The Gems of Life

Hubby and I took several shots of tots 

at the simple yet wonderful wedding of Bonny and Jega.

They are indeed the gems of life and I feel proud for the parents
who bear them with love and dignity.

The little niece of Jega........so into the pair of sandals that almost look like a Geta....LOL!!

Newly born Arsham.....just merely three months old.....koochi-koochi-kooo!

Arsham with his young mother :)

Just woke-up face.....cute!

Also another young mother with her son number 2!!

A shy peace from Little Bilu!

4 Days to Naw Ruz

Time really flies especially when you're having the nervous-wrecking moment,
preparing for an important job interview.
And now, it's going to be another

four days before the end of the fasting period for the Baha'is.
Oh, just want to show off some photos of easy-to-prepare, less fuss food that easily feed the dry and flavourless taste buds.

 

Wholemeal bread spread with tuna and slices of cucumber, tomato and Bombay onions.

Awesome chilli chicken with tomato

Not forgetting a wonderful breaking fast session with friends of Penampang......prepared a pot of beehoon in chilli sauce!



The Baha'i Fast

Got up at 5am, or sometimes exactly 5:15am every morning.

Prepare nothing else except for two cups of tea and oatmeals, few slices of wholemeal bread

either with scramble egg or canned tuna; or maybe naan bread or hi-fibre crackers.

Not forgetting plenty of water.

And of course, prayers.

All to start the day of fasting since March the 2nd and today, it's already the 9th day!

Delighted to have Roy by my side this time to go through these 19 days, oh how blessed we are....

 

 

Fasting is the cause of awakening man. 

The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases. 

This is produced by the fact that man's thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow...

Fasting is of two kinds, material and spiritual. 

The material fasting is abstaining from food or drink, that is, from the appetites of the body. But spiritual, ideal fasting is this, that man abstain from selfish passions, from negligence and from satanic animal traits. Therefore, material fasting is a token of the spiritual fasting. 

That is: `O God! As I am fasting from the appetites of the body and not occupied with eating and drinking, even so purify and make holy my heart and my life from aught else save Thy love, and protect and preserve my soul from self-passions... Thus may the spirit associate with the Fragrances of Holiness and fast from everything else save Thy mention.'

 

^{~ Taken from the Baha'i Writings ~}

 

 

Happy Fasting to the Baha'i friends!



Ayyam-i-Ha in Mangin

Another Ayyam-i-Ha gathering and celebration was held together with the 

wonderful friends of Kampung Mangin 

two days before the beginning of the Baha'i fasting month.  

Here are some of the photos both hubby and I would like to share.

Preparing some prizes for a quiz session

The  Baha'i Centre in the kampung......soon to be completed!

The friends from Kpg Mangin and of course, from Kota Marudu.......

An amazingly huge turn-out of friends from the kampung.....

All ready for chanting/prayers.....

"Katakanlah:  Tuhan mencukupi segala sesuatu daripada segala-galanya, dan tidak ada di ilangit mahupun di bumi yang mencukupi kecuali Tuhan........"

P-E-A-C-E!

The give-away of gifts to the children.....

The gift give-away also to the youths.....

Not forgetting the parents.....

The emcee of the night....Pakcik Majau!

QUIZ SESSION!!!!!

Those who were able to answer the quiz, need to show off their talents first before a prize is given to them :)

And yes!  He got it!

Mmmmm!!!  Sedapnyer mee maggie!!!

Another smiling face after accepting the prize....just because she was able to answer the quiz question and had to smile for 10 seconds.

Boy:  After this, I'll kill all the mosquitoes in my house!!! hehehe

Please guess what is in this black plastic!!!

All the children were queuing for their turn........

One more for the album!

...the Tembunuo beauties.....

Though a simple dish ~ rice and some veges, the children were enjoying their dinner.....

So a Happy Ayyam-i-Ha wish to all once again........from the kampung!

 

Educate these children....

Just made a simple video of the Ayyam-i-Ha gathering we had together with the friends of Kampung Manggis, Papar (24th February 2013) for the purpose of sharing and giving inspiration.  Thanks to the beautiful voice of Rosperi Menateo for singing the wonderful chant of one of the many Baha'i prayers from children.   

Hope you all enjoy it. Again, Happy Ayyam-i-Ha everyone!

Ya Tuhan!  Didiklah anak-anak ini.  Mereka itu pohon-pohon dalam kebun-Mu.  Bunga-bunga dalam taman-Mu, bunga-bunga mawar dalam halaman-Mu.  Turunkanlah hujanMu pada mereka;  pancarkanlah matahari kebenaran pada mereka dengan cinta-Mu.  Biarlah hembusan-Ku menyegarkan mereka sehingga mereka dapat dididik, tumbuh dan berkembang serta nampak seindah-indahnya.  Engkau Maha Pemberi.  Engkau Maha Pengasih. 

~'Abdu'l-Baha 

Ayyam-i-Ha in Papar

It's the Days of Joy again!

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha especially to the Baha'i communities around the planet.

So here I had an earlier celebration with some Penampang and Kota Kinabalu with the friends of Kampung Manggis, Papar on Sunday, the 24th of February 2013.

Sweet smile

 All red!

devotional

the children singing

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha from us!!!!!

Sanjay & Kavitha ~ The Baha'i Marriage

So finally both the groom and the glowing bride read
the compulsory part of the Baha'i Marriage - 

the wedding vows 

 ~ We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God ~

as prescribed by Bahá'u'lláh 

A little bit more of the eye-liner.....

The grand entrance of the bride and groom, accompanied by these two sweet angels

Near the Ocean

splissshhh!  splaaassshh!

What a nice view of the rock and waves at Likas Bay 

that can slowly smooth out the rough edges of our sorrow and ordeals!

When the wave hits the rock.....ouch!!!

Spot the Tun Mustapha Tower!

Such a windy late afternoon that will cast away all imperfections....

 "Grieve not at the divine trials. 

Be not troubled because of hardships and ordeals; 

turn unto God, bowing in humbleness and praying to Him, while bearing every ordeal, contented under all conditions and thankful in every difficulty. 

Verily thy Lord loveth His maidservants who are patient, believing and firm. 

 He draws them nigh unto Him through these ordeals and trials" 

~ Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha  Abbas, Vol. 1, p. 51 ~

"Be patient in the time of affliction and trial, endure every difficulty and hardship with a dilated heart, attracted spirit and eloquent tongue in remembrance of the Merciful. Verily this is the life of satisfaction, the spiritual existence, heavenly repose, divine benediction and the celestial table! Soon thy Lord will extenuate thy straightened circumstances even in this world."  ~Abdu'l-Baha

The Youths

Just some vibrant, inspired youths who were attending the 

recent intensive course at Kota Marudu Learning Centre 

from 8th til 14th December 2012

Study and understanding of the many holy writings and messages........

for those who were busy in the kitchen.....definitely, they were not forgotten!

the future generation to serve and teach the faith for the sake of humanity

One of the young participants........ready to rumble!

ABM Ridvan Kang.....

malu-malu kucing....

arranging the chairs for group photo!

Oh come'on!  Quick!  Quick!

 

One for the picture!!!