Built-in Book Nook

Ok I seriously want this, like now! Can I add this to my honey-do list? Dh said its easy. I don't think it would fit anywhere in this house though. Can I add getting a new house to my list too? Please?

Condolence Call

Today 4 muslim women came to pay a condolence call. Alhumdullilah. I wish though some men would come to cheer up my husband. They brought food and gifts. It was very nice to have some visitors especially since they came from out of town. They asked me not to make anything so I spent my time making things presentable. Cleanliness is half of faith. May Allah reward them for their kindness. Amin.

The 1st Annual TMH Homeschooling Conference

This is almost two months late as I attended this conference on August 8th as well as my kids including handmade beginnings who is my oldest daughter. I only took notes for Abdullah Hakim Quick as the other speakers were mostly saying things I already knew. My notes are kind of all over the place but insha Allah you can glean something from them. He will be having a lecture tomorrow so check the link.

Homeschooling -Stepping out of the matrix (my title).

Islamic schools are an alternative to the public system. They have an islamised western curriculum plus traditional islamic subjects which creates a burden to the student. Its a crisis for the ummah.

Alhambra had a plumbing system for 1000 yrs and electricity for a 12 km stretch.

We need an holistic education; islamic homeschooling.

Basis for learning should not be book knowledge but learn character from people not facts from books.

Islamic education = God consciousness.

Islamic school has failed. Western style is not holistic. Homeschool is cutting edge. Islamic history. Teachers orientated them. Environment where they could blossom. Quran. Math. Hadith. Fiqh.

Role of the teacher. Revelation. Knowledge of the world. Put it into practice. Parents practice is the message.

Kids learn body language from western secular school from teacher and students. Kids irritating others to fit in.

If we practise our Islam in the society our kids will be equipped to cope with society.

Islamic revival- a change from within ourselves. The 40 hadith of Islamic Revival. ( His book).

Peer pressure. Environment. Rights of the road.

Heart is more than flesh, has mind of its own. Decisions made in the heart remain connected to the mind.

Righteousness- ask your heart intention-why are we doing this? Extends itself to character reflection of the heart. Reflection of the prophet.

Gatherings-sessions-revival of Islam-personal development to fit with the prophet.

Islamic curriculum usually has ibadah. Should have interpersonal relationships. Not how to fast but WHY we fast.

Learning is empowerment; to be able to be empowered in this world and avoid temptation.

3 Steps
1. Taqwa-Fitrah
2. Khalifa
3. Ihsan (Sincerity)

Let your child correct your mistake.
Greater picture; hereafter. Don't worry if your team wins and then if you don't, you commit suicide.

Homeschooling = stepping out of the matrix.

Al Maghrib-deconstruct history.

Christopher Columbus was discovered in 1492!

Whoever has taqwa Allah will find a way out for them.

Setbacks.

To Grandmother's house we go!

Sunday was a busy day filled with baking and dh finishing up (well almost) the playhouse and playing in the sprinklers. My daughter (dd3) baked S'Mores Cupcakes. The recipe was taken from a chapter book she just finished called Its Raining Cupcakes. I made Upside down Glazed Bran Muffins.(These are both delicious!) Then on Monday we all trekked to my parents house but first we picked up dd2 with said baked goodies.  Ds1 and Dd1 also joined us from their respective cities so it was kind of like a family reunion. We went in the afternoon and enjoyed my mother's lovely apple pie with ice cream on top. The big kids explored different playgrounds in her town. The guys talked about guy stuff; they all like mechanical things. My mother suggested I read A Blade of Grass. Dd1 lent me some Islamic cds. I listened to one on the way home but fell asleep half way through. A lovely day all in all but I wish I could have prayed at my parents instead of delaying it. Being a convert is never easy.

Air Janazah

Muslims must always contemplate their own demise and lately after the death of my mother-in-law that mindset is driven home even more. We don't know when our loved ones will die or when we will die or if we will die before them. Are we ready? Have we packed our good deeds? Look deep in your soul. If your parents are alive go and visit them NOW! Dh just told me about a man who hasn't visited his parents in 20 yrs on purpose and for no reason. I know a guy like that too who hasn't visited his parents in 30 years and in the meantime his father passed away and still he sits and waits. For what? His mother's death? His own death? Wake up and live! Follow the straight path. Repent. Do good deeds. Don't broadcast your sins; it doesn't make you cool! Don't procrastinate. Time waits for no man. What would you change right now if you knew you had a month or a week or a day or an hour to live? Carpe Diem-Seize the Moment. Pray now, give charity now, smile at your fellow man now, keep the ties of kinship, make up your fasts, give presents (you can't take your money with you anyway!) and write an islamic will. Hug your kids, teach them Islam, bring them to the masjid and let them know their relatives. Make friends for the sake of Allah. Give naseehah. Volunteer. Donate. Keep busy with righteous deeds and worthwhile endeavours. Make dua for others. Visit the sick. I think you get the picture. And don't forget dawah, especially to your non-muslim family. The reminder benefits the believer and I remind myself first.

Lonely Muslim Converts

I didn't go out looking for this article but came across it when I was looking for baking recipes and thought I'd share it with you. Another Eid is coming up in November; don't forget your convert sister or brother-in-Islam. By the way the website also had recipes in case you want those too.

Future Book Club Picks

Insha Allah there are some of you enjoying this month's book club pick; The Size of a Mustard Seed. If not then I highly recommend it. November's pick as I mentioned before will be Love in a Headscarf. December's will be Healing Body and Soul. January will be Green Deen. February will be Growing Up X. So if you want to get prepared then find out if your library has these or if they can be ordered. Otherwise please order them here. If you've read one of our past titles please go back and share your review. If you have a bookworm friend then please tell them about our book club. Thanks.

How to be his girlfriend.

So come on,  every wife wants to feel like a girlfriend! But after years of marriage and kids its not so easy. Sometimes the relationship needs a little spice, a little pepper. How about some advice from a relationship coach and a muslim one at that?  Fatima Khan with her lectures, books and coaching is there to help. Check out LifePepper! You can sign up for emails too.  She mentions that she graduated at the top of her class taught by Muhammad Al-shareef. I guess that's saying a lot!

My Mother-In-Law Passed Away.

Inna ilaihi wa inna ilaih rajiun. Last night (day in Malaysia) my mother-in-law passed away. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her her sins and grant her Jannah. Amin. I haven't seen my mother-in-law in 10 yrs when I lived with her for 4 months. She was a very nice woman and I really loved her. I'm taking it pretty hard. I feel so bad for dh who missed her funeral and can't get any more days off from work as he already went there in January. At that time she was doing pretty well but afterwards she went downhill fast. The sad thing is that 2 of my kids who saw her when they were little can't remember her and the 4 little kids have never seen her in their lives. Insha Allah one day they will at least get to see their aunts, uncles and cousins. Please say a prayer for her and dh; now he's an orphan.

Recommendations?

Do you have any recommendations for me? I'm looking for new blogs and books, magazines etc. Have you read, heard or seen anything that made you think hey, old muslim woman in the shoe would just love this!? If you have please let me know. A lot of people on my blog list haven't blogged in months. I'd like to shake things up a bit and I'm always interested in new reading material as well, especially for my book club. Thanks!
Hethr recently recommended Muslim Next Door. Mom, I'm a Muslim looks interesting but its only on Kindle.

Homeschooling Picks

I finally bought some books for dd4 (grade 1) this week. Since she has to learn to read I so wish I could have found the book I learned to read with at school at her age. Anyone remember Spot? See Spot. See Spot Run. But this book seems to have disappeared along with other ideas like phonics instead of whole word learning although you can still access phonics with programs like Hooked on Phonics.(Amazon has it!) I got her the grade 1 Complete Canadian Curriculum at Coles. I also got her Brown Bear to help her learn to read as well as a Dora reading book. Coles was also sponsoring a local school library by selling Robert Munsch books so I got Put Me in a Book which she thought was silly when I read it to her. I like silliness. I'm also still using flashcards to help her learn to count and the wipe off books from Avon to help her learn to write letters and numbers. Dd1 told me about Progressive Phonics but I haven't looked into that yet. How is your homeschooling going this year?

October Book Club Pick

October is already here and its time to change titles! This month's pick is The Size of a Mustard Seed. How many readers do we have this month? We'll be discussing this at the end of the month so there is still time for you to get your hands on a copy. This is a great way to support muslim authors. Either order a copy here, get your library to order one or ask your friends or family if they have a copy you can borrow. Next month is Eid and if you're looking for a great eid gift then ask for Love in a Headscarf; next month's book club pick. If you've read any of the previous book club picks please leave your thoughts on the book you read. Happy reading fellow bookworms.