11-1-11

Today is my birthday. Today is also my 6th wedding anniversary. Today, this year is more special as it's on a special date: 11-1-11. Well, of course I do believe that every day is a unique and special, but to me, a special occasion like birthday celebration becomes more special, as the day will force to remind you not only about who you are and yourself, but also about your life, how you live and life, and to be grateful to your creator, and all that you have and have experienced in life.

Everyday on this 11 January, I used to let myself have a birthday's reflection. Where I've been and where I'm going. Do I have accomplish all of my dream and goals, do I become a better person this year, not just to myself, but to other, and most importantly in the eyes of my creator. Do I make HIM happy? Do I make HIM pleased and not regretting that HE created me. Do I make people happy with my presence, especially to those surrounding me.

There are many things that I haven't fulfilled in my life, and still eager to do it or to have it. But also there are some that I always want to have it and do it, and I have fulfilled it. Of course I still see myself as a woman who still wants to do so many things in her life, and wish that there are more time and support for her to fulfill those dreams.

I just want to share here to some few things that I have always wanted to do, and I have been able to accomplished and more importantly have been blessed that HE has given it to me. Today I welcome 11-1-11 with a grateful heart, and these are just to remind me some of thousands that HE has done for me.

• Continue my study and pursue a higher degree with the money that I earned. This is to prove to parents that they have succeed to raise and educated me, they can trust me, and let them proud that they can see me being financially independent. On year 2002, God trust me and fulfilled this dream. I continued my study and earned my bachelor degree on Business Administration at the University of Indonesia. Well, my parents specially my mom admired this university as the best in the country. Unfortunately when I have fulfilled this dream, both of my mom and dad has passed away, but I am hoping that they would be proud with me, from heaven above.

• Have a job that I would love and have passion with. On year of 2000, God introduced me to the new career path for me. I previously worked for the profit oriented at some multinational companies (and I used to feel bored and useless), but since that year till today, I have working and contributing myself and knowledge on development sector, by assisting the Government of Indonesia on various development projects (from small medium enterprises, support women and children projects on maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS, legal reform and now for the economic reform), which all aims for a better Indonesia. I love being on this field, I feel needed and not only I get paid but most importantly that I can also contribute something for my country. I am hoping that I could be more and more beneficial to wider community.

• When I was a young girl, I considered myself as a lucky person. I have the best parents whom could provide me not only care, love and home, but also education, and more. But also I have witnessed that many girls out there were not having the same opportunity as I did. I then committed to myself, if I already could earn money, I must save some of it and contribute to support young girls for their education. God gave me this opportunity to support about 50 Acehnese young girls starting on 2002, and till today HE even allowed me to support education for poor girls, particularly in Salatiga (Central Java), and Papua. I just hope that oneday those girls will remember that God sent them someone to help them to fulfilled their dream, and they will also remember to help the other girls in return.

• Adventure myself to live and work outside Jakarta, and for sometime remove my attribute as a city girl. On year 2003, God sent me to Papua, eastern Indonesia well known as the most remote areas in Indonesia. I was there to worked with UNICEF, to assist the projects for women and children, on maternal health and child health issues and HIV/AIDS. I was there till 2008, and I must admit that this was one of my most valuable experiences in life. Living in Papua has taught me so many life lesson, and help me to be a strong woman who must learn to survive !

• Learn diving and explore the ocean. Well, I did tried my first discover scuba on 2006 in Biak, Papua. It was in Cendrawasih Bay, and I have falling in love with the underwater world since then ! I took a formal diving course on 2008, and till today I have dived in many beautiful diving spots allover Indonesia and even outside Indonesia. Being a scuba girl diver is not only bring excitement but also has extend my network and broaden my view to a larger and amazing world !

• Go on as many vacations as I can, and see other cities and other countries, see many cultures and people. Well, of course I haven't seen all due to many limitation in terms of money and time :) but hope that I can continue my passion on travelling and witness many beautiful places. I also still have a dream to see the real "white snow", and would like to have the opportunity to work in overseas. Hope this would also come true, with God on my side :)

• Build my own home and design it together with hubby. Well, this is a dream when I just got married. But due to many limitation and situation, only by last 2010, we finally could saved some money and bought a small house for the two of us. We called our first house: the Pine 11 :) Hopefully this house will be completed by mid of this 2011. I will never forget that almost every night I was crying and praying to God that one day I could have my own house, and when we finally have it, and now seeing our Pine 11 is being built, I just feel that I see a miracle tailor made for us, for me !

Those are some that I would like to share on this special day, on my birthday celebration, and more than everything, I thank God for I wonderfully made by HIM.