2557 days.

What a fitting thing that we are currently in Indonesia this year for this.

Being back in Jakarta always reminds me of mom.

The always running around meeting people - I really miss mom coordinating the meet-ups, she was really good at that. The busy-ness. All the food places we would visit (we still get these dumplings from one of her favourite restaurants here without fail, every time we come to Jakarta). The re-introduction of names of people from different parts of life, because she knew many and we can’t remember them all.

But I think one of the things that she never fails to do, no matter how long we’ve been away from Indonesia is to make time for family.

When I was young, coming back to Jakarta always meant a giant family reunion. The first always at airport, where my ENTIRE family from both sides would come to pick us up. We’ve always felt like we were celebrities coming back, a mob of people waiting for us (really only to pick us up and drop us off at whoever’s house we are staying at first). The memories are distinct, because it’s the time my moms would reunite with her siblings and that sight is a wonderful (and quite emotional) thing.

Then the family gatherings. See my mom had 7 siblings, so there’s quite a number of people in the family. My dad had two and while smaller, still as boisterous. But the cool combination was when we can all get together! My mother had this knack of bringing people together and in this case, we’ve had many a family gatherings together as well.

We would spend time with family members throughout our trip here; however, there is always one big gathering. Family gatherings could mean big family dinner (of course food is involved) that included 2-3 hours of karaoke, to family trips to a different part of the country with the big family. It meant being in a room together to BE together, enjoy each others company and catch up on the past however many years apart.

Mom LOVED her family. Immediate, extended. She always made family a priority and it’s one of things I’ve loved learning from her growing up.

It does get really sad sometimes being her without her. She is really a light that attracts a lot of people together and I think Jakarta feels more like a second home when she is here.

However, the things she taught us we’ve always kept close to our hearts. So we are incredibly privileged and blessed to be able to come back to Jakarta and spend time with our extended family here, especially during this time.

We miss you mom, but we know you are incredible happy where you are. Can’t wait to reunite with you one day!

Kim x

P.S. do come back for more family pictures! We are in the midst of our trips so more pictures to come!