Kampungku...

Planning untuk balik kampung ni actually dah lama. Inilah saat yg ditunggu2, oleh semuanya. Mama mia, Afafita and Wafitos. (and the unborn baby too, of course). So, when Papa had to go to Egypt for a week for his work tour, we were so excited. This is the time, the perfect time for the rest of us to spend a long holiday at our kampung during the school holiday, without feeling guilty of leaving Papa alone at home. So, apa lagi..Mama mia really encouraged Papa to go outstation, convincing him that this work tour is so important (as if he didn't know) and he shouldn't be worried about us..... (bersungguh-sungguh menghasut suami suh gi belayar)

So, dipendekkan cerita, here we are...at my parents house with the kids. As a matter of fact, we have been here for almost a week. We have spend great, enjoyable moments here for almost a week. Banyak activities yang dibuat di sini: bertukar-tukar cerita, bergossip (oppss...), usik-mengusik antara adik-beradik, bermain dengan Iffato (my nephew), gi shopping kat my fave shopping mall, and the best part is......menambahkan berat badan dengan masakan my mom yg diidamkan selama hampir dua bulan lamanya.

Kebetulan pulak, two days before we went back to kampung, the gynae told me that I really have to put on some weight, so that I could have more energy. So..apa lagi, pucuk dicita, ulam mendatang...that gynae's suggestion was really a very sound reason for me to eat, eat, and eat......heheh.

Afafita pun dah bertambah bulat. Kebetulan, last week, dia merana seminggu tak makan cos sakit tekak, biasalah...very bad tonsilitis. So, at my parents house...dia balas dendam seminggu dengan makan sepuas-puasnya. Alhamdulillah, all my fave food yg diidamkan selama dua bulan nie dapat dimakan...laksa johor, mee rebus johor, ikan siakap panggang, karipap, nasi ayam my mom's version, bihun goreng putih...etc.

Seronoknya.....

Selama seminggu ni jugak jadi nanny Iffato. The kids betul2 melepaskan rindu dengan cousin mereka yg satu nie... kebetulan pulak si Iffato nie dah nak masuk 12months...memang tgh sedap dibuat main, so active.....

What I most missed about living in my parents house besides the food is the fresh, cool air. Udara di sini mmg superb...mungkin disebabkan rumah nie atas bukit, dan ada banyak pokok2...tidur mlm pun tak payah pakai kipas. Dahlah tak perlu kipas, kena pakai selimut lagi. Rasa mcm kat Bandung, Indonesia or kat Cameron Highland jer. Udara yg nyaman and segar nie..memang sesuai untuk berehat dan release tension.

Lagi 2, 3 days..kena balik semula ke rumah sendiri. Ya Allah..malasnya...tapi apa nak buat, hubby pun nak balik dari Egypt. Dah terbayang kebosanan yg menanti...isy...tak baik pulak fikir mcm tu. I hate to admit it, but I really think I tak berapa serasi dok kat kawasan rumah i sekarang nie. Entahlah....I prefer duduk kat tempat lama....

Anyway...life must go on....semoga selepas recharge 'battery' kat kampung nie, Mama mia and the kids akan bersemangat untuk menjalani hari-hari mendatang di rumah sendiri selepas ni...walaupun kita tau...kalau diberi pilihan kita semua nak terus stay kat kampung mcm dulu....

Things in your life

” In life, only take the things you need, not the things you want”.

When I first came across this nice wordings, I started to think of my own life and journey in this world. The first question that boggles my mind until now is 'Do I really have with me all the things that I really need and should have?'.

But of course, that initial question has potentially grown and extended to a list of more complex questions that forced myself to ponder upon all the things that I posses and to contemplate on my own lifestyle. Unfortunately, the list of questions and the sincere answers of them eventually lead me to a very scary and terrifying conclusion: I did bring along with me the unnecessary things in my life...and I did take the unnecessary things that I wanted in my life!!

Ya Rabbi...how could I be so blind all this time? How much had I wasted my time, energy and money on things that I actually don't really need? I never realized then that almost 50% of all the things that I have until now are as a matter of fact don't fall in the category of 'hajiyyaat' and 'dharuriyyaat'. And almost 20% of all my possessions can be categorized as the 'tahsiniyyat'. This striking fact indicates that most of the things that I have are based on 'I want', not 'I need'.

I know that I must do something to stop having the unnecessary things in my life, the things that surely cannot bring any benefit to my iman to Allah. And the solution is undeniably the concept of 'qana'ah', as practiced by Rasulullah and His Companions. However, it's easier to say than to practice it. But this shouldn't be an excuse for not trying to start practicing it gradually in my life, right?

What a Scary Fact...

" One in four Malaysians has a lifetime risk of developing cancer. By the end of year 2020, it will be one of three if no action is taken. This potentially means every family will have at least one member suffering from cancer- be it your parent, spouse, sibling or child"

By Doctor Saunthari, Executive Director of National Cancer Society Malaysia.

What Makes A Father Special To A Daughter...

• A father teaches his daughter what men are and what sort of treatment she can expect from them. He gives her the first inkling of what men will think of her.
• A father's praise and specific comments about her intelligence, appearance and skills are crucial to a daughter feeling feminine and good about herself
• A father will give his daughter the edge she needs in order to love and accept herself, and meet the challenges of personal and professional achievement with confidence.
• A father provides the right balance of warmth, structure and discipline that grounds his daughter with a healthy self-image.
• Above all else, a father sets the foundation of unconditional love and trust for his daughter.

To my beloved dad...thanks for being such a great one!!

United We Stand: Divided We Fall

United We Stand: Divided We Fall
by Amanah Khalid UK
A letter from the heart, to my beloved Sisters in Islam; Did you see the news yesterday? have you heard what's going on? So much pain and so much suffering, somebody please tell me, where has all the Love gone? Islam once more is under scrutiny, blamed again by all the media and press. For terrorist plans, fighting and killing, we can only watch with helplessness. Innocent Muslims under arrest, innocent Muslims dying. Innocent Muslims persecuted, while the disbelievers are thriving. Our beautiful and perfect Islam, is being torn apart at the seams. And the possibility of a United Ummah, is present only in ones dreams. But who is to blame for the destruction? all over the world, making such a mess. Who is to blame for ultimate chaos? let us maybe take a guess. Is it Tony Blair or the World Summit? is it America's President Bush? Is it the people belonging to other faiths? is it maybe, possibly, Us? Have we fated our own destiny? and fallen off the righteous path? To concerned with frivolous issues, completely failing to fear Allah's wrath. I now sense you are thinking... "well, what have we Muslims possibly done wrong"? But just pause for a moment, and think about just how we get along. The sad truth is that we don't, and we don't have time for defence against others. As we are far far too busy, judging and fighting our very own sisters and brothers. Which sect are you part of? which Mosque is it you go too? What school of thought do you follow? Mmmmm, I can't be seen then sitting with you! There are 73 sects in Islam, and even each of those are further divided. Into this group, that group, and the other group, Islam once 'One' has become many sided. Are you Sunni? Are you Shi'a? are you Wahabi or Taliban? This is not the teachings of beautiful Islam, This is not the teachings of the Holy Qu'ran. Why label each other or yourself? don't make life for other Muslims tough. Regardless of type or country, we are all Muslims -- isn't that good enough? Don't you see that's why the west is winning? and why the Muslims are so weak. We are to busy not talking to each other, Forgiveness in Allah is what we must seek. For if we all came together, and stood as 'One HUGE United front'. We would no longer be separate and small, and no more, the target of this hunt. Look at the person sitting next to you, she is the same as you and every Muslim other. Embrace lovingly into the fold of all Islam, every Muslim sister and brother. Come together all Muslim countries, from both near and afar. Come together all followers of one Islam, unite in Peace for the Love of Allah. Stand together as one true religion, stand with your neighbours, family and friends. Show this world how united we are, Islam... is our answer... and complete means to an end. When meeting any Muslim sister, and to ensure the start of peace is truly begun. Open your heart as wide as your arms, And say... my dear sister... Assalaam o Alikum. The word Islam translated into English means Peace. May we create it soon... Inshallah.

Science activities for the kids...

Water Bottle Trick: Air Pressure & Gravity

It's the ultimate prank using the simplest of props... a plastic soda bottle filled with water. Even though the words, "DO NOT OPEN" are printed on the bottle, people just can't resist the temptation.

What you need:

• 2 plastic soda bottles (1-liter size works well),
• cap
• permanent ink pen
• thumb tack (push pin)

The Leak-Proof Bottle

1. Use the tack to poke a few holes on the side of the bottle close to the bottom. (Get an adult to help with this part!)
2. Put the bottle in a sink or bowl filled with water. Fill the bottle with water and keep the water running into the bottle as you screw on the cap.
3. Lift the bottle out of the sink being careful not to squeeze it. What happens?
4. Unscrew the cap and watch what happens.

The "Do Not Open" Bottle Trick

1. Start with a new plastic soda bottle (don't use the one from the previous experiment). Write “DO NOT OPEN!” with the permanent ink pen on the bottle.
2. Fill up the bottle as before.
3. Set the bottle on the kitchen counter (word-side out) where someone can see it as they pass by. Stay close enough to watch what happens. Eventually, someone is bound to ask about the bottle. Let them unscrew the cap and you'll witness science in action!

The science:

The science of it is simple with gravity and air pressure acting on the water only once the bottle is opened. Gravity is pushing downward. However, when the lid is on the gravity cannot push on the water surface only the lid. It does push against the outside of the bottle on all sides.

Since the outside atmospheric pressure is greater than the force of gravity, most of the water stays in the bottle. Once the lid is removed, gravity and atmospheric pressure will act at the same time on the water surface. The water will leak out. Scientific proof was never so much fun.

Mummy Me-Time

By Sujatha Rajagopal

Today…do yourself the favour!

To find the one place that authoritatively asks Moms to put themselves first, take a flight. Airline safety messages say it clearly enough: if you’re travelling with a young child and there’s an emergency, put your oxygen mask on first.

Too often, mothers don’t give themselves the time or even the permission to prioritise their own needs and wants. In our daily mental checklist, kids and hubby aside, the laundry, the bathroom, the cat, the plants, the car, the dust collecting on the bookshelves…all come before our own well-being, never mind that our backs scream for rest.

But you can kick back, refresh and rejuvenate. Yes. And it won’t take hours off your busy schedule. Don’t ask how. Insist on why not. The longer you deprive yourself of rest, the higher the chance you may become too run-down…worse, seriously ill. And where would that leave your family?

Relaxing is not being selfish. Take care of yourself better and you may actually become a better mother!

Try these time-outs for mums:

BLOG!
Keep a diary about mum-hood. If you like putting your thoughts down into words, a blog or journal can be a great tool to unwind after a hectic day. With a laptop, wireless connectivity and free blog sites like Wordpress.com and Blogger.com, blogging is only getting easier. Blog in bed while junior slumbers. Blog in the kitchen while the soup boils. Or write in the car while waiting for your girls to finish ballet lessons. In just 15 to 20 minutes, you can put your worries, frustrations and hopes into the blogosphere and leave them there (turn on privacy settings if you like).

NETWORK!
Strike rich friendships with other mums. Every week or fortnight, leave the kids with hubby or a caregiver and meet with friends and like-minded mums. You will be surprised by how much you can learn, or even earn! Take the example of Anne Nolen, Susan Callahan and Katrin Schumann, three friends who after meeting every week to discuss post natal weight loss and mothering issues, produced a best-selling book, “Mothers Need Time-Outs Too”. Even if becoming an author is not an option, these meetings could help you learn valuable parenting lessons from other moms. At the least, it will give you the rest you deserve.

PAMPER!
Pampering can be cheap and quick! Here are some ideas: Play some music while you soak an extra 10 minutes in the bath. Pursue a hobby you loved as a teenager, like painting or cross-stitch. Hop out for a walk when the in-laws visit on the pretext of needing a carton of milk. Pamper your senses by stopping to watch the clouds or smelling the flowers when your child is engrossed at the playground. Are you so busy that you forget to breathe? Stop and pamper your lungs. Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly. It takes less than 30 seconds to take three deep breaths!

CHANGE!
When life becomes too hectic, mix it up. For example, if you usually drive to work, take the train twice a week instead. Switch off the phone and use that commute to close your eyes and think happy thoughts. That’s at least half an hour of relaxation for you! When the kids are screaming and lunch has been burnt to a crisp, whip up sandwiches for a playground picnic. If you spend every evening in front of the TV, switch it off and play a board game or fix jigsaw puzzles. Do something different!

READ!
Set aside daily escape time. Go ahead and devote the whole day to others. But keep the last 30 minutes of the day selfishly to yourself. Once you’re ready for bed, curl up with a book you’ve always wanted to read. Choose a happy, feel-good theme, preferably a story that makes you laugh or inspires you. Well-written books have a way of unlocking another world, taking your relaxation-deprived mind to a realm of soothing restfulness. There’s another reason to purge your mind of the day’s trials and fill it up with calm. It will help you sleep better, and wake up refreshed.

TAKE CONTROL!
Use available tools to help you. There may be incessant demands placed on you. But this doesn’t mean that you have to do it all yourself. Rope in a friend or relative (be sure to return the favour another day) when you’re at your wit’s end. Purchase a good planner or binder to keep track of all your to-do lists. Is every morning a chaotic rush? Draw out a daily schedule and stick it on the fridge.

Most important…
Don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Make an appointment to see your doctor if you’ve been feeling too stressed or tired lately. Be sure to have a yearly or twice-yearly physical exam. Chronic diseases have a way of creeping up when we’re too tired to notice them.

If you can’t imagine where to begin, just do less. And you may actually be doing more for your loved ones than before. When you give yourself the time you deserve, you will notice that you become a better parent, one who is more attentive to your family’s needs. It’s the truth: a rested mother is a happier family. Now breathe…!

The Benefits of Salat

18 Benefits of Prayer

Allaah the Exalted has said:

( And seek help in patience and in prayer. Surely that is something quite difficult on (people) other than people of humility and submissiveness )

And He has said:

( O you who believe! Seek help in patience and in prayer! Verily, Allaah is with those who are patient. )

And He, the Exalted One, has said:

(And command your family to pray, and be patient upon that. We are not asking you for any provisions, (rather) We provide for you, and the favorable outcome is for (those with) taqwaa (consciousness of Allaah that produces righteous actions). )

And in the Books of Sunnah it is reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to hasten to prayer whenever an affair disturbed him.

- 1 - Prayer is something that causes one to receive sustenance.

- 2 - It is something that safeguards one's physical health.

- 3 - It keeps away harmful things.

- 4 - It casts away illnesses.

- 5 - It strengthens the heart.

- 6 - It brightens one's countenance.

- 7 - It delights the soul.

- 8 - It gets rid of laziness.

- 9 - It makes the limbs active.

- 10 - It increases one's physical strength.

- 11 - It expands the chest (making one at ease and giving him insight).

- 12 - It is nourishment for the soul.

- 13 - It illuminates the heart.

- 14 - It safeguards one's blessings.

- 15 - It repels catastrophes.

- 16 - It brings on blessings.

- 17 - It keeps away the Shaytaan (the Devil).

- 18 - It draws one close to Ar-Rahmaan (Allaah, the Most Merciful).

And overall it has an amazing effect on the health of the body and heart, and in strengthening them and expelling harmful pollutants from them.

No two people have been afflicted with any disability, disease, or other calamity, except that the portion of the one who prays is less and his outcome is cleaner.

Also, prayer has an amazing effect on the evils of the dunyaa (the worldly life) and how it repels them, especially when the prayer is performed properly and completely, inwardly and outwardly.

Nothing keeps the evils of the dunyaa at bay and brings on the benefits of it like prayer.

The reason behind this is that prayer is one's connection to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

So based on the strength of a person's relationship with his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, the doors of goodness will accordingly be opened up for him, bad things and the reasons for them befalling him will be cut off, and the elements of success granted by His Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, will begin pouring in, along with safety and good health, wealth and worldly riches, relaxation, bliss, enjoyment, and all types of joyful affairs will be brought to him, and in an expedient manner, too.