I have a family here on earth. They are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity. Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family. And the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can........................
I have not seen such tall slices of cakes before today! I think they were about 6" tall! Between the 5 of us, we resliced and shared them and even had leftover to take home.
I find the carrot cake a little too sweet for me.
I enjoyed the Devil's food cake
Happy 18th Wedding Anniversary to Roger and Robin.
It was our turn to cook and have the family together at our place. We had dinner at Roger's place at Thanksgiving Day on the 26 November.
The chef at work with his turkey......
There was plenty for 9 people
Except for the pecan pie and the rolls, the rest are home-cooked: roasted turkey, roasted chicken (specially prepared for one who didn't care for turkey), cornbread dressing, baked corn with bacon, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potato, pumpkin pie, cherries pie, and green beans.
If only Lian, Yean, Merri, Barb, Courtney, Sheridan, Landon, Addison and John were here. I miss all of them.
There were 4 bands performing tonight, namely the Sunray Middle School Band, the Sunray 5th Grade Band, the Sunray 6th Grade Band and the Sunray High School Band.
Joshua was the only member in this band playing the tuba.
Then there is Michelle who did the tape dance while the another band performed "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The battery was out and we could capture.......but at least....
I enjoyed the concert, especially the 5th graders band.
Instead of the traditional turkey, we had beef brisket. Roger had it smoked and then roasted. I don't care for beef, but I enjoy this (minus the burnt surface).
Roger cooking the gravy for the beef brisket
The other traditional thanksgiving food we had were: pumpkin pie , pecan pie, mashed potatoes, cranberries jello, corn, candied sweet potatoes and not forgetting rolls.
Baked beans are not traditional thanksgiving food, nevertheless I am grateful for that. I love baked beans even though it rewarded me with flatulence! I liked the deer jerky that Roger prepared as well, especially the spicy ones, because they are more softer and gentle to chew.
The occasion reminded me of our Chinese New Year Eve family reunion dinner.
Here is something I learnt about "The First Thanksgiving" as published in The Moore County News Press (Wednesday, November 25,2009)
Quote
Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. It did not become a federal holiday until 1941.
Most Americans celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. Though the holiday's origins can be traced to harvest festivals which have been celebrated in many cultures since ancient times, the American holiday is tied to the deliverance of the English settlers by Native Americans after the harsh winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God and the Native Americans for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. although half of the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower had already died, many more would have had it not been for the Native Americans teaching the pilgrims to harvest foods. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.
The traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Americans may eat these foods on modern day Thanksgiving, but the first feast did not consist of these items. The foods included in the first feast included duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, swam, berries, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash and many more vegetables.
Golden Corral restaurant showed their appreciation for the veterans by offering them dinner on the Monday after the Veterans' Day. This was the 2nd time Mike played for Golden Corral restaurant. Last year he played in Yuma.
Being a veteran himself, he also had his free dinner after the entertainment. It was very nice of the manager that Mike could take out dinner for me too. I like the food and the environment at Golden Corral restaurant.
Finally I got a video of Mike playing his bagpipes. This video was taken by a visitor at the Cross in Groom (Texas) on Veterans' Day (11 November 2009). Mike decided to stop there for a visit, after playing for the travelling Wall in Childress (TX) in the morning, on his way to play for the veterans waiting to eat dinner at Applebee's in Amarillo
1:15 am:I was annoyed because I was forced-awoken by Mike’s calling my name.I was wondering what was so important a discovery, from the internet, that it could not be shared after I have awaken up naturally later in the morning!
He was sitting with his legs stretched out, on the recliner chair in the sitting room. He looked pale and perspiring. He told me to get the landline handphone for him. He said he had to call 911 because his blood pressure was dangerously low. He had been feeling unwell and couldn't sleep for the past hour. He suspected that the Prazosin HCL (3 capsules by mouth at bedtime) that he took the night before, was the cause of the drop of his blood pressure. He hasn't taken this medicine for the past 1-1/2 weeks. I took down his reading as 64/44.
Our Sunray City duty policeman came, followed by 2 paramedics and then 2 fire department men. Mike called his son, Roger, as well. Roger and Robin live only a few houses, on the same street, away from ours. Paramedics checked Mike's blood pressure and said that they have to airlift him to Amarillo VA hospital (since Mike is under the medical care of the VA department). They feared a heart attack.
Robin & I was told to drive to South West hospital in Amarillo. There is no heart doctor at the VA hospital. At South West hospital we were told that Mike would be sent directly to the VA hospital. The VA doctor said that the Prazosin HCL has been known to cause low blood pressure. His heart was okay.
Prazosin HCL is a treatment that Mike was prescribed, for his PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Mike's condition was stabilized and cleared for release at about 7 am.
Robin drove Mike and I back to Sunray. It was an hour happy ride compared to the earlier ride from Sunray to Amarillo.
There are many versions of the Dick & Rick Hoyt story. I like the Song (Go The Distance) that accompanies this video. This is a very inspiring and touching true story. And I think of my Heavenly Father and his love for us. I can't help shedding tears as I watched this video.
Doesn't matter whether you are a male, it is okay to apply on a clay mask on your face to cleanse and to beautify. Lian had it on and Yean agreed to have his face done as well on this day. I, personally, have done this for a long time, can't remember when I did last.
This song "You Raise Me up" by the Celtic Woman, embedded into my blog, is dedicated to my parents. Dad passed away in September 2005 and Mum passed away in November 2007. I miss them.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary When troubles come and my heart burdened be Then, I am still and wait here in the silence Until you come and sit awhile with me
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up, to more than I can be You raise me up, to more than I can be
How can one possibly get bored with 3 children around? Angela and Karen were forever following me and wanting to know what I was doing. I had to lock my bedroom door to keep them out temporarily in order to get some peace! Catherine was as curious and iniquisitive, but uniquely different. She wouldn't allow me to touch her even after 5 days in her presence! It was not that I scolded her or treated her unkindly. I talked to her, asked her questions. She just wouldn't answer. I touched her. She pushed my hands away. Even until the last day she wouldn't let me touch her. Very unusual! We must have been enemies in our previous lives, hahaha.
Cute, unique and precious little friends! And see the way the 2 bigger ones protect the youngest one from falling.
I don't know why I didn't feel sad when I visited my parents' grave. I don't know why I felt peaceful and happy being there, even though Mum and Dad were dead and their bodies were buried. I don't know why. I didn't feel scared. I felt like I can sit there longer. Why was I feeling this way?
He didn't have to suffer anymore. The Lord has taken Billy back last weekend. Today saw a memorial service at the church that he attended. Billy was cremated and would be buried in another state.
It was too loud to play the bagpipes inside the small hall, so Michael played outside.
Billy said "don't cry for him". He has lived his life and he was ready to go.
Our hearts can't help crying for him even though we were smiling: Irene, Mike, Betty, Billy & Angie.
The Interment was at the Bristow City Cemetery, Bristow, Oklahoma. Michael played (1) Going Home (2) Amazing Grace. It rained while we were at the cemetery. Funny, it stopped soon after the ceremony was over. It seemed that the heavens cried for Mike's Uncle as well.
The cousins: Dale, Rob, Kerley, Jimmy, Pamela, Steve, Jacky, Bobby, Randy, Michael & Michael.
The Sisters: Aunt Onlee and Aunt Eddy
Aunt Onlee, Jimmy, Bobby and the 2 great-grandsons.
Uncle CN, Aunt Loreen, Mike, Charles, Mark, Anita, Charlotte, Phil
Today is one of my happiest days - receiving the following email from Yean...........
I got exam in few more hours.. When i heard this song remind of you.. nah.. here is the song!Doesn't mean i don't remember u each day.. juz tat this song is u like one...
Yean has sent me Dawn ft. ...mp3 (3.2 MB) "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando & Dawn. It was one of those oldies that I like.
....... That was so sweet of him. Thanks a lot, Yean. Love and Hugs.
1st day of the 6th Moon (lunar month, Chinese calendar) in the year 1926, China. Mum was born. She was known as Lin Lui Jing. She has 3 older brothers, 1 older sister and 1 younger brother. She was the 5th among 6 siblings and everyone loved her very much.
At the age of 14 years, Mum's mother died of heart problem. Mum looked after her mother when she was sick as her elder sister had married and was not available.
Mum's paternal grandfather was a business man, owned a sundry shop. Mum's father was the 3rd among the 4 sons. There were no daughters. Mum said even though her father did not have proper academic qualification, he was good in cement work, in chiseling designs on furniture, coffins.
Mum's father was also good in the usage of herbs for a wide variety of sicknesses. Mum helped him to collect herbs but she did not record or remember what herbs were for what sickness. Mum's father also knew how to 'join' broken bones (sigh! this knowledge and technique were not learnt by his descendants) . He moved to Hongkong after Mum's mother died and eventually remarry a Hongkong lady, who also knew about herbal medicine. People would come to their house to buy herbal medicine that they have prepared.
Mum came from a rich family. Rich because there were farms and workers. Workers were hired to work in the farm only. They planted rice. The rice was for their own consumption, for their workers' consumption and the rest for donation to the poor. They planted tea for sale. They planted pineapples for its fruits (to sell) as well as for fabric (extracts from the fruits were being spanned into threads and thereafter woven into fabric). Other fruits planted for sale were Starfruits, Persimmon, Longans, Lycee, Bananas, etc. Life basically revolved around the farm.
The bulls & cows were reared to plough the field and for milk purposes only. As Buddhists, the bulls & cows are respected for their hard work and so they would not eat beef. Other animals on the farm were pigs, ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits and dogs.
Water were obtained from the wells and the mountains. Mum said it was so cool and refreshing to drink them. And it is clean too. You can drink them unboiled and not get sick with diarrhoea.
In Mum's young days, one did not have the freedom to choose one's spouse. A match-maker helped Mum's family to find a groom for her. 28th day of the 11th Moon in the year 1944, at Siak-hua, Ket-yeo, Kwangtung, China. Mum got married to Dad. Mum's face was shaved (smoothened) with a thread that was being pulled across the skin to clear away all the facial hair. They powdered her face and applied very red colour lipstick on her lips. She wore bright red costumes and a veil covered her face. She was seated on a sedan chair and carried, manually, to Dad's house.
Mum and Dad were the 3rd generation to marry in that particular house. Dad's paternal grandfather was married there. Next Dad's father was married there. After Dad left the house, Dad's younger brother was married there too and last but not least their youngest brother. They have all married in the same house and live in the same room for generations!! My youngest paternal uncle is still living there. And probably Dad's youngest brother's son has also been married there! *Note: I have visited this special humble house in August 1999. It is made of mud and cement.
How did Mum felt on her wedding day? She cried while they were dressing her up. She cried because she did not know who Dad was. Gosh! In those days, you don't get to see how your husband looked like until the wedding night. Mum cried also because she missed her mother on this turning point of her life. She was only 18 years old.
Mum was an intelligent and active girl. If there was a choice, she would like to choose her own husband, but in those days, you could not. And being an obedient daughter, she obliged to the customs.
It did not matter whether it was raining dogs and cats on that day and it did not matter whether you were sick, the wedding will proceed. And Mum was sick that day, probably the result of anxiety. When the sedan chair arrived to the front door of Dad's house, the sedan chair was lowered to the ground. Dad approached the sedan chair. Mum was on it but was invisible. The sedan chair was surrounded by curtains. Dad lifted the front curtain and Mum, with assistance, alighted from the sedan chair. Still veiled, Mum was then guided by a lady into the bedroom. She sat on the top of the bed. Her face was still covered with the veil. When the lady left, Mum lifted up the veil herself. Mum cried and cried when Dad came in to the room. She was frightened. Dad pitied her and did not touch her that night.
Being the eldest grandson, Dad was dearly loved by his paternal grandfather. When his paternal grandfather died, Dad's mother blamed Mum. Dad's mother said Mum brought bad luck to the family. A fortune-teller was called to look at Mum's palms . During those days, fortune-tellers were often sought for, to help people to deal with unexplained phenomena, etc. Luckily, Mum was read as 'lucky' or else she would probably be thrown out of the family. The fortune-teller said that Dad's family was blessed to have Mum as their daughter-in-law because Mum was a lucky person. The fortune-teller said that Dad was not as lucky (I wondered how my Dad's mother felt when she heard that). The fortune-teller said that Mum will lead the way for Father.
After my eldest sister, Monica, was born, Mum started going to school to learn to read and write, while Dad's mother looked after the baby. Initially Mum went to the night class. Mum was a strong willed person. When she made up her mind she wanted to do something, no one could stop her. One day (months before my eldest sister was born), Mum wanted to go and visit her eldest brother who had become the head of the family/siblings (Mum's father had moved to Hongkong) but Dad, for some reasons, did not want her to go, but she 'escaped' somehow.
2 months before my eldest Sister was born, Dad left for Thailand, where some of his father's relatives lived. Dad had ventured out of China to look for better prospect and wrote home to China asking for Mum to join him when he had settled down. Dad did not settle down in Thailand. He travelled to Singapore, Kuching and finally Miri, where he lived for more than 50 years and died there (5 September 2005).
My eldest sister was 5 years old when Dad called Mum to join him. Dad and Mum had not seen each other for 5 years!! Mum and my eldest sister travelled by ship to Singapore, where they were quarantined for 12 days, before they could proceed to Kuching. Mum was a charming woman. In Kuching, many men wanted to 'pursue' her even though they knew she was married, but Mum ignored them. Must honor the good family name "Lin" or "Lim" no matter what, or face the consequence of being shunned by her community.
In Malaysia, she was registered as Lim Boon Kun. In the old days (China), when you married a man, you are betrothed to him for life, whatever happened, even if your husband died a day after you were married. And you must remain in the husband's home with his family. You cannot return to your parents' or siblings' home, with or without child. Even if you were not in love with your husband!!!!!! Gosh! What if the wife died a day after she got married?
The Chinese surname must continue and thus the man could remarry again, in order for him to sow his seeds. Any man who is rich could have more than one wife and concubines.
Interesting......... there is an exception if the man died........ If the man's family is renown, they would have their daughter-in-law marry again....... And ........... children borned to their daughter-in-law and her new husband (who is not their son) will carry the surname of the deceased husband and not the existing husband!!!!!!
Mum had worked hard in China, even though she was a "princess" before she got married. In Malaysia, she continued to work hard. Apart from taking care of Dad and all of her children, and in order to help with the household income, she worked in the pepper garden, picking pepper seeds, in Kuching. In Miri, she has worked as a laundry maid for the Shell rest house (which is now the Miri Gymhana Club). She has worked as a housekeeper for the Lutong Machinda Club (which is now the Lutong Shell Club) sweeping/polishing the floors, cleaning the windows and pulling the weeds. She has worked from her own home, washing/ironing clothes for Shell employees.
Mum had worked as a confinement lady for 4 families. This was the one month after a woman has delivered her baby. In the old days and it is still being practised by some people today. The woman stayed in the house with her new born for at least 30 days. If the family could afford it, they would employ a woman just to look after the mother and the child. She has to boil and wash (in those days, by hand) the diapers, cook only meals that are classified as suitable for the mother and bath the baby.
The 'confinement' lady have to boil special herbal water for the 'mother' to bath. In some cases, she is paid to look after the whole family, to handle all the other household works, including washing/ironing, cleaning and cooking. Some 'confinement' lady were employed to live with family for the whole month and maybe allowed to visit her own family on Sundays. She might be asked to look after the new born baby at nights.
This is a busy month and only tough looking women are sought for to do this work. The pay is good and usually at the end of the period, you would get a bonus ('ang pow') which is on top of your pay!!
Mum cared for 3 babies, from 3 families. She had looked after each one of them from the time they were born till they were toddlers. Their parents would sent them to Mother's house and left them in her care during the working days.
Last but not least, Mum decided she wanted to be her own boss. She decided to operate a hawker stall outside a nearby kindergarten. She preserved fruits, made icipoles (drinks frozen in a long plastic about 6 inches long), fried noodles, fried rice, extracted/boiled beancurd milk. She did this for about 25 years before it was handed over to my youngest brother, Robert, and his wife, Caroline.
She taught me about respecting people, regardness of their races, their creed and their ages. Mum was mindful of the children who came to her hawker stall to buy things. Their ages ranged from 6-12 years. A 6 year child would hand her a 1 or 5 Ringgit note and Mum would ask her/him what she/he wanted. Mum would give the child the things because he/she could not reach the things on the shelves. Then Mum would place in their little hands the right change. Throughout the process Mum was kind to the child.
She taught me about being honest in all our dealings in work, business and people. My younger brothers and I have been canned because we were naughty, disobedient and 1 of us almost got sent into jail because we stole her money to buy sweets! She will not spare us the cane or the police, in order to get into our silly heads what is right and what is wrong!
People trusted Mum to look after their children and their families because she was very particular about cleanliness with the children, the food, the clothing, the floors, the house and the children getting enough rest and play time. Except for my younger brother, Joseph, who was afflicted with epilepsy, and our visits for vaccinations, we hardly go visit the clinic. Mum said the nurse made a remark about being impressed with our records in the clinic.
Mum learnt how to sew only after she got married, clothes for Dad, clothes for me and my sister and brothers. Initially, she sewed manually but later by machine. She knitted cardigans for the girls and jumpers for the boys.
Mum was enthusiastic about cooking when we were growing and at home . After savoring a dish at dinner function, she would tried her hands at home. If not, she would be steaming tapioca pudding, sponge cake, etc. We are always hungry because we played a lot.
Faith In God - Mum believes in Tua Pek Kong, in Goddess of Mercy and other divinities. She prayed to them diligently and I have seen her prayers answered. She taught me about being loyal to your God and trusting in Him. She believed in the freedom to choose and did not scold me when my sister and I embraced Christianity.
I was away from Mum when I went to Kuching Vocational School to study for a year in 1972 and then I was away from Mum when my own family moved to Kota Kinabalu for 5 years from 2000-2004.
I am grateful that Liew got transferred back to Miri in 2005. I am grateful that I was able to see my mother and be with her until May 2007. I am grateful that we went to Kuala Lumpur together in October 2005 and she got to visit with her grandchildren (Lian & Yean). I am grateful for the time that we just sat and play cards with another grandchild (Clinton).
Chinese New Year was my favourite Chinese festival. I am grateful for the many reunion dinners with her. I am grateful for the time that we just sat, joked, eat and play cards together with the rest of the family. Mum was good in cards!
I am grateful for the many afternoons when we sat together and she would relate to me about her past, answered my questions and I have been able to record them down. Today, I have put them together here to share her story with friends and loved ones.
Malaysia, Monday 12 November 2007 at 9:05 am (US, Sunday 11 November 2007 6:05pm), I received the saddest text message of my life from daughter Lian: Mum... Grandma just passed away....
It is interesting to note that 2 days prior to her passing, I had a strong desire to talk to Mum, on the landline. Last I saw her was 5 September 2007, the day before I flew back to Arizona, US. I asked my sister-in-law to hold the phone handset to her ear. Mum could not speak but I would think she could hear as I tell her I love her and that I am fine in the US. Mum was responsing to my voice! I could hear her making some noises from her throat.
Mum, I am not able to walk with you on your last journey to your resting place come Malaysia Wednesday 14 November at about 2:00 pm. My body can't be there but my spirit is. I am thankful that my children, Lian and Yean, are there.
It is also interesting to note that Lian and Yean live in Kuala Lumpur, which is about 2 hrs flight away. And they had come to Miri to visit the Mulu caves earlier in the week. Lian is special to Mum. Lian was her 1st grandchild. Could my Mum had waited for the visit of Lian and Yean, before she decided to leave this mortal life?
I know I will always miss you, Mum, and I will cry even though I am older. I know you wouldn't want me to cry because you are not suffering and that you are with Dad, Joseph, your beloved parents, relatives and friends in the spirit world. I am thankful that your spirit have been released from your afflicted body.
In one year's time, I will do your temple work and I will be sealed to you for eternity.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
It has been over 2 years since Mum has passed away. I was just looking at some of my digital pictures and here are some of them.....
With one of her favourite past time - planting flowers, especially orchids. This was taken on the 15 March 2006, 4 months before she was stricken with brainstem infarct (stroke).
Mum - the 1st woman I met when I enter this world. And I gave her the 1st grandchild - Lian. This picture was taken at KLIA on the 27 October 2005
Clinton/Steven/Ah Huat/Ah Peng (he got so many names!) knows that Grandma loves him very much. I know he missed her. This picture was taken at Taman Selera (Brighton beach) on the 22 March 2006
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