Back online, summer is finishing and Ramadan is going fast...away :(

Assalamu alaykum,

only today i was able to go back online. It took so long to get connected in this part of the world! hamdulillah it's all over now and I can go back to my usual routine and of course studies.

I have lots to write but I will try to keep it short and sweet as I prefer to use my free time for acts of ibadah specially now in these very last few days of Ramadan.

Ramadan has come and almost gone...subhan'Allah! This year it has been extra special because of the new place and also because it so unusual, for me at least, to fast in summer. It's 10 years I am a Muslimah hamdulillah and never I fasted in the summer months. I must say it's easier than I thought and it is all going mash'Allah.

A. managed to complete 1 day of fasting and 2 days half way through (until about 6.30pm). He got very tired, very quickly. In itself the fact that he was tired and hungry taught him a lesson and a very important one too!

Both boys had a nice summer, very quite except for the move which took longer than we thought.

The boys will be starting school soon and this blog will be stay up and running but I won't be recording our homeschooling days any longer for obvious reasons. It will be fun to record our school days. So for this year is school and Allah knows best! We haven't actually received the confirmation letter from school yet, just waiting in their list.

The decision came about when I realized that my health was getting worse. And because of my health, my dh felt it was time to relieve me from all the duties I was accustomed since the boys were born. I just feel I could have wait one more year, then again it's not by my hands and Allah knows best my position. Hamdulillah for His Mercy towards us.

I am currently looking for a good evening madrassa. The boys will be still attending Qur'an lessons privately but I'd like for them to restart a madrassa. Just need to keep them busy for now as I know I need time to recover and go back in my usual self.

Please do make duas for me.

I am leaving you with some pics from the past month or so.

May Allah accept our fasting and duas, amin.

Fi amanillah

wa alaykum assalam

When you live in a small place...

Assalamu alaykum,
So we moved, we are in our new little, tiny place hamdulillah.
We are happy and glad everything went almost ok.
The actual move was a very stressful one; it's not easy to move from a big house with a garden to a small flat on the 11th floor!!
Hamdulillah! It was necessary for us to move and we are here now and want to make our little place into a 'castle'.

All the summer I planned for the kids lots of free activities and courses! Guess what??? Things planned are never my thing! Hamdulillah as Allah is the Best of Planner! A. attended a free course about ICT at the beginning of the summer holidays then it all went out the windows.
The second week he started his literacy and numeracy course but he could only attend 2 days out of 5. The third week he supposed to be doing Science but we were moving.
And now we are all sick and the boys cannot attend the Islamic course I registered them to and I paid for it! Ya Allah!
On the bright side we are making good use of the little space we have and be minimalistic is the rule!
I like to live in such a small, modest place. It's quick and easy to clean. No clutter. I can gather all the family quickly. Answer the phone quicker as well as the door and don't need to worry to keep clean and tidy the garden! Hamdulillah! :)
We are also enjoying our so local park. We live literally in front of it! This particular park is massive, it has a big playground with a paddling pool for the kids and the park in itself is very well looked after! MashAllah!
The kids like there even before we moved in the area. MashAllah. I used to drive them down here but now...we are just next door to it!

On another note, I am pondering over the next schooling year. At present I am pressurized on putting the kids to school. I was told around here schools are at the top of the league. Then again, I love homeschooling and I cannot even think to put my kids in school.
Need your help and duas. I know it's my own decision in the end...well sort of! I still have to talk throu with the 'boss', but I need to focus again in homeschooling and I need you to remind me the benefits of homeschooling.
I think I feel I am failing with my kids and I am not doing a good job. I think I was brought to consider school because I am not English and I cannot teach my kids in English as I should...so much is in my head now. I am getting so worry and September is fast approaching.

I have got lots to think throu...
For now
Wa alaykum assalam
X

ICT and lots of fun!!

Assalamu alaykum,
While I am writing this new post from my mobile, my two younger ones are swimming in a big pool full of soft toys and colourful balls. I can hear them shouting, screaming and just enjoying being together in this great play area, one of many near my home. It's open everyday in summer from 9am to 2pm and from Monday to Friday same time as before, in school days.
We often come here. It's here where I can rest as I know it's a clean and safe area and the kids are inside and cannot leave. I just sit and enjoy looking at them climbing, running, sliding, swimming etc. MashAllah.
While sitting I am thinking about the months to come...Ramadan and then after a new school year. I haven't decided yet about the curriculum and still not sure what I will do. Just a vague idea. Dh wants the kids to go to school and once again I am finding myself fighting an needless 'battle'. Need to make duas and stay steadfast. I need once again to go back to my Lord and ask for guidance.
InshAllah the month of Ramadan is soon and we cannot wait. I am stocking up on art and craft materials. Keeping the kids busy, insh'Allah. I am also looking out for DVDs with stories about Ramadan, books and need to spruce up the old collection of PC CD-ROM. All to keep the kids busy while fasting long hours.

A.is at school for all week. He started a new course: ICT. He is enjoying and learnt about a new software to make videos, using Windows Word and how to create a folder. The week is not over yet, two more days. Next week A.will be at another course. This time will be literacy and numeracy. InshAllah.
Also gardening has been really a great activity with the boys this summer. We planted new flowers and plants. Cleaned up the front garden and tidied up the bushes. Mowed the lawn and gave a good clean to our shed and garden furniture! By the end of the day the kids were exhausted!!
We had few picnics here and there, not as many as I was hoping, weather has not been great but hamdulillah.
Quran and Arabic was on as usual. Kids are progressing nicely and I am hoping they can develop true love for the Qur'an, not just repeating like parrots! I need to remind them constantly why we read the Qur'an and why it is so important. The tafseer booklets from Ad-Duha are great for this purpose and I am looking forward for Ad-Duha Institute to re-open their website to purchase the rest of the Tafseer collection, insh'Allah.


For now, enjoy your week!

wa alaykum assalam

Nature Detective resources

Nature Detective for a day!

Soft play area, S. just relaxing on a soft dolphin

The swimming pool

Holidays!!!!

Assalamu alaykum,

yes, we are totally relax, doing no much a part from Qur'an and Arabic!!

We sent back the last test to Calvert and so it's goodbye for now...maybe on September we will get the 3rd grade? We'll see. For now I need rest, my boys need rest and we all need time to get ready for Ramadan, insh'Allah. Hamdulillah.

Kids had busy two weeks with far more that I was expected! They tried out a new sport: fencing and attended so far 4 lessons. They really liked it and asked to go again next week, insh'Allah.

We attended the annual Al-Noor funday and it was mash'Allah! We try to go every year as it is the only occasion we can enjoy in an halal environment, and kids get to go on the fun rides with their Muslim friends, hamdulillah.

No much more to say but the pictures will make the talk...sorry just tired from a day out at the farm!

So for now jazakallahu kheiran to all of you, dear readers! I was overwhelmed by all the lovely emails I received. I was not aware that I had so many readers, mash'Allah wa hamdulillah.


Wa alaykum assalam

x

Just pics...

Assalamu alaykum


I have been not too well lately and decided to stop homeschooling and start our holidays. I thought to homeschool the boys throughout the summer but I had to stop 'cause of my health. I would have to slow down anyway as the boys will be busy with the free courses I registered them to. Hamdulillah and certainly Allah is the best Planner, la hawla wa la quwwata illah billah!!

So here are some pics of our past week or so. Hope you like them.

And for now happy summer holidays to you all.


Wa alaykum assalam

Last on the right. S art work

Canary Wharf Building
Watching a hockey game

Trying out a new sport

A. 99 names of Allah rocket

S. rocket

A. wrote a book for kids ages 3-4 about Tawheed

Leaflet about Tawheed for non Muslims made by A.

S. poster about Tawheed 'Who created us?' 'Who created everything?'

A new visit down the sea

Finally a sandy beach