CRACKING

I felt so lonely. 
Surrounded by many but still empty. 
Many things happened, unavoidable changes. 
I'm tired, inside and out! The world moves so fast which I find so hard to adjust.

Separated! Each one of us went in our own path. 
Struggle to live and stand on our own. 
Sometimes I wonder, why this thing happened? 
I don't know where to turn or run, everything went blank.

Try so hard to fight it, not to let anyone know about this weakness inside.
Questioning why no one care but wait... I'm the one who don't want their attention. 
What a useless question! Stupid one actually!

I'm cracking now...
Trying to be strong, trying to hold on...
Everything will be just fine...
Really???

THE SORCERESS BY MICHAEL SCOTT

Finally I have the time to read the third of Michael Scott, THE SORCERESS (THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL). Waiting for this book for quite sometime, I read the first and second book last year. When I read the title of this book, I got excited since I like to know more about Perenelle Flamel - The Sorceress. In previous book, Perenelle was describe as a powerful sorceress, she has greater power than his husband - The Immortal - Nicholas Flamel.

As I read the book, I enjoyed the adventure of Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Perenelle. After the incident in Paris, Nicholas took Sophie and Josh to London. He wanted for them to learn another power, water. He asked Gilgamesh the King, the master of the element of water to awaken the twins. While in Alcatraz, Perenelle struggled to escape from the island with the help of spider elder, Areop-Enap. As an army of poison flies attacks and wounds Areop-Enap, Perenelle must contend with the combined evil of Billy the Kid and Machiavelli who have formed a rather improbable tag team with the intention of destroying her once and for all.

Nice book! I recommend everyone to read it, all the series. I'm looking forward for the fourth book called THE NECROMANCER.

STELLA MARIS CHURCH - ISRAEL

A friend of mine just got back from Israel. He told about his journey and gave me this picture that remind him so much of me. He said when he saw the chapel, he shouted "I know someone with this name." He said the church was beautiful with many art work that amazed him. Look at this:

Thank you so much, PJ. Thanks for the pictures and thanks for your prayer. God bless you and keep you!

Letters to Juliet

I watched this movie with my dad. To watch a romantic movie with your dad was really a bad idea, but both of us enjoy each other company since we are far away from our romantic partner. What makes me fall in love with this movie is the view of Italy. Wow! Italy is so beautiful, the vineyard, the city, everything... Of course I fall in love with the story too.

Letters to Juliet is a beautiful love story. When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and her fiance travel to Verona, Italy. She meets a group of volunteers who respond to letters written to Juliet seeking romantic advice. Sophie finds and answers a letter that has been lost for 50 years, and is stunned when its author Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Italy to find the fiance she left decades before. Fascinated by Claire's quest, Sophie joins on an adventure through the beautiful hills of Tuscany searching for Claire's long lost Lorenzo. The journey will change their lives forever, as they discover it's never too late to find true love.

I tried to find out the letter that Sophie wrote to Claire. The letter that made Claire have the courage to find her true love. Here is her letter:

'What' and ‘if’ two words as nonthreatening as words come. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: ‘What if?'...

I don't know how your story ended. But I know that if what you felt then was love - true love - then it's never too late. If it was true then it why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart...

I don't know what a love like that feels like... a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for... but I'd like to believe if I ever felt it. I'd have the courage to seize it. I hope you had the courage to seize it, Claire. And if you didn't, I hope one day that you

will.

The lesson I learn from this movie is "not to give in finding your true love". So, for you who in search of true love, don't give up on first trial. Maybe the road will get rocky, maybe you will find many disappointment, yet the journey of finding a true love will always be interesting. Hope everyone will find their true love.

Second Chance

Today I read a quote from one of Paulo Coelho's fans site, it says "God always offers a second chance in life." This is an interesting quote, so I decide to write about it.

Do you believe in second chance?


I think many of us want a second chance. A chance to undo something that we have said or done. This is my experience of wanting so much on a second change.


When I was in senior high, my teacher warned us about an upcoming test. He asked us to prepare for the test. When he entered our classroom that day, he asked "have you studied last night?" I was in the afternoon class, the class started at 1pm until 6pm. So, I can study at night or in the morning. My answers to that question was "no" because I studied in the morning, his statement was "last night". Actually some of us stated NO for an answer.


My teacher became angry and he canceled the test. Everyone who said YES, complaint to us. That day I wished to have a second chance to say YES. Unfortunately, the teacher still angry even when we explained or said sorry. We didn't get our extra point from the test. I was so sad that day. 

Although we didn't get my second chance that day, a week later the teacher gave us another test and most of us got a good mark. At the end of the school year we all passed that subject with flying colors...


Well, anyhow... I do believe there is a second chance and everyone deserve it. A second chance to make everything better. Just open your mind and heart to embrace it. Do not give up in despair, there will be a new day with a new hope for everyone. Be strong in faith, hope, and love!

Picture source:
http://www.turnbacktogod.com/poem-another-chance/

To Sir Philip, with Love

One day a close friend of mine asked me what kind of novel I like to have as a birthday gift. Well, it was funny to know your birthday present before the birthday. Yes, I have read a lot of novel and I think the reason behind her question was not to give a novel that I already read or own. Brilliant way, Blue Jasmine. 

I chose two novel and my first choice was Julia Quinn - To Sir Philip, with Love. I search the book online and fall in love when I read the brief review. Here is the brief review as I quoted:

My dear Miss Bridgerton,

We have been corresponding now for quite some time, and although we have never formally met, I feel as if I know you. Forgive me if I am too bold, but I am writing to invite you to visit me. It is my hope that we might decide that we will suit, and you will consent to be my wife.

—Sir Phillip Crane

Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except... she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her... and more.

Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking... and wondering... and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except... he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled... and when he kissed her... the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn't help but wonder... could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

The story is very interesting since I have been in a long distance relationship. I love the story, the courage of Eloise. She is a bright intelligent woman who already labeled as a spinster by her society. Her correspondence with Sir Philip bring her the courage to meet the man she hardly know and give a chance to know him more. Well, in real world several of friends married foreigners. They met online, dated online (using email, web-cam, telephone), and finally meet in person. Some continue their relationship to marriage stage, some decide to break up. 

What I learn from this book? Hmm... let's see shall we? 

It's hard to know someone just by a letter no matter how honest we are to each other. It takes a great courage to start a long distance relationship. Yet, nothing is impossible in the name of love. Give a chance to it, and it will surprise you. To everyone who has courage to build a long distance relationship, don't give up!

Source:

http://www.juliaquinn.com/books/phillip.php

Thanks to You

This entry is dedicate to all my friends. Thank you for your love and attention on my birthday. Special thanks to:

Ko Eric
For the dinner on July 30 and the birthday wishes on August 30. Thank you for remembering my birthday, bro.

Monalisa
Thank you for the bag. I will always miss you.

Fransiska
Girl, thank you very much for you text message on August 30.

NIt2x
My little sister, thank you for being the first to say Happy Birthday and for the most creative gifts. Red for the candle, orange for the glove, white for the card drive, and black for the scarf. You really know my favorite colors. Also, for the poem, the IKEA Catalog and the last letter to close my b-day.

Imelda
Honey, thank you for the prayer on my birthday.

Blue Jasmine a.k.a Rika
My big sister, thank you so much for the lovely novels and prayer.

Siska Yunita
You are so kind to me. Thank you for the "Special Gift Book" and for the blouses. Wow! You never stop giving me surprise throughout the years. Thanks for the monthly reflection book too.

Ruben Gonzalez
Thank you very much for the birthday song in Spanish. It is a lovely song. This is the first Happy Birthday song I ever hear in other language beside English and Indonesian. Thank you for singing it to me.

Ruth Virginia
Happy birthday too, sister. Thank you for the "S" pendant. I always want this pendant, but never get it. Already have an "I" and "N", now I finally got a pendant of my first baptism name character. Thank you very much, Ruthie.

And thank you to everyone else who congratulate me on my special day. I wish you all the best thing in life, more happiness and success. God bless you, my friends.

Here is the picture of my gifts: