My Birthday Gifts from Mama

Wow...what a surprise!!!

I coukd use the coupon anytime I want to. Hmmm

There are so many things to choose from...

Hmmmm...wonder when I'll use this one...

Hmm yummy....I start thinking. ...

Wait...is it ON ME or you, Mama??

Elaborate, please^^

Tumpeng utk B day dari Mama

Thank you Mama.

And....a birthday card that Freya made for me this morning. 

My favorite yellow  rice^^

Happy Birthday Daddy.^^

Happy Birthday, Daddy: Gifts from Eyra & Freya

Two days prior to my B'day...Eyra and Freya were hiding in their room..concealing something from me. (I bet they're up for something and I was right.). It turned out that they made these pictures as a B'day present for me. First, this is Freya's drawing. She always imagines 'B'day' as a party having a cake with the invited friends celebrating. and..oh..some presents, too. (But, Dear...would that be necessary for your Daddy?)

What you did is more than enough.  

Then, as I flipped the paper, I noticed another piece of treasure. She jotted down these words. It's simple, yet..I know how much she put her heart into it. 고마워, 프레야. 

Then..I got two other pieces of paper. One from Freya and the colorful one from Eyra. Yup, these are my B'day presents from Eyra and Freya. 

Nothing flashy or fancy about it....but the fact that they DID something for my birthday is beyond words. I love you, too, gils. 

고마워, 프레야..^^                                       고마워, 에이라^^

Surely, it's been such a great gift from both of you. 

Happy Birthday to Me:)

This is supposed to be Biryani rice--Indian-spicy rice--that has been one of my favorites. Of course, it's home-made. The other day, I bought Basmati rice along with one package of instant biryani ingredients. My wife told me that she'd like to make Biryani rice for my birthday. Dada..this is what it looked like. Although, of course, it looked more like nasi goreng (fried rice) than what we'd expected...ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ hahaha...but...the taste, scent, aroma makes up for it. Thanks, Ma.

* and..wait...though tempe is not the side dish that usually goes with Biryani....since I am a vegetarian...nothing beats tempe! 

As of today, I am officially 40 y.o. Gosh..now..number 4 stands right in front of my age...whenever I am addressing myself in term of age. ㅋㅋㅋ.

Some say life starts at 40. (Yes...but, what does that mean?)

In Korea some say that age is just a mere number '나이는 숫자에 불과하다'

 (...but, once again...what does that mean?)

What I know is that...I've been doing & experiencing lots of indescribable and invaluable lives with people around me....family, friends, and others. 

and..guess..I am just right here to always thank and thank and...being thankful for what God has given me, personally.

Alhamdulillah. Be thankful always, Suray. 

My 39th Birthday^^

Sure. Having a birthday party or celebrating birthdays are not my stuffs. 

So, if every year I do seem to 'celebrate' it does not necessarily that I am the one behind it.

(This year's cake) 

So, who are behind all of the B'day' bash'. "Bash"? Oh come on...this word is too outrageous for me.^^

Ok, anyway...my daughters are the ones who always insist me on buying a CAKE on every birthday.  

They know that March 8 IS my birthday. So, they kind of planned it before. Especially, Eyra. I bet she just could not wait to get back from school and run to the bakery just to pick one cake for me.

This cake was her choice+with a help from her sister, Freya. 

Freya finds birthday amazing. She loves celebrating birthdays even if they are not hers.

So, this is, too. She knows it all along that it is her Dad's. 

"I love you, Daddy" pose. Eyra and Freya are my angels indeed. They keep me making me smile everyday. 

They love the fact that today is their Daddy's birthday. 

Freya wrote a note "Papa Ulang Tahun" 'Daddy's having a birthday"

Oh..that is so cute.

To my wife and Freya:

"Thanks, girls"

Love you always.

Happy Birthday, Suray

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SURAY.

A HAPPY 39 y.o. AJEOSSI, STUDENT, DADDY!!! ^-^

생일 축가해요, 아빠!!!!

Why Not?

WHY Not? Yes..why not. After all, it's free. 

A great companion for a movie experience. 

I didn't expect it when I was buying the movie ticket. 

One ticket attendant g presented me with a free coupon for this set of movie companion on my birthday.^^

On what occasion? 생일이야!!!~.~

One of the privileges of being a member of CGV Cinema.

"Thanks CGV" from a movie-freak on his birthday!!!

My Surprise B'Day Party with friends @ Uijeongbu

I've been helping my friends, students, colleagues, fellows, brothers, and sisters at Uijeongbu musholla for about two months now.
I think it must've been my destiny to be here right here in Korea and have myself be exposed to all of the joys of being here.....: meeting new friends along the way.  Friends who more often than not....become my  family right here in Korea.
Who would've guessed and thought that I could end up studying here in Seoul.
Who would've known that I end up participating or getting myself involved in Korean language teaching class....though I am still learning the language myself.
But...that's the beauty of it all.

 .....so...there it was.
I was going to start my class as any other Sunday morning at around 10.30 a.m. when...I heard a 'commotion' at the adjacent room. I heard my friend called me to come inside...and when I did so....I was so deeply touched by the sincere look and sincere modesty that my friends in Uijeongbu had for me. They surprised me with the B'day cake.....that I will never forget.
How can I?
The cake itself came from them....^^ I knew it was from Paris Baguette^^ my fave cake shop
But..that's not the reason as to why I won't forget about it.
1. First, because it all came from their hearts. I think I kind of love them as my family in Korea.

2. Second...because of the way they argued about how old I am...^^. Out of which.....the cake came up wit a 73 digit candle on top of it.....that of course....flabbergasted me.
I thought they thought that I was 37 y.o. or something. Well, some did.^^
Funny...because I am 38^^
So, to make things funnier......they deliberately set the candles to resemble the 73^^
Anyhow...which one or another....did make me smile^^
I did have a great time with them....teaching them..something I know.
Thank you friends.너무 너무 고마웠어요.

My Birthday

Yes, now...I am officially 38 y.o. What's in an age? ^^ or I also learned in my class" 나이는 숫자의 불가하다" 'age is just number'. Well, apart from those...what I have in mind as of today is that...I know that as my age adds or reduces (from what God has predestined)....I have to make myself a good person. I know I have stuffs going on in my mind. Lots of things to ponder, to think, to do, to say, to contemplate, to achieve, to .................endless list goes on.

A gift from my daughters

But.....one thing for sure....I am saying this " ALHAMDULILLAH" prays to Allah for having blessed me with all of the happiness that one could ask for. I am grateful for what God has given me and my family.
Now that I am living in Korea, I feel that it must've been my destiny to be here for some time to study. I am obliged to always keep myself in the touch and senses of what I believe.

---
I am not actually a person who always celebrate the birthdays. But, this is just a day when I am made aware (again and again) of my mere existence in the world. I have to do good deeds.
So...as a part of my great gratitude to Allah, I am so thankful that this day I am celebrating my birthday with my family. Eyra and Freya...my wife and beloved daughters cheer my days and time. ^^
--

Now...comes to the story of the Pinky cake..^^
I know it IS my birthday...but my daughter, Eyra....picked the cake for me. ^^
Of course, I would've loved to have the chocolate cake but....my daughter really wanted to have the pink one. ^^
Ok...it looks fine and cool, too....(though a bit ...well....too childish for me^^)
But....look at the bright sight....my daughters are gleaming with happiness as they see the B'day cake!!!