Eid Party

Assalaamu Alaikum ...

I'm not really in the mood to sit here and write so I'll just post a few pictures from our school Eid Party. It was such a lovely experience and an amazing event! The students had a great time and so did the teachers ... but it was also very tiring. We had a half-day on Thursday, so the party began at 12pm. Some of my students bought me the most sweetest gifts hehe

Anyhooz ... here's what happened ...

Some of the decorations in my classroom. My classroom looked sooo different because it was completely cleared out. I walked in that morning to find NO toys :o It was quite the sight.

I don't really want to post pictures of my students, I think that'd be a bit strange but they looked so amazing in their Eid clothes! haha I couldn't recognize half of them without their uniforms. I just had to take a picture of my youngest student's shoes ... hehe ... look how cute they are!

These are a couple of the prayer mats that my students worked on as their Ramadan Project. Aren't they beautiful? It was so hard to work on these with them but I think they did a pretty good job, masha'Allah :)

This is what the older boys were working on. They were provided with a wooden Qur'an stand and had to paint it themselves, how ever they wanted. My student's mother sent this and the prayer mats for us to work on ... I'm going to ask her if she has an extra Qur'an stand so I can paint my own too! hehe

There were many games that the children played. Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs, Hot Potato (so funny haha) and this Pinata which literally took an hour to even produce a dent. Ahh, the frustration.

All in all, it was a success, alhamdulillah.

~* Eid Mubarak *~

Assalaamu Alaikum :D

It's Eid!

To be honest, for some reason this Eid was very unexpected to me. I was not prepared for it at all! But alhamdulillah, I'm so happy this day is here ... because everyone is just so happy! The best in Muslims seems to shine during Eid. Relatives calling each other to wish one another, even those relatives you only hear from a few times a year. The elders smile down on the young children and the young children grin mischievously towards the elders (obviously for some Eidie hehe). Most of the women have their hands covered in pretty henna with such beautiful intricate designs (to see mine: scroll down). And everyone walks around in their best clothes!

I was very excited to find out that Eid would be today and I began to do my routine preparations. But then it hit me ... Ramadan is officially over :( No more fasting ... *sigh*

I wanted to use this time to wish every single person who takes their time in reading my entries. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala fill this day with joy and happiness for you and may He (swt) surround you with the friends and family that you hold dear. Insha'Allah we will be here to see another blessed Ramadan again ... ameen.

*~*~*~ EID MUBARAK ~*~*~*

I applied mehndi on my two little cousins

Meet the York Alumni

Assalaamu Alaikum :)

... Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Aalameen ...

Given on stage ... I'm going to use it as a hijab pin

My convocation at York University was today :)

I had such a wonderful time! It really feels like I have finally become a graduate. I didn't find the ceremony boring at all ... only because I was involved in it hehe What made the day even more nice was that I spent some time with a friend of mine. She is now living in Ottawa but returned to attend the Convocation. So we were basically going through everything together which I am very grateful for because it would be pretty boring if you were there by yourself with no one to talk to. Then again, I didn't find that to be a problem anyway because everyone was just so kind there. I was talking to the girls around me in line most of the time anyway. Anyhooz, the ceremony was great and interesting. Throughout the whole time I was praying that I wouldn't have to shake anyone's hand on stage because there were about 4 men standing up there. I thought I did well, I just folded my hands together and smiled at them, while saying "thank you so very much" haha They got the hint, thank goodness. And my friend was quite thankful too because she was able to do the same. It got a little scary at the end because when the last graduate left the stage, all the other graduates started cheering, hollering, stomping their feet on the floor boards and they actually threw their caps up in the air! haha Classic.

After the ceremony, I became even more happy .... I got roses!!! :D I never get flowers and there was my brother and cousin ... standing ... with roses for me *sniffles* It was the sweetest thing ever. I just could not stop myself from saying "aww I got roses!". The most scariest part of all was when I received a text message from a friend. "I saw you graduate!" haha It was so cute, she was there in spirit :) I still find those webcasts a little scary ...

It is such an odd feeling to realize that my Undergrad is finally complete. Alhamdulillah. Most people who know me are well aware of the fact that I really enjoy school and will miss it dearly. We spend the majority of our lives attending classes and learning new things on a daily basis. And now, knowing that I will not be sitting in any more lectures is a little sad *sigh* Okay that's not completely true. My plan is to work towards Teacher's College, insha'Allah, so maybe it isn't over just yet. Still, this is all too much to take in!

I am so thankful that I am teaching at the moment. It keeps my mind off of a lot of things. If I was a bum sitting at home (which I miss dearly time to time!) , I would have probably visited York more than 10 times by now haha Yes, I'm a geek. Hmm ... that is my plan for this coming week though. At the Islamic school, we have a 3 day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr (yes!) and when we come back, it will be a half day due to our Eid Party :D It's going to be SO cute! To see all the cute munchkins outside of their uniform and very dressed up. I am definitely going to go picture crazy tee hee

Now I must take advantage of my sleep time ... take care lovelies.

P.S. = The diploma was not very attractive ...

'Alima Program ..?

Assalaamu Alaikum :)

I just got back from my Uloom class that I attend almost every weekend morning. Today's lesson was on Ihtikaaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan and Zakaat, since most people give it during this month. Subhana'Allah, there is no limit to knowledge.

Which comes to my main topic of thought and discussion. The 'alima who teaches us was mentioning that she may possibly start up her own 'Alima Program early next year, insha'Allah. She mentioned this before but I didn't really give it any thought. Today was different. I think it was because she further explained that she would be teaching complete Arabic as well as Urdu. This really grabbed my attention. For the longest time now, I have been yearning to learn how to speak Arabic. This course would help you to learn how to speak it, write it and of course recite it correctly (which I am already learning at the moment). In 'alima courses, Urdu is taught specifically because it is the only language that can express true respect for the words of the Qur'an ... it's that beautiful tee hee This was another thing that had me thinking because I really want to work on my Urdu speaking/writing/reading skills. Then of course, you would be learning an incredible amount on the rules and regulations that are within Islam.

Now I'm sitting here thinking ... should I go for it? She will be offering Introductory classes after Ramadan and then, insha'Allah, the course would start up after Hajj. I asked her if she knew what time of the day these classes would take place because I was hoping it would not conflict with my current teaching hours. If anything, they would begin at 6pm ... not so bad. The 'alima still needs to confirm things about the program herself. Once she does, I will then seriously think about it.

Hmm, I'll discuss it with my parents. I know exactly what my mum will say haha

Squeeky - Mummy, I'm thinking of attending an 'alima program. And it will most likely be every day in the evening ...... *waits for response*
Mummy - Okay wait ... you already come home exhausted and cranky from work and whine about your lack of sleep and now on top of that, you want to join another program?!
Squeeky - Umm ... yes ....
Mummy - ....

I'll let you know what she says hehe
Please remember me in your du'as ... :D