the 24hr stomach flu

Yesterday was an awful day for me. I stayed on my bed most of the time, if not then the bathroom. I feel sick on my stomach, my mouth is extremely stink from all the throwing up I've been having and my butt is dry from all the pooping. And to top it all: I was alone at home. My parents went to a planned trip the same day I'm down with this stomach flu.

I'm writing this to maybe share to all of you who might be experiencing the same thing. When you're alone, don't know what to do and feel like you're dying from all the vomiting and diarrhea.

My experience:

1. I had woken up around 3am and pooped, it wasn't exactly a friendly poop because its at 3am and felt like diarrhea. However I still think it's normal because sometimes after eating spicy meal I would have experienced the same. So I wasn't thinking too much of it and went back to sleep after.

2. I woke up at my usual time for work, felt sick on my stomach (like a heartburn) but still went down and manage to eat breakfast and then i had my 2nd poop.

3. the heartburn continue on while I was at work. I had taken heartburn medicine by then but it surely wasn't helping.

4. I've been holding it but I know I would somehow feel better if I throw up. So I went to the bathroom and throw up, I can see what I ate for breakfast and then I had another watery poop.

5. Went back to my seat still feeling sick and trying to calm me down by drinking hot tea but eventually the hot tea was out to when I went to the bathroom again. 2nd vomit and 5th diarrhea.

6. Finally deciding that maybe it's best to go home, although I'm a bit hesitant knowing there's no one at home. Ordered soup from the canteen and try to eat a bit but eventually it's out again with my 3rd and 6th poop of the day.

7. Got home and there I had my 4th vomit and 7th poop, I quickly clean myself up, change my clothes, and went straight to bed. And as soon as I hit the bed I was gone. It was the best 2 hours because while I was out sleeping, I wasn't vomiting or pooping. However felt a little fever on my forehead while my hands and feet are cold.

8. Only in the evening I felt the fever had gone down, I was sweating but still having heartburn, Went to the bathroom had my 5th vomit and 8th diarrhea. It was really hard for me because i haven't had anything down but yet I still throwing up. Clean myself up and then i drank medicine. Usually I feel better after vomiting so I knew it's the best time to take medicine then. I took one for my hearburn (Omeprazole), one for the vomiting (Vometa) and another one for the diarrhea (Diatab).

9. I waited for an hour or so my heartburn still hurting but I know i had to at least eat something, went to make myself bihun-kuah manage to eat everything but ended up throwing up half of it: and there my 6th vomit.

10. Took another medicine before sleep. and thank God I was able to sleep through the night.

Woke up in the morning, my stomach is growling, Manage to drink water and ate porridge for breakfast then I know the storm has passed.

Praise God

Little Tips from me:

1. If you experienced this you might be wondering on what you ate the previous day, but really what causing this it's virus and bacteria and the fact that your body wasn't in the best condition. Other people might be eating the same thing with you and they're fine.

2. The vomiting and diarrhea are actually necessary to clean out whatever it is from your body in the 24 hour period. You just have to bear with it. And it is indeed best to stay at home, it's convenient comfortable to go back and forth to the bathroom.

3. Keep drinking fluid. But as for me it's really hard to drink because I always end up throwing it up so what I would suggest it's just go to bed, Your body is drained out and you need that nap plus if when you sleep you're not vomiting or pooping. It gives your body a little rest.

4. Drink warm water, smaller portion and rinse your mouth, From all the throwing up your throat will feel dry and your mouth definitely stink.

5.Take a quick warm shower. It'll give you the fresh-feel, of course when you're not feverish.

6. Eat small portion of porridge or soup because your're body might still not be ready for anything more than that. It doesn't need to be bland, because tasty food will help you eat better (you can add salt), and you need to have some food after 24 hour of an empty stomach.

7. For me it does last me for 24 hour, but if it's more maybe you should go see a doctor. You might become dehydrated from all the vomiting and diarrhea. No intake just outtakes.

8. Do not panic. Even when you're alone. Have water and medicine besides you and your phone if you need to call on someone for help.

I found this article who explain spot on in a funny way of what you will be going through when you're having a 24hr stomach flu. click this link: the 12 stages of 24hr stomach flu

I hope you are all well!
Take care :)

He knows

So this weekend i'm going to Belitung for my cousin's wedding.
Not that i don't love family gathering but it can be a little intimidating.

The million dollar question will be asked by all my elders: When is your turn?  (i'm sure it's not their intention to be hurtful but sometimes, with the way the ask or given the situation)

I've been praying for this whole week for God to protect me from those questions and to protect others with my answer (you know what i mean). Then as i opened my facebook a couple days ago, i came across this very encouraging sharing from lysa terkeurst:

Love can empower me to feel hurt without becoming a person consumed by that hurt…

I can feel offended but I don’t have to be offended.

I can feel insecure but I don’t have to act insecure.

I can feel angry but I don’t have to respond angry.

That’s the choice love makes.

He knows my name

I have a Maker
He Formed My Heart
before even time began
my life was in his hands

chorus
He knows my name
he knows my every thought
he sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

I have a father
he calls me his own
he'll never leave me
no matter where I go

Happy early fathers day to all fathers!!!

Experiencing God

Last Saturday i went with my parents to church for a KPI (Kebaktian Penyegaran Iman); part of the Pentecost program at church. We were there around 5 minutes to 7pm. The service was scheduled to start at 7pm, as we approach the gate we notice that people are gathering in the front, turns out the speaker was not there yet and they were unable to get in contact with her as well and it is about time they need to start the service.

Truthfully i went there with a skeptical and underestimate attitude. As during the weeknight i went there with my parents for a prayer meeting also a part of the Pentecost series program and i wasn’t refreshed and find that praying at home was even better.

But as i enter the church and sat, it get me thinking how many are there who is like me with this over arrogant mind, and how many are there who actually came need to be refreshed and the fact that the speaker might or might not show up tonight. And so i prayed. I prayed for God to meet us in whatever state that we’re in, whether the over arrogant attitude self or the desperate in need self.

And as we’re praising God, the speaker actually came one song away from the sermon. She was finally there! Praise God! And what she shared that night was very simple but it got to me and i believe others too. I will leave you too with a simple question to ponder from that night.

People who are rich are happy! True or false. It is half true. If they can enjoy it. There are rich people who can’t enjoy what they have.

You said you have God in your life, but are you enjoying Him? It hit me right there. (in Indonesian: Kamu berkata kamu punya Tuhan dalam hidupmu, tetapi apakah kamu menikmati Dia?)

Hanya dekat Allah saja (Psalm 62)

Hanya dekat Allah saja

Kiranya aku tenang

Sebab daripadaNyalah ke'slamatanku

Hanya Dia gunung batuku, ke'slamatanku

Kota bentengku 

Aku takkan goyah

Pada Allah ada kes'lamatan dan kemulianku

Gunung batu kekuatanku

Tempat perlindunganku

Percayalah kepadaNya

Setiap waktu hai, umat

Curahkanlah isi hatimu dihadapanNya

Allah tempat perlindungan kita

Paid Forward

Easter week

Playing with Cherubim Music Team this easter week
First time ever playing glockenspiel
Thankful and excited for the opportunity but at the same very nervous! Glockenspiel sound is high-pitched and so any mistake will be heard clearly. Yikes! but i've been practicing and praying!!! I am excited to minister this week! to God be the glory!

I have 10 songs to practice with and have to translate each music sheet cause i don't know how to sight-read. Now, i regret all those lessons i didn't diligently take.

and much respect for musicians! singing is definitely easier...
learn so much about being ONE, because each instrument need to harmonize with each other so i need to listen well not only play well. and i can't be well on my on either, we need to be well together.

sharing a bit of a clip when we practice:

what a view

i was about to land when i saw this gorgeous view! rainbow! and a doubled one on the video!
thank You God, this was amazing *blushed*

Breaking Free - April 1

Hello April!

Night and Day

Breaking Free - Feb 17

May the peace of God be with you in dealing with monday-blues or any other days of the week!

Breaking Free - Jan 27

Breaking Free - Jan 21

Who will be our master?

Breaking Free Jan 16

2014 with God

Breaking Free - Jan 7

Breaking Free - Jan 5

First DIY: tissue paper rolls wall-art

So October is a family month at my parents church, and they have this family-themed event going on at church. One of the activity is to make useful things from recycled materials.

I'm so excited because i've been collecting my tissue paper roll and i know exactly what i'm gonna make (i have this empty wall on my bedroom that i want to decorate with it). Unfortunately i came too late for the competition, anyhow i still manage to make this at home. Maybe it'll inspire you to start save your tissue paper roll as well :D

Here's the DIY (It's all over pinterest, youtube even on google search!)
Look 'em up for ideas and inspiration.

What you need:
- tissue paper rolls (you need 7 paper rolls for the cross that i made down below)
- scissors
- glue (i used regular glue, but please use glue gun for a better hold)
- paint for coloring

Steps:
1. cut your tissue paper roll in half and then cut each half by another half. In short: divide your paper roll into 4 parts, evenly.
2. plan out your design before you glue 'em
3. glue them based on your design. i put paper clips in between the rolls that i glued just to make sure they stick to each other. you can take the paper clips out after the glue all dry-up.

and TADAAA!!!

Who will bail me out?

So I heard this from my parents, that there's this man being put in jail because of his dishonesty. Long story short he needs bail-money and also letter from community that could guarantee that is ok to bail him out. His sibling is trying so hard to come up with certain amount of money. None of the community willing to sign the letter and so his dad end up doing it for him, guaranteeing that he will not commit the same crime after the bail. He's now out and I really hope he learned his lesson and doesn't take for granted what his sibling and his dad did for him.

So it got me thinking:
Who will bail me out?
Jesus did. He not only bail me out but also took the blame.

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version (NIV)

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But guess what:
I'm taking it for granted, most of the time :(

"I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it"

Freedom in Christ

In the past month I've visited a friend whose mom passed away and then another grandpa of a friend and also heard it from a friend that another friend's dad passed away.

I don't know if you're familiar some of chinese tradition/rituals: but after visiting the funeral home:
- you must go somewhere else first before going back to your house (the argument is that "the dead" could follow you home)
- you must wash your hand/feet/face before entering the house, sometimes change clothing (I forgot what's the argument about this one, but it kinda make sense to me since the relatives/family are barefooted in the funeral home)
- If the one that passed away is your parent and so happen you and your significant other are planning to get married, you have to get married within a 100 days otherwise you have to postponed for another year or 3 years. (my 2 friends have different years that they practice, but luckily they are in the safe 100 days zone, however it's sad to see that they're less than 3 months away from their wedding day and one of the parent cannot make it there)
- my first time going to a Buddhist funeral and they have this rituals when all the family members gather and they are led by someone (from the temple, i'm guessing) they're praying/chanting so that "the dead" can go into heaven peacefully. The family members then would burn paper money, houses, etc so then "the dead" can have a comfortable "life."

After experiencing all that:
- I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ: when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! we're not bounded by these rituals because it has no effect on us. I didn't go elsewhere before I go home. I went straight home because it's late and it's work night hahahaa but I know the one that following me is goodness and love all the days of my life :p
- My God is beyond awesome! He takes care of me before I was born, in my lifetime and after life.

John 14:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

He is preparing a place for me, I don't need no paper money or house to be burned. I don't need no chants to clear my way because my God will come and take me with Him. Amen!

Ending this with one of my favorite song:

"One True God" by Mark Harris:

"I don't have a God I can put on a stand

Or a God I hold in the palm of my hand

I have a God that's holding me."

*blushed

grace standard

I came across this on pinterest. It encourages me not to be too hard my self and not to be too harsh on others.

Ephesians 2:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 4:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

while i've been MIA

Sharing pictures from my blackberry:

APRIL-MAY
I had the opportunity to go visit the US end of April-early May (It's really just for a week. a short week) but nonetheless thankful that i got to meet people and food i missed the most. More pictures on my facebook, this following pictures on my blackberry only a small portion on what i missed :p

JULY
Attended Bertha's wedding in Bali. Again a short, but sweet weekend :)

When i shared my last post on June, if you by any chance read it :p you must know about my grandparent's helper who got diagnosed with cancer. Anyhow she finally went back to Belitung and then a month after, which is in July, she went to be with the Lord. It's all happened so fast, we still think it's a dream. But thankful that she didn't have to endure the long painful sickness. Most of all we are grateful for we know that she is indeed went home with God :) It's a bittersweet moment, thank you for everyone that's been praying with us. And despite all that happened, i do think: what a great life she had. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior previous month and then she got to be with Him a month later :)

AUGUST

We have finally moved in to our "new house" praise God! Here's a little pictures of my room. I thank God everyday for this. For every furniture and for everything inside: they are all God's blessing and God's providence.

Then i got to visit yossi's villa during Indonesian independence day weekend. We harvest carrots and bok choys and put them in our supermies! It's organic :p hopefully it compensates the negative effect of the instant noodles :p and also proudly made our version of MILO-DINO! and we think its a success!!!

SEPTEMBER

Had a short visit to Singapore for work. It was supposed to be a day trip however because of un-finish business i have to stay over. Thank God for Vicky and family always welcoming an unwelcome guest :p

Vicky is currently having a giveaway with the Wagyu Story up on her blog. Please check to see if you might be qualified to win an hour of photo session. Hurry! Giveaway ends on September 30, 2013

That is all for the updates! I hope you are all have a wonderful time with God and your loved ones.