Noah's Walk

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Leggo My Leggings

(One of my favorite pieces of all time!)

My stirrup pants had too much giddyap and go!
Liz Curtis Higgs

The first time I saw a pair of leggings, they were on someone else's body—that of the Twiggy-sized teen seated next to me in a crowded doctor's office. With her huge t-shirt and long, red legs, she looked utterly charming and altogether comfy.

"Do they feel as good as they look?" I asked.
"You bet." She nodded emphatically, pinching a bit of fabric and stretching it out. "See? It springs right back. No sagging. No wrinkling."

Since my knees both sag and wrinkle, I was duly impressed with her Lycra-swathed limbs.


"What do you call them?"
"Leggings," she informed me, jumping to her feet when the receptionist called her name. "You oughta try 'em. They come in your size, too."

Cheeky.

I watched her go, wondering what sort of fashion statement my older-but-wider body might make in such a getup. Fire-engine red was out of the question, of course, but a nifty navy, a dove gray, a basic black—couldn't I pull that off? Especially if an oversized shirt fell well below my knees?

Well, well, well below.

When a favorite spring catalog arrived on my doorstep featuring leggings on page five—in my size!—I knew it was meant to be.

"Send me three pairs," I informed the woman taking my order by phone. "Black, gray, blue."
"Those colors are on back order, ma'am." Figures. "Until when?" I sighed.
"September. All we have in stock is red."

Uh-oh. I imagined my substantial thighs encased like firecrackers ready to explode. Or worse, like a pair of beefy summer sausages fresh from the grill.

I wanted to try a pair of leggings soooo badly, but red?

"They're on sale," the saleswoman tempted.
"Sold."
"Regular or stirrup?"
She had me there. "Stir what up?"

She explained that leggings came in ankle length or with a stirrup that slips over one's foot. "It prevents the pants from scooting up your leg." Was she suggesting my leggings could shrink into capri pants, then bike shorts, ending up as spandex underwear?
"Definitely stirrups," I decided. "One pair, my size, in red."

When my order arrived—in a #10 envelope—I slipped the leggings out of the package and held them up. They looked like something a child might wear. An especially small child. At Christmas. Still, that was my size printed on the label.

After wrestling them on, I was delirious with the results. They fit!

I quickly found an oversized, black-and-red t-shirt that almost reached my knees and matched perfectly. Just the thing for traveling, I decided. For the first time in a long time, I looked forward to my next out-of-town trip.

That fateful morning dawned sunny and cool—a legging kind of day if there ever was one. Dressed and packed, I faced the mirror one last time, hoping to quell a few nagging doubts. Were they too bright? Too tight? Did I look like I was headed for a pajama party? Whatever. I grinned at my reflection. "TWA, take me away."

Truth be told, I got a few odd looks at the ticket counter. Comfortable as I was, I had no intentions of fretting over their obvious gawking. The first leg (so to speak) of my trip was a breeze. When my plane landed in St. Louis, I bounded through the jetway and checked the monitor for my gate. Drat. The other end of the world. Ah, but with my zippy new duds, I'd be strolling in style, no?

Uh … no.

I started down the busy concourse with a carry-on bag in one hand, a bulging computer case in the other, and a mega-purse dangling from my shoulder. I picked up the pace when I heard the boarding announcement for my flight departing from Gate 33.

Without warning, disaster struck.

Maybe it was the speed with which I was traveling. Or my long-legged stride. Whatever the reason, with stirrups and gravity working against me, my leggings suddenly moved in the wrong direction: down.

The crotch dropped first. Silently, relentlessly, it started moving south. With both hands full, I was in no position to stop it. Anyway, a quick stop-and-yank would be beyond tacky. By Gate 10, the thing was halfway to my knees. Starting to panic, I slowed down. By Gate 15, I was on full-tilt duck walk. By Gate 19, it was more turtle-like than ducky. My spirits were sinking right along with my traitorous leggings. I fumed, mentally composing a letter to the manufacturer. "Dear Sirs: What goes up must not come down."

I checked my watch. Oh, no! Ten minutes! I checked my leggings. Oh, no! Ten more inches! By Gate 22, I was in deep trouble. The waistband was wrapped around my knees. The fabric that used to cover my knees circled my ankles. I was reduced to walking like a geisha girl, moving forward with mincing steps. Passengers hurried past me—yes, snickering—while I tried to look nonchalant. No easy task when your face matches your bright red leggings.

Make that anklings.

"Let them hold the plane," I muttered, pressing my luggage against my knees and heading for safety. I ducked in the doorway marked Women—then stopped short when I caught a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror by the sink. I'd been waddling through a crowded airport sporting nothing but bare legs and a t-shirt.

Leggings no more, they were now mere fetters for the fashion inept. Why not step out of them, you say? Not an option. That would leave my unshaven legs sticking out—pasty white as only spring legs can be, and flabby besides. Dropping my bags in a heap on the restroom floor, I gathered up my limp leggings and yanked them back in place. Only five gates to go. Could they stay up long enough to get me on that plane?

"Got any safety pins?"
The voice behind me belonged to a resourceful-looking woman wearing a friendly smile—and leggings. A sister! She was already digging in her purse, and soon produced a handful of silver safety pins.
"Pin the wasteband to your bra," she instructed, pointing me toward an empty stall. "Works like a charm." And so it did.

Firmly anchored and stretched to the max, my leggings and I took off at a full sprint for Gate 33 with nary a sag. Relieved to find the door still open and my seat waiting for me, I collapsed into 11-c and leaned back. And screamed.

The flight attendant was there in a heartbeat. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
"S-sure," I said, gingerly easing forward, trying to escape the sprung metal point. I never knew safety pins could be so unsafe. "I'm gonna need a Band-Aid."
"Certainly." She rummaged around her first aid kit. "Anything else?"
"Yeah." I winced when the second pin stabbed me in the front. "Duct tape. Preferably red."
She held up a ubiquitous roll. "Sorry. All I've got is this."

Dove gray. "Perfect."

Liz Curtis Higgs, a TCW columnist, is the author of 15 books and one novella, "Fine Print," featured in the anthology Three Weddings and a Giggle (Multnomah). She lives with her husband and two children in Kentucky.

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Hari Ini Aku Pasti Manis Sekali...

Hari ini aku pasti kelihatan manis sekali… Karena sejak pagi tadi hampir setiap orang yang berpapasan menyempatkan untuk sejenak menatap wajah oval-bulat-cekung ini. Ada yang sebelumnya hanya melihat sekilas lekas-lekas mendaratkan pandangannya kembali padaku. Ada yang menatap cukup lama bahkan ada yang kemudian memberanikan diri menyapa dengan ramah. Aku ingat, hari ini aku pakai baju baru, eeeh…tepatnya baju lama yang baru saja dipermak ibunda tercinta sehingga kurasa penampilanku pasti sungguh menawan di pagi cerah tadi.

Tapi… sebenarnya ada satu alasan lagi kenapa aku ketiban hujan tatapan dan sapaan ramah. Boleh dikata inilah satu-satunya alasan yang paling tepat selain soal baju baru dan senyumanku yang menawan itu, hehehe….

Cerita Petualangan ON

Jumat pagi. Pukul tujuh. Sebanyak 22 orang berkumpul manis di satu kantor bersiap ikut company outing di Lido Sukabumi. Paint-Ball War dan Rafting sebagai jadwal acara utama untuk hari itu dan keesokan harinya. Semua sudah siap dengan perlengkapan masing-masing, termasuk aku dengan kilik-kilikku yang tak pernah lupa kubawa kemana-mana.

Jumat Sore. Paint-Ball selesai dengan kekalahan di pihakku. Aku terima semuanya dengan hati lapang termasuk memar-memar di pinggang, tangan dan dadaku. Yang terakhir disebut itu cukup luar binasa sedapnya terasa saat tembakan tak sah seorang rekan menyambar. Posisiku memang dalam keadaan tak siaga lantaran peluit tanda permainan harus berhenti baru saja ditiup wasit. Sehingga meski tembakan tak sah itu tercetak jelas di overall-ku, aku masih sah berada di lapangan permainan.

Usai Paint-Ball para karyawato bergerak ke lapangan bola, meneruskan dendam di Paint-Ball tadi yang tak terpuaskan. Begitulah memang naluri para anak-anak Adam yang sangat menyukai persaingan. Sementara kami para karyawati yang berdarah lebih dingin dan menyukai kebersamaan, memutuskan untuk melanjutkan arisan keakraban kami di kolam renang hotel yang terlihat menantang dengan perosotan setinggi satu meternya. Sekadar informasi perosotan itu berada di kolam renang untuk bocah.

Menjelang pukul lima sore. Lima orang wanita cantik masih asyik bercengkrama di kolam renang untuk orang dewasa dengan rencana bermain perosotan kemudian. Setelah beberapa saat menemani teman-teman yang tidak bisa berenang, aku mulai bergerak untuk berenang sendiri beberapa lap, sekaligus melatih four styles-ku. Pilihan pertama, Butterfly Style, saat tenaga yang ada masih cukup banyak. Dengan penuh semangat aku mulai dari ujung Selatan kolam menuju Utaranya.

Splash..splash..splash..! Begitulah suara yang mengiringiku menikmati setiap ayunan lengan besooar nan perkakas ini melambung seperti sayap kupu-kupu. Meskipun agak sedikit terganggu lantaran tidak pakai goggle, dengan gaya kupu-kupu ini kupikir akan bisa melihat jarak pandang ke depan setiap kali. Dalam beberapa detik ke depan, kudapati bahwa perhitunganku ini salah besar.

Diantara bunyi splash-splash yang akrab menemani sepanjang perjalananku, mendadak terdengar bunyi, “Bukkk!” yang cukup keras, agak sedikit teredam karena rupanya benturan yang terjadi ada di bawah air. Segera kurasakan wajahku memanas, pandangan mata sebelah kiriku mengabur dan nyeri seolah wajahku terkena irisan pisau dengan bentuk memanjang dari mata kiri ke pipi kanan. Segera kuangkat kepalaku dari dalam air sambil menahan pening yang langsung muncul dan kuusap wajahku yang terasa nyeri. Dengan rasa takut kulihat darah mewarnai telapak tangan yang tadi kuusapkan di wajahku…

Segera kuhampiri para nona-nona cantik lainnya dan kuminta tolong seorang rekanku untuk mencari staff hotel agar dibawakan kotak P3K. Saat itu aku belum tahu persis apa yang terjadi, hanya terus bergema di hati agar Tuhan tolong aku menghadapi apapun yang harus kuhadapi.

Pukul 5.30 sore. Melihat kondisi luka di wajahku, staff hotel menawarkan untuk mengantarku ke klinik terdekat langganan hotel (langganan?!). Tanpa mandi, kuganti pakaian dan berangkat dengan staff hotel sambil menahan ngeri di hati melihat wajah sendiri yang lebamnya begitu nyata. Tambahan lagi komentar rekanitiku, “Mbak, kayaknya yang di hidung itu lukanya cukup dalem deh… Mungkin perlu dijahit…,” duh, seumur-umur baru kali inilah aku menghadapi kemungkinan harus dijahit!

Klinik Lido. Menunggu giliran sekitar 10 menit. Ngobrol dengan ibu-ibu yang menunggui resep anaknya selesai. Nonton kisah pembebasan Raisya di Metro TV. Bertemu dokter Saiful. Cek tekanan darah. Dilihat luka di hidung. Jaringannya ada yang hilang katanya, tapi bisa sembuh sempurna dalam waktu relatif tidak lama. Dilihat luka di kelopak mata. Harus dijahit. Hiiks…. Langsung dag-dig-dug. Tak dinyana, yang dikira tak apa ternyata lebih parah. Pasrah. Khawatir dengan kemampuan dokter, tapi pasrah. Khawatir dengan fasilitas sederhana klinik, tapi pasrah. Takut memikirkan seperti apa rasanya dijahit, tapi pasrah. “Dok, benangnya tipe XXX tidak ada, “ lapor suster merangkap apoteker klinik. Duh Tuhan, tambah tidak karuan hatiku. Tapi entah kenapa aku tenang saja, sambil menahan senut-senut kubertanya apa yang sebaiknya dilakukan selanjutnya.

Pukul 6.30. Perjalanan menuju RS Azzra, Bogor. Diiringi hujan bercurah sedang, aku melaju dalam mobil hotel, kali ini ditemani pimpinanku dan kepala divisi lapangan setelah tadi mampir kembali ke hotel menjemput mereka. Berputar-putar hampir setengah jam di sepanjang jalan Pajajaran Bogor lantaran supir hotel tidak tahu persis dimana letak RS Azzra. Mungkin juga ditambah karena grogi karena ditegur pimpinanku akibat berputar-putarnya kami.

UGD RS Azzra. Suasana tenang, tidak menakutkan seperti bayanganku semula. Seorang perawat menghampiri, menyuruhku masuk sementara yang lain mendaftarkan aku di bagian administrasi. Kembali tekanan darahku dicek. Ditanyakan apa sebabnya memar dan luka-luka yang tampak. Disini aku harus menahan rasa geli karena membayangkan bahwa orang-orang yang melihat mungkin mengira aku habis dipukuli suami. Kekerasan dalam rumah tangga. Itu yang terbayang dari tatapan mereka lewat sudut matanya. Termasuk suster yang menangani lukaku. Tapi kedatangan para rekan kantor yang selesai mengurus pendaftaranku seolah menghapuskan keraguan di benak orang-orang. Pimpinanku menyingkir setelah berkata, “Aku tinggal ya, tunggu di luar. Aku takut lihat orang dijahit.” Tak kukatakan padanya bahwa aku pun sangat takut saat itu!

Dokter datang. Melihat kondisi luka di kelopak mata. Mematahkan diagnosa dokter yang pertama. “Sobeknya bagus, tidak terlalu dalam. Jadi jangan dijahit, supaya tertutupnya lebih bagus. Dilem saja.” Perasaanku saat itu? Lega. Setelah nyut-nyut sedikit saat lem dipasang, jadilah aku seperti bajak laut karena mata kiri separuhnya tertutup perban. Selesai semua, kubereskan soal obat dan lain-lain, kutunggu rekan-rekanku yang tengah bersantap di rumah makan sebelah rumah sakit, karena mengira prosesku akan lebih lama.

Pukul 9 malam. Tiba di hotel. Langsung dinner di ruang makan. Ketemu rekan-rekan lain, makan sambil ditemani dengan cerita-cerita unik. Pukul 10 mandi dan keramas dengan sukses berbekal sepotong shower cap. Saat sudah bersih, segar dan diobati kembali, aku termenung memikirkan hari itu.

Cerita Petualangan OFF

Yah, hari itu aku pasti manis sekali, sehingga banyak orang menyapa, mengajak berbicara dengan ramah. Mereka pasti melihat betapa beruntungnya aku, yang terluka hanya di kelopak mata dan hidung. Seperti yang aku katakan pada mereka semua, “Untung tidak kena di mata!”. Saat kukatakan itu pada dokter Sriyono di RS Azzra, gerakan tangannya menulis resep buatku sempat terhenti dan kemudian menatapku dan tersenyum lebar, “Iya, untung sekali yah tidak kena di mata.”

Hari itu aku pasti manis sekali… Banyak orang yang tersenyum saat kukisahkan pengalamanku. Ikut pula bersyukur bersama-sama denganku. Hampir semua staff hotel memanggilku dengan nama, mengenali dan menyapa. Staff di rumah sakit yang awalnya menatap dengan ‘curiga’, ikut mengobrol akhirnya denganku sebelum aku tinggalkan UGD. Ada banyak orang yang melihat ‘kekuranganku’ justru jadi bisa bersikap begitu bersahabat. Seolah ada ikatan tak terlihat yang menyatukan aku dan mereka. The Unfortunates. The fortunate Unfortunates…

Aku tidur dengan senyum terukir di wajah, betul Bapa, aku pasti manis sekali karena aku anakMu. Yang Kau pelihara dan berkati dengan begitu limpah. Aku lihat obat penahan nyeri yang tidak kuminum di meja. Aku sadar luar biasanya Kau lengkapi kebutuhanku. Bayangkan orang lain yang tidak mampu dan harus menahan sakit dengan kondisi yang lebih parah daripada aku. Aku bisa tidur nyaman dalam hotel bagus bersama rekan-rekan yang begitu peduli. Aku tidak kekurangan gizi (mungkin kelebihan!) sama sekali untuk mempercepat penyembuhan.

Manis sekali pemeliharaanMu, Bapa, yang bukan saja cukup tapi amat berlimpah. Itulah sebabnya, aku pasti manis sekali terlihat, bukan hanya di hari-hari yang penuh derai tawa, tetapi juga yang penuh airmata karena meski banyak hal yang menyesakkan dada, tapi akan tiba juga satu hari dimana Alkitab mencatatnya,

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’”
Revelation 21:3-4 NASB

Hari itu pasti tiba. Jadi aku akan mulai tersenyum manis dari sekarang, karena aku tahu Dia yang berjanji tidak pernah ingkar pada janjiNya. Aku pasti terlihat manis sekali, bukan saja nanti, tapi juga mulai kini...!

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Is God Letting Your Family Down?

Is God Letting Your Family Down?
By: Tim Palla
Contributing Writer

The portable incubator
Thanks to the local 4-H office I have an egg incubator in my study. I thought it would be a fun project -- for the kids, of course. As it turns out, it’s not a project at all. You set up the incubator, put eggs in the holders, set the thermostat to the correct temperature, and wait. That’s it. What was I thinking?

It takes 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch, but that’s irrelevant to the five resident egg inspectors that bear my last name. They intrude my study more now than ever -- especially the three youngest ones. "Hi, Dad! Just checking for peeps." I have a hunch this phrase will be repeated often enough to wear holes in my eardrums. "Hey Dad, will you call me if anything happens?" they inquire. "Sure will," I reply with a slight nod. The fact that I’ve answered that same question, or a variation of it, twice already this morning means nothing to them. They need my reassurance and I’ll continue to give it. This is one of my higher callings in life.


Seeing is believing
Fertilized bird eggs aren’t fair to their onlookers. Day after day, eggs look the same. Nothing changes. When the barn cat became pregnant, we watched her go from a size "00" to an 8-XXL in a matter of days. We knew when she was about to pop. It was obvious through the changes in her body. After the Collie was bred, we were mesmerized by the dozen or so spigots which protruded from her sagging abdomen. They appeared overnight. Nevertheless, there is nothing exciting about egg-watching. Eggs are boring. It’s always the same scene, just a different day.

There are several reasons why this could get frustrating. First of all, I don’t know which ones will hatch and which ones will rot. I can’t tell a fertilized egg from an unfertilized one at this point. Second of all, other than plugging in a couple of electrical cords, my work requires no effort, no specialized skill, no talent. I can’t make anything happen. My job is simply to wait. Zzzzzzzz… Zzzzzzzz… Zzzzzzzz…

It’s hard to be optimistic and excited when nothing changes. What thrill is there when, day in and day out, the temperature never varies and the shell is just as round and hard and smooth as it was the day before? Soon you hear yourself asking strange questions. "What if this is all in vain? What if nothing ever happens and it’s all a big joke? What if I’m disappointed? What if God lets me down?"

Seeing through God’s eyes
One morning it dawned on me. These eggs are not boring at all -- they’re actually encouraging. A dear friend from church was frustrated with a spouse who had no interest in spiritual things. "I pray and pray and pray. I talk and witness and then I cry, worry, and pray more. Still, nothing changes. It makes no difference."

Without missing a beat, I glanced over at the climate-controlled box on top of my file cabinet. I explained to my friend that life’s most awesome mysteries happen in the most boring places. When there’s no visible changes, no reason to believe, no hope on the horizon…then stand back and "see the salvation of the Lord." He works on the inside -- in the soul -- where no human eye can detect His secret ways.

Sure, things look the same on the outside, but only the Lord can see what’s going on in the heart. It may seem to us that nothing is changing. The outer shell still appears to be hard and stubborn, but who can tell what’s growing on the inside? Not me. My part is to trust, faithfully obey, and wait. I know I’ll be amazed when God reveals the power of His grace, but it’s hard to remember that grace is sown in the heart, not on the skin. We’re not Chia pets.

Out of the mouth of babes
Today, I was lifted and encouraged by 17 brown eggs. The Lord used them to teach me to "walk by faith, not by sight." I’m thankful that God has hid some things from my eyes and revealed other things to "babes." My own wide-eyed optimistic "babes" seem to have more revelation than I do at this point. There’s a lesson in it for me (and you), I’m sure.

Against my counsel, 3 of my youngest children have started picking out "chicken names." My daughter (the baby) will choose names like Jade (after one of her dolls) or Heather (a young woman who has recently started attending our church). The boys have chosen names based upon the size and shades of the sepia-toned shells: Big Brownie, Tiny Tan. Their creativity and optimism increase each day. They instinctively know that something’s "goin’-on" inside those eggs -- something they can’t see -- yet they expect the "big reveal" every day. They aren’t sitting back waiting for day 21 like their Dad, and they’re not bored.

For the next few days five inquisitive minds will sporadically gaze into a borrowed incubator from sunrise to sunset. Their anxious gestures will remind me that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While you and I may look on the outside and think nothing has changed, God is diligently shaping what’s inside. Isn’t that where He always starts? If you have adopted the frustrating mindset of "nothing ever changes," remember that the miracle is occurring inside the egg. Today, have hope… and wait like a child.


Timothy Palla is the pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in the Lucasville/Minford area of Southern Ohio. He and his lovely wife Jennifer have five children; Drew, Dane, Aidan, Ethan, and Meghan. You may contact him at tpalla@rocketmail.com.

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Oh, Bobotku...!

(Tulisanku sepulang dari PDM di Sukamantri, November 2003)

Teman2....

Menyinggung soal premanisme, ik mau cerita dikit nih.... Ngga soal rok jatoh di jalanan lagi, ngga soal minum dari gelasnya bos, ngga soal dipanggil "mas" di Yogya.... Dengerin yah....

Beberapa minggu yang lalu, ik pergi ke gunung Salak selama seminggu, biasa deh acara bertapa tahunan. Sebetulnya ngga ada kejadian luar biasa kalau ngga karena yang akan ik ceritakan ini. Gini ceritanya.....

Malam itu udara sejuk sebagaimana adanya udara di kaki pegunungan. Seturun dari angkot, hati ik masih senang. Karena dipanggil "mbak" sama supir2 angkot di pangkalan tadi. Rupanya meski ik sudah 'menyamar-demi-keamanan, ik masih juga dikenali sebagai wanita. Meski ik memakai kaos hitam garang dipadu dengan celana rimba serta sandal gunung disertai kaos kaki putih manis (belum lagi membawa ransel di depan dan belakang), ik tetap dikenali sebagai wanita. Lain sekali dengan keadaan di jaman dulu saat meski ik sudah jelas2 pakai lipstick, tapi masih saja ada yang bertanya, "Wah... laki apa perempuan nih?!".

Tapi rupanya rasa senang ik tiada bertahan lama. Tragisnya peristiwa berikut yang dialami langsung menghapuskan kegembiraan yang berpendar2 di hati ik bagaikan lampu teplok di warteg desa. Baru saja turun angkot, ik dan seorang teman langsung disambut hangat oleh para tukang ojek yang memang sedianya kan membawa kami ke atas pos pendakian. Saat itu perasaan ik kian tak menentu karena ada seorang supir ojek yang dengan agak2 ribut bilang, "Yang perempuan kesini aja!"

Ik jadi curiga. Rasa senang dikenali sebagai wanita langsung hilang... Tapi dengan mengandalkan kekuatan pupu ik yang digdaya itu, ik mantap duduk di ojek tersebut. Dan teman ik pun tersenyum memberi semangat agar tetap tabah menghadapi apapun yang terjadi. Jalanan yang harus ditempuh memang amat sangat tidak mulus, berbatu2, sangat berpotensi membuat pantat jadi memar meski duduk di jok motor. Baru separuh jalan ditempuh... terjadilah peristiwa itu.... Dimulai dengan pertanyaan si abang ojek:

TO: "Neng, jarang naek motor yah?"

G: "Iya....kenapa, mang?"

TO: "BERAT INI, NENG!!!"

Dan setelah itu hinaan demi hinaan daku terima. Mulai dari diajari cara duduk di motor, yang gerakan badan ik menyong2 goyang2 ndak menentu, yang ditanya apakah ik yang bawa tas besar (carrier), lalu disuruh duduk lebih ke depan karena kata si mang, "Nanti aus ban belakangnya!!!" Ingin rasanya ik menjeritkan di hati bahwa ik sudah turun 7 kg dibandingkan saat yang sama di tahun lalu! Ik pun sudah sering sekali ke tempat itu dengan naik ojek dan sejauh ini belum ada tukang ojek yang complain soal balancing ik di atas motor......*&^%*%*%(*%*#)!+!@#!#":"(!@

Berdasarkan hasil analisa ik dengan teman2, si tukang ojek rupanya ingin mendapatkan ongkos lebih, tapi tak dinyana, ik tetap saja tega memberikan ongkos seperti yang sudah kita sepakati di bawah tadi. Hhhhhhh....... Belum tahu rupanya siapa ik...

Demikian kisah "tragis" ik di malam itu.

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Why I Love Liz

Elizabeth Curtis Higgs. Liz, she'd say. Her path crossed mine through her wonderful writings at Christianity Today about ten months ago. At that times I wondered why they set one special section about her namely "A Life with Liz". Going through her writings proved to be one of the things I really needed at that time. As I went through each article day by day, I received some consolations that helped to keep me going. She brought smiles and laughters, amazed me with how deep she actually is despite always portraying herself as humorous and funny. I sent her a note and guess what I received a couple of weeks after that? Her card. With her own writing and signature. Funny, the card carried my name. It is the title of her latest book. It was the Lord who crossed our path together.


When I first read her writing, I envied her. A lot. For her life that seems so joyful and all. A truly gifted writer, married to her wonderful Bill, a mother of two great children with her clear calling as a speaker of God's love. But later as the more I read her articles, they revealed of her dark past. Now, this is a person who truly understands the meaning of God's grace... I see grace as her theme everywhere in her writings. As she was redeemed from her eternal death she has been setting her heart on the mission her Lord Jesus Christ entrusted to her. An encourager. Funny, because that is what I have always been hoping to be in this life and here is the true example for me. Thank you dear Lord...

She loves everything about Scotland and Celtic. I couldn't believe my luck! Here is someone who writes some famous books that portray beautiful Scotland as her background. Even her non-fiction ones are about characters from the Bible, such Leah, Rachel and Jacob had setting in the wild land of Scotland. I never knew someone so in love with Celtic like her. That makes me love her even more because she must understand my considered funny choice by many people (men in skirt?! Get real, girl...)!

Liz' ministry is to women. Dear Lord, this is scary. Uhm... I mean, "WOW!" How are You going to surprise me more, Lord? Liz writings are always about women. Her focus is on the lives of women. Her mission is to bring the Lord's light to the lost women. Something I have always been interested in and doing it although I just realized it quite recently. For certain reasons I have no interest in ministering to men, unless it relates to the women in their lives or unless it is about my men. Liz has many great ways in showing me to how follow her step and share her unbelievable experiences dealing with women from many different backgrounds.

Liz loves Indonesia. She wanted to be a missionary for Indonesian people when she was saved at the age of 27. Dear Lord, don't You think I'd better stop it here before it gets more weird? Great. Thank you, Lord.

Hope to see you one day, my big (and 'big') sister in Christ, until then God be with you always!

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Noah & the Woodpecker

"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night shall not cease."
Genesis 8:22 NASB

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark:


One: Don't miss the boat.
Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six: Build your future on high ground.
Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting...

And... the woodpecker might have to go!!!

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I Have Learnt...

Have you read some wise sayings from Mother Theresa, which in conclusion told that everything that happens in our life is actually comes down between God and us? It says, "It is between you and God, anyway..."?

Well, here is another version about some things that we have learnt as we have matured. Hope it will cheer your day up, today, happy reading!


As I Have Matured:

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think.

I've learned that you can keep vomiting long after you think you're finished.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades, and there had better be a lot of money to take its place.

I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of your kids did it.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away.

“A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 NASB

May the LORD brighten your day today, bring joy into your heart, His peace that surpasses all understanding reigns in your life, regardless of whatever afflictions you are in right now!

Blessings!
Avichayil

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The Nine (-2)

Satu kisah yang tersimpan dari satu masa di January 2004. Satu perjalanan jauh pertama setelah the Nine berkali-kali gagal dengan rencana ke Dufan! Jadilah pembalasan dendam dilakukan dengan sekaligus berkereta-api menuju pengikatan janji Gayung sebagai istri pertama, sah dan satu-satunya sampai maut memisahkan, bagi sang idaman hati.

Hanya Tuhan yang tahu bagaimana sembilan nona cantik bisa bersahabat meskipun dengan berbagai karakter yang begitu berbeda-beda. What a journey, gals... What a friendship we have...


Dear temen2 semua,

Acara Gayung sudah berlangsung dengan sukses, minimal itulah yang terasa di pihak kita2 yang pergi.

Ebit ternyata baru kali ini naik kereta Argo sehingga waktu breakfast pertama di kereta dia belum tahu gimana caranya memasang nampan yang ada di tempat duduk.

Ebit dan Elsa juga dititipin oleh2 seaujubileh sama teman2 kantor/orang2 rumah, sehingga kerjaan kita dari kota ke kota adalah MEMBELI OLEH-OLEH... Beli oleh2 di Semarang, beli oleh2 di Wonosobo, beli oleh2 di Purwokerto. Sementara cece yang ngidam wingko cap kereta api cuma ketemu cap kereta diesel sehingga akhirnya tidak beli juga.

Kita bertiga juga sempat mencicipi MIE ONGKLOK yang dimakan dengan SATE SAPI, rekomendasi top dari Ibu Yafung (formerly Gayung) dan hasilnya.... Ebit dan Cece serasa 'tertipu' dengan promosi heboh Gayung. Kita meragukan 'rasa' mie ongklok itu karena kita percaya ada faktor "X" yang membuat mie itu terasa begitu enak, yaitu "dengan siapa Gayung makan mie ongklok-nya". Hal ini sudah kita konfirmasikan dan benarlah adanya.... Saat menyantap mie itu, Gayung tengan hangat2nya dibuai kisah pertjintaannya dengan Ko Yafung. So... it explains, right gals?

Saat di resepsi, Ineke pun menyusul dari Semarang, tampil dengan dandanan bak Inul Daratista yang gilang gemintang itu. Gaun merah menyala bertaburan payet berkilau dilengkapi dengan rambut palsu setinggi Menara Eiffel membuat rombongan kita saat masuk ke ruangan resepsi diberikan tempat PALING DEPOOOAAAAN!!! Padahal gue cuma memberikan keterangan pada pengantar tamu bahwa kita itu teman2 Gayung dari Jakarta....

Acaranya sangat meriah. Selain makanannya yang berlimpah2 sehingga sering tidak bisa dihabiskan kita2 semeja (padahal kita rata2 kelas berat semua), rentetan acaranya juga padat sehingga ngga terasa sudah waktu sudah lewat. Yang patut dicatat disini mungkin goyangan penari2 yang disewa Gayung, terutama PENARI PRIA-nya. Ineke hampir tak kuasa menahan dirinya untuk 'turun' mendampingi penari pria yang tak tertara "ok-nya" itu. Sekedar mengingatkan teman2, defini "OK" itu bisa berarti macam2 lho, tergantung siapa yang mendefinisikannya.....

Kita bertiga, cece-elsa-ebit juga DIUNDANG MAKAN MELULU sama cici-nya Ko Yafung. Dan dengan manisnya Ebit dan Elsa berkelit dengan manis, menyorongkan Cece ke depan untuk jadi jubir yang menerima/menolak tawaran Cie Chin Chin itu.... Berat Cece sudah bertambah SATU KILO sepulang cece dari sana.

Elsa yang tidak membawa sepatu berhak rendah sempat dibuat terkepot2 karena 'diseret' Cece dan Ebit dari ujung utara wonosobo sampai ujung selatannya dengan BERJALAN KAKI saja.... Alhasil, kaki Elsa yang agak2 melepuh sudah berbicara lebih banyak daripada jeritan hatinya. Cece dan Ebit sempat membujuk Elsa agar teguh kukuh berjalan kaki dengan berjanji bahwa saat pulangnya kita akan naik andong. Tapi.... karena terlalu bernapsu membeli oleh2, andong pun terlupa.

Dan tentu saja kita sempat NYASAR.... Dipandu Cece dan Ebit yang berjalan di depan, rombongan kecil kita sempat nyasar ke pasar traditional dimana kaki Elsa diculek2 mas2 iseng. Bagusnya setelah nyasar pertama itu, kita tak lagi nyasar menyusuri kota wonosobo yang memang kecil nan apik itu (hanya ada satu toserba teman2, namanya RITA).

Yah, sekilas itu saja cerita kami2 yang pergi. Di bawah, sedikit perincian untuk tambahan biaya yang harus Ebit, Elsa dan Cece bayar yaitu sbb:

taxi 30,000
lunch - smg 47,500
dinner - wnsb 15,000
taxi + dll 40,000
pak min 10,000
total 142,500
per orang 47,500

Demikianlah teman2. Sampai berjumpa lagi di acara berikutnya!

Merdeka!!!
cece

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Stumbling Spouse?

“…if you were to divorce your spouse, interview 200 "replacement" candidates, put them through a battery of psychological tests, have follow-up interviews conducted by your closest friends, spend three years dating the most compatible ones, and then another 40 days praying and fasting about which one to choose, you'd still end up with a spouse who disappoints you, hurts you, frustrates you, and stumbles in many ways.”

So what to do with an imperfect spouse?


(An article I would like to share with my close friend who is celebrating her 9th anniversary today. Have a meaningful celebration, dear! Luckily the date is correct this year, hahaha!)

Marriage and the Blockbuster
How does marriage fare in the top-grossing movies of all time?

1. Titanic. The whole point of the story is escaping from a fiancé.
2. Star Wars. No married main characters except Luke's uncle and aunt who get toasted early on.
3. Star Wars: Episode 1—The Phantom Menace. Ditto. Single princess, single Jedis, single senator. Who has time for marriage?
4. ET. Single mom raises kids and alien.
5. Jurassic Park. Single head paleontologist loves dinosaurs; ambivalent about kids and marriage.
6. Forrest Gump. A very long court ship, marriage at long last; wife dies.
7. Lion King. Good parental marriage, though husband dies; promising courtship for next generation.
8. Return of the Jedi. Han and Leah declare love but not engagement—troubling family revelations add complications.
9. Independence Day. Good presidential marriage, though First Lady dies.
10. Sixth Sense. Dead psychologist thinks he's still married.
11. Empire Strikes Back. Would you marry Yoda?
    

Moral of the movies: If you have a good marriage, one of you will die by the end of the movie. If you want an exciting, adventuresome, dramatic life, stay single. But if you want someone to accompany you to the cineplex, get married. —MGM

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Desperate Housewives

"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tounge."
Proverbs 31:26 NASB

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A Friend

They say, "It is the thoughts that count!".

But... what do you say when you see that picture above?
What do you think?
And most importantly and the only thing that really matters, what do you think our dear Father in Heaven would say?
What do you see about Him through that picture...?

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