Gift

On my way to Costco yesterday, while driving, I listened to K-love. And something struck me. It says that did you ever give a gift to someone but you did not hear anything back from them? Maybe the package never arrived to their house, or maybe they forgot to say a simple gesture of saying thanks, and so on. What did you feel?

In the same way, God always give us his gift.. everyday.. the gift of today, the gift to be able to breathe, the gift of having family, the gift of having a job.. and many more.... Have you given thanks to God today?

Sometimes everyday is just a routine.. most of the time, nothing happens. The day is just a usual day. It seems there's nothing to thank God about for anything good that happens to us. But, we can see life that God has given today in a more positive view. We can thank God by saying.. thank God, nothing bad has happened to us today!

Okonomiyaki

Ever since we came back from Japan, especially Osaka, Richard and I always 'ngidam' okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake). When we were at osaka, we always ate more than 1 okonomiyaki everyday, and when we were going to Kyoto/Hakone and Tokyo from Osaka, we always bought 3 of it to our shinkansen train. Back in the US, we want to try to make it on our own because there's no okonomiyaki place that sells it as to our knowledge. Maybe there is one in Japan town SF, but it's so far away.

This is street okonomiyaki from Osaka for JPY 300..it's a delish!! yummy yummy..

So we began to research the ingredients and sauce needed to make okonomiyaki. It's pretty simple actually, and healthy. I used 1/2 cabbage, tempura batter, egg, bacon, bonito flakes, seaweed powder, mayonaise and okonomiyaki sauce. Although the result was not as good as the one in Osaka (duhhh.... Osaka is the heart for okonomiyaki and takoyaki), but overall, it tastes delicious!

This is our okonomiyaki :)

First Cooking

A couple of weeks ago, I cooked this soup for my husband for the first time(of course I have been cooking for him before, but this is the first one as a married couple!) :) We want to try to live a healthy life so we thought eating more soupy soup will be good since we don't use oil and frying --> less fat and cholesterol. A lesson learnt from my experience eating in one of Chinese restaurants in Indo is to put bacon in your soup. So I tried it.. and it adds more flavor to the soup.. and it smellsss bacon!! i like bacon, so i love it a lot.

Nothing fancy about this soup. I boiled chicken bones for several hours to get the stock, add some onion, carrots, daikon and napa, and some seasonings (salt, pepper and sugar). This soup is perfect for winter season!!

Our Wedding Day - 19 December 2009

Finally, I have the time to blog our wedding day :)

Presenting:

The day started at 5AM to make up. Usually, the bride could not sleep well the night before, but I think I slept quite well. hehehehe... I wasn't sure about Richard but he told me that he woke up at 3? Hmm.... it should be the reverse actually... hahahaha... anyway, my make up took about 2 hours at King (King has their own salon called velvet salon). Halfway the makeup period, the photographers and videographers came and took pictures of me. To be honest, I felt kind of uneasy because they focused on me... So uncomfortable... But of course, to have that documented, I have no choice but smile all the time.. hehehe....

Then the staff helped me put on my complicated wedding dress.. it had many many buttons on the back, and sometimes, it was invisible button. Now the bride is ready to go home and to be picked up by my handsome groom at my house.
Of course before my groom's arrival, I posed for pictures using my wedding gown at my room. And teng teng teng... the groom finally came!! I was facing backward when he approached me.. and he tapped my back.... I turned around... and I saw my soon-to-be husband in a few hours! As part of my tradition, we ate misoa with red quail egg. I think it is the symbol of long life and happiness? hehe..

Off we go to the hotel for our ceremony in the morning.

Because we still have plenty of time, we took some pictures in the hotel. It's christmas time, so the hotel lobby was very nice with big christmas trees and decoration and lights. The ceremony room was nicely decorated.. I didn't expect it to be that nice.. But it did... Woww.... I was touched, mixed of emotions. I walked the aisle with my dad.. thinking that I will have my own family now. We heard the message from the Pastor, laughed at the humor and learnt valuable lesson. Next, it was time to vow and exchange rings. We made promised to each other, to be faithful til the end. When Richard was putting my ring on my finger, he said some things like a rhyme poem. Ohhh so romantic!! hehehhee... Thank you darling.. it melts my heart! We then expressed our gratitute to our parents.

Then it's lunch time, I didn't get to it much because it was teh pai's time at the same time. thank you dear families for the ang pow.. hehehehe Probably it was 2pm when we took outdoor pictures with the bestmen (Alex and Edward) and bridesmaids (Lily and Ana). Not forgetting my lovely brother Denny as the second photographer who always followed me wherever I go to take my pics. hehehhee.... We had fun posing some pics.

As for the reception, my husband and I walked through the grand entrance with guests clapping their hands wishing a happy new life together. Richard gave the welcoming and thank you speech to all guests. And we made our way for cake cutting and champagne pouring. The most 'fun' part for the reception was shaking the over 1000 guests' hands and thanking them. Haha.. My teeth was dried out already coz of too much smiling.. Hehehehehhe... But that's ok.. it was family's guests and our friends. The night would not be complete without the newlywed's first dance. We danced, accompanied by "The Gift" song by Jim Brickman. Last of all, taking pictures as usual! :)

That day was the best day in my life, a life-changing day as I will start a new journey with Richard and create our new family. We pray that God will use our marriage to be a blessing for others and we will put God, Jesus Christ as the center of our marriage.

Just a side note, Today is January 19, 2010. We survive 1 month of marriage life!! All I can say is I am so blessed and happy!! How exciting to walk this journey with you.. I love you :)

Wedding Celebration in San Jose

First of all, I apologize for writing the wedding celebration in the US first rather the real wedding itself in Indonesia. Hehehehehe.. Anyway last saturday, Jan 16, 2010 (4 weeks exactly after my wedding), we had a small celebration with friends in Sunnyvale, CA. I thank my friends, especially my bible study members: Vicky, Ci Santi, Ci Irene, Ci Linda and Petz... and ex-BS member: Yanny, who helped me so much in making this event a success! Thanks sisters!! And of course, not forgetting, Bertha who put so much effort and time in making the cute and beautiful 3-tiered wedding cake, and San2, who again, captured the moments.

Yay!! We are finally an item ^^

The cute little 3-tier cake.. See more info here
My beloved sisters in Christ plus my beloved hubbyThere was not much activities for this celebration actually, because the most important thing was I want to show our wedding summary slideshow for dear friends who missed it. Other than that, there was cake cutting, eating, singing by dear BS sisters, taking pictures and mingling :) The decor was simple yet elegant. Another credit to Ci Irene, as always. I wanted it to be blue and silver since Richard likes blue so much. And it's winter now. So the theme was kind of winter wonderland. Thanks to decoration team who put everything together in only 1 hour. As for the food, we catered from Bay Leaf Indonesian food. Nyummmmmmm.....

All of us

Once again, we want to thank all of you for your prayer and support and making a difference in our life.

Another Sweet Surprise from Deloitte

When I came back to richard's house (well, our house now) after honeymoon, I received a package from Deloitte. It turns out to be a multi purpose laptop bag. Hehehehed

Happy New Year 2010

Yes, we are married now.. Stay tuned as I will update more on our wedding and honeymoon :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!! May God's grace and blessing overflow us in this new year.

One Week

One week before the wedding, I am sick! I had sore throat, cold and fever. However, I am thankful to God because I am sick one week before, and hopefully, not during the wedding itself. (Usually if I am sick now, it will be weeks to be sick again).

Wedding stuffs are almost done.. Yay! I have printed photos to be shown on the photo gallery at the wedding, and framed them. Actually at least now the only thing that is still pending is the music songs for the grand entrance and family entrance, final fitting for wedding gown, meeting with the Pastor to have pre-marital counseling... I think that's it. But I know usually something came out at the last minute.

Next week, at this time, at this moment, I have walked through the grand entrance for the reception. I am actually nervous too. Anyway, I will post some updates later.

In Jakarta

Hi all..

I am in Jakarta now.. have been here for 3 days since saturday night.. I am still jetlag and tired.. but of course excited for my wedding. I still my exam on hand now :( but I am so lazy to do it here in Jakarta.. already holiday mood.. But anyway, these past few days, I have been fitting for my wedding dress (thank God it still fits!), finalizing photos and compiling them for video clips, searching for good wedding songs, having a technical meeting with the hotel staff and vendors, food testing. I am pretty exhausted because first of all I just got back here and I don't have time to rest. I am still waking up at 5AM or less!

It's already December 8.. Very soon.. I'll be Mrs. Bye bye jombloness!!

December is here!

We are finally at the last month of 2009. The time has gone quickly and it's 19 more days before I officially change my status :)
I have been so busy.. packing and packing, printing the ceremony programs, buying things, going to the retreat, black friday shopping and the most stressful was doing my exams :(

I'll be flying back to Indo via Japan for a day transit and will arrive in Jakarta on Saturday.