Wet Christmas + Letter Update

I worked on Christmas eve and after that we went to get MIL and then we went to the graveyard. The temperature was still below zero that day (but not too cold), so Winter Wonderland was still intact. We lit some candles in front of FIL's graves and MIL brought some leaves to decorate it. Here are some pictures taken in the new cemetery and the old cemetery. There were lots of people and there were already so many candles everywhere. 

 

Christmas Day was really wet. Until today the temperature has been above 0'C, so it's been really slippery and wet out there. What a weird end of the year! So much of the snow has melted away and it gets SO dark outside. If the weather prediction is right, the temperature will be below zero again only after New Year. We shall see about that. This is my first time experiencing December like this (including some watery rain). Usually at this time of the year there's at least as much snow as in the photos above.

Anyway, I had a funny story from work. I had an evening shift on 23rd and before work started, I had told myself to remember saying "Hyvää Joulua" (Merry Christmas) at the end of each transaction. OK, so everything went well for a few hours until one time I was serving a guy and after that I said, "Kiitos (thank you)" but instead of saying Merry Christmas, I said "Hyvää viikonloppua" (Have a good weekend) instead. Yep, I managed to wish someone a good weekend on a MONDAY!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Well, at least my mistake managed to make the guy and the customer behind him smile. LOL LOL!!! 

Anyway, I had fun again tricking hubby with the Christmas gift. This time I wrapped one of the gifts three times with some wrapping paper (it wasn't a big gift, so I didn't have to use too much paper) and then I wrapped it with some bubble wrap and then I put it inside a bigger box along with the other gift and then I wrapped it with some wrapping paper again. Watching him struggle to be able to see what was inside the gift was WORTH IT! WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! :-D :-D :-D

In this post I'd also like to say that I've finally written down the letter for my mom. It was bittersweet to write. I ended up writing a 4-page MS Word document (plus one paragraph on the 5th page with font size 12 Times New Roman). I know it's going to be overwhelming for her to read, but I want her to know what we've been through because I hope that she'll take comfort in the knowledge that God has healed our bleeding wounds and dried them up and He has used our pains to comfort others in a similar situation. So PRAISE THE LORD for our infertility!!! 

I haven't heard anything from my mom yet, but I know she needs time to digest everything and calm herself down (bro said that she was crying after reading the letter). Bro helped me explain to her what kind of support I needed from her - bless him! I've sent her a text to let her know that she's appreciated and loved. I hated the fact that I had to send the letter (I thought about it for weeks before finally writing it down), but I feel that it's important for us both that she knows how far we've come. I want her to be released from the burden of thinking and praying for our miracle pregnancy, because that's not what we want anymore. We've buried that dream and I want her to do the same. I want her to be happy for our little family.

RIP My Friend

I'd like to light a virtual candle for a friend of mine who passed a way due to asthma a few days ago. She was a close friend of mine in elementary school, though after that we went our separate ways. It was really shocking to hear about her passing because I never knew she had asthma. Another friend in FB wrote about her passing and I was really shocked because it all happened so quickly. And I heard that she'd been preparing for her wedding this year. Can't imagine how the groom-to-be must feel...ugh...



glitter-graphics.com
I remember that she and I used to write letters to each other when we got separated into different classrooms in fourth grade. Her aunt and my Mom used to pick us up from school, so we would ask them to give the letters back and forth. I don't remember anymore what we "talked about" in the letters, but I don't think this practice lasted very long.

In sixth grade we were finally in the same class again and we used to join in with another girl if there were any group tasks we had to do. Unfortunately we went to different schools after that, so we kinda lost contact with each other. We met again somewhere along the line, though the last time was probably a few years before I moved to Finland (so already a decade ago or so). A few years ago when I visited my hometown and organized a small gathering with my ex elementary school friends, she couldn't come because the date coincided with her brother's wedding and she had to help out, so she couldn't come. Just a few days prior to hearing about her passing, I was determined that the next time I visited Indo again, I just HAD to meet her. Well...not a chance now, unless after God calls me back home, too. 

But anyway, rest in peace, dear Devianne...may the Lord comfort all the bereaved... 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. - Psalm 34:18 

Inappropriate Gratefulness

The other day a friend shared with me about this topic. She has been having problems having a child and she had at least one miscarriage in the past. She's been married for over 4 years. When she told another friend about her gyno's diagnosis, this woman (who's had 2 healthy kids) suddenly burst out, "Oh, I'm SO lucky that I didn't have to experience any morning sickness, bleeding, or miscarriage both times I was pregnant. Now I feel that God loves me SO much!"

Yep...you can imagine what my friend felt when she heard that outburst of gratitude. Of course it was logical for the woman to feel that way, but still it was really inappropriate to say those words, don't you think so?

When a person is hurting and needing comfort and sympathy, that person doesn't need more "knives" stabbing her already painful wounds. The story made me think, though. Have I ever done such a thing to anyone (whether I realize it or not)?

Words have power...to destroy, hurt, encourage, empower, challenge, criticize, praise, give comfort, etc. We may not be able to control what the other person thinks about the words said or written to him/her (because people can take even praise the wrong way), but still we need to be careful with our words.

Anyway, have a FAB weekend, everybody!!! I'll blog-hop a bit later on. Now time to make some baked pancakes I've been wanting to try HE HE HE HE HE...

glitter-graphics.com

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Support Found in Written Words

One of the things I love about reading is that when I find something I can relate to that I haven't found elsewhere, I feel that I'm not so alone. I feel understood. And that gives me TOTAL comfort. The person doesn't even have to actively encourage or comfort me. Simply by sharing his or her experiences lifts up my mood.

In times like this, I just nod my head eagerly over and over and over again and I want to shout at the top of my lungs, "YES, YES, that's EXACTLY how I feel!!!!! SO TRUE!!!"

And my heart finds solace...through the written words of God's angels around the globe...

Women's Hair Loss Project

In Indonesia, there's a saying that "hair is a woman's crown". Indeed for women, hair is an important aspect of our physical being. I just found this blog entitled Womens Hair Loss Project. I remember meeting an ex-Junior High School friend of mine a few years back and I realized that she had lost plenty of her hair even though she was still in her twenties.

I never thought there would be so many women hair loss sufferers. In America alone, among hair loss sufferers, 40% of them are women. Gee!!! That's pretty shocking, isn't it? Anyway, I think this blog will be beneficial for women suffering from hair loss. They can share their stories here, exchange information, find comfort and inspiration from other women who've experienced a similar problem.

The project was started last August by someone who experienced horrible hair loss in her twenties. You can read her personal story by clicking the About Page. She said she started suffering from hair loss since she stopped taking Loestrin FE, a birth control pill.

If you decide to visit this site, don't forget to read this inspirational story. It's a story of a 17-year-old girl who fell off a horse and became a paraplegic and then she suffers from Alopecia Totalis (read: the loss of all her head hair). If you know women suffering from hair loss, please recommend them to visit this site.

My Deepest Condolences

Just wanna extend my deepest condolences to Janice's family who've just lost her dearest brother. May he rest in peace and may God provide comfort for those he's left behind.

Postcards taken from Inspire21.com.

3BT: Weekend Wrap

1. Being spontaneous for once in my life. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!

2. Sleeping in from 9.30 pm to 9 am with my hubby at my in-laws'. MMMMMMMM...SO refreshing!!!

3. Watching two sisters (aged 74 and 63) chasing a fly to kill it. It was such a WONDERFUL sight! ;-D

4. HOT fish soup made by my mother-in-law on a cold windy day (it was only 10'C). YUMMY!!!

5. Receiving many comments on my post. It felt GREAT coming back from my in-laws and noticing that lots of people had left comments there. *grin*

6. The comfort of wearing socks or even double pair of socks. Warm, warm, warm!!! I never really thought of the importance of socks in Indo as I didn't need to wear them, but here they're a NECESSITY!!! ;-D

3BT: July 16, 2007

1. Sale!!! 50-70% discounted items!!! LOVE IT!!!

2. Writing a letter to my Dad, telling him how much I appreciate him.

3. The feeling of comfort I've started to feel whenever I come back to our apartment. I LOVE this place!!!

4. Literally stopping while I was walking downtown to smell the flowers. The smell of wet grass and blooming flowers was like incense soothing my mind.