POEM: I'm Available in Indonesian Version

I'm honored getting an invitation to read a poem for Indonesian Christian Festival for Literature and Art (SaPa Kristiani), December 2020-March 2021. I chose my poem entitled I'm Available that I wrote on Dec 31, 2015 and translated in Indonesian on Dec 22, 2020.



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Merry Christmas! About 1 minute ago from web

Christmas Presents from Me

This year I already gave Christmas presents earlier to my husband and my youngest daughter. I brought them to see Christmas Show: The First Noel at American Music Theater (AMT) in Lancaster, PA on Friday, Dec 14, 2018. After the show, I brought them to have dinner at Cracker Barrel located across the street of AMT. Perfect gifts this year for them. We had a good time together and everybody was happy. Probably I will bring the rest of family members next year if they want to join us. Merry Christmas everyone!

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Thanksgiving in Christmas

 

 

This is a late post too due of my health. After having heart palpitations, now I'm dealing with my allergy and cough. I feel better now, just need more rest. Doctor said, "No caffeine, consume less sugar, and have more rest!" Since then, I stopped drinking coffee and any tea contains caffeine. I'm not a sugar person, so I'm not worry about this stuff. What I need to do is having more rest time. I used to sleep 3-5 hours a day since I had another new job. I had to cut my online activity including my writing project so I could have more rest time at least 6-8 hours/day. My coworker said I looked better than before. My health is very important, so I keep my eye on for how long I have been sleeping every day.

Next year which it will be next several hours, I'll be busier. Online writing classes will be ready soon including the defense language classes. I have to organize my time tightly. Be patient if you send me any message via social media or email, probably I will reply it lately, but don't worry, I'll reply all your emails. 

Now, let's talk about Christmas! Christmas this year I cooked turkey including its stuffing and its gravy, mashed potatoes, creamy baked green beans, creamy mushrooms, and bunt cake for lunch. Meanwhile for breakfast, I made croissant filled with my caramelized pineapple and chicken-kale sausage. It seemed we had Thanksgiving menu in Christmas day. That's cool, isn't it? Next Christmas will be Indonesian menu! So excited!

It was 170 degree Fahrenheit. It needed more 10 degree F. 

Christmas Lunch was set up by Chef Fida Abbott, hohoho!!!

Merry-Merry Christmas! Posing first before enjoying foods.

Let's eat!

Eating and watching TV.

 

As usually every year I become a Mrs. St. Claus, and as usually Mrs. St. Claus also gets Christmas presents from St. Clause family members. So, what Mrs. St. Clause got in Christmas this year? 

Spiced mug mat from one of her best friends.

Scarf and nail polish from her youngest daughter.

Chimes of Earth from her "sister".

Frame and wood bowl with batik motif from her young-adult daughters

Spathiphyllum from her young-adult son.

And 8" Android Tablet from Mr. St. Claus.

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Planning to continue my book project as I'm feeling better now but I have to go to sleep soon. Tomorrow is the right time. about 1 minute ago from web

What Do You Like About Christmas?

Christmas 2016

When I was in Indonesia, Christmas was the busy season for me and the Vocal Groups I joined. We got invitations to sing in Christmas services: churches, companies, offices, etc. As I moved to USA, it became different. I didn't sing anymore but finally I became St. Claus Lady for my family. Isn't it fun?!

I really enjoy being a St. Claus. As I love giving, St. Claus is a perfect match of character I can be. Although without any St. Claus outfit, but the spirit of giving is insight into me. 

Other things that I like about Christmas is togetherness. In this special time I would love to serve the best cook for my family. I tried to cook different menus every year although several members of family expect me to cook Nasi Soto Ayam. My daughters Mimi and Ariel asked this if I would make Nasi Soto Ayam for Christmas but I told them I didn't have ingredients and would make it next time. I hope they weren't sad.

Speaking about Christmas menu, I had been searching it. As I have many recipes books, I took a look several of them. After reviewing, finally I made a list.
* Christmas Eve: Louisiana crab dip with crackers, cookies and French stuff; Mocha eggnog or hot cocoa.
* Christmas Breakfast: Homemade sage sausage patties; pancake or praline French toast; creamy
   strawberry breeze and milk.
* Christmas Lunch: Mango chutney chicken curry or Moroccan chicken; Spinach spirals with mushroom sauce; Holiday hominy or Swiss scalloped potatoes; Honey whole wheat pan rolls or savory biscuits; rice; cranberry orange punch and Crystal Light.
* Christmas Dessert: Blackforest cake or cheesecake; French vanilla cream puffs or brown sugar cashew fudge.

I will ask my family to vote if they want to. If not, it's OK. I will decide which one I would like to make.

So . . . what do you like about Christmas? Meanwhile you might be thinking about this, take a look below some pictures from 2013: making cookies for Christmas.

My little daughter helped me making Nastar Cookies

Nastar Cookies (Indonesian cookies with caramelized pineapple filling

Homemade cookies by Fida and Ariel Abbott (Christmas 2013)

                                                                             ***
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You might be interested to participate in this special offering from Abbottsbooks.com: Take Two Benefits in One Action! about 1 minute ago from web

Let's Celebrate the Joy of Giving!

Yesterday was my big day.  I cleaned up the living room and dinning room, installed Christmas tree, created a new corner table from two unused furniture. In the night I went online and applied more jobs. No wonder if I slept very well last night. When I woke up because of the ring of the alarm from my cell phone, I was dreaming.  This morning I also finished cleaning up my office. Now it looks neat and I really enjoy working in there after many weeks I had no time to make it cozy to work. Updating my blog is the next activity. I was glad this afternoon I had a chance to launch my daughter's new blog for her art collection.  It had been in my list since last year but I had no time to begin.
Well, Christmas will be coming soon next week.  Special time to give.  Have we had in mind what we are going to give to those in need? Yes, I have had. First thing that came in my mind was a man whom I used to meet standing on the street at Route 30 selling newspaper at the traffic light across the Rhode Avenue.  I had told my husband since several months ago I was going to give Christmas present to him.  My heart had been touched and told me I should do something to him.  At work, for the first time, I took a paper note hanging on the Christmas tree at the associates room.  I picked one of Christmas gift for a 3 years old boy that needs clothes.   

Christmas this year, it reminded me about my father who passed away several days before Christmas last year. I had lost my brother and my father at the same year in just three months. This Christmas will be the second Christmas without them. Two poinsettias we had ordered to donate for the church altar as our special thoughts of them in Christmas this year instead of not being able to visit their graves in my hometown, Indonesia. One day when God permits, we will go to visit with peace and grateful feeling, and spend a lot of time with relatives and friends.
What we are focus right now is the career of my husband and finding other second better job for me.  He went home this afternoon and told me of going to be promoted as a Department Manager.  One step left to make sure he must do the next job with department he is handling. I said, as long as he showed them his best effort,  he will get that position because he has the ability to manage. 
And what about with Christmas preparation?  As I have finished decorating my home, I still have more lists to do: Christmas shopping and baking while waiting my order of Indonesian stuff come this week from Asia Hom.
I will come back to update this blog next year. I will be very busy during this holiday season from Christmas, finishing two MOOC classes (Wharton and Taylor's University), preparing registration for new classes for Indonesian Online Writing Course, to applying more jobs. 
Ups, one more thing. Check this link out if you are interested to support my book, Enthusiasm, for a cause. It will end on January 2nd 2014.  All revenue of this book from the retail price made within that period will be donated to support the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in Philippine.
And to all of my fellow readers who will celebrate Christmas this year, please be joyful to accept my special e-Christmas card below:

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Getting ready to drive my daughter to celebrate Christmas with her GS Troop.
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CELEBRATING OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY (Part 9): Be Merry!

My heart was very devastated since my late brother and father passed away in two months.  My stress hasn't gone yet 100%. It will take the longer time for me to be released.  The children attendance during my difficult time was very helpful, especially they were with me watching the service via SKYPE from the beginning until the end before they brought my father's body to Keputih cemetery on Saturday night at 11 PM (Sunday afternoon at 11.00 WIB in Indonesia).   

Many thanks to all family members/relatives and all friends who have expressed their sympathy and sent their deepest condolence.  I felt not alone and your attention and words have comforted me.

From my Indonesian publisher, YKBK, Jakarta.

From YLSA, Solo, Jateng.

In this special time I also thank all for nice e-cards, cards and photo/picture of Christmas greetings sent to me and my family.  If I missed to send the reply, please, accept my apologize since my brain sometimes can't compromise during this stress time.  But life is on and it keeps on and on, so I have to stand up and continue my journey with the strength from Him.  (Although we have planned to visit Indonesia in summer 2014 and won't see my late father and brother physically, at least we can visit and see their places where they are resting in peace now)

And we wish you all A Merry Christmas and A Prosperous New Year--a splendid year filled with abundance joy, happiness, the best of health and wealth, all-wishes-granted and a special good vibe following your business and family.

 

Yes, be merry!  That was what I would like to bring and feel together when celebrating our 10th Anniversary.  But you may believe or not, in deep of my heart had a voice that something would happen.  It would be the opposite of "be merry".  Then I found out after my late brother passed away, that time was the beginning period he started feeling sick.  (I felt devastated right now when writing this).  If I knew it, I would call him but ... I even didn't follow my heart until he passed away, I even didn't cal him at all--till I got the message from facebook mentioned he had passed away (so fast--I even didn't get any message/know if he had been sick).  I felt my world turned upside down, I was shaken and didn't know what I was doing to do except I wanted to scream loudly and fly like eagle to Indonesia and was able to wake him up from death.....

 

Yes, be merry!  Now those words sing in my head all the time.  It reminds me they are in the happy place right now where there is no pain and sickness.  

Yes, be merry!  It was I hope when the Christmas came.  Yes, I was, because I had my whole family members with me at that time from Christmas eve till Christmas afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Yes, be merry . . . because of the blessing and the strength from HIM, we had celebrated our 10th Anniversary in the simple way and very memorable.(*) 

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