Christmas Intermezzo

I bought this piece of clothing with long and winding consideration. It's not only for its price (which I found a bit steep for just a piece of blouse) but also for the design of which showing a low neck line (I never had any tops with that low neck line...). And it's like a tradition for myself to buy a new piece of clothing for Christmas mass and I thought this year I deserved something a bit pricey. So I finally decided to buy it.

The process of buying this tops wasn't really smooth either, I had to check on some stores for the availability as not all stores carry all sizes.

Honestly saying, this one is my most expensive tops so far and I was so glad I have it and had planned to wear it on Christmas eve mass.

But that was before I got sick.

When the eve finally came, I really had no intentions of wearing it. I got headache all over my head, dizzy, itchy throat, and my nose can't stop running. It's impossible to wear such a thing with my condition. I didn't even put much effort on my make-up as usual. All I knew was I had to attend the mass, that's all. I didn't care of my clothing... so I ended up wearing the blouse that I bought for my 2005 Christmas eve mass. -.-
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When I went to sleep after the mass, I was thinking of this life; my life... my expensive blouse(which still bnwt - brand new with tag), my tradition of having a new cloth every Christmas, my influenza that keeps me feeling as if I'm carrying heavy load in my head, the upcoming New Year, and lots more.

Then I remember this: "Luxury, something you don't really need and can't do without. (Anonymous).

Maybe I don't really need that blouse, maybe I shouldn't spend that much... maybe...

-o0o-

Update 10 January 2009:
I finally got the chance to wear the blouse! Wore it to Pacific Place, on a get-together weekend with friends. Love it, love my 2008 Christmas tops ~.~

I am home for Christmas... Happy X'mas All!

I got sick since three days ago. I wasn't hospitalized or anything bad, I didn't even go to the doctor since I thought I can get recovered soon after I had enough sleep. Tho' I wasn't completely wrong as I'm still feeling dizzy even when I attended my Christmas' eve mass in my parish but at least I still can go to church with my parents. My last Christmas' eve mass in this parish was like five or six years ago, most of the times I was in Singapore and last year we were all together in Shanghai. I was actually thinking of celebrating Christmas in Bandung with my friends and colleagues but it seemed God had another plan. Hehehehe. I have to be at home.

Christmas is always a wonderful time for my family... it is the time of the year when we all gather together and have some fun. We use to have vacation every Christmas, and maybe this year is the very first Christmas when we just go to church and stay at home. It wasn't because I'm sick or not feeling well but my mother still has to work the next day - she can't get day off this X'mas, and also my brother is running his newly-built restaurant in Puncak this holiday season. So this year is a bit different. The most important thing Christmas is the time for us to be in the comfort of our own home and grateful for what God has given us.

I might be feeling unwell but I do enjoy myself this Christmas holiday... I love this staying home Christmas... I love watching my mother preparing cookies in the jar... I love the way my father cleaning-up the house to welcome the coming of baby Jesus... I love listening to Christmas songs from our sound system... I love having my family around... I love every precious moments with them... and of course I love sending and receiving Christmas greeting text from my new Bold... *big grin*...



Thanks for this wonderful gift, God... I know You've been sending me amazing gifts not only on Christmas time but also every time of the year... Ever since I got back from Singapore, all I can see is Your super-incredible love to me... Thanks for this Christmas... Thanks for sending me home this time of the year...


♪♪♪ I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams ♪♪♪


I am now at home...

Dining together in a big table with my family, sleeping in my very own bed with the hotel-like sheet and duvet, reading and relaxing in the most comfortable couch, counting the fish in the koi pond, laughing out loud with my parents, chatting all night long with my brother...

There is no place like home...

Thank God for my family who makes a home is truly a home.

It's all in the family.

"Have a joyful Christmas, everybody! Let us welcome our new life as we welcome
the coming of baby Jesus in the manger. God bless..."

I welcome myself...

...home.

I'm writing this in Changi Airport waiting for my Lufthansa flight back to Jakarta. I always thought that I had never be ready for this day... the day I have to leave Singapore for good. Residing for three years in this tiny island, some frequent business visits since six years ago, and family vacation since more than a decade ago; I've been enjoying myself too much. So much that now I know what I really really want. 'Tho I finally decided to suspend my study in Theology from February intake to July, that doesn't mean I have no more feeling on going that way... believe me, my energy of serving God and the church has become even greater than before. But I know that deep down in my heart, I probably not ready for doing this very soon. I don't want to start this wonderful journey with my wounded heart... I have to cure myself... I have to purify myself... Therefore I have decided to resign from my job (and this time is for real...) this New Year and start to look for something beyond it. Be it a volunteer job, social work or just attending weekday masses... I just want to do what I want to do. I will still in charge for some important matters at work, but my routine won't be the same anymore. I will also travel again to Singapore couple of times for business trips but that's only for supervising some jobs. So I think next year would be less stress for me. And more time for God as well.

All I can say is that I'm sad to leave Singapore, but in the meantime I'm also looking forward for my moving to Melbourne... and in between of that, I just put my hope in God and let God have a special room in my life for Him to surprise me.


I'm glad I'm coming back home.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...on First of December.


I went around again in Orchard Rd after work. It's a manic monday night so the road wasn't that packed, but my eyes were packed with tears... I'm counting my days to leave this sweet Christmas season in Singapore. Only days to go...

...Oh God, am I doing the right thing?...


♫It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door. ♪





...Oh God, what should I do?...


♫♪It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.♫♪


I wiped the corner my eyes and kept walking... as I turned off my MP3 player and hurried to catch the approaching bus, I promised to myself to stand still and be strong... It's an Advent time and I should be joyful to prepare for the coming of baby Jesus on Christmas day! Yay~ Let's be happy!


♪It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.♪♫♫♪♪♪