Counting their blessings this Christmas

(From right) Caroline and her husband, David with his wife and daughter (on grandpa’s lap), patriarch Joe Lajutan, Annie with her husband and two sons, and Catherine. Photo: Caroline Joe

Kuala Lumpur-based Caroline Joe is happy that the state borders have reopened in time for her and her husband to fly home to Kota Kinabalu to spend Christmas with her father, Joe Lajutan, and siblings: David, Annie and Catherine.

The Joes, who are Kadazan-Dusun, are a close-knit family, and it is their tradition to spend every Christmas together. This year is no different – they are still celebrating it together – but on a smaller scale, of course, due to the pandemic.