Merry Christmas!

This Christmas, we didn't manage to go out of the country. So the hubs decided to do a staycation instead. We checked into the Hyatt Yogyakarta and boy! The children were so excited! It's always a joy to see them happy like that, not because it's a 5-star property. But because they know there's gonna be a pool, good food and great fun. So while we're enjoying ourselves, we wish you a Merry Christmas with many blessings for the year ahead!

Giving & Receiving

The first day I brought Dallen to school, I spoke almost zero bahasa Indonesia and kept to myself. This woman came up to me and welcomed me into the mothers' midst and made sure I felt comfortable. But actually, me being me, I felt most comfortable being left alone so I didn't have to make small talk and could just read my book. But I appreciated her kindness and came out of my shell. Thereafter, it was one act of kindness after another from her.

When I was pregnant with Dayen, I was ordered bedrest and that made things very difficult cos we were alone here and I had to take care of Dallen. She turned up at my house, unannounced with her maid, and said she'll loan me her maid till I passed the first trimester and the pregnancy stabilized. She will continue to pay her maid's wages and I just needed to provide for her meals. This is coming from someone who's husband is extremely frugal and wore torn singlet. Not that they couldn't afford to spend, but her husband doesn't believe in unnecessary spending. After I gave birth, she gave me daily rides home and offered help at every juncture.

So now that Christmas is almost upon us, I thought we'll give her a new experience and take her family out for dinner at a nice restaurant that I know she wouldn't go to cos it's too expensive.

It turned out to be a wonderful night. The boys had lots of fun and indeed, she tried food she has never eaten her whole life and I know she'll be thankful for the experience. Cos while she likes to experience new things, she submits to her husband and when he says no, she resigned herself to his decision and left it as that. So I'm glad I gave her a gift her husband refused to give her.

My Baby Turns 1

Dayen turned 1 yesterday. It's been a tiring and challenging year and I look forward to a better year ahead as he gains more independence and learn more things.

Happy birthday, my darling child. You have been a very strong boy, from conception till now. You have never given up on life and this is something I can learn from you. I love you, my precious.