Wedding update

Assalamu Aleikum..

Well... This has been quite a productive Ramadan Mashallah. The wedding plans are almost ready to go. With one major exception - we still didn't organise the Imam!!! He is almost impossible to get a hold of - it being Ramadan and all.

But other than that, the wedding planning is well and truly rolling. We have booked the hall, made the guest list, written the draft invitations (although we can't send them out just yet considering we still have to talk to the imam, grrr what a headache), and we are well on the way making the seat and table decorations (Mashallah my mum is very talented). The food budget is still a little blurry, but Inshallah we will get to that soon. And we also have our own apartment, too bad its just sitting there empty (because somebody feels too sorry for his flatmates to leave them paying his share of the rent, so he's now paying for two rentals - don't even get me started on that one). But Inshallah we will get moving soon, we have so much furniture etc at my parents house just waiting to be moved.

And then there's the studying - lol - I have barely touched it. It's really hard when there is so much stuff to do. Its hard enough concentrating while fasting, but now all my time is taken up with this wedding. But Inshallah when Ramadan is over, I will make some time for intensive study and catch up on what I missed. I'm only doing two subjects so it shouldn't be too hard. Not to even mention the 50% assignment due next week. No wonder I am so stressed out.

And speaking of Ramadan being over, I feel  so sad. This Ramadan went by quicker than ever. I pray to Allah to accept my fasting, praying, Qur'an, Zakah and all my ibadah, and to forgive my shortcomings.  I ask Allah to forgive my sins and to admit me to the highest Jannah and protect me from the punishment of the grave and from the hellfire. I pray that He blesses my family, guides them to do acts which will lead them to His pleasure and to forgive all their sins. I ask Allah to shower his mercy on the weak, the hungry, the oppressed and all the Muslims suffering around the world - I ask Allah to relieve their pain and rewards them for their suffering. Oh Allah bless this Ummah and admit us to the Gardens of Delight. Amin

Another update

Assalamu Alaykum

I know I haven't posted in a while... too busy studying... But I thought I'd do a quick little update before I get back into it this morning.

It hasn't been a good couple of weeks. I am just so stressed out with everything, from family, to exams, to weddings, jobs, bills, parents... the list goes on. T o be honest, even all this time I'm taking off to study isn't paying off. I'm simply too stressed, and nothing sticks. My parents aren't on good terms these days, and unfortunately it looks like they might be heading for splitsville. I pray to Allah that He gives them ease in this difficult time and the patience to work things out. They are both just so frustrated with life's stresses and they take it out on each other, most of the time for no reason. But Inshallah they will turn towards Allah and turn to each other, instead of hurting one another. Sometimes I think who am I kidding? But anything is possible by the will of Allah. Please make du'a for my parents, and my whole family.

But I'm trying really hard to let it all go and just focus on studying. Exams will be over in less than two weeks, and then I can work on everything else Inshallah.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom. I've had a few great days in there somewhere too.  met up with an old friend who I was so close to in my high school days and early uni days.. we were together almost every day until she moved to Brisbane a couple of years ago. But Inshallah we can catch up more often.

Mohamed has been great though... (well, most of the time - I was upset with him on Friday cos he was too tired from a 12hr shift to come see me - but he made up for it with a box of Lindt chocolate yummmm). I haven't told him everything yet, cos Im trying to block it out until exams are over. But he knows I'm really stressed out and he's being really supportive. Alhamdulillah

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I got through to the 1st stage of the recruitment process for the Department of Immigration. I did the online assessment the other day, and I got 20/24 questions correct. I still don't know if I will make it through to the next stage, but either way I'm just grateful to Allah that I got through to where I am. I wasn't expecting any of it. It is my no. 1 choice. If only they offered the position in Brisbane/Sydney this year. Its only available n Canberra. But Inshallah we will cross that hurdle if and when it comes up.

Yummmm.... chocolate...

Anyway. What else?

Ooooh - we paid off the wedding ring too.. its sitting in a secret hiding spot in my room (secret? who am I kidding??)

I went to a zabava ( a bosnian dinner/dance get together thingo) last weekend. It was pretty good, but I didnt stay long though. I just didn't feel comfortable with the alcohol. I'm gonna stick to the non-alcohol ones from now on (which means I'm gonna have to wait till the Brisbane people organise one). To be honest I ddn't even contemplate that there would be alcohol. Before I put on the hijab, I didn't even notice it. But now it was like a needle pricking your eyes the whole time. Only a few men drank, but it was enough to put me off, and so I went home.

And today there is an International Food Day at the Gold Coast Mosque. Inshallah after I do some studying I will go with a friend and her family. Its the first time her baby will leave the house after the 40 days, I think it's awesome that its to the mosque Mashallah. My sisters will be there too, and Mohamed if he ever decides to wake up (I can hear him snoring away in the living room - and he says he doesnt snore lol.)

But yeah thats all I can think of... the rest is just stress and study, or study-avoidance. But I have to get a move-on. My first exam is in two days time, and the next one the following day. So I really don't have any time to waste..

Salam

The day before my first exam

Assalaamu Alaykum,

It's the day before my first exam of the year, and I am sick. There's not a bone in my body that doesn't hurt, I have trouble breathing, my whole face is numb and swollen, and my head feels like it's ready to explode. But that's not the only bug I caught today. I also caught the cleaning bug.

I was not happy though

As soon as my fever subsided this morning it took over me. I started vacuuming my room, and then I decided to dust it, rearrange my closet, rearrange my desk, and then rearrange my entire room. I was so weak and in pain but I just wanted to get it done. It happens when I am stressed, though usually I tackle the bathroom and kitchen. But this time my whole body was in pain and I could hardly stand for 5 minutes at a time. And I am not really stressed about this exam. But Alhamdulillah my room is nice and clean and dust free and best of all - it's fresh. I guess I am stronger than I give myself credit.

Lucky I had this subject under control throughout the semester so the revision took shorter than I thought. Inshallah I will do well in the exam. Ya Allah please make this exam easy for me and make me stronger and more focused. Ya Allah please ease my symptoms and make me healthy. Amin.

But I am still worried about my friend H. She is now a week overdue with her first baby, and she could be in labor even as we speak Inshallah. Ya Allah please bring on the birth of the baby, make it easy for my friend and give her a successful birth and a healthy baby who will be a blessing for the couple. Ya Allah please protect both mother and baby and give them health. Amin

Being a lazy bum...

Assalaamu Alaykum

I've been slacking off with my studies quite a bit in the last week or so. I just can't get started. I don't know what's up with me.

Maybe I need a change of scenery or something.

I've also been pretty tired too and can't concentrate too well. It might be that the reality of studying is kicking in. Although I thought that when I dropped EU Law it might be easier to stay on top of things, but I'm only now falling behind in all the other subjects.

I'm also feeling really upset about my grandma leaving. I dont want to be selfish, but its really hurting me thay she wont be there for my wedding. I cant imagine it without her. If only there was a way to get married while she is here. But we really can't. Mohamed's starting a new job and its their policy to withhold two weeks pay as a deposit, so even the savings we have now are going to be used up for rent and petrol etc etc. Lets hope this whole courier business works out. The pay is quite good but u do have to pay your own fuel and other expenses.
Its really frustrating.

I spoke to my mum yesterday and she was saying maybe we should perform the nikkah ceremony now and have the wedding later. I really wish we could cos that would get things moving and my grandma could be there. But now we dont even have money for bond, or to fly his family over from NZ, let alone anything else.

So I dunno. I should just forget about this wedding business and focus on studying. But then again, that isnt working out either.

Ya Allah, please help us on this path to getting married and bless us with a good, solid marriage full of emaan, love and happiness. Ya Allah, help me focus on my studies and grant me success in this life and in the hereafter. Ya Allah, remove from me the laziness and miserliness that I feel. Amin.

I think I'm gonna read some Qur'an before I attempt studying again Inshallah. I haven't been able to read for a week.

Salam

Uni time

I'm back at uni again :)

I've been here since 10am and don't finish till 8pm.. I am soooooo exhausted. And we didn't even have tutorials today. Just 4 hours of lectures, a long long break, and another lecture from 6-8pm. My brain literally feels like its about to explode.

I did quite a bit today. I went to the lectures, both of them, did my Legal Profession readings, downloaded all my other readings, filled in all the jobs I could for now (from now on its law firm time till the rest of the government applications open), prayed a couple of times, read some Qur'an, and now I'm just writing this since this is all my brain can cope with, and chatting to my sister on skype.

University of Queensland

So ye... that's it for now. Salam