, tough negotiations, sleepless night, early morning phone calls , tremendous pressure and airport trip in the middle of winter, just to name a few.
Nevertheless, seeing our national flag proudly stand along with others and knowing that you have contributed, no matter small, to the betterment of your people and other citizens in this world surely make you feel good.  
That, my friend, is half work and more like dedication, as my hubby put it.
And for that, I have to dedicate my time, my energy, my attention, and my heart of my work. 

So, back to the question again.
Full-time of Part-time Blogger? 

I guess I have to go with the part-time one considering the priorities and time management I have. I have to be realistic as well. As much as I want to be a full-time blogger, I know I still have to wait. It's not fair to sacrifice my hard-earned job as this point. At least not for now. 

But hey .. I have to say that blogging is way beyond a hobby, as I DO dedicate some time and energy to it. And even though I am not a full-time blogger, that doesn't mean I don't blog wholeheartedly. I pour my heart out when I blog. Well, not all the time, but most of the time I take it seriously. Because I love my blog and I want people to love it as well.

So, then perhaps, it's not about the question of being a full-time blogger or a part-time one. More importantly is how serious you are in blogging. How much you love your blog and what you are willing to sacrifice for your blog.

Full-time of Part-time Blogger? You Decide!

How about you?

Which one are you?

Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World and Oh My Heartsie Girls

Time for holiday!

December is running on high gear!

Second week is gone and the counting down begins, I guess.

Many of my friends will soon celebrate Christmas and we will have a break as well!

As for the Frakarsas, we just celebrated Obi's and my hubby's birthday, as well as our anniversary. Soon We will celebrate Bo's birthday as well! Such a festive month!

I am still finishing the last part of my works in 2018 and serieoualy, I have tons of them waiting in libe. I might have to travel around a bit but not too far and not too long.

I really need a break.

So does my family and my kids ;)

So, while enjoying the holiday vibe, why don’t we join this week’s link part and get those fabulous tips and tricks, recipes, home design, gift guides and more here on #OMHGWW 

Cheers and happy holiday!

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