(revised)
Finally, I get a chance to relax and reflect upon the new year 2008. I leave 2007 with a mixed feelings while welcoming 2008 with full of hope and anticipation.
2007 for me have been an interesting year in terms of my career and family life. Adjusting to a new job and getting into the "groove" of generating and executing new ideas and strategies are what excites me most. While at the same time, seeing my children grow and seeing them learn new things is continues to marvels me. Yet the fear of the world outside our home drives shivers through my spine. 2007 witnessed the terrible death of young children and the name NURIN JASLIN comes to my mind. I have not forgotten the boy who was killed, stuffed into a beg and dumped into a river. I have also not forgotten about the mother who allegedly killer own daughter in Penang. I am sadden by the wasted young lives. As a father, naturally I am concerned about the safety of my children, what am I to do? I draw inspiration by the efforts of the bloggers to initiate a NURIN Alert modeled around the US' AMBER ALERT. I encourage strong support for this effort. More information here. Still, we need to do more to make our community safer.
Moving forward, I hope to see (but will probably never happen) is our law makers not make a fool of themselves in the Parliment and outside. Alas, we were all greeted by DVD that brought down a Minister - what a start to the politics for the new year - I wonder is event mark the beginning or the end of things to come in the political scene.
What I look forward most is time with my family, doing things together and strengthening our ties. I am glad all my children are back to homeschooling. Which of course adds some burden to the mother. My elder daughter wants to learn physics - have brush up my rusty brains on algebra, trigonometry and what-not ;-(. But it's a good problem, though. I have always enjoyed learning (for the fun of learning,not for the sake of examination. I really look forward to the joys and challenges.
Come 2008, FamilyPlace will be celebrating its 10th anniversary - yes, FamilyPlace is now TEN! While many of the DAGS recipients have fallen by the wayside, we are still here. Taking our time and pace, we have kept on going, at times take long holidays. It has been fun, we made a lot of friends more importantly made changes in the lives of some - it has for us.
So, I guess there is much to look forward to in this new year. 2008 offers new opportunity for change - make right the wrong and to make perfect what's right and a reminder that there is always hope.
With hope and prayer, I wish you all HAPPY NEW YEAR!
K V
INTERCONNECTIONS. Everything is connected, somehow.
