cny rawang good beginning

i just realised it was the same time last year that i blogged about cny hols being a bit different....
and i find myself this cny saying it is also different but in an even better way !
that's nice for a change - meaning a change for the better

on my fmly side, i made suggestions regarding reunion a bit earlier with the intention of ensuring it will really be a reunion of us siblings - even in the absence of mum who passed on 2 years ago in nov 2007
first NO NO is- not so much cooking to allow more time for chit chat and catch up
it s not about food really...sometimes the food blocks out the essential and needful thing that should really happen during reunions

secondly - HALAL all the dishes so that Yit and Ani and kids can feel a real part of the reunion instead of ta-pau ing from indian muslim restaurant to bring back to eat...

thirdly- let it be lunch on the first day of cny rather than the conventional dinner on the eve
then we dont hv to rush with others to be in time for reunion
furthermore the guys and married gals can come together with their families and not miss one another bec of chinese tradition ...you know what i mean cos strictly the reunion is only for the sons and their families and on the second day only the married daughters and their families can balik kampung then....
for many years when i went back home during cny my brothers and their fmlies would not be around cos they would have gone back to their wives' kampung.....
personally i am very opposed to the chinese strong stand that only those who bear the fmly surname hold significance with respect to the specific fmly posterity.... hence the daughters are married OFF and the grandchildren are "outside" grands...
In God's eyes we are of equal standing, man or woman - He is indeed a GREAT GOD!!!!

well GOD IS GOOD - when halal meal suggested, siblings no strong objection
initially i admit i did not dare to suggest fully halal for fear some may not be agreeable
but i am glad to push for it cos why should we let pork be a stumbling block to the spirit of reunion???? so yit , ani and the kids daniel and liza more comfortable joining in the reunion and staying two nights which is a record cos most years they came and zoom off as quickly as possible!!! and we even managed a visit to mum's sis (big aunt) in KL together

honestly speaking we were working towards healing a strained relationship betw yit and fat , we girls and their wives... how much has been achieved we have no idea but i believe it is a small move and good start and we probably have to work on more intentional moves in the near future ... cos to the guys it doesnt look like it needs to be worked on....you know guys ... theyll say nothing what, no problem...aiya
the other positive thing is because we stayed over there was a little bit more time for interaction - played saboteur game with one another but some oldies too tired out tidur already
only the young nephews stayed up till midnight - they were actually really quick to pick up the game only 8 and 10 years old! not bad daniel and joshua - syabas!

BUT you know the recurring problem at any get-together? the killer of meaningful and healthy bonding and conversation??? the BOX called TV!! ya - once that is one, you can forget all about making conversation or catching up... must remind future hosts -"no tv on" rule...
And the reunion was not complete cos "ta-ke" ie big brother and gf didnt come the reason being he has some apptment... but a little bee told me he went for lunch in subang parade instead!
is it so difficult to make a little effort - whatever the reason for avoiding (we know) - isnt the reunion a time for peace-making and let bygones be bygones? life is just too short to keep misgivings in the heart and to hold resentment and let it fester within --- forgiving is an exercise that heals our souls and opens our hearts to joy and bless others with what God has given us...
thus the spirit of maaf-bermaafan during muslim hari raya if sincerely taken is one to be modelled but as God wants it, we should at all times forgive others as God has forgiven us.
well my ta-ke is another story...maybe the next intentional peace-making we shld embark on.

Still i would consider it was a fruitful, meaningful get-together over CNY reunion this year at rawang
I hope the next one, God willing will be different but better??? ya ya ya =)

Time is limited, make the most out of it , in essentials!!!
signing off
the bee