Surviving Sandy

Despite the cruel winds, crashing rain and howling storm I feel thankful.

Thankful that underneath it all we still have fresh water from the taps and gas to cook our food.

Everything that we take for granted everyday are precious gifts. The lessons we learn are many.

Although a flood of darkness overcomes us after sunset, I still feel grateful that we have a roof over our heads and that the car and the house survived the storm.

Last year, in August, Irene gave us training. We had to leave our newly purchased home the first day we moved into it. This year again there this is this deep lingering thought as to why an area that hardly gets affected by storms of this nature, is getting affected twice in two years in a row. My heart goes out to all my neighbors, our fellow survivors and the families of loved ones who lost their lives. Clearly God has mystical ways of displaying His infinite wisdom.

As the last bar on my cell phone and the last bit of battery charge left on my laptop scream out to me to stop I am forced to go back into a technology less world to face the many challenges that were just a part of life for my grandparents and great grandparents.

It is mind boggling to think of how much we depend on electricity to run our everyday lives. Whether it is too microwave a cup of tea or entertain the children with a video, electricity has definitely proved itself to be unimaginably important.

My children would probably not remember this phase and hence one day if they read this I would like them to know that yes Sandy happened to New Jersey in 2012 and we survived it. We feared for the safety of our loved ones and the safety  of our belongings but finally  we got through it without much loss or damage. A week without power, a week to connect, to pause, to think… to collect life and to go on…

So did Sandy do us any good?

the power failure was overwhelming, the depression was worse than I thought... What good can any of this bring - definitely a valid question.

In a weird kind of way, we connected with other people hit by the storm. The same basic needs brought us together. Everyone was trying to help someone with something they needed whether it be food, medication, information or just a pat on the back.

I just hear that a snow storm is making its way towards us. While mixed feelings and emotions run through my mind… I am grateful for the little blessing we have, the numerous friends who opened their hearts to us, the neighbors - some of whom we only met because of the storm.
Life will bring us its storms and test our limits. Hope will keep us going and prayer will get us there Insha Allah - God Willing!

Life is an amusement park when you're married to the clown!

I may have met you 12 years ago,
but you still continue to amuse me...

I told him to remember two things
only two things...
'put the boiler off...
throw the garbage out...'

yesterday he remembered the boiler...
when i came home the garbage was not thrown
today he remembered the garbage...
but the boiler was still on

So I'm laughing....!

A great leap forward!

I'm excited about my new job. All those emotions and feelings keep coming to you when you just want to sleep or think about nothing at all. It is not just a new routine but a whole lifestyle change for me. Parting from Haroon is the greatest difficulty. He is attached. Needs us in his visual atmosphere. This will be hard on him. The good thing is that I can have him in the same building and I can check on him whenever I am free. I hope and pray that this new journey goes on well for me. Getting back to school for my masters is the next thing I'm looking forward to. When the children are both in school, hopefully I will be too and then I can be with them when they are home. The kids should not be neglected. That is my main motive. Everything good in me is what Allah gave me so yes I feel this everyday, we should be spending every moment of our days on our knees just thanking him for the blessings, for having normal children, for not having deadly diseases, for not being in a car crash, cos you know what? It could have been me!

Adios until I write again!

Some days are good some days are...

I can't imagine how it has been almost an year since I last posted. The little time I get online is expended on mail, business research, forums and social networking for da'wah. Da'wah is invitation. And the Invitation, is to Islam. My facebook group which just started with a handful of my friends and family members, has over the years grown to a 516 member global network. Many of them, I have never met. Since keeping the group updated by myself was becoming a tedious task, I have delegated part of the administration to a young sister in Malaysia who is doing a wonderful job of it Masha Allah. Some day, my group that shares good words, charity projects and global Islamic issues will be a self managed organization. Insha Allah.

So here are the things that have been occupying my mind lately. The ethnic conflict in my country is just heartbreaking. We Sinhalese and Muslims have lived in peace for many years but recently there has been some uproar within these communities. I grew up with Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim friends.... we were like siblings. Our different religions and ethnicity never got in the way. It deeply disheartens me to see my fellow brothers and sisters in so much agony over an uncontrollable factor such as a race that you are born into. Shouldn't we humans be way ahead? Shouldn't this energy be going into far more productive causes? We should be colonizing the moon by now, not quarrelling over land.

On a more personal note, my mother's illness has made me realise just how much we take for granted in life. Do we really pause to thank God from the bottom of our hearts for the numerous 'have's or do we complain about the 'havenot's. Having watched an episode of Indian Hospital, and being moved to the point of tears... my only prayer is that life for these victims becomes easier.... the wisdom of which is known only to the Almighty. I miss my dad ever so much. His wise words and caring gestures ring in my heart. I wish I was closer to home to take care of them. I wish my children had more family and grandparents. Speaking of which, both the kids got sick. I was the final catch. The fever is terrible. You dont feel like eating or doing anything, yet you are a mother and have to.

The children are growing too fast too keep count. Life is a roller coaster ride. So when my patient husband takes the time to listen attentively to my vents and then compliment and cheer me, we remind each other that some days are good and some days are just better because there is more to be thankful for, than we can ever know or count!

Inna Ma al Usri Yusra!

Alhamdulillah!