How we intend to spend our CNY

Dear All

I like the pix Bert had chosen of Felicia as Princess Felicia. I spent the afternoon photo-shooting her during her transformation from plain but cute Feli to glamour puss Princess Feli. She received a lot of 'wow' from the other mothers during the cat-walk as she improvised by giving the victory sign (as shown) instead of what the staff showed them to do.

Coming back to what we intend to do for CNY...since we have cancelled our reunion dinner with my bro, Edmund & our parents, we'll just have our own 4-some gathering. Starting from tomorrow (5 Feb- Tue), we'll be attending the Mass and imposition of ashes, which we had not participated in for many years since the kids were born. As my sis doesn't want us to visit her, we'll be skipping the 1st day "pai-nian" with my parents & siblings from my side of the family. So instead, we intend to spend our 1st day of CNY in church for Mass and the blessing of mandarin oranges. Since my mum & dad don't "pan-tang" (they say they are old already, so if have to go, have to go lah!) we'll join them 1st day nite for dinner. Mum wanted us to spend the 2nd day with them, but Bert is not in the mood to meet my other relatives - quite a sham to wish them happy new year when you are still griefing internally. So instead, we'll spend it at Jurong house (as we usually do when Bert's mum is around) with his bro & family. I think it's a beautiful idea to get-together with loved ones that are going through the same griefing period. Just a simple gathering. We need to settle the photo for mum's niche as well.

In the evening of 2nd day, most likely we'll spend in church again for 1st Fri of Lent Mass and stations of the cross. We've been missing all these preparations for Lent in the past due to the CNY festivities, but I think it's timely we should spend time with the Lord and get some spiritual food during this time, as we all need it to sustain us through this difficult period in our life.

Here's wishing you all lovely couples & friends, Happy Lunar New Year of the Rat! (Poor Tiffany is sad that ah-ma has to pass away in her year of the Rat. I had already put up the CNY Rat deco on my front door prior to all these, so she's feeling kind of blue).

Love Theresa