Hijabification

Assalamu alaykum everyone & Eid Mabrouk!

Eid was such a good day for us! While I intended to stay home with iMuffin while my husband attended Eid prayer, that isn't how it worked out. Early in the morning while I was blissfully asleep my husband must of thought it would be nice if iCutie was in bed with me (not). Almost instantly, I felt little fingers being jammed up my nose and in my ears, followed by hair pulling being ridden like a horsey. My husband took him out of bed at my behest, and then proceeded to torture me about what they both were going to wear to the masjid. At that point, I was annoyed, aggravated and most notable AWAKE, so I decided to go with them. When we arrived the first Eid service was concluding and Mashaallah, what a surprise, instead of letting the ladies balcony get dangerously overcrowded, they made comfortable prayer areas outside for spill-over. I was psyched to pray outside! BUT- we attended the second service, and there was no spill over, so I prayed inside. It was QUIET and not overcrowded. I really enjoyed.

As prayer was in progress, and as I listened to the recitation of Allah's divine message for us humans, it all hit me- how tiny I am- we all are in this universe, that I am not the first Muslim, nor the last to walk this path and how much work I have ahead of me, and just how LUCKY I am to be Muslim and to have Islam. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, so I looked straight down at my feet, and that's when I noticed.......that the tiny 4 year old girl next to me had a sixth toe. That just about snapped me out of my cry fest, but nonetheless I was happy to be joined in prayer with a child, and realized just how UNIQUE we all are.

The Khutba was really good. I'm not a saavy cerebral person. I usually take note of a few key things, and the rest just kind of gets lost on me. What was most impressionable to me was how the Sheikh explained to us that the Quran and our Fasts will be present on judgement day to intervene our behalf. Can you imagine that? It really struck me and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. This was my Ramadan 2009 Epiphany.

Worthy of mention- what a beautiful sight the masjid was this day. All the women were dressed in their best. The masjid in our area predominantly serves the Pakistan community; a very well dressed, and affectionate community I might add! Oh how I loved the colors, the style and trends these women displayed. There were bangles and ribbons, beads and sequins, embroidery and vivid color, gorgeous shaylas, abayas, pant suits and niqabs. The children were adorned in the finest garments and running about with balloons. I ran into several people I know, and it was very nice to see them. iBaby wouldnt even crack a smile for my friends! Instead he knitted his eyebrows together and pouted his lips whenever one of them talked to him. Occasionally he muttered "ooooooh, nooooooo" and looked away in disgust! I was horrified! When the service was over and the imam declared Eid Mubarak, I received hugs from complete strangers and strangely I didn't get all uncomfortable!

I walked away from the service feeling good. We were supposed to have dinner with my family but my step-father got sick and we cancelled. Instead- we had lunch at home, skyped with my husbands family abroad, laughed and just chilled out. My mom stopped by to wish us a happy Eid, brought my husband his favorite homemade banana cake and gave iBunny a gift. We had a gift for her too. It was nice! I didn't even cook! My lovely sister made us dinner. That was a relief, as we were running on empty in terms of energy, and that gaves us a nice break.

We also received some good news this day; my SIL gave birth to her fourth child, and both mom and baby are in good health hamdullah! Time to shop and make cards, yippey!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are very blessed. Alhamdulillah- I wish it wasn't over and I look forward to Ramadan 2010 INSHAALLAH!!!!

I hope you all had a special day.....

iMuslimah

Eid Mubarak sisters! The last day of Ramadan was a lovely one, and we really enjoyed ourselves. We took our little boy to a cutting arboretum and park (gorgeous I tell you, gorgeous) and ran with him through acres of lush greenery shaded with giant, majestic Oak trees. My son especially enjoyed running through the hills chasing the poor geese. He kept calling them "doggy" and they just kept running from him. It was adorable. Afterwards, we decided we would not cook tonight, and went to our favorite Turkish restaurant for take out, and brought it home. It was perfect. iBaby liked it too, and ate well hamdullah. After Maghrib we wished each other Eid Mubarak, and reflected upon some stuff, and just relaxed on the couch whilst baby just ran through his repertoire of tricks for us, followed by some homemade ice cream sundaes.

The three of us drifted off to sleep fairly early, and of course I am now wide awake at 3am.

I am a little sad that Ramadan is over.

We don't have any plans to visit with any Muslims (we know very few), but hamdullah, my mother and step-father have wished us a happy Eid and will be making dinner for us today at 4pm in honor of Eid. Isn't that nice???? It will be good to see them, and we will bring them some sweets and gifts.

So my gal pals, I hope you all have had a beneficial Ramadan and a Happy Eid, I am thinking of you all.

iMuslimah

Inshaallah we are celebrating Eid tomorrow :) Inshaallah it will be joyful!

UmmSalihah sent me a package that is literally bursting at the seams (and I suspect it did because the mail carrier brought it to me wrapped in rubberbands!) and I cannot wait to open it. As promised, I am waiting until tomorrow to raid the loot!

Thank you sister, for being so thoughful. Im sure I will enjoy it!

Until tomorrow inshaallah,

iMuslimah

Ramadan Mubarak sisters!

May Allah accept our fasts, our intentions and renew our iman, Ameen!

Above: 4 mat pads, 24 sheets each $2.50 US / ea. UNHEARD OF!!!!!


Above: Pack of 50 blank cards (5x7in or 12,7cm x 17,7cm for my friends abroad) $5.00 US
Pack of mini blank cards (43/4 x 3 3/4in or 12cm x 9,5cm) $1.00 / ea.
Pack of baby themed appliques $1.27 / ea.
Glittery alphabet & hearts $1.97 / ea.

I did get a few rubber and acrylic stamps but I am too lazy to take pics.


Alhamdulillah my son is better! No fever, no rash, back to normal, so we left the house to go shopping at Walmart with iGrandma. I also scored some cheap washable Crayola jumbo markers and washable Crayola beginner crayons for iBaby. iHubster was working all day, so this was the perfect opp to shop for bargains, since my mom has enormous patience and loved strolling the cart with iBaby in it.

Afterwards we went to a local diner for dinner, and iBaby was nothing short of a menace at the table. He is 15 months now, and throws everything. It is hard to teach them the true meaning of NO at this age. He is starting to gain an awareness, because now he references me with a glance before he hurls things. He has also mastered ripping his diaper off from underneath his shorts. Fortunately he's only done it a few times, at home, with nothing in it. Whew.

Tonight we watched CNN's Christine Amanpour present "Generation Islam". I missed the first hour, and caught the last half that took place in Gaza. I couldn't stop crying, seeing the damage, destruction, disruption and trauma the children are facing. I saw all these little children running loose in rubble and amongst other dangerous things, hungry and feeling hopeless. Very emotional. I would like to see the first hour, so Ive set the DVR.

Well, once again this was a craftless night. Tomorrow night inshaallah is mine! When iHubcap & iBaby fall asleep, I will tip toe out and craft myself into a cocoon with the "bumper stash" UmmSalihah sent me :)

I took this coming Tuesday off from work inshaallah, to try to prepare some different kinds of soups that I can freeze for Ramadan. I'm looking forward to this, as I am starting to get excited that our holy month is almost here. If anyone has any recipes they would like to share, hook a sistah up!