Ramadan Day 4

Yesterday Ameena's focus was on inviting people to go for taraweeh prayers at the mosque. I was so busy and I didn't get around to that. But today I called my neighbour and told her about the iftar at the mosque which is open to everyone tonight. Don't know if they'll stay for taraweeh though. As for yesterday I spent the morning cleaning up as my parents were coming over (cleaniness is half of faith). Then they spent the afternoon here and I forgot to give her the milk bags. I read another juz and most of it to the kids again. Also I searched around the house for all my books and tapes about Ramadan and Eid. Then we had iftar at home. How was your 4th day? Are you reading the book? Are you getting ideas from it?

The Ramadan Tafseer Series

Here are some more great lectures for Ramadan from Muslim Matters. Enjoy!

Ramadan Day 3 (yesterday)

So the focus for this day was sadaquah in the book (Ameena's Ramadan diary). I like her idea of a piggy bank. I  didn't implement it though. What I managed to do yesterday though was some dawah to tell the woman at the kids building workshop about Ramadan and iftar at the mosque and about the new Islamic school opening up. She knew about the school but was pleasantly surprised about the rest. After that I went to said islamic school only to meet up with a wall of silence. First I was told that the person in charge was not there and to come back later after Zuhr. So I came back with dh and the person was there but was busy in a meeting. He told dh to wait 'a few minutes' well it was a lot longer than a few minutes and dh was not impressed so we left. Finally I resorted to emailing them. I am still waiting for a response. Since I prayed salatul istikharah about my kids schooling this year I will just leave it in Allah's hands to direct me. So far I have no idea what to do with myself even after going to the 1st Muslim Homeschooling Conference. After going to the school we went to buy more wood to finish the playhouse and I got a call from dd2 saying my parents are coming. I was quite shocked. I called my mom back and she said she read in the paper that it was Ramadan. Not a nice way for her to find out you might think but I don't want to talk to her about this stuff because she takes offense. Then after that I read one juz of the Quran to myself and then the second one out loud to all the kids. Ds4 asked me what does the hereafter mean. Its funny how we assume our kids know these things. I think the kids liked hearing me read the Quran and I should do it more often. After that we went to the mosque for the potluck iftar. My first born son was there looking so sweet in his baju melayu and sarong and his Christian wife in her hijab. She took care of the kids while I prayed Maghrib and even got me a plate of food. Masha Allah. We didn't stay for taraweeh; too hectic with the kids and we live out of town too. So that was my day. How was your day 3?

Oh yes the webinar mentioned not publicising your good deeds. Just to let you know this is simply to keep track of myself and improve myself and to get ideas from others and to encourage my kids who read this.

Ramadan Day 2

Yesterday I was so sick with a head cold. I took my black seed oil and my tylenol and crawled into bed. I didn't even read the book yesterday or the Quran. Strangely I did some dawah though. I had to pick up my dd2 who was volunteering and she asked me to go look at the new restaurant that was opening in town. Nothing new ever happens here so if someone sneezes its big news (by the way I sneezed a lot yesterday!). So we went in and I ended up explaining about muslim diet restrictions to her. I forgot to mention it was Ramadan though but that's enough information for the poor woman to take in. People in this town have zero knowledge about Islam so its good not to overwhelm them. The hairdresser didn't even know who Malcolm X was and I thought everyone knew him. Anyway hope today is better insha Allah. I'll have to try and catch up. How was your day 2?   Postscript: I just read the entry for day 2 and the focus is on dua. The dua that is always on my mind lately is for my poor mother-in-law in Malaysia who is so sick and has gone downhill so much since dh and ds's visit in Dec-Jan.

Tammy's Somali Blog

I've never tried Somali food but I met this sister on facebook when I was on it and everyone tells me Somali food is awesome so I thought I would share her blog with you in case you wanted something new to try. Tell me what you made!

Blessings and Bounties of Ramadan Lecture

Sunnipath is offering a free lecture on Sunday August 15th called Blessings and Bounties of Ramadan. Sign up now!

Ramadan Interactive Notebook

Something for your school aged kids. Great for homeschooling. Click here for the Ramadan interactive notebook.

Ramadan Fun

Please check out my daughter's Ramadan Colouring Book and fun activities on her blog for your kids. This year again she is also selling Ramadan and Eid handmade calendars, banners etc. Please click on her shop on her blog for examples.

Lampost Productions -Free Webinars for Ramadan

Lampost Productions is offering free webinars for Ramadan on Aug 14th and 15th. Just sign up with your email to join.

Ameena's Ramadan Diary Ramadan Day 1

I started to read this book and realized you are supposed to start getting ready for Ramadan along with the author 6 weeks in advance! Ok so I'm totally behind but I did do one thing or more from her list on my own without knowing this. 5 things you want to accomplish..well I did a post on that recently; dawah booth, learn ayat al kursi and reading the Quran everyday. I would like to add to that charity and breaking someone's fast insha Allah. Also she includes listening to motivational lectures. Well I just listened to "When Wolves Become Shepherds" and I highly recommend it. Hmm..connecting with family and friends. Well my family isn't muslim so can't get together with them to remind them about ramadan. As for friends...hmm... Also she recommends reading about the plight of those less fortunate. I also did this. Just finished reading The Boy From Baby House 10. Its the true story about an orphan from Russia. I highly recommend it. Its apalling what's taking place in thier orphanages.

So for her first day she says it really felt like Ramadan because of iftar and taraweeh. I've only ever prayed taraweeh once in my life. There is no nursery in my masjid so what would you do with the kids so one time I got dh to watch them years ago and went for it. This author seems to be single with no kids so its a peice of cake for her to do so much. Have you printed out the Ramadan Daily checklist? I haven't but I should.

My Amazon Order is here!

I'm good to go for the next 4 months book club! I'm going to start on Ameena's Ramadan Diary tomorrow. We'll go day by day to make it interesting insha Allah. The cake book at the bottom was ordered so that I could get free shipping. This will make a great idea book for Eid cakes and its for kids so they can jump right in and make something themselves.

How Our Garden Grows

This year we actually planted a fairly decent garden. Its a little small though but it is producing right now tomatoes,cucumbers (boston and english), beans, watermelons and peppers. I haven't seen any peas or canteloupes yet though. DS2 is the one who waters it every night plus my hanging plants and my irises from my neighbour as well as the flowers I planted in the front which have not produced even one flower yet.