ZOHRAB & FAMILY POST

Long long time...

2008-05-05T21:21:00.002+08:00

Time surely flies these days! Did not realise that my last entry was Jan 2008, and it's already May???? Anyway, balancing life has been a task indeed with so many concurrent activities going on. Thankfully, am managing this area somehow. Everyone at home is doing ok and I have moved from Claims to Business Excellence (same Company). A new challenge indeed! Exciting no doubt and requires patience in dealing with everyone in the Company. Anyway, got to watch "We Will Rock You" in Singapore recently.. what a fantastic show! A must see if you have the chance. Back here, just played squash for my club over the weekend in a friendly.. a trashing lesson for me.. (ya, never play with seeded players in future!).

On IT side, still trying to figure out more on Facebook uses.. wonder if I'll ever learn the works.. besides accepting friends and putting messages up...

Anyway, have fun everyone!

Fun bowl!

2008-01-28T10:44:00.000+08:00

Our family had a bowling game on 12/1/08 at the new 1 Utama Bowling Centre where we introduced Zehan to the game. Thanfully, they have bumper rail lanes for kids to enjoy (invariably enjoyed by Mei Hua too... ;-)). Well, what a start for Zehan as he scored 80 (with help from the rails off course!). All's well, we definitely had a good time as a family that afternoon.. Sandra? She sat and watched.. ball to heavy for her at present. But, we played fusball together...

Starting over...

2008-01-03T11:41:00.001+08:00

Today, 3/1/2008 marks the return to school for both Zehan & Sandra. Zehan's into primary 2 whilst Sandra into the 1st level of pre-school. Both woke up early in anticipation and excitement of a fresh new day and year!

The Marriage Tablet by Abdul Baha

2007-12-18T22:56:00.000+08:00

THE MARRIAGE TABLET
(Abdu’l-Baha)

The bond that unites hearts most perfectly is loyalty. True lovers once united must show forth the utmost faithfulness one to another. You must dedicate your knowledge, your talents, your fortunes, your titles, your bodies and your spirits to God, to Bahá'u'lláh and to each other. Let your hearts be spacious, as spacious as the universe of God!

Allow no trace of jealousy to creep between you, for jealousy, like unto poison, vitiates the very essence of love. Let not the ephemeral incidents and accidents of this changeful life cause a rift between you. When differences present themselves, take counsel together in secret, lest others magnify a speck into a mountain. Harbour not in your hearts any grievance, but rather explain its nature to each other with such frankness and understanding that it will disappear, leaving no remembrance. Choose fellowship and amity and turn away from jealousy and hypocrisy.

Your thoughts must be lofty, your ideals luminous, your minds spiritual, so that your souls may become a dawning-place for the Sun of Reality. Let your hearts be like unto two pure mirrors reflecting the stars of the heaven of love and beauty.

Together make mention of noble aspirations and heavenly concepts. Let there be no secrets one from another. Make your home a haven of rest and peace. Be hospitable, and let the doors of your house be open to the faces of friends and strangers. Welcome every guest with radiant grace and let each feel that it is his own home.

No mortal can conceive the union and harmony which God has designed for man and wife. Nourish continually the tree of your union with love and affection, so that it will remain ever green and verdant throughout all seasons and bring forth luscious fruits for the healing of the nations.

O beloved of God, may your home be a vision of the paradise of Abha, so that whosoever enters there may feel the essence of purity and harmony, and cry out from the heart: Here is the home of love! Here is the palace of love! Here is the nest of love! Here is the garden of love!
Be like two sweet-singing birds perched upon the highest branches of the tree of life, filling the air with songs of love and rapture.

Lay the foundation of your affection in the very center of your spiritual being, at the very heart of your consciousness, and let it not be shaken by adverse winds.

And, when God gives you sweet and lovely children, consecrate yourselves to their instruction and guidance, so that they may become imperishable flowers of the divine rose-garden, nightingales of the ideal paradise, servants of the world of humanity, and the fruit of the tree of your life.

Live in such harmony that others may take your lives for an example and may say one to another: Look how they live like two doves in one nest, in perfect love, affinity and union. It is as though God had kneaded the very essence of their beings for the love of one another.

Attain the ideal love that God has destined for you, so that you may become partakers of eternal life forthwith. Quaff deeply from the fountain of truth, and dwell all the days of your life in the paradise of glory, gathering immortal flowers from the garden of divine mysteries.

Be to each other as heavenly lovers and divine beloved ones dwelling in a paradise of love. Build your nest on the leafy branches of the tree of love. Sail upon the shoreless sea of love. Walk in the eternal rose-garden of love. Bathe in the shining rays of the sun of love. Be firm and steadfast in the path of love. Perfume your nostrils with the fragrances from the flowers of love. Attune your ears to the soul-entrancing melodies of love. Let your aims be as generous as the banquets of love, and your words as a string of white pearls from the ocean of love. Drink deeply of the elixir of love, so that you may live continually in the reality of Divine Love.

8 Blissful Years!

2007-12-18T22:42:00.000+08:00

8 years! Yes..8 and going strong! 19/12/2007 marks our 8th anniversary as husband and wife. What a journey it has been for both of us. Regardless of whatever challenges we faced, we remain united and focused on serving the community with great joy. We truly are happy together! I am indeed very grateful and thankful to have her as my wife, and as a great mother to our kids...

We are often reminded of this from the Baha'i Writings:-
"The true marriage of Baha'is is this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each other, and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of God."

Another milestones for the kids

2007-11-10T18:16:00.001+08:00

Deepavali 2007 (8 Nov) will always be remembered for both our kids' milestones. Yes, a double delight one may say. Sandra got her ears pierced whilst Zehan got his 1st pair of spectacles. On the same day, Daddy me also for the 1st time stay in queue for 55 minutes at J.Co Donuts, Pavillions to buy a dozen of donuts! Crazy me.. yes... a day to remember!

Sandra's 1st concert, 27 Oct 2007

2007-11-10T18:00:00.000+08:00

"Children are indeed the gems of inestimatable value!". Yes, our shy girl was one of the dancer at her kindergarden's graduation night and boy, did she blew our minds away! She danced without fear and with great moves! She smiled and remembered the steps. Such a darling to us. A moment to cherish indeed! (sadly, Daddy's video recorder somehow did not capture the dance and now sourcing for her friend's video..).

Zehan turning 7 years

2007-11-10T17:53:00.000+08:00

Our little boy (not so anymore) turned 7 and we celebrated his birthday together with some of his school mates at McDonalds! There were plenty of food, games and laughter heard. Ended the day by opening the numerous presents received. As a promise to us, he is to stop sucking his thumb and he stayed with his end of the bargain...

Sandra's milestone, 4 Sept 2007

2007-11-10T17:49:00.000+08:00

Our daughter, Sandra finally decided that she's game enough to follow her brother's footstep in sleeping in her own room. The room was prepared and with her new "Powerpuff Girls bedsheet" in place, she took courage and ventured into her new world of independence on 4/9/07. She slept through her first night soundly..

Trip to Damai Laut, Kuching, Aug 2007

2007-11-10T17:20:00.000+08:00

It's school holiday time and we went to Kuching for a break! Stayed at Holiday Inn Damai Laut, Kuching for 3 days. A relaxing place to be for a break! Kids have fun in the beach and the sea, whilst the mummy had leisure treats. We also visited the Santubong Cultural Village in which opened up the minds and experience for both Zehan & Sandra on the lives of the natives. Seafood was the in-thing for menu. Certainly a fun filled memorable family holiday.

Music CD: Ladder

2007-08-06T13:40:00.000+08:00

For many who are searching or looking as to who you can contact in purchasing the CD "Ladder" that was produced by yours truly, you may leave your comments and your contact details so that I can get in touch with you.

"Ladder" was produced in 1999 and limited stocks are still available. It's a compilation of some selected Baha'i prayers and Hidden Words that have been put into music. A range of original music composition accompanying the words from various youths of Malaysia in inspiring and lifting up the spirits aroud us.

The Baha'i Writings sayeth:-
"We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they maybe lifted up unto the realm on high."

The World Around us

2007-06-29T21:22:00.000+08:00

It's been some time since the blog has been updated. Anyway, the year is swiftly passing by and the conditions of the world is definitely not improving. Seldom do we now hear of positive wonderful news. The innocent is being victimised and so too is our earth. Even children are not spared these days. Why? This is the question that we should all ponder -"How were we created, from the same dust"?

Let's think about it, if we can all understand and live harmoniously in diversity in all parts of the world regardless of race, language, religion etc and do realize that deep inside, we are all the same, am very confident the world will be a much better place to live in.

As a wise man once said.."The Earth is but One Country, and Mankind its Citizens.."

Joyous Naw Ruz - Bahai New Year

2007-03-22T21:37:00.000+08:00

It's springtime and we celebrated the Baha'i new year (BE 164) on 21 March 2007 with a community dinner on 20th night. We were all dressed to the theme of the evening i.e."Truly Asia" for adults and "Fancy Dress" for the kids . And guess what, both Mei Hua and Zehan won best dress accordingly! Happy & Joyous Naw Ruz everyone!

Sandra's 4th Birthday

2007-02-12T22:50:00.000+08:00

Happy 4th Birthday Sandra! Turned 4 on 13/2/2007 with a simple celebration amongst the family members at home.. with her favourite cake too! Lots of strawberries...
One for the family album! Cheeze....

New beginings - Starting School

2007-02-12T22:36:00.000+08:00

4 Jan 2007, a new begining for both Zehan & Sandra for they respectively entered Primary 1, and pre-school.
Zehan started in the chinese school, SRJK Desa Jaya 2, whilst Sandra into Tadika Lestari. Both were excited on their first day as you can see from the photos. Growing up real fast!

More from the Cruise

2007-01-23T22:02:00.000+08:00

" You jump I jump"? Ha.. right at the front of the cruise

Ay ay!

All the activities and so little time! What a memorable cruise!

Superstar Virgo Holidays - 8 - 10 Nov 06

2007-01-23T21:43:00.000+08:00

With the Captain! Save hands..
Main concourse - very majestic
Mini golf and the pool..see Zehan jump whilst Sandra swimming away.

Our first cruise experience on board Superstar Virgo was indeed most exciting, fun filled and memorable one. Not only did we get to participate in so many activities and to watch the live performance, there were also plenty of foods to savour! Our first cruise is from Singapore to Port Klang for 3 Days 2 Nights. Well worth the amount paid (on offer) and time seems so short on board. The kids had a great time at the pool and the amusement centres (besides the children programme), whilst Daddy got 2 medals from Karaoke and a group game and Mummy missing out on a medal. But, Mummy got to learn a few new dance on board... The atmosphere was simply awsome and majestic. No sea sick encountered for it was a very stable cruise despite us sleeping in the lowest of deck. Catch some of the moments taken as part of another chapter in our lives.

Making of "Dragon" Chong

2007-01-23T21:21:00.000+08:00

My silver medal!
Like my swing?
Graduation ceremony of Kindergolf
Warm up matters before start of tournament... paid off for sure that day!

Watch out Tiger! There's Dragon in town breathing up a new era. Yup, this is none other than Zehan whom started to pick up the golf skills at the age of 5 plus. We enrolled him into Kindergolf to learn the basic of the game and about a year later, he participated in the Quarterly Medal (his 1st) and won runner up in Category A. What a start! So..PGA...watch out!

Recording Artists - Radio 9

2007-01-23T08:31:00.000+08:00

Both Zehan & Sandra were exposed to lending their voice as talents for a Baha'i inspired internet radio station, Radio 9 in Dec 06. Together with some other children, they had to endure 2 hours of recording in which is now on air. Listen to Radio 9!

Zehan's Graduation

2007-01-23T08:23:00.000+08:00

Zehan graduated from Kindergarden (Tadika Sri Lestari) on 17 Nov 2006. Going off to primary one from Jan 07 in a chinese school nearby. He had been exposed to chinese as a medium of learning. Proud of his achievements and progress in his studies.

Latest Picture

2007-01-12T21:33:00.000+08:00

This is us! Yup, the 4 of us all dressed up for my cousin's wedding in Dec 06! Notice the cheeky boy pose and the sweet little princess?

And, that's me lovely wife next to me.

Introducing Ourselves

2006-11-27T13:31:00.000+08:00

Allow me to begin by introducing my loving and most capable wife, Mei Hua hailing originally from Balik Pulau, Penang, she has moved about to a few states in Malaysia before ending up with me in Petaling Jaya. We met in Kangar, Perlis during one of the Bahai Winter School in 1997. A graduate in Finance, she had worked with Cargill before retiring to become the educator/ mother to our son when born in September 2000. Besides managing the daily home affairs, she's also serving humanity as a children class teacher. The class based on Bahai Faith's princples, focuses on the moral and spiritual education of the child.

We got married on 19 Dec 1999 and was blessed with our first born whom we named Zehan Chong Eng Ren. Indeed a charming and lovely child and he's growing up well. Starting his primary 1 next year. Amongst his great achievement till now is being able to complete the 200 piece jigsaw puzzle at age 5 without help, and have recently won runner up in his junior golf medal tournament.

In 2003, we were further blessed with the arrival of Sandra Chong Zi Minh in Feb 2003. She's bubbly, pretty and loving in character. Always willing to help others...true to the meaning of her name. At the age of 3 now, she's able to insert and start playing the Barney CD rom on my PC and to navigate with the mouse. Interestingly, she also managed to insert her photo into the word document (without anyone's assistance..).

Our kids

2006-11-24T16:25:00.000+08:00

Introducing Zehan & Sandra. Hmmm...wonder if Chelsea are interested in both of these young talents...

New Journey

2006-11-24T11:54:00.000+08:00

Alas! Managed to jump into the band wagon in setting up our own family blog. A big step ahead and will begin to post and share further.