Happy Birthday Anas

Happy 8th Birthday to our darling Anas. He's a real joy in the Danau Kaseh household - although Adlan & Hakim may disagree to this sometimes :D

Anas asked for a camera for his birthday (Aiyo! Budak-budak sekarang ni demanding betul!). Thinking back, I think I got my first camera when I was in University!! Times have changed tremendously.. Sigh..

To Anas: Happy Birthday sayang. Mama & Papa love you LOTS. Don't forget to share the camera with BaLong, Nyanyah & Chakchik!

Eda's Spiritual Journey

My sister Emilda and her husband Aswad are flying off tonight to perform their Hajj. They will be away for 44 days. Waving Eda off about an hour ago was somehow so difficult for me.. I tried so hard not to cry, but I just couldn't help myself. I know how Eda must feel to leave her children for over a month to go on this spiritual journey..

I love all my 6 sisters very much, but I must admit that Eda and Win are the closest to me. Apart from AZ, they are always the first people I turn to whenever I need help or seek an opinion on something. We share our joys and pains together, we laugh and cry, we support each other. Through thick and thin. You can't choose your family but you can choose your friends. I'm one of those lucky few who have my sisters as my best friends.

Last week, Eda came to my office and gave me a sealed envelope with instructions to open it only if something happens to her and Aswad. We were both overcome with emotions. Amidst sobs and tears, I told Eda that we will open the envelope together when she comes home safely from Mekah in December. I wouldn't want to even think otherwise.

To my darling sister, Eda the Buttercup: Wishing you and Aswad a safe passage to Mekah and back home. Semoga Allah sentiasa melindungi dan merahmati setiap ibadat dan Akak doakan Eda & Aswad mendapat Haji yang mabrur dan terbaik. Take care of each other (^_^)

10.10.10

A very special date today. 3 years ago, Adlan fell & broke his kneecap. We were in Pantai Hospital after his operation when we saw Sheikh Muzaffar's launch into space, live on TV. And now 3 years later, I'm watching the Astronaut's wedding live on TV3. 10,000 guests! Wow! Seems quite overwhelming! Wishing them both a life full of love and understanding..

For me, the Sunday of 10.10.10 was spent in the best way ever which was lazing around doing nothing with my kids, eating dinner together and having a nice quiet chat with AZ..

Have a good week people (^_^)

Another Year Added

my beautifully wrapped present

A day becomes special when the people you love around you make it special. Otherwise it's just another ordinary day..

I feel lucky I have so many people around me who have made my day so special today.. Thank you so much to AZ and the kids for the presents. I love them! AZ completed my iPod RED collection and the kids shared to buy Mama 2 new pets.. I strongly suspect that although the terrapins are Mama's birthday present, they were chosen more for Adlina & Anas to play with ;) I adore them nonetheless (thanks to Ateh for going to the pet shop & helping them buy the terrapins. And thanks for the 30% discount!!).

More importantly, I had a very special conversation with AZ yesterday over lunch which made me feel all warm and fuzzy. He may not have noticed how important those words were to me, but they were rare and precious, and reassuring. I will remember and treasure them.

Thanks to the team members of Messrs. Adillah A. Nordin for the surprise birthday party! It means a lot to me. It made the day special, and not just ordinary.. Thanks.

Just to share 2 memorable Haha :D scenes:-

Scene 1: Venue - Subaidah Restaurant, Jln Hang Tuah

Papa: Hakim has something for you from all of us.

Hakim: Here's your present Mama. Guess what's in it!

Mama: (Looking at the size of the beautifully wrapped box which could easily fit a ring) Is it jewellery? (asking hopefully!)

Hakim: (Looking panic stricken) Errr.. Guess again.

(So, it was the latest iPod Nano with touch screen! Not a jewellery!)

Scene 2: Venue - Home

Mama: Thank you so much for the terrapins! What a surprise!

Adlina: We all shared to buy the present, Mama.

Adlan: Hmm.. actually Mama, I had nothing to do with it. Really.

Adlina: Err.. Bang Long. Hakim took your money from your wallet..

Adlan: Haaaakkiiiimm!!!

Have a great day everyone.. (6_6)

Hari Raya 2010

The residents of Danau Kaseh had a wonderful family time on 1st Syawal! This year, 1st day of Hari Raya was celebrated in Melaka and here are some pictures of the Celebration of Love and Life:-

All 42 of us: Boria Kampung Pinang!

The residents of Danau Kaseh -

Kids have grown tremendously!

Raya Eve: Exchange of Gifts & Duit Raya

Mak + Apak

Anas + his cousins

Anak2 Mak + Apak :-)

Thanks to Mak & Apak for instilling in all of us the importance of staying close. What better time than during Hari Raya to reinforce our ties and celebrate the abundance of love and precious family bond. Thank you so much to everyone for making our Hari Raya very, very special.

Wishing everyone well for the rest of Syawal. Happy visiting families & friends!

Note to self: Beware of the temptations of Food Glorious Food at the upcoming Openhouses (gulp!) (^_^)

Salam Syawal 1431

Wishing everyone a blessed Hari Raya surrounded by loved ones.

Reading the Quran Translation

Al-Fatihah

1. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 4. Master of the Day of Judgment. 5. You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help. 6. Show us the Straight Path. 7. The Path of those whom You have bestowed Your Blessings, not of those upon whom be Your wrath, nor of those who go astray.

I've been meaning to read the Quran translation for years, but never really got round to it. Even bought the Translation by Yayasan Restu about 2 years ago but kept putting it off.. This Ramadhan, I told myself that it was finally time.

And now I realize how much I have missed all these years. The Great Book has clarified a few doubts that I had in my mind about certain issues. It makes many things so clear. I love reading about the Prophets. The stories of the prophets and their struggles made me realize how difficult it was for each of them before in their quest to spread the magnificence of Allah. And yet they persevered despite being tortured and shunned, some even by their own immediate families. The challenges that they had to endure were really frightening and beyond imagination. I feel so, so small and insignificant in comparison.

It is time to learn more about my Creator and the reason why I am put on this earth.. I am so blessed by Allah in so many uncountable ways that saying Thank You and Syukur Alhamdulillah seems so utterly understated...

Ya Allah, please show me the straight path, the path of those You have bestowed Your Blessings.