Title of the day: Our family servant, also our family member...

"Yati! Yati!", this is what most of us cousins, uncles and aunties over at the Toh's family (father's side) use to call her.

Yati has been with us for 8 years and she is employed by my 12th uncle and his family. Although she is a maid in my uncle's family but she has been more then a maid to them and also to us... she is like part of us... one of our Toh's member...

I remember when she first came in, I was only 15 years old then (sec 3), during that time my paternal grandfather and grandmother was still around. In the very begaining, she was quite a quiet personnel, quite new also, didnt really know how to communicate to her as she didnt know chinese and only little bit of english but she is able to learn things very fast, especially cooking from my late grandmother.

One remarkable thing I could say about Yati is that, she can now listen and speak very good Chinese! (and her English improve a lot too!) guess thanks to all my uncles, auntie and cousins who have one way or another teaches her. haha...

By right her contract have ended very early but she decided to renew her contract and she did it a few times. But I guess this year CNY will be the last time I will see her again... It is time for her to return to her home in Indonesia next week...

Well... it is kind of sad that she is leaving... cause she has been around for so many years in our family, has been throught good and tough times with us, laugher and tears and most amazingly, she has seen all of us 29 cousins (including myself and my two sisters) grew up from a child, primary school to now teens, secondary school and also from secondary school, to now young adults, working or in Poly / Uni.

She seldom complain nor show a face when things happen, she didnt quit when things get tough, but instead she is always there willing to help and offer her service... especially when both my grandparents were ill on bed.. during that time she took really good care of them till they passaway and I will always remember seening Yati crying a lot of time during my grandparents funeral... it touches my heart as to see how Yati is so close with my grandparents, sometime which we seldom see or heard between a maid and its employer...

I must say we are indeed blessed to have Yati around in our family all this years... although she is employ by my uncle, she did not just focus one doing work for my uncle but also extend her help in what ever family function we have, she has did what is out of her job scoop... she has run the extra miles... now I guess is time for her to return to be with her family and her husband whom she just got married not long ago...

"Yati... we will really miss you! Thank you for all your love, care and hard work you have put in in the Toh family, thank you for everything u have done, every dishes you have cooked, every of joy and laugher you have given us. Thank you also for taking our nonsense, without complains, without been really angry with us etc... All the best Yati back in your home town, will want to visit you back in Indonesia! Take Care!! Wishing you all the best in what ever things u do! God Bless you and your family!"

Heavenly father, I thank you for bring Yati into our Toh family, I thank you even she is employ by my uncle but she has gone an extra mile even to be our rest of family maid, I thank you for her care and love that she has shown to all of us throughout this 8 years with us, although every good thing will end and she has to return to her home for good this year, I pray that Lord, your blessing will fill her and her family abundantly, I pray that what ever she and her husband has planned to do, Lord you will bless her and protect them... I pray for her safe journey back home next week and I pray also if possible will be able to visit her back in Indonesia or she will return to visit us if she can.... Father bless her in Jesus name I pray... Amen...