My Appreciation In the End of 2010

Dear my fellow readers:

We will end the year of 2010 soon. I even don't feel I have been blogging for almost 5 years. Friends in the cyber world come and go as we have the same thing in the real world. For that case, I would like to show my appreciation to all of you who have spent the time to visit this blog, read it and/or give comments until this time. Your attention is greatly appreciated and I thank you for this.

For the five top EC members who have passion to be Five Top List Visitor, I would like to thank you. Please, keep your enthusiasm shine as a blogger by giving attention to each other through your visits and comments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this Five Top EC members who have showed up as my Top Visitors for this blog. Congratulations for:

The Twitterer
Wishing On A Falling Star
Mariuca's Perfume Gallery
Meow Diaries
Our Little Corners
Most of those I also would like to thank you to everybody who has given great support and attention for Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm has brightly showed its existence because it got many positive responses, reviews and testimonials. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without all of you, Enthusiasm won't be brighter. I also would like to give thank you to all Facebookers who have showed their supports by liking Enthusiasm Saga page. If you haven't made it and would like to support it, please, don't hesitate to join with them together below.

Enthusiasm will have long journey. First, Enthusiasm will be available in Indonesian version around February-March 2011. Second, Enthusiasm will continue for the second book that I'm going to start writing after I finish writing my second novel. May God give me good health so everything will run smoothly.

My next appreciation will go to all family and friends who have given their attention via Facebook, email, blog and especially in the real world. Thank you for any kind of support you have given.

Happy New Year 2011!!!
May this New Year bring newly found prosperity, love, happiness and delight in your life.

See you in 2011 (*)




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Merry Christmas

I found this video when visited Freaky Frugalite's blog and I thought it was good and great to be shared here so I attach it below. Don't forget to turn off the volume of my music box at the bottom of this blog before you play this video below. Thank you for visiting my blog and see you next week.

Best Wishes,


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REFLECTION (4): Two Days Before Christmas

Celebrating Four Years of My Car Accident
Today, December 23, I celebrated the 4th year of my big car accident by posting the pictures of my damage cars below as a reminder for all drivers of any kinds of vehicle they're driving.

Photographs by Grand Sport Auto Body


This is a link if you would like to read its story in English and this is a link if you would like to read it in Indonesian as I wrote an article at KabarIndonesia entitled "Sabuk Pengamanku" (My Safety Belt).

Four years ago I had a car accident. A big trailer truck hit my left car when I turned right in the green light. I just finished turning and would like to straight my car and suddenly "brakkk!!" I had no idea where that truck was coming from because when I did turning, I didn't see any vehicle on other left side and also it was red light for that line. I didn't want to retell again that story but I just would like to remember something that I need to share here.

When I got the report paper from the Police Officer, it didn't mention the truth. They said that after the accident, I didn't know anything (the statement from the Police Officer) and I was driving in other line (the statement from the truck driver).

As the route 30 I went through has speed limit 55 miles/hour. And I knew that truck drove over that limit and went through the red light. I was sure because it was too fast, he could not control his stirring wheels. You can see that damage!!! Even the stupid person would know that damage could not happen for the vehicle that run under 55 miles/hour. My car spinned many times so fast and finally hit the right curb. Thanks God, there wasn't any other vehicle behind me. I could not imagine if its condition was opposite. The police officer was a woman and she just came to me asking my driver license without asking anything.

You can imagine how I felt at that time when reading that report. My body at that time still had many brushes and my head still felt something--not right. Imagining my condition after that accident, in three days I was in pain badly, my head was so heavy and I could not sit or stand directly because it made me dizzy or something I could not describe. I thanked to my car insurance who had responsible for all medical expenses, even gave some money and we used it for buying other second hand car.

My husband and I went to a lawyer but we had to close my case two years later because of some reasons: I didn't show any problem as the result of that accident after two years of that accident, there was no evidence when it was happened, the report put me in the wrong place that mentioned I was driving in the wrong line and I didn't know anything after that accident-- which they weren't true.

When reading that report I really wanted to scream and meet them both--the police officer and the truck driver. I wanted to hear from them why they lied. I wanted to cry but I could not. My heart was really hurt. But something I had to learn at that time, I should forgive them. It wasn't easy for me but I had learned and I could. That made me happier because I was sure God would bless me abundantly by giving them forgiveness. And when I was feeling that, I was sure they both had gotten what they had done to me. God is fair!! I believe that!!

That car accident four years ago was my Christmas present--I thought. I thanked God for that so I would be more carefully when driving everywhere. I thanked God, He had saved me. I thanked God I was still alive and be with my family, especially for my little daughter who still needed me. I thanked God, I got the good service from my car insurance. I thanked God I got other car--bigger car than before. I thanked God I didn't lie. I thanked God I could forgive them.

And also I've learned two things from that accident:

1. What do I thank for in Christmas this year??? Have I prayed to the people who have sent the Christmas card/Christmas wishes to me?? . . .

2. If any of us still have hurt feeling to other family members, friends, coworkers, etc, would we forgive them??? If it seems so hard for us doing it, ask HIM to help us in doing it. He will make us able to do it--and we can celebrate Christmas this year with full of PEACE and JOY. Amen.(*)

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REFLECTION (3): Four Days Before Christmas

I Met A Psychic Person

Yesterday when I was working, a woman passed by. I greeted her as I did to all customers and she replied me. One thing that made me feel little bit different when seeing her eyes. I felt she seemed find something interesting in me. Anyway, I kept working and she just left. But several seconds later, she came back and met me. She asked something that I could not hear it clearly because of her dialect. It was between: "Do you work here?" or "Are you from here?" So, I just answered,"Yes, I work here. Can I help you something?"
And answered her, "Oh, no," then she confessed something about me proudly with her impressive expression, "I just want to say that you have a good energy, you have a good aura."
I was little shock getting unespected compliment by a stranger. I talked to myself, What the heck of this kind of woman told me about myself, even we never met before. I thought she could read what I was thinking, then she looked for something from her pocket and gave me her name card. She said again,"Do you know Psychic Readings?"
"No. I'm not familiar about that," replied me, then I read her name card.
"Oh . . . I can take your energy and read it." Then she lifted her both hands, trying to describe about my own face. "You have a really good aura. I see something good coming on your way." Then she smiled at me.
"Wow! Thank you." I could not say anything. I was very surprised but in my heart I could answer her that she was right. I just knew that day I got approval becoming a full time associate at my work and the new schedule would start on January 1, next month -- that was my first Christmas present and as a present for my New Year. And what else? . . . Oh yeah, next year, my book would also be published in my own country . . . what else??? . . . I didn't know. Something good coming on the way??? Wow . . . Thanks God!!! Amen!!!
"Yeah." She stared at me with her impressive eyes. I felt like she wanted me to believe her that what she had just said was right.
I could not say anything except to thank her.
"Keep that card. If one day you need me, you can call me anytime. Have a good night."
"Have a good night, too and thank you."
She left and I was busy again with my own thought. I was thinking perhaps it could be a trick of her to find a new customer and/or she also said something true about me.

What I had experienced last night, it gave an idea to write something in this post. Probably that was like the shepherds feel when an angle came to them in the middle of the night and sent a good news about baby Jesus who had been born (And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”--Luke 2:9-12). They believed what the angle said and did like he had said. They went to see the baby Jesus.

Well, I believe what she said to me because it was my faith that God would bless me in the upcoming years.

Thank you, God for sending me a good message through a psychic person. Good or not, I believe everything has your own purpose to make me better and better every year and become blessing to other people. Amen!

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REFLECTION (2): Twelve Days Before Christmas

My sister in law sent a video yesterday and I thought it was suitable for the theme I would like to write for my second post of Christmas Reflection. So, below I attach it with its lyric.

What we have learned from this event? Togetherness in singing and the joy they had in the time when they sang that song. It reminded me when I was still in Indonesia. With my Vocal Group, several weeks before Christmas, we were busy practicing to prepare for the Christmas songs we would sing at some places. We got invitations from companies, churches and organizations that celebrated Christmas. Our service was free--no charge--even we spent our own money for transportation. Some of them sometimes gave us an envelope filled with some amount of money that we never asked for. We never counted the energy, time and money we had spent but the joy of giving into the song and togetherness among us were so sweet and impressive.

What we had done was one of the kinds of giving. Giving doesn't mean to be something that we can touch and see. Giving in singing is something that we can listen and sometimes it can touch our heart and bring us closer to our CREATOR.

That was one of the things I liked when Christmas came: the joy of singing together. I believe this video below will bring you the Joy of Having Messiah who has saved our life. Come on, we sing together! Praise to the Lord who has given us His own son to save the world. Hallelujah Hallejuah Hallelujah!!! . . . (don't forget to turn off the volume of my Christmas Song Box at the bottom of this blog before you click "play" to watch this video and listen how the joy when they sang)

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years.

Handel's Messiah (The Hallelujah Chorus) Lyrics


allelujah (Aleluya)

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
(For the lord God omnipotent reigneth)
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
(Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah)
Hallelujah

The kingdom of this world;
is become
the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ
and of His Christ

And He shall reign for ever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords

And he shall reign
And he shall reign
And he shall reign
He shall reign
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever
and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign forever and ever

Forever and ever and ever and ever
(King of kings and lord of lords)

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah




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REFLECTION (1): Two Weeks Before Christmas

Christmas is coming!!! Well, I haven't prepared anything at all. I just found many pictures from Christmas last year. Two of them I attach here. They were taken when I woke up early in the morning and acted like a St. Claus, putting many Christmas presents under the Christmas tree and Christmas stockings. It was fun and my husband took several pictures of me when doing it.

By the way, what's the most special thing to celebrate Christmas for you???

That question makes me thinking. When I was still in Indonesia and when I was still a child, I felt everyday was a feast day. My Grandma was so busy since two weeks before Christmas. She made cookies and many other kinds of cakes and foods. Hmm . . . The night before Christmas, we used to go to church for Christmas Eve service. If not, then in the Christmas morning, we went to church. Since Christmas morning until a week of New Year, her house was full with many guests from neighbors, friends and family/relatives. We all ate what my Grandma had cooked. We also went to other family members to celebrate Christmas, too. There were no Christmas presents. I just got one Christmas present from Sunday school teacher. That was all.

When I was in the teenage age and the youth age, my Grandma was not as strong as before. She got stroke and only her right hand and her right foot were active doing everything, so my aunts, my brother and I who represented her in preparing everything for Christmas. We also didn't prepare many kinds of foods as my Grandma ever did before. I mean there were still many kinds of foods but it wasn't like a feast. And guess what . . . our guests came less, either. Sad. Yes. That's life!! When somebody was in the glorious condition, many people came but when it wasn't, who would come???

We can learn from my own story above, that was why Jesus came to the world in the very simple condition, even it wasn't suitable enough for His Mom to deliver Him as a baby. Do you know why? Because the people who will come to HIM, they have respect in their life to accept HIM as the King of the Kings and the Savior of their life.

Have you accept HIM in your heart???
Remember, HE will come just for every person who is willing open his/her heart for HIM and HE would fill him/her with the water of life.

So what's my answer for that question above?
It was food and guests, but wait . . . I think I still have more. But I will continue my sharing in the next post, so please, stay tuned. Thank you for your patience. ***

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NOVEL ENTHUSIASM: The Youngest Fan

Enthusiasm has the youngest fan. She was more excited than me everytime I had a booksigning event. Even before I prepared everything, she had already prepared first by drawing the sign and small flyers. I still remembered the first time she wrote something for me on the regular paper and wasn't satisfied yet so she made another. She asked me the highlighter and her own small scissor. Then she came back around fifteen minutes later bringing small pieces of cut papers that had been marked with the highlighter. I read each of them: Buy My Mom's Book. What a surprise!!! It touched my heart. I hugged her and was so impressed with what she had done. With big hug I gave her, I said, "Thanks, honey. You're so sweet and so creative."

It wasn't only that. She kept asking me, "Where is my book." She wanted one of mine and I replied that she would get it one day. She also asked when the next my book signing will be. After she got my answer, she told that news to her teacher and friends in her class. See, that's the little kid. She could not hide something that made her excited.

In this post I attach several pictures of her holding my book proudly. One day when she is able to read perfectly and mature enough, I will let her read. She would be so proud of herself that she is one of the characters I've written in my story. I wonder what she would say.

At this time, I'm bringing her to love reading books. She has shown much improvement in her reading skill and I'm so proud of her. She likes drawing and making story with her drawing. I saw this talent since she was two years old. She liked playing with her toys and spoke in her own language and made story with them. Since she has been able to handle the pen, pencil and crayon properly, she started making story with her drawings when she was three years old.

Her Pre-K teacher loved her. She said she was different than other kids in her class. And when she was in Kindergarten class, her teacher said that she was a such good artist and would be an author like her mom. Now she is in the first grade class. Last month I attended a teacher-parents conference and her teacher confessed that she was the best artist in the class. What so proud become her mom hearing that good statement.

Well, talking about the reading skill for the kids, this afternoon I found a good source: Story Time For Me. I will let her try to enjoy reading two free multimedia books during the holiday season this month. You also can make the same like me by clicking this picture below and register as a member, and you will enjoy two free multimedia books and can earn more free books or even buy more books. Check it out and try! You and your kids will love it!

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Thanksgiving Pictures

Sad, I'm sad I have lost many pictures from my digital camera. The pictures I took were since last month when I accompanied my daughter in her school field trip until Thanksgiving. I had lost my pictures of my foods that I took for my projects, too. I predict a half of Thanksgiving pictures were deleted by accidents I even didn't realize it. Next time I should be very careful in treating the buttons. Several pictures I would like to show you are when I gave the autograph for my book in Indonesian and English that my brother in law, Christ, asked, and a picture of him with my book. Well, I think one day when I meet him, I will take some.

Below I attach them in a slideshow. The foods were so delicious, made by Tonny, my brother in law and his wife, Carole. Nothing left on my plate so I could not add more for many kinds of delicious and yummy desserts although I would like to taste them one by one--little bit. My head was also dizzy after drinking a half of glass of white wine. It took two days for my head feeling normal again. It was good for me since I had cough and my body needed a lot of rest.

OK, guys. I should get ready for work now. Enjoy this slideshow and have a nice weekend.

My Son's Friend, A Cystic Fibrosis Survivor from Lung Transplant

Do you have a family member who is suffering because of having Cystic Fibrosis? I do. He is my son from my husband's first marriage. I heard about this disease first time when I met his father, and when we got married, I was getting to know more about it through seaching online and saw his condition directly. He is a very strong young man and I'm so proud of him!!! Why do I confess that? I heard from my husband that he was almost die when he was 14 years old but untill now when he has been 24 years old, God has blessed him and our family abundantly--He is still with us.

Two weeks ago he just came back from hospital after around 14 days living in the hospital, and I heard the doctor had asked him that he should start thinking about lung transplant. When I heard this news from his mom, my heart bounced and I could not hold my tears. And that was worse when I remembered the night before I had lost my wedding ring at work. I felt a bad sign coming in my family. You can imagine how I felt at that time, although he is my step son but he is like my own son. He is a handsome young man, as handsome as his father, smart, wise and mature, and I love him!

This morning I got a message from his mom about one of his friends who has survived from getting lung transplant last year. Her name is Ashley and she is a Cystic Fibrosis survivor who got lung translpant from an athlete's donor, named Paco. Philly.com has published about this news last Tuesday. Here is its link if you're interested to read the story. I also attach a link of a video--Paco's gift to Ashley--so you can see her face and her confession, and feel grateful for a new life she already has had now.

As you know Cystic Fibrosis foundation has a research program and you can participate to be one of contributors there. Also as I ever wrote in several posts in this blog before that everytime you purchase my books, you have contributed to support this foundation. It's not only that, I also make two other contributions to support Cancer Research Program and Unreached Children Program. If you have made it, thank you from the deepest of my heart for your great support. If you haven't, you are able to support this mission through other way by liking the page of The Enthusiasm Saga. As a member of this page, you have shown your support for its marketing field. Probably one day if God permits, I would have a special foundation to support my beloved son. Please, keep your fingers cross for this plan. Thank you so much for having small time to read this post. GBU!!!

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