Sad News from the Gaither Homecoming February 25, 2006

For the past three months, I have been actively watching the Gaither’s Home
coming Video on TV and also collecting their DVDs and downloading their songs from iTunes…. I like their songs…remind me of my church back in Bogor and the singers are just marvelous.
Some of the singers had already passed away….mostly the old ones… For those who are not familiar with this show… the Gaither’s Homecoming Video is a gospel concert from various artists (mostly from the southern gospel artist) who get together and perform all over the states and also abroad. If you are familiar with southern gospel music, you might recognize some of them, like Jake Hess, The Statesmen, Hovie Lister, The Blackwood Brothers, The Speers, Le Fevre Family, The Goodmans, Doris Akers, The Imperials, JD Sumner and The Stamps….and many others…..even Elvis Presley (who on stage was always accompanied by JD Sumner and The Stamps or/and sometimes The Imperials for his backing vocal group).

I am so lucky to accidently found them on TV and have the opportunity to expand by collecting their concerts DVDs…who are very inspiring and dearing to me.

Yesterday I learned that their main pianist (Anthony Burger) passed away on Feb. 22 when he performed at the Gaither’s Homecoming Cruise. He had a severe heart attack and never revived since then. He was 44 years old. God bless him……

Somewhat I feel sad too since I have been listening to his music and he was so amazing…. His talent and music will not be forgotten….as he performed beautiful music for God…. Now he plays beautiful music in God’s submission…along with other gospel artists who are already in Heaven. And…there will be no separation……

You’ll be missed, Anthony…..

More about Anthony Burger

Picture from Gaither.com

Sakit semua February 23, 2006

Gile udah semingguan ini gue dan anak2 sakit….eh dua hari yang lalu si Sam nyusul, sakit juga. Udara dingin dan pergantian udara yang nggak konsisten bikin hawa ga enak. Gue demam tiga hari berturut2 dan batuk2…. udah kayak koor nggak kompak aja dirumah kita dengan batuk yang bertubi2. Jonah juga ga masuk sekolah dan dengan Sam sakit juga, makin repotlah gue dirumah…ngerawat anak2 dan jaga supaya Sam juga bisa istirahat, sedangkan gue yang sakit ya kudu ngalah2 dikit….emang susah istirahat kalau emak sakit…semuanya bergantung sama gue dirumah.

Kemarin obat batuk abis, dan karena Sam juga demam, gue terpaksa keluar beli obat….walau jalanan licin bersalju…tapi apa boleh buat. Di jalan gue rada pusing, mungkin karena pengaruh obat atau juga lampu2 dari mobil2 yang sinarnya silau sekali (gue berangkat malem, nunggu anak2 tidur dulu). Tadinya gue mau ke Sam’s Club tapi niat mampir ke Walmart dulu buat ngirim duit… Setibanya di Walmart gue pusing dan eneg banget…baru inget kalau gue belon makan…woalah…. udah ga kepengen makan kalau udah eneg…tapi gue kuat2in aja…. masuk ke Walmart dan memutuskan buat belanja disana aja…. Setelah itu ngirim duit dan pulang….

Dalam perjalanan pulang, eneg gue nambah2..kayaknya karena gue baru mau bae sakit dan juga karena mata gue ga tahan sama silaunya lampu2…..so perpaduan keduanya bikin gue eneg banget… sampe rumah gue langsung muntah2….sighhhh… Syukurlah gue sampe ke rumah dengan selamat, terima kasih Tuhan.

Hari ini kita semua masih pada batuk….walau demam udah rada reda….tinggal Sam aja yang kayaknya masih demam….
Hope for the best…… jadi pengen cepet2 pindah…sighhhh….

I will miss you, dearly… February 9, 2006

Here the pictures of Mama Loce and me when I visited her in 2003.

Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey
And perhaps we’ll never meet anymore
‘Til we gather in heaven’s bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore

If we never meet again this side of heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the river of life

Where the charming roses bloom forever
And where separation come no more
If we never meet again this side of heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore

Oh so often we are parted with sorrow
And action often quietens our pain
But we never shall sorrow in heaven
God be with you till we meet again

Today I am very sad to learn that Mama Loce (Suzie’s mom, my bestfriend’s mom) has passed away yesterday morning (evening, Indonesian time). She has been sick for quite a while and finally came home to her Father in Heaven.

She was very dear to me and I love her…always. She was like a mom to me…sweet and supporting me in any ways. I will miss her….

Two weeks ago I still talked with her….and she was cheery though I could hear a heavy breath and tiring voice. She still wanted to talk to me… What a time….

“Mama…. now all the trials and burdens have gone… just rest with God…. peacefully…. we’ll surely meet again… laugh and tell stories…. with our Great Father in Heaven…, Amen”