When my mother was 18, she hopped on the plane all by herself to Semarang to continue her training for a midwifery degree. After graduation, she was stationed in Pekanbaru in a local parish owned hospital. There, she met my father. As many young good Catholics do, the two had been actively involved in helping out around the parish. One day, my father found out that the girl who spoke fluent Javanese all those time is actually a woman of Batak lineage. Long story short, he proposed, they got married, and a year later I was born.

Mom was a 100% homemaker until my youngest brother was in kindergarten. All those year, she dedicated all of her time for the four of us. She was our best teacher, best cook, best confidant, the center of our world.

Mom turned 51 today. She still looks as young and beautiful as ever.

Happy birthday, Mom!