Quiet Time turned into Overtime!

Not sure what got into me, but I cooked and baked a lot today. My legs are tired, my feet hurt, and I'm cranky from my cranky 2yr old (!)  I've been working on freezing meals to have during Ramadan.  It's often hard to muster up the motivation to spend hours in the kitchen cooking, so I'll be happy to have a few freezer meals ready! 

I did cook a hot meal for dinner, and in the meantime I prepared a completely unrelated chicken casserole for the freezer. If I had planned ahead I would have combined and used the same meat, but I just winged it today.  Then, as I've been craving CHOCOLATE, I decided to make the delicious double chocolate cake recipe I love.  I happened to notice that the Hershey's cocoa box was going to expire in August, and there was just a bit left, so it was definitely the right time to make a CAKE!

Realizing the first day of Ramadan will be Monday and that my husband will be looking for something sweet to eat after Maghreb time, I knew I'd want to have his favorite on hand: pound cake.  So I whipped up one of those too.  (this is a picture of a previous pound cake, not the one I made today)

Add to all of this washing the dishes, serving and eating and cleaning up dinner, catching up with a good friend on the phone for 45 minutes :D (that was a good part), and then getting the girls into the shower and ready for bed.  Add in a few mishaps here and there (like Aisha flooding the kitchen floor with water from the water dispenser in the fridge)  As soon as I was going to get Aisha's PJ's on, I found her in her bed having just marked on herself and her doll in purple marker.  So, scrap the PJ's and go to the bath.  Start over.  I was really on my last straw at that point and was rushing to pray Maghreb too.  I got her in bed, prayed, then realized the chocolate cake needed some chocolate frosting. Whipped that up, put the whole thing in the fridge and parked it right here on the couch.  Glad I had such a productive day, alhamdullah, thank God.  I'm glad I have a comfy couch and laptop to chill out on after all that work! 
My point was really to make food for the freezer which I did accomplish.  Chicken casserole and part of the pound cake.  I like to cut it in half.  Keep half and freeze the other half for the freezer.  That's what I'll do with this cake for Ramadan.  Probably same for the chocolate cake since I know I'll be scrounging around the kitchen for chocolate after breaking my fast!  Thanks for reading, have a good one!

It's quiet time on this Thursday

Assalamu alaikom wa rahmatullah,
I'm happily enjoying some quiet time here at my house this afternoon.  Each child is in his/her room reading in bed and I'm on the couch with a cup of coffee, my laptop, and a full basket of clothes waiting to be folded.  But I'll just pretend that basket isn't mine for the next few minutes.  The house is calm, and I hear the whirrs of the fans trying their best to cool off our rooms.

I came back from the library earlier with a few new books for each child to read over the next week or two.  While I do let them pick out lots of books on their own, I also feel it is my job to select a few for them.  They don't know what are 'good' books to pick a lot of the time, so I make sure they get to read the real gems for their grade level.  Our library (and I'm sure most have this, too) has a few binders at the desk in the Children's Room with sections and categories full of lists.  Some are arranged by awards earned, some by grade level, and some by other 'official' titles I can't remember right now.  So I often go to the binder marked Young Readers and go to the grade level I'm searching for.  I just go pick a few books from those lists, and the kids usually like them! Ta da.  We not only cover the classics, but we find books that we otherwise wouldn't have known to look for.  As for nonfiction, we do read a whole lot of those during the school year, so for now I don't mind if they hang out with fiction books till we we start back again.

A checkout lady at WalMart yesterday asked how the kids were behaving over the summer.  I realized again how it doesn't differ for me anymoe.  My kids and I are going about life together regardless of the school calendar.  It's really neat, different, and surely challenging at times, but that's ok.  The older kids have found their way.  They know what chores are expected of them (and when), they have books to read, games that they play alone and together, and other things like puzzles and board games.  Our day fills up nicely, alhamdullah, and we go out to the library, to friends, and to extra curricular activites most days.  The biggest challenge is little 2yr old Aisha.  That little monkey knows how to get into trouble before you can blink your eye.  She's really enjoyed a few new activities, though, these past two weeks.  One is activity is using finger paints ( I buy the Crayola brand. They do not stain at all and are a piece of cake to wipe up)  She uses a brush and paper. She's like my other kids and gets grossed out at stuff touching her fingers, so she uses a brush.  For the water can, I have saved some cans that's I've used for cooking.  I just make sure that when I take the lid off I do it in a clean sweep so that nothing pokey is left.  I give her the one that the tomato paste comes in b/c it is so small!  I keep a few in our art area for the big kids to use too.

 The other thing she loves to do is play in the texture box.  It's a tub (a little small, but I didn't feel like buying another plastic tub so I used what I had) that I've filled with dry rice and some green split peas.  She gets out my measuring cups and goes to town 'cooking'.  Like I said above, she doesn't care for things to touch her fingers and hands, so she doesn't really sink her hands in there, but she does feel the rice a little.  My older girls love to sink their hands in the bucket! It does feel good.  You have to expect a mess, but there are ways to minimize. I use it either on a beach towel like the one she's on in the picture below, or I put it on the kitchen table which has a tablecloth that can be shaken out.  Either way, I can shake most of it out when they're done.  I still have to sweep or vacuum when they're done.  That's ok, they really love it and it takes up a good chunk of time.

So that's what we're up to right now.  WalMart has washable Crayola markers for $0.40!  Their school supplies deals are irresistable!  

Ramadan is days away!

Ramadan will begin August 1 this year; just a few more days.  This is our big time, our month, and our holiday that follows.  It is one of the 4 holy months in Islam, and this one is most special because of the fasting.  Fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.  The other four are 1) Saying the Shahada which means declaring there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, 2) Praying at the fixed times, 3) Giving Charity, and 4) Going on Pilgrimage at least once in your lifetime to Mecca. 

People long ago used to fast more often than people these days do.  It was done by pious people who wished to get closer to God, to give up some of their attachment to the material world, or to sit and ponder their existence.  Allah tells us in the Quran (and this is translating) that fasting in Ramadan is prescribed to us just like it was prescribed for those before us, so that we may become more pious and God conscious. (2:183)  Of course whoever is ill or on a journey should not fast but make up those days later when he can. Whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him.  And that you fast is better for you if only you knew. (2:184)  That last part really motivates me to push through.  Allah is our creator and know us, His creation.  He gave us this month of fasting as a purification, as a way, a path, to get closer to Him, and as a way to help others.  If we have a hard time with it for whatever reason, then we should remember that it is still better to fast b/c we don't know.  He knows.  He doesn't mean hardship on us and he wants ease for us, so if we're not well or going through a hardship like travel then we can just make up those days later, and we can praise Him for his guidance and mercy.

Last year I made a little Ramadan Journal for my older kids to fill out daily.  I recommend this for ages 10+ actually, because the writing prompts are a little lengthy, and if the child isn't fasting most days then it isn't very useful.  Here is the link to the journal.  I printed everything out and put it in a binder for each child last year.  I won't do that again this year since they won't be fasting the whole month.  My eldest will probably fast most of the month so I'll make one for him, but I think I'll print out as needed for the other kids. 

The website is TJ Ramadan is loaded with ideas, recipes, crafts, and lessons. Oh boy! It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you see all you 'could' be doing!  I remind myself to keep it simple and just let the kids understand the essence behind Ramadan.  All those posters, crafts, and lessons are there if you want/need them.  I have printed out several things from this site, though, and we've made a poster and used some of dua' pages.  The kids made their own posters with their friends yesterday and we used some print outs from this TJ Ramadan page.

I wanted to share some of these kid-friendly links with moms out there looking for something to do with their children.  In the end, I think setting a positive example is the best way to set them up for success. 

I hope to have about one hour each day when we can go over our goals, read Quran, and reflect on our fasting.  That's when the journal will come out, too.  I'll have some coloring pages for the younger girls to do as well as some activity pages out of a cute book I bought last year called Ramadan Activities. Sorry,  I forgot where I bought it from.

Have a Blessed Ramadan to my Muslim readers!

rose colored glasses?

In our world of online social interactions, do we ever have to deal with life's natural ups and downs much anymore with friends?  With friends now all you have to do is comment on facebook, read their blogs, or send them text messages.  And those venues are all usually perky and filled with LOL's, smiley faces, and exclamation marks.  Blogs are filled with pretty pictures of cute kids, loving husbands, and delicious food.  You start to wonder if everyone's life is really this fantastic all the time! 

On one hand it's nice to be in touch with so many more people than we were from before.  However, it's made us more lazy in regards to actually fostering a relationship with people.  Some might say 'why does it matter'.  Maybe it doesn't, but I'm going to be an oddball and say that I think it does matter.  We're slowly being conditioned to not make the effort to see people live.  We don't even want to make phone calls anymore. Txt messages suffice.  In the end we just see one side of a person and lose the full relationship; for better or for worse. 

It's a new thing, really, the social life that Facebook has created.  Blogs, too, to a certain extent.  It is a one dimentional relationship.  Also, you never know if the author is being comletely true in their blogs. I've recently heard of a lady who made her blog life to look one way while in fact her life was the opposite.  Sad, really. 

I do wish we had more down time to be friends to one another and didn't feel the need to keep it so superficial.  Sure you don't want to be BFF's with everyone, but it would be nice to have a few more friends in real life, I think.  Or maybe all of you do have lots of friends and I'm the only one who doesn't! Hahahaha  No, I know I'm not alone. I see it and hear about it from a lot of people. 

What is the point of this entry? Not sure.  Just saying that what we see online is a painted picture of reality.  It might even set us up for disapointment reading everyone else's online entries.  If all you read is achievements, successes, vacations, weddings, parties, etc, you start to feel like life needs to be one big party! And we all know the reality of this.  Our life is not meant to be a party.  It's not easy.  We all strive to do our best and to have some fun along the way. 

Surah: 2, Ayah: 155
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
"We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient,"

And this verse helps keep me grounded:

Surah: 2, Ayah: 212
زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَاللّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

"For those who disbelieve, the worldly life is decked with all manner of decorations. They scoff at those who believe, but the cautious shall be above them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah gives without count to whom He will."

May Allah keep us all content with His provisions and keep us always praising Him.

Pesto Recipe

Assalamu alaikom wa rahmatullah,

Basil is one herb I manage to keep alive in my garden.  It's only one little plant in one pot.  When it looks like I can snip enough to fill a measuring cup (pressed), then I get to it.  I use this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens:
1 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup firmly packed fresh parsley leaves ( I DON'T ADD THIS)
1/2 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 large clove garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil

In a blender or food processor combine basil, cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and salt.  Cover and blend several times and scrape the sides.  With the machine running slowly, gradually add the olive oil and blend to the consistency of butter.

Side Note:  To keep the part I don't use, I freeze the pesto in a half cup mound on a baking sheet in the freezer.  Once it's set, I put the mounds in a ziploc.  This is handy if you're making a lot.  When you're ready to use it, it will defrost quickly.  We put it on Rigatoni, usually.

Come to Prayer; Come to Success

Isn't it funny how our perspecitves change?  You could be going along for years thinking one way, and then you have that "ah-ha" moment and realize there is a whole other way out there?  Well, it was during a very spur of the moment and short conversation with someone dear to me (who will remain nameless here) when I had an "ah-ha" moment about prayers, praying, and worship in general.

For those who don't know, Muslims not only pray to God in personal "Dear God, cure me of my illness" type of way, but we have a presribed prayer during which we recite verses and do specific motions (bowing, kneeling, standing).  This kind of prayer is done five times a day at prescribed times, and you don't have to do it right then and there but you have a couple of hours to do it in.  It normally takes about 5-10 minutes tops.  (if you see someone at the airport doing this, don't be alarmed, it might be me) (or in a parking lot, that would be me, too)

So this is one of those basic things you start doing as a youngster.  You learn how to pray, you practice, and you try to establish the habit of doing them all, each day.  Sometimes we question 'why?'.  Why five times, why in this exact manner, why daily, etc.. Some of the answers are easy.  We all worship in the exact same way in the exact same language. Anywhere you go in the world, you can walk into a mosque, stand shoulder to shoulder, and pray with the brother or sister next to you.  But the ultimate answer is that it is Allah's wisdom as to why.  He created me, so I'm going to accept His law b/c He knows what is best for me.

Back to that conversation I was talking about at the beginning of this blog.  This dear person asked me how I find the discipline to pray five times a day.  Said person finds it difficult, sometimes, to read from the holy book daily.  That is when I thought what a blessing it is that Allah the Almighty has built in five times throughout the day when I WILL be remembering and glorifying Him.  Because He knows that if it were up to me to find the time, I might not.  If it were up to me to spend a good hour each day in prayer, on my own, I'd likely find a hundred excuses why I was too busy.  It'd be like how I justify not exercising.  Too hot, too cold, too tired, too lazy, too full, too many kids, you get the picture.  Knowing how important these prayers are and having that strong faith and desire to be on that path will keep me praying, insha'Allah.  And now I am more thankful than I was before that those times are set for me.  If you think about it, we don't really push ourselves to continue a habit regularly unless we know it'll be worth it!  I guess that's why they call it 'doing something religiously' because that is the ultimate motivator!

"Then there has succeeded them a posterity who have neglected and lost the prayers, and followed their lusts; thus, they will face devastation (on the Day of Judgment, i.e., he will face Hell)." Surat Maryam 19:59.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Prayer is the best of prescribed things, so the one who is able to do a lot of it, let him do a lot of it.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani (1/84); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb (390).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), says: “My delight has been made in prayer.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i (3940); classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in al-Talkhees al-Habeer (3/116) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

Allaah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour to you that you may be thankful"  [al-Maa'idah 5:6]