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On 1 January 2006, there lived a family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who took a photo of themselves as seen above. There were two older girls and four boys in the family. All was well in the family until..... ... the oldest daughter decided she will go to China and find her fortune there. She ended up being influenced by the communist party and lived by the 'red book' The second daughter however was more disposed to the western ways and went to America to become a ballroom dancer! Now Dad was all confused between the East and the West due to his daughters. At one moment he considered himself a communist.... .... and the next moment he was jetting around the Western world with his democratic friends As for Mom, it was all well above her head and would neither chose east or west and decided to just see the world upside down! She preferred to check into a hospital in Singapore and sleep over it. Meanwhile, the oldest boy became the chief cook for the rest of the remaining family but fried rice was the only dish he knew how to cook! So it was inevitable that they had to resort to the nearest fast food place to their home The movement in the family further increased when the two younger boys ventured to take the entrance exams for a school in Singapore and got accepted there! With the whole family dispersed in various places, they had to even celebrate birthdays of each family member over the internet so as to stay close with each other.
In late November of the year, the youngest child took the initiative to bring out the stored away Christmas tree and set it up. This signalled to everyone that the year-end was fast approaching and that it was time for all to return home for a family reunion. The first to come home was the olderst girl from China to Mom's home cooked turkey meal. Next was the second daughter who came home from the USA to rejoice with her younger brothers who were the first to greet her. Soon all the rest came home and the family Christmas tradition was restored again with stockings put up to be filled by Santa.
As a family together with another family visiting from Hawaii USA, that of an old friend Thee See Ba, they went carolling to several homes in Kuala Lumpur ... ... sharing good tidings of great joy to all their friends and family members.
Everyone was delighted to see the family together again, at least for this Christmas season.
(The above story is part true and part fiction. To get the real version, please request for a DVD version available by request if you have not already received one yet.)
Post dated Events :
Addition of the DVD video clip that is posted on youtube :
Addition of the humourous story on a blog turned into a video clip :
Addition of the Talent Show ushering in the year 2007, the last performance of the whole family in Malaysia
Something's brewing....what's Dad doing signing a lease agreement at the landmark Petronas Twin Towers. What is he putting together as a management consultant? Is this the project he has been working for in the past 3 years? Keep checking this journal and his other related links to figure it out. Like the Aussie entertainer and artist Rolf Harris, you may always see all the strokes he paints but can only figure out what he is has painted only after the last few strokes of his paint brush! Why is the bank officer getting the signature from Tun Hamid, the former Chief Justice of the country with Dad as the witness? And what do these three men have in common with Dad? From left to right : an ND(Natropathic doctor), an MD (Medical Doctor) and a Reikki Master What is a financial coach and author doing at the office talking to the Doctor? Back at Dad's Creative Office, why do we have a street fighter turned Social Pastor talking to an Area Governor of Toastmasters International? So what do you think Dad is launching in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia soon in his business?
Su had received her mission call in a letter but would not open it without having all the family members and her friends with her. So the time was set for 1.35pm Malaysian time or 10.35pm Utah time for all of us to get online on the internet or be on the phone as she opened the letter in Provo. Dad was in Singapore while Mom and the boys were at home in KL and we got online. Fei joined us through the phone from Beijing.
It was 2.15pm by the time Su got connected and she asked each family member where they thought she would be sent. Mom suggested the Mandarin speaking mission in New York City while Dad and the boys said the Singapore Mission. At last she opened the letter and she read the letter to announce that she would be sent to the Mandarin Speaking Mission in Oakland and will also work at the Visitors Center of the temple. She should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 31 January 2007. The exact content of the letter is typed out at Su's blog
Details and photos of those moments were captured by Su's cousin nicknamed 'Leeloy' found at his blog (Restricted access for approved email addresses only)
Interesting that in February this year Mom and Dad was in the grounds of the Oakland Temple and wanted to take a photo of ourselves with some difficulty. Just then a pair of Sister missionaries drove up in a car to help us. We found them to be from Hong Kong pictured below :
More pics found at the February 2006 post on this trip where we spent time with Su who was at BYU Provo for her studies.
Postdated event : Her pre-mission and mission photos can be viewed by clicking here.
These are hard-to-come-by solo pictures of Shuan. (Thanks to Photoshop...we can get around things!) The one on the left was taken in the bus just before leaving for Singapore in May this year. The one on the right was taken at Singapore Science Centre during that visit in May.
The thing that's special about this birthday for Shuan is that it's his first birthday celebrated in Singapore. And what "better" reasons for him to be there than to sit for 3 DAYS OF EXAMS, starting on the morning of his 14th birthday!
Here are the real pics with Shuan at age 14 taken in Singapore
Uncle Yen Wei and family were there to join the celebration as it was at their home and the uncle stood beside Shuan to comment how much taller his nephew has grown up to be!
The rest of the immediate family members were faithfully present through the internet as usual.
In every birthday celebration, there's got to be a cake and there's no exception for Ray, not forgetting thered eggs that came along with our Chinese tradition. Then it's time to gather the family to sing the Birthday song but where are the others? Ernie, Fei and Su? Ahhhh.... they're joining us on the internet, with Su in Utah on the top left of the screen , us in the middle, Ernie visiting in Singapore on the top right and Fei in Beijing at the bottom right with her cat! At last, Ray gets to cut his cake as we sing him Happy Birthday so that he can get to open his present. He has been anxious all night! And here is his cool present, a radio controlled flying saucer... ...and he has a successful take off with it! Bon Voyage Ray and have a great life ahead!
Of course Dad get's to celebrate his Oct 5th birthday at the same time with Su in each of the past years but lets spare us all from counting his age ok???? hahahaha