Ramadan-ing and other little updates

Assalamu Alaikim

I know I haven't been posting for a while. not too much has been happening (other than what I will talk about a little bit later...) I've been making the most of this holy month, although we can all be doing more.

Mashallah the day has been pretty much centered around Ramadan and the opportunities it brings. Waking up at 4am for Suhoor, praying Fajr and then staying up and reading the Qur'an till the sun has risen. Then if I'm too tired I'll sleep for a few more hours, and if not - its time to study (lets call it an attempt at studying - yes it's really hard. But Alhamdulillah). After studying for as long as I can concentrate, its time for Zuhr, followed by some rest. Then Asr, and then either I will cook iftar, or if mum wants to cook (which she's been so kind to do quite a bit for us girls since she is excused from fasting due to her diabetes) then I will sit down and read the Qur'an till Maghrib/iftar. After we have iftar its off to the mosque for Taraweeh prayers, then a quick chat with the family over snacks/more food, and then back to study or ready Qur'an till I'm tired enough to sleep. And not to mention lots of du'a

Alhamdulillah for giving us another chance to experience this blessed month for another year. It's such an amazing experience, especially when you take full advantage of what it brings. I kinda feel sorry for those who don't get to experience it. It is such a loss on their part.

On another note - I've decided to suspend my gym membership while I'm fasting. It's really hard and besides I don't really get the chance to attend. I'd much rather be at the mosque. This might be my last Ramadan, we never know if we will make it to the next one.

AND... here comes the exciting bit - we are so much closer to setting the date for the wedding. Actually its almost done, we just have to formally book a hall and talk to the imam. We've been looking at apartments and getting applications, and we looked around at venues, and I think I found one that I really want. So Inshallah it will all come together. I think we also have an almost-final guest list too, and the dinner menu, and the decoration-making etc is on the way. Oh and another thing that on the way is the dress :) I received a notice that it's been shipped today. Inshallah it will come soon and look great :) There is still a lot more to do but I'm happy to say that its coming along quite well. Mashallah

Alhamdulillah for everything

And last but definitely not least - please donate to help the people suffering in the East African famine. Men, women and children are dying by the thousands. We can all do a little Inshallah and give our sadaqa to Inshallah save a life.

http://www.islamic-relief.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:east-africa-food-crisis&catid=35:campaigns%20
http://www.muslimaid.org.au/
http://mim.io/19c361

Gym, uni and sisters

Assalamu Alaikum

I've had a busy couple of days lately. I've been going t the gym, as per schedule. The first time I almost fainted lol.. Yes its been a long time since I've had some proper exercise. But the last two sessions were really good Mashallah. Its really good to finally get some physical activity in. I forgot how refreshing and energising it feels. I used to do it all the time. But then it just stopped. I did some cardio and Zumba last night. I loved the Zumba. Its been a while since I did any structured classes. It realy made me reminisce about those folklor days (Bosnian folkloric dancing). I had a lot of fun and with the cardio after, it really made a good workout. I'm looking forward to doing my strength training on Wednesday Inshallah. So far I've been mainly doing my legs. And even more-so I'm looking forward to being healthy again and gaining my fitness, strength and confidence back Inshallah. At the beginning it was about the weight. But to be honest that's not the thing thats motivating me anymore. I just want the health and confidence that comes along with it. There was a time in my life when I was healthy and it felt amazing. Inshallah I will be able to get there again. Afterall - you have to take care of yourself so that you can take care of everyone else.

I have my first class of the semester at uni tomorrow. Inshallah I'll get there in time after gym. I have quite a bit to prepare today. I've been putting it off the last couple of days. But I'm only doing two subjects this semester so Inshallah it won't take too long. If worse comes to worse, I'll just prepare for tomorrow's subject since there's no Thursday tutorials in the first week and I can finish everything off then.

I've also been babysitting. I took Armina out to the park yesterday morning. She's such a darling Mashallah. I took a couple of photos too.

My days out with Armina :)

I've been trying to wake up early these last few days in the hope of better nights' sleep. I've made a promise not to sleep past 8 no matter what time I actually fall asleep. Either that, or I just stay up after Fajr. I usually read the Qur'an after I pray untill the sun rises, and then I'd get sleepy and fall asleep till 11-ish. But now if I do fall asleep I make sure its only until 8. It's been really hard but I must say it's kinda working. Combined with the gym I get pretty flat out by 8/9pm and I take my sleeping pills and lay down. Mashallah I fall alseep withing 1-2 hours (which is amazing for me - usually I try forcing myself to sleep for 6 hrs on average before I doze off. And that's only if I doze off.)

But Alhamdulillah...

I've also been talking to Mhd's lil sister quite a bit lately. Mashallah she's really nice. She reminds me of a lot of my friends in Sydney. It's really good to have a good muslim sister to talk to. It's great to have someone who understands what its like to be a practicing sister here in Australia. Most of my friends are muslim, but unfortunately Bosnian people aren't very religious. So once I covered and stopped doing a lot of things I used to, it became really hard to socialise. I dunno, people just look at me differently now I guess. And we just grew apart. I still haven't found hardly any sisters who I can relate to. Basically my friend H is the only one I can talk openly to about life and religion. I really miss my sydney friends. So for me even one new sister is a huge blessing. And now I will have even more sisters Alhamdulillah.

Oh and one more thing... When I was talking to her I heard her kids asking "is it aunty?? Is it aunty??" And it hit me. I'm and aunty all over again :) I have quite a few more nephews and nieces than I'm used to. I'm here falling in love with one and then all of a sudden I have more gorgeous little children calling me Aunty. Mashallah. It brings a big fat smile to my face.

And then I realised that I'm getting a whole new family along with a husband. And they are all soooo looking ofrward to meeting me. They are not just Mhd's brothers and sisters, but they already see me as a sister too. And the more I speak to his sister (we will call her Lil L, or just L) the more comfortable I feel about this new family and the more I want to meet them. Inshallah It will all go well.

But anyhow like I said, I have quite a lot to get through today. And not much time to do it in. So I'll leave you for now and get back to it Inshallah.

Salam

I joined the gym!!!!!!

Assalamu Alaikum

As you might know from my previous posts, I've been having some issues with my body these last couple of years. I've tried dieting a few months ago, but that somehow faded away as my exercise levels came to a halt. I'm simply too scared to exercise outside by myself since a couple of hijab-related incidents I've had. And even though I usually eat healthy, I haven't been burning any calories apart from the fortnightly walk or two that I manage to squeeze out of my fiance or sister. But I'm really in need of some good exercise. And Inshallah this gym membership will go the trick.

I've joined an all-girls gym with my sister. We've both signed up with the food coach and personal trainer (although I couldn't afford the twice-a-week training sessions like she can). So I'll just have to do with what I've got and take some helpful tips and advice from my sister Inshallah.

The girls that work there all seem really nice and friendly. And  it sounds like they are really motivating and will push you to attend on those lazy days when you really dont want to. You make a weekly program each time you see them and if you don't show up, they will call you and make you get your act together. And I really need that.

And they also have some really cool facilities like a nice change room and showers, with pink hair dryers and straighteners, kitchens, lounges, beauty salon, etc etc..

It all looks pretty good. But then again, all things exercise and health related do look pretty good at the start. It's keeping up with the motivation that's really hard. But Inshallah the girls and my sister will keep me motivated.

Salam