The lead picture was edited by Canva.
A few months ago, we had a happy family dinner. My husband’s cousin came to visit us in Malaysia. He is Singaporean, so we don’t see him often. That’s why we planned a dinner for him. We all wanted to see him and spend time together. We booked a Chinese restaurant in the hotel where he was staying. It was easy for him and for all of us. The place was nice. It had bright lights and red lanterns hanging. It felt warm and happy, good for family bonding. This dinner was special to me. My own family is not in Malaysia. They are in another country. So every time we spend time with my husband’s family, I feel happy. I feel like I have a family here too. They always welcome me with love and care. That night, many family members came. From small kids to grandparents. Some we see always. Some we don’t see for a long time. So it was nice to see them again. We smiled, hugged, and talked. The kids were so excited. They sat at their own table. They laughed, played, and talked together. Like no they don’t want to end the night, full of joys for them, too.
The food was so yummy! We ate many Chinese dishes. There was steamed fish, sweet and sour chicken, tofu, vegetables, and more. The food came one by one. We shared everything. We used chopsticks and big spoons. Some people drank tea. Some drank juice or beer. Everyone was full and happy. My husband aunty was also there. She is my mother-in-law sister. She came with a wheelchair and wore a pretty green dress. She looked happy and peaceful. She smiled while watching. Everybody is there to join the dinner to welcome them. It’s a very sweet moment. Not every day do we see four generations together. We took one big group photo. Everyone smiled, from the youngest to the oldest. That photo is special to me. When I look at it, I remember that happy night. This is incomplete Family members, but it looks like a reunion. like that, it doesn’t happen all the time, so I really treasure it. While eating, we talked a lot. We told stories, made jokes, and laughed. Some shared about their work and kids. Some told funny stories from before. It was nice to sit down and just talk and enjoy the moment, sincerely.
The kids were really happy too. They played and talked with their cousins. Before we went home, they were already asking, “When can we meet again?” Before leaving, we took more photos and gave hugs. Saying goodbye was hard because the night was so good. We all said we hope to do it again soon. For me, this dinner was not just about food. It was about love, family, and being together. I felt thankful the whole time. Even though it was very simple, hello and goodbye, at least we have to look forward next meeting, I will always remember it. We don’t need expensive things to feel happy. Anyway, we just need a good meal and loving people around us who call it family. And I wish we could have another dinner like this again soon, especially since Christmas is coming. Not only when someone visits, but even just to be with the people we love. In the end, simple moments like this are the most special. Anyway, my husband both side family are very close, they always have visiting people, especially the old people, they will really take the time to visit them. As I’ve been with this family member for a decade, I have also become so close to all of them.
