I love this song. Mhm, the lyrics are simple, a little bit cliche, but it's just a nice, feel good song.

It's one of those songs that pick you up and make you smile when you're feeling a little gloomy.

Alot of people have covered this, even AJ, but none are even the slightest bit close to Michael's original. It's his vooooice :')

His voice.... It's just so.. (I'm hyperventilating just thinking about it) amazing. haih.

and plus, he is goooorgeous.

Mona

I have known about this story for so many years.
Hearing it over and over again. Constantly reminded of it.
Everytime I hear about it, I am in total shock and awe.

But never has it struck me the way it does now.
It is the story of Mona.

On the 18th of June, 1983 in Shíráz, Iran, ten women were executed by hanging for their unwillingness to renounce their Bahá'í belief in the face of the Islamic fundamentalism that had recently overtaken their country. This act was particularly disturbing since usually only Bahá'í men were targeted for execution. The incident brought outcries from the world community appealing to the Iranian government to implement basic human rights for the Bahá'ís. This international pressure had its effect in that recent years have witnessed fewer executions, but Bahá'ís are still denied basic rights of education, employment, assembly and legal protection. The Bahá'í Faith is a religion native to Iran and is considered apostasy by the religious leaders of Shi'ih Islam. Since the religion began in 1844, over 20,000 of its adherents have been martyred.

Of the ten women executed in 1983, the youngest was only a teenager. Her name was Mona Mahmúdnizhád.
Mona and her father were taken from their homes, and imprisoned in the year 1982. They suffered phsycological and physical torture for 5 months. Her father was executed first on March 12th 1983. Mona and the nine other women were executed on June 18th 1983 by hanging.

Mona was only 16 when she was imprisoned and only 17 when she was executed.
To think that she was my age?
I cannot begin to say what I really feel now.
It is unexplainable.
All I know, is that I am completely humbled.
She is an example to youth, to me.
Imagine being her age, she was a Baha'i,a children's class teacher who embodied the meaning of service, and because she did not recant her Faith, and for that reason, she was imprisoned and soon after, executed.
Her courage and faith and love for the Faith was so much.
She gave her life for the Faith.
I have a lot to learn, and I want to hopefully follow in her footsteps to serve as much as I possibly can.

She is a hero.

Their mass grave in Shiraz contains their bodies and despite the fact that their families were never allowed to give them a proper burial, a rosebush grows over their grave and is a powerful testament to their beauty of character and their fearless courage.

Mel Gibson is now producing a movie about her, called, Mona's Dream.
http://www.monasdream.com/

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While Mona was still in high school, she wrote an essay protesting the persecution of her family’s Baha’i faith. School authorities promptly confiscated the paper, her home was raided, and all copies and remnants of the work were thought to have been suppressed. First Mona’s father, and later Mona herself, were hanged by the authorities. But her first notes for the essay were smuggled out of Iran by members of the Baha’i community and published in the west. Here is Mona’s Message:

"Freedom’ is the most brilliant word among the radiant words existing in the world. Man has always been and will ever be asking for liberty. Why, then, has he been deprived of liberty? Why from the beginning of man’s life has there been no freedom? Always, there have been powerful and unjust individuals who for the sake of their own interests have resorted to all kinds of oppression and tyranny…

Why don’t you let me be free to express our goals in this community; to say who I am and what I want, and to reveal my religion to others? Why don’t you give me freedom of speech so that I may write for publication or talk on radio and television about my ideas? Yes, liberty is a Divine gift, and this gift is for us also, but you don’t let us have it. Why don’t you let me speak freely as a Baha’i individual? Why don’t you want to know that a new religion has been revealed; that a new radiant star has risen? Why don’t you push aside that thick veil from your eyes?

Perhaps you don’t really think that I should have freedom. God has granted this freedom to man. You, his servant, cannot take it from me. God has given me freedom of speech."

"I wish I had not only one but a thousand lives to give in the path of God"
--Mona Mahmudnizhad

The Marshmallow Test

I would fail the test.

The best way to spend the holidays is with my good ol' family. :)

The little things.

My mummy's birthday was on the 14th and well, my Papa wasn't around on her birthday. So, we decided to celebrate both Shayna and Mummy's birthdays at Tarbush in Starhill for some good Middle Eastern food.




















The lights are pretty,eh?






















After a good yummy Middle Eastern meal, we headed to Delicious for scrumptious deserts!



















I ordered this. The classic chocolate cake, and yes, I ate everything on my own. So sinful! but OH MY GOSH, it tasted TOO good! I was in heaven with EVERY bite, REALLY.
















































































I love my wacko family la.


The waitress who served us at Delicious made my day.
She was so sweet.
My mom was talking to her about Raya and just having small talk.
Then she invited my mom to her Raya open house! and we didn't even know her. What a generous woman she is.
Then just before we left, she waited outside to shake our hands and to say goodbye.
Such a polite,kind and warm person.
People like that put smiles on my face although it might seem like a small matter, but small deeds like this make a big impact.
Oh, God bless her.

September Babies

Too many birthdays in the month of September.

Yesterday was my Aunty Shahrinna's birthday. My uncle decided to plan a surprise party for her.
She's still so young and pretty, only 33! and with 3 kids already! 3 very unique and special kids whom I love with all my heart and soul :)
















Rain always looks sad to me.
Okay. I feel like I'm stating the obvious.
but this picture to me, is showing like a feeling of grief and sorrow but then, you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Cliche, mhm! It gives me mixed feelings but somehow, it still makes me happy in the end.
I don't know, I just... like looking at it.

Have I told you girls that I love you beyond words? :)

OH OH, Harry Potter marathon+sleepover soon ;)

oooh, cheeky monkey :D

too cute right!

Aunty Shahrinna's just so pretty.

Not forgetting my baby Sash :)

and so, when I got home, lots of people were at the house including one very special person, my cousin, Shern. His birthday's today! but we had a pre-cutting cake/happy birthday song for him :)

:)

RG♥

Okay as some of you might already know, I'm in love with Harry Potter. I never really read the books before until just recently, and yes, I'm hooked.
I've watched EVERY movie AT LEAST 15 times each. Call me crazy but I don't care. Something about Harry Potter just makes me happy.

and well,
I love Rupert Grint :)
He's just so dorkishly cute and charming. Hah :p




Her expression when she sees Rupert is priceless, so funny!

Have I told you lately that I love you?

So yesterday was Shayna's 13th party.

Snippets from the day's event.










































































































































































































Sonia&Navin.



















Isn't this such a pretty picture? You girls cannot get any prettier la.
































You inspire me, to lose weight! Please Nis, no more losing weight!

My gorgeous cousins. I love you guys too much la :')

Finally, after far too long, Mummy said yes to me staying over at Alayna and Nisa’s place. It’s been just too long since our last sleepover. I think we ended up talking the most this time la :)

It’s like we haven’t seen each other in months, and we just cannot stop talking.

It makes me :) cause we always have our little “life sessions”, and then telling each other secrets we’ve never told each other before.

I can and will never get bored of it lah.

I hope we’ll stay this way forever, even when we’re 70, wrinkly and old, I don’t ever want to lose contact with you girls :) I love my buddiiiiiiies!

September’s always a month full of birthdays, too many birthdays actually.

I have 3 in particular that mean a lot to me.

First, it's Mummy's tomorrow ♥

It's funny how we're so alike. Okay, not so funny cause well, I'm your daughter.

but I think,sometimes, I don't tell you how much you mean to me enough. Despite everything that has happened, and all the drama I put you through, you have NEVER, not ONCE given up on me, you have never left me alone.

You've got love for us without bounds.
I wouldn't be the person I am today without you.

You're a leader by example, and you are a true example to me.

You ARE my role model, you are the mother I want to be when I grow up. No one has ever been more of a friend to me than you. Now, more than ever, I feel like I can confide in you about everything because I know that when everyone has left me, you'd be the only one who will stay with me, who will just listen to me, and understand.

You've taught me all the virtues there are, mostly by being an example.

and I can truly say that I have never met somebody so passionate about what they do than you. You put your all in every single thing you do.

Many of my goals in life have come because I see what you do and I want to do that too, I want to strive for that too.

I don't ever want you to think that you aren't appreciated because Mummy, you are the best person in my life, and I love you so much, too much la, I'm tearing up just typing this,Ma because I really do love you so much.

Just know that even if I don't tell you this a lot, I am so grateful that you never gave up on me, you never lost hope and for that, I thank you.

Alot of people strive to be people that are known and famous,Oprah maybe but you know Ma, I just want to be like you.

I love you so much,Mummy. and thank you for being my mummy :')

Shayna's (16th September)

Nayna, I've already told you how much you mean to me. Actually I tell you everyday because I just want you to know that no matter what, I am your big sister and I am your friend and that I don't ever want you to feel lonely because you'll always have me. You are such an amazing girl, and you stand out amongst the rest, you are a role model to so many young girls. Just remember, be an example.

I won't ever leave you to rot, I'll always be there to pick you up.

And remember, it's okay to be different. As long as you know that you are doing the right thing, you don't have to feel bad if other people don't agree, just do the right thing, and I promise you, you'll be okay.

"See with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others and know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbour"

I love you,poopieeee.

Harpreet’s :) tomorrow as well.

I know we don’t get to talk much or even hang out much and I know that I’m not always there to talk to you. I really wish I was but sometimes, there’s just so much I have to do and I don’t want you to ever think that I love you less than a best friend because seriously, you’ve been one of those people who have left a mark in my heart forever(I know,it sounds cheezy but I really do mean it)

You’ve got such a special quality to make everyone and I literally mean EVERYONE feel special and happy around you. You never judge anyone by where they’re from or the things they like, you’re just a good friend to everyone you meet and really, I think that’s an extremely special quality to possess.

You know, everytime I come back home from a day spent with you, I always feel so much better, so much happier and special. It’s not easy to be a good friend, it really isn’t, it SOUNDS easy but it really isn’t but you know, you really are one. I know things aren’t so easy now, but just know, that you’ll always have me, and I will always be there for you, I know it seems like I could just be saying this, but Harp, I really will be. Know that I love you so much and I always will, bestfriend:) I’m only a phone call away.

I love you :’)

Happy Birthday to all the September babies out there :)