All set for Sarah Hashmet's marriage.

Sarah, my daughter !!!

Sarah Hashmet is my youngest daughter in Pakistan. She was named after Hazrat (respected) Sara, Prophet Abrahim's wife and my immediate grand-mother, Hashmet Bibi. So my daughter combined the names of my two grand-mothers. My wife, Raquia Butt, named her as Sarah and I added Hashmet to it. All is set, thank God, for her marriage on December 4th at Lahore. I spoke to groom's father in Narowal today and told him that he is not only father of the groom but the bride also in my absence from Pakistan. If the marriage could be arranged in the third week of December I could have had joined the occasion after compeleting my medical test in the USA but as the Almightly would arrange it I am to miss this important occasion in my daughter's life. I spoke to Sarah today also. She wished me all good in my treatment here and hoped she will see me soon. I sopke to Touqeer also in London. He is preparing my papers so that I can come to London anytime. From London I will be going to Pakistan and hope to stay there for one month to return back to the USA. My friends at the Springfield MO Islamic Center (Mosque) are holding special prayers for Sarah's marriage and I hope God will bless this occasion in a befitting manner. Rukshee, my eldest daughter, told me on the phone today that all is set for Sarah's marriage. I thank God for being kind to me, Sarah and my family in Pakistan on this occasion. All who read this note please remember Sarah in your prayers so that every thing goes right on her marriage day. (Amen)

Angelina Jolie, a famous leading actress of Hpllywood is seen with women in Pakistan who have been victim of earthquick on 8th October. She is visiting the area as a special UNO representative.

the LAST 6 days !!!

I spoke to Rukshe in Lahore today. She tells me that only 6 days are left in Sarah's marriage. Rukshe is my eldest daughter and second in my own family. She is acting like a mother, like a father, a sister and brother to Sarah. I thank God who has come to my help when I am under treatment of my illness in the USA and can not go to Pakistan at the occasion of Sarah's marriage. Sarah's mother had died when she was only nearing thirteen and we both, daughter and father, shared each others' friendship and love for a number of years. She is my friend too, a very sincere friend. During all this time she looked after me like a good house-keeper. At the same time she successfully graduated from the Punjab University and if she was not to marry like presently she would have been studying at the F.C.College for her Masters. She is the first University graduate on the women side of my late father's family, Ch.Ghulam Mohammed Butt. As soon as doctors allow me I will be going to Pakistan for a while.

Sarah and Hassan's marriage on Dec 4th.

Sarah Hashmet Butt, my youngest daughter in Pakistan, is being married to Hassan Butt of Narowal on the 4th of December. Here in the picture Hassan is with (L to R) Khatija Idrees, Mariam Mussadeq, Mariam Idrees and Reema Mussadeq. All my friends in the USA prayed for this marriage after the Juma prayers on November 18th.

Thanksgiving Party at Neveda

I went today after doing my job at the store to Neveda to join a Thanksgiving Party at Pearal's house. All her family was present. There was a big hassle and basal in her house as half of her 11 kids' families were present. She counted and told Helen that 55 out of 84 kids, grand-kids and great grand kids were present.Pearl is Helen's eldest sister and a loving person. I drove from Springfield around 10:30 a.m. and reached there around 12 noon. She was happy to see us. All her girls were pleased to see me. Later around 2:30 lunch was served and then the people started moving back. We also started back but dropped at Gene"s , Helen's other brother, to see how things were moving. Gene was alone in the house as his grand-daughter who lives with him had gone to her parents for Thanksgiving in Texas. We also stopped at Lamar to see what Lorie and Mona were doing. Luckily both of them were available at Lorie. I met Shelbe, Scotte and Alisha. They had to go to some function in Scotte's school so we left for Springfield. We reached our home around 6:30 pm. tired and needing rest. As I had not taken tea during all this time I prepared my tea and took a sank before coming to the computer. However, this was not important mail from anybody.

14 days are left in Sarah's marriage at Lahore, Pakistan, and I am still not sure if my doctors will aloow me to go to Pakistan.

Rukshee and Gori

Rukshee and Gori spoke to me on my cell phone in the morning while I was in the store. As I was very busy I told her that I will speak to her when I reach home. Weather here is very cold for me and as I reached home I immediately wanted to go to bed. I slept for over three hours and forgot to speak to worried Rukshee. She told me that Asif Butt had not got my letter till now. I checked about the other letter and found that it was despatched to Rukshee on November 10th. As a precaution I had sent a copy of the letter to Rukshee so that atleast one gets to its destination. Its already November 17th and only 20 days are left for Gori's marriage. I continue to pray for her and believe God will help me to discharge this important duty with honour. My friends at the Islamic Center also join me in their prayers for Sarah and myself. A big task has been entrusted on Rukshee's shoulders because of my absence from Pakistan but I hope and pray that she will carry out the job suitably. Hall for the marriage has been booked. She is making other purchases for Sarah. Penny has come with the super and wants me to eat. So the remaining part at some other time.

Tristin and Basket-Ball

Tristin is Penny's son and he was to take part in a Basket-Ball match with the team belonging to Willard (MO) school team this evening. Willard is about 9 miles away from the main Springfield. Dave, Penny, Tristin, Helen and myself travelled to this place to see Tristin play his match. He appeared to be a wonderful Basket-Ball player and as I have been a Basket-Ball player in my college time and understand this game fully I really enjoyed the game. I go to Andy's foot-ball matches but as I don't understand this game I don't enjoyed.However, I watch this game to back-up Andy. Both Penny and Dave were feeling proud to see their son play the game and secure goals in the game. On my return I took my super at my own home. Cold is taking over this town compeletely and I hear there will be snow to-nite. Lets see how it goes.

At the doctor's table !!!

My doctor opened my tumor (or a hot boil) on my back shoulder today at St.John's clinic. The wound now is about two inches and the doctor expects that it will help drain out all cavity in the coming three days time. I am expected to visit the doctor again on Monday. He will have a look at the draining speed of this wound that day and probably fix a date to take it out compeletely. I am feeling lot of pain because of this opening and the wound but there is no way out. However, all is quite at the prostrate front, thank God. After it was found, last November 2004, that I had enlargement of prostrate I am having one or the other sort of ailment and as some one said that I am falling 'apart' in this old age which happens because of age factor but I am happy I am having the best health and medical care here because of my Medicare facility by the Government and my insurance people.

Finally .....

I just pray that my youngest daughter, Sarah, is married next month with honour n respect on December 4th, 2005, in Lahore (Pakistan). Rukshee tells me that 4th is set to be the final date for this occasion. I request all my friends here in the USA and Pakistan to pray for her good luck in the future. I also pray that God allows me to go to Pakistan on this occasion. Sarah is being married to Hassan Butt who is my friend's, Latif Butt, son. He is working with his father who is a leading Fruit Merchant in the Veg-Market in Narowal (Pakistan).

Sarah's marriage date.

Sarah is my youngest daughter in Pakistan and her marriage date has been fixed for 4th December. I have requested Latif Butt sahib to shift it, if possible, to 11th December so that I may also join after going thru the last medical examination on December 10th for which I have the appointment with my doctor here and further that I am booked on the PIA for this date too. Lets see how things move regrading this important event. Rukshee, my eldest daughter there, is making arrangements for her marriage. I told her I had talked to Latif Butt sahib last night. Mussadeq was luckly also present with Latif Sahib when I talked to him. Later I talked to Rukshee again where luckly Gori was also present too. I talked to Rabia also. It was a big satisfying factor to talk to Omar too. I also talked to Idrees Ahmed Butt sahib, who is my eldest son-in-law. I intend to talk to Asif Butt too about Gori's marriage dates and request him to pray for her and myself so that I am able to discharge my duties towards my daughter with honour and respect.

The Wedding.

As I have told you that I will join Karen's marriage on Saturay I left Springfield for this occasion with Penny Dave Jackson, Helen's youngest daughter, to be a witness to this function. It was also a big occasion for all the immediate family was there except Sandy whose car was reported broke while driving from Anderson to Arcola where the wedding was to take place. Amber sang a beautiful song just before the wedding "I do" occasion. Karen's other daughter Samie was one of her mother's bride-maids beside Shelby. They all looked beautiful. Sharon and Lori had decorated the hall for this occasion. Karen is Helen's daughter and for that reason we were provided seats in the first row. Penny was most of the time behind the camera. I also took pictures of all the girls here which I will be sending to Pakistan.

Eid ul Fitr

At the end of Ramdan (the Muslim fasting month) a big day is observed and is called Eid ul Fitr. I celebrated this Eid in the USA away from my family in Pakistan. There were three or four people from Pakistan at the Springfield Islamic Centre but most of the others were Arabs. We offered the Eid prayers there. Later all the present were invited to a grand break-fast. Earlier I had stayed at this Centre for over a month but now I have shifted to a one-room independent house at Olive Street. It was a big experience to see many Muslims in the mosque. Dr. Misbha was very kind and asked me as to why I had not gone to Pakistan to wed my youngest daughter there. I told him about the latest about my illness and told him that I will be leaving for Pakistan as soon as my doctors in Springfield cleared me about my illness. He offered all kinds of help and asked me not to worry for I was on the way to recovery as the latest free PSA test showed that my level was coming down and there was no danger of my having cancer. Later he dropped me at the store where I work for I don't have an independent means of transport and for that reason I feel myself handicapped. Rukshee was the only memeber of my family in Pakistan who spoke to me on the telephone. However, I was happy to learn that everybody was fine and happy there.

Tomorrow morning Mukhtran Bibi is going 'on air' at the Good Morning America program being organized by ABC. It will be a occasion that people in USA will hear story of this woman but the question is are they going to understand the plight of the women in Pakistan?

Kiren's marriage at Stockton !!!!

Karen is one of Helen's daughters who is going to be married on coming saturday, November 5th, at Stockton. I will be taking off from work and will go there to this interesting and historic marriage ceremoney. Karen is being married after about 20 years after the sudden death of her first husband. Amber is her eldest daughter and a very good singer. Samie, 17, follows her. Karen at her own place is one of the twin sisters in Helen's family. The other is Sharon, a really loving lady. There is always smile on her face when I go to her house to see her. So is her husband. They both brought lot of gifts for me on my 68th birthday. So is Karen, but her involvement in running a Child Caring Center at Stockton, she is unable to move much out of Stockton but, I must say, she also a loving woman. God bless her marriage. I hope to see all the family at this occasion. James, my friend at the store, will work for me on this day. He is a University student who works at the store, like me.