Summer In Malaysia 2008

Counting 7 more days till we fly back to Malaysia....We bought the tickets way back in Jan '08 to get a cheaper price and flexible dates. Sometime in Mar'08 words got around that the ticket price will be lower in April '08 so on...Alamak we all dah bayar..sign sealed delivered dah tickets back to Msia. But..we just go on the comparison to previous years in terms of costs and be happy with it..This year with request from Cik Hannah Kamilah we booked seats on Emirates...with stopovers in Dubai for about 4hrs each route..I do not want to stay overnite in Dubai either way bços of the luggages...Usually on the route to M'sia we will bring bags in bags...but coming back to Saudi all bags will be utilized..but this year..I am planning to not have much excess baggage coz..sayang the money bayar...Well..5 adults tickets are about SR13800...plus hotels in Msia lagi...Our house is still not ready since most furnitures are here in Saudi...so for a few times tidur on lembek..sudah sakit lah belakang....Longterm plan will be to get the house in Subang Alam ready for holiday occupancy..but at the moment the costs for renovation has rise so much..still not sure what will be our ultimate plans...budget..budget..budget...please dont run away...

To tumpang the siblings will not be an option except for a few days and the locations...but still again will be on the lembek..which at this age is no longer good for us..nanti balik Saudi badan jadi senget...talking about 5 weeks period nie...

To spend more than few days at what use to be called rumah induk since after losing my mom..was a bit akward since dah ada orang baru very very near my age as new residence...so it will be again a stop and go version plus the issues semasa that came up recently...entah lah... To the other side on hubby's place..the dual rumah induk has existed more than 10 years ago...so each visit will be a duel and touchy till this day... Well..kesian lah the anak-anak so to speak... anak-anak yang merantau macam kami nie...There's lot of lessons to learn from all this and may Allah swt gives us guidance....

So..in the end...my plans for the family was after considering the Stop 'n Go options will be to spend time around Shah Alam, Subang and KL...the kids still will be getting their holidays fun and spree...plus waiting for the abang doktor to balik on 25/7 insyaállah...adik2 still couldn't come up with what will be best to address him formally.......Dr. Nik.....Dr. Adzrul.....Dr. Ariff...... Dr. Nik Ariff...Hannah kata tak glamor nye..he..he...one thing for sure..alhamdulilah with one more finals to go..he will get his 6 years waiting result..we are very proud of you anakanda...

OK...maybe in a few days..I will be able to confirm all our stations in the 5 weeks we are in Malaysia....

It Works....It Hurts Too...

A few posting ago..I put up the ones about the doa's about studying...I did intensely memorize and read it than it tapers down to read it once i a while..though all the time the gist of it stuck in my mind...even to the point that I want to quell it while in the toilet..than have to read another doa....for the toilet thing....

Hmm..tomorrow Sunday I will have my tafseer class which requires me to know the english meaning of each word and recite in class..we are up to ayah 123~129 of Al-Baqarah...so being last-minute me... only last nite I start the lesson...so intensively today I read it over and over again..what push me to repeatative doing it...it seems an easier flow this time..I use to forget the earlier sentence when I proceed to the next ones...but today more verses/word sticks in my mind....so I am just feeling the very happy laa....

Anyway..I am taking a rest now and will go out for dinner at Applebees after Maghrib coz' Zayd craves a mean steak...he just got a 5% raise on his average for Social Studies and the hard work seems to pay off..come to think of it everyone been behaving nicely...Applebees is going to set us back say about SR300++

Except...except...ya..the Cinderella story..I minus out about SR40++ from my handphone credits with flying messages...ouch...painful yet no resolve...fening..fening..kepala..I am borderlining myb siTanggang..I dont know..I said only Allah swt knows..and I leave it to Him...When what you say seems to sound a different way when it was said back to you...ouch..double..ouch..ouch... i am at the end of my nerves...finally..my decision..you dont accept one but have to accept all..if you reject one than yo have to reject all...So.if you can't sit and resolve the matter than so be it..I do not want to be the one to be constantly being over the haggling..this I love but that I love too.. That's why i am saying I am borderlining siTanggang...but May Allah swt accepts my intentions. I worry yes.. extremely so... coz' your sins with Allah you can ask for His forgiveness..but the sins among human will tie you down and hold you back...

What's Been Happening To Me...

Yesterday

• Broke a glass cover..it drops to the floor from the counter top..broke into several big sharp pieces and many many small ones..one piece gets on my heel and pierce it..Oo..la..la..blood oozed out..as I was hopping around looking for a bandaid..blood drops along..wah..got to clean up the mess pulak..dah lah darah...pain?..Not so much...found a square bandaid large enough ffor the heel..so case one end...clean up the glass splinters...it must have not been a corelle or pyrex as it splinters sharp...
• Fried up some keropok and eat them with Lingam chilli sauce (you can get the sauce in Bahrain..I dont know how to get to the store ~Rachanee coz' I always kirim2 from friends..). What happen was..this morning my "langit-langit"is sore..must have been the chilli that I scooped with the keropok...
• My coughing gets worse..and now I heave and got a headache plus running to the toilet whenever I start coughing..it is infrequent but bad when it happens...myb got to take that kicap with lime/lemon juice and madu thing...**I always get confused in buying cough medication..between the dry cough type..expectorant or suppressant...end up looking for one that covers all...
• There's a strange burning smell from the air-cond...or is it just my smelling functions haywire..
• Make nasi lemak...wow..the sambal turns out to be spicy but sweet but again..spicy..only Zayd seems to have no problem with it..Infact..this morning he said he wants the sambal again for lunch...will match it with ayam kicap and sayur lemak insyaallah...
• My book from Nora is on the way......this new passionn for decorative painting..spend many $$ to get ready all stuffs..the result although not as per what I want..it turns out comot but pretty sweet looking from far lah....
• Got the confirmation for Suitestay for 7 days in August...got to plan out the last 7 days too...
• Massive issue at the home front....got to do with a Cinderella thing...ask me to decide pulak...kena decide sendiri lah...shucks...
• Attended the year end Grade 6/7 concert..Zayd in band playing thrombone and Hannah playing Frenchorn and sing in the choir...Zayd got to play with his honor band for one song and with the rest 2 songs...Hannah keep asking me can we say "hallelujah"in the song..?? Still thinking abt the right answer....I said not sure..just move your lips...will find out...
• Got a Dior watch for me..courtesy of Azlan's bonus and anniversary gift vouchers..though he got to come up with extra to pay..
• My ustazah says...enjoy having things if you can afford them...but dont go for expensive stuffs...alamak....understood her meaning but my wants...shucks 3x...must read the surah for marketplace more....

Well thats about all.....been misty lately....with adz graduating soon and starting a job..with myself with all the things I want to do and not yet done etc..etc...but I cherished all that Allah swt has bestowed on me and may many to come...

The New Tabib's To Be...

Insyaállah..soon enough these young people will serve their tenure and may they become what they aim to be and find happiness in between. Couldn't believe it was just 6 years ago...I was on the 10 hour bus trip with them from Moscow to Kursk and with some tears etc..we left them there to gain the education they chose. I remember the dean or somebody says in his welcoming speech...."Treat this place as a rich black soil where many things can grow....Gain the knowledge from here and spread them when you go back to work.."....I will dig some photos out to show how they were 6 years back....

Mumtaz ya..duktur...

Dua Belajar....

Below compilation was merely done for my own anakanda's who are in a way or another taking exams. Some are confident and they do well...some are not so confident and yet they do well..some are confident but than not do well and yet some are not confident and not do well. Bear in mind its not due to lack of preparation but sometimes isues gets in like..confusion..panic and than more confusion..negative thinking...not having enough confidence..well..1001 reasons actually...

But one thing that I do say to them...Just do the best that you can do..prepare and study the best & the most that you can..basically to give it your all...and than Doa..doa..doa..insyaállah. But I do tell them..don't you put effort 20% but hoping for a 100% return...Sometimes we need to learn from mistakes and go further..provided we know why the mistakes happen..in this case the study...Utilize all proven techniques..learn to know own limits and strength and weaknesses and use the powers given to get what you want. The rest is Allah swt job....

As help the following where provided...


1. Dua While Studying Something Difficult

http://www.dua4me.com/TraditionalDuas/Video_Dua_for_studying_and_exams-1

اللَّهُمَّ لاََ سَهْلَ إلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً, وَ أَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ اَلْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً
Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahla, wa 'anta taj-alu al hazna idha shi'ta sahla
O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will

Review your notes regularly even if for short intervals. Don't eat too much food. Don't do all nighters, study in chunks (psychologically better for you), memorize everything the teacher wants you to answer and re-gurgitate it back out for exams

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَ كِيلُ
Hasbiyallahu wa ni’mal wakeel
Allah is my availer and protector and the best of aids.


رَبِّا اِِنِّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِّرْ
Rabbi inni maghlubun fantass seer
O’ Allah! I am overpowered, so help me..

رَبِّزِدْنِي عِلْمً وَرْزُقْنِي فَهْمًا
Rabbi zidni ílman war zuqni fahman
O Allah! Advance me in knowledge and true understanding


2. Dua after studying:

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي أَسْتَو دِعُكَ مَا قَرَأتُ وَمَا حَفَظْتُ, فَرُدُّهُ عَلَّيَ عِندَ حَاجَتِي إِلَيهِ, اِنَّكَ عَلَ مَا تَشَاءُ قَدِير وَأَنتَ حَسْبِيَا وَنَعْمَ لْوَكِيل
Allahumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara'tu wama hafaz-tu. Farudduhu 'allaya inda hajati elahi. Innaka 'ala ma-tasha'-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na'mal wakeel"

"Oh Allah! I entrust you with what I have read and I have studied. Oh Allah! Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. Oh Allah! You do whatever you wish, you are my availer and protector and the best of aid."

3. For asking Allah swt benefit to what you do...

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَ لُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا ,وَرِزْقًا طَيَّبًا, وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'Ilman naafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah! I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision and deeds that will be accepted.[Ibn Majah and others]

4. For when you feel lazy..depressed..sad..**Things not going right for you with anything...

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ ، وَ الْعَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ ،
وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَ ضَلَعِ الدِّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma Inni A''udzubika Minal hammi wal Hazan, Wal Ájzi wal kasal, Wal Bukhli wal Jubn wa dho'laid daini wa gholaba tirrijal..

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and from being overpowered by men (other people)[Sahih al-Bukhari 7:158]

1. Study Methods ---> http://www.studygs.net/

2. Making constant Ibada, reading the Quran, and praying consistently, not only benefit you in every aspect of life (both here and in the next).. but it has been proven that people who memorize Quran have the ability to be succesfull in all feilds of worldly knowledge. One surah that I find beautiful, easy to memorize, and according to a hadith (which I shall e-mail you).. will cover the believer in the grave against punishment till judgment day is Surah Mulk. Other than that any surah, and actually the whole Quran should be read with deep content.

3. **SOME THINGS I DO BEFORE STUDYING OR EXAM**

Study Tips:
1)Do the prayers at their correct times.
2)Pray a 2 rakat nafl prior to exam
3)Say بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind) - before commencing the exam - indeed before anything that you do.
4)Recite some du'as (like the ones listed above), and keep in constant dhikrullah (i.e. the daily dhikrs when waking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc)
5)Come home and pray 2 rakat nafl after the exam for shukr (offer thanks to Allah) for granting you the strength and persistence and ability to complete the exam and accomplish goals inshaAllah
6)Increase in your reading and listening of the Qur'an and performing more ibadah (worship) (i.e. nafilah (voluntary) prayers and deeds).
Keep away from bad actions and deeds - Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to cancel it out. https://www.law.ucla.edu/mlsa/islam/duas...
Also something which is highly found beneficial is honey, eating a teaspoon can help with memory. Herbs are good natural ways of getting antioxidence. So green tea and Chamomile are the best (I drink those)... And making eating healthy a lifestyle.. with fruits and vegetables.. are good sources. Some brain foods (Almonds, Fish, Eggs and Apples)

Kenduri Arwah....

This is an interesting entry I got from UKS....It gets me thinking of many practises that we do..most by following and not knowing why..basically Islam by tradition. Alhamdulilah..the chance we get to learn...we should explore the things we know and follow and the reasons behind them...Below is an example of the instances that we do things that may be conflicting....conflicts due to community issues ( eh..apa pula orang kata?) or intention is pure but it may not follow rulings. wallahualam...Whatever is the conflicts inside us are part of our jihad too...


In ummiku-sayang@ yahoogroups. com, wanfk wrote:>>

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jan (Hrkh) -"Perlu ke saya sediakan makanan danbuat kenduri arwah kepada orang kampung sedangkan keluarga saya tengahsedih sangat sebab baru sahaja kehilangan ayah tersayang?" tanyaseorang remaja kepada saya yang baru kehilangan ayahnya yang tercintakerana sakit kronik.

-->> Terkedu dan pernah juga terfikir dalam benak hati, namun keranakenaifan saya di bidang agama saya diamkan sahaja sehinggalah munculkembali soalan yang terbit daripada anak muda belasan tahun ini yangdatang daripada keluarga yang susah.
> Lantaran itu, walaupun sedikit kesibukan dengan tugasan, sayameluangkan masa mencari jawapan yang mungkin atau mengundang pelbagaipandangan dan polemik serta emosi kurang senang banyak pihak.
> Namun atas landasan mencari ilmu termasuk mahu berkongsi bersama,saya kutip beberapa pendapat yang boleh dijadikan panduan kepada semuakhususnya kepada anak muda yang bertanya itu sehingga saya membiarkandia termanggu tanpa sebarang jawapan sebelum ini.(segala kesilapan dankelemahan mohon tunjuk dan maafkan) > Amalan membebankan keluarga si mati > Dalam laman blog dikenali sebagai Institut Al-Imam Syafie (Intis)seorang Pensyarah Jabatan Tilawah al-Quran Pusat Bahasa UniversitiIslam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Abdullah Bukhari Abdul Rahimmenulis amalan kenduri arwah ini sudah pasti menyusahkan keluarga simati yang masih lagi bersedih dengan kehilangan orang tersayang. > Katanya Rasulullah s.a.w ketika mendengar berita kematian Jaafaribn Abi Talib, baginda bersabda: "Persiapkan makanan untuk keluargaJa’far, kerana sesungguhnya mereka telah didatangi dengan apa yangmenyibukkan mereka (kesusahan) â€" Hadith riwayat al-Tirmidhi & AbuDawud.
> Keluarga si mati yang baru ditimpa musibah(al-Baqarah: 155-157)perlu disokong dan dibantu. > Amalan di sesetengah tempat ini adalah salah, kerana katanyakesedihan keluarga si mati akan ditambah lagi dengan kesedihan lainseperti bebanan kewangan kerana perlu membayar upah orang membacaal-Quran, sembahyang jenazah dan kenduri arwah.
> "Budaya mengadakan kenduri arwah bersempena kematian pada malampertama, malam Jumaat, malam ketujuh, malam ke-40 dan malam ke-100juga tidak mempunyai asas sama sekali dalam Islam," katanya yangdipetik dari laman web tersebut
> Amalan itu membawa kepada pembaziran jika membabitkan penggunaanharta si mati tanpa jalan yang betul dan membabitkan penganiayaanharta anak yatim malah Majlis Fatwa Mesir pada 1947 memutuskan bahawaamalan berkenaan perlu dihentikan.
> Ulama mazhab Syafie melarang kenduri arwah > Rujukan katanya boleh dibuat terhadap Kenyataan bekas Mufti MesirSyeikh Hasanain Makhluf di dalam akhbar al-Ahram bertarikh 27 Julai1947 dan Fatwa ini kemudian disahkan oleh Majlis Fatwa Mesir dandikeluarkan dengan rasminya pada 14 Ogos 1947, bilangan 377.
> Katanya lagi Ulama mazhab Syafie melarang budaya ini sebagaimanadipetik daripada buku Feqah Mazhab Syafie, al-Fiqh al-Manhaji.
> Antara petikan kitab tersebut yang berbunyi:"Daripada bidaah apadibuat keluarga si mati ialah dengan mengumpulkan orang ramai kepadamakanan dengan upacara dinamakan berlalunya 40 hari dan seumpamanya. "
> "Sekiranya perbelanjaan makanan itu daripada harta peninggalan (simati) dan di kalangan waris ada yang belum baligh, maka itu adalahdari perkara lebih haram.
> "Ini kerana ia memakan harta benda anak yatim dan melenyapkannyabukan untuk kepentingan anak yatim itu. Terbabit juga dalam melakukanperbuatan haram ini setiap yang memanggil dan memakannya." (rujukanjil 1/ ms 263, Damsyik: Dar al-Qalam).

> Dalam pada itu pada Jun 2005 blog tersebut turut memetik ruanganTazkirah di bawah tajuk 'Amalan Jahiliyyah Disangka Ajaran Agama' olehTuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang merujuk kepada pengarangkitab at-Tazkirah iaitu Al-Qurtubi berhubung isu kenduri arwah.
> "Dengan jelas mengatakan bahawa diantara amalan jahiliyyah ialahmengadakan suatu himpunan beramai-ramai diperkuburan, di masjid ataudi rumah dengan berzikir dan juga lain-lain bacaan, serta mengadakanjamuan makan minum dengan tujuan untuk orang mati, disebut orangsebagai kenduri Arwah.
> "Dengan jelas perbuatan itu tiada Nas yang menjadi rujukannya dantiada petunjuk sunnah yang menjadi ikutan, " kata Nik Aziz. > Kenyataan pahit dan mengejutkan (bold)
> Kenyataan ini kata Nik Aziz mungkin agak keras dan pahit sertaboleh jadi suatu penjelasan yang mengejutkan terutama terhadap merekayang mengamalkan perkara tersebut secara ikut-ikutan dan membuta tulitanpa mengkaji dari sudut ilmiyah.
> "Tetapi inilah hakikat Islam yang mesti diakui oleh penganutnyayang sedia kembali kepada al-Quran dan Sunnah," katanya
> "Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa amalan tersebut telah berakar umbidi dalam masyarakat melayu, sehingga sebahagian dari mereka menganggapbahawa amalan tersebut adalah merupakan amalan agama yang mestidilakukan setiap kali berlaku kematian," katanya lagi

> Kata Nik Aziz lagi sungguhpun Nabi terlalu sayang terhadap umatnyaterutama terhadap para sahabatnya yang sentiasa membantu Nabi di dalamsuasana damai dan perang namun Nabi tidak pernah melakukan majliszikir atau tahlil untuk sahabat-sahabatnya r.a yang mati.
> "Orang yang paling sayang terhadap Nabi s.a.w. adalah parasahabatnya yang sentiasa berada di sisi Nabi siang dan malam, namunpernahkah terdapat para sahabat berhimpun dan berzikir dan bertahliluntuk Nabi s.a.w.?" katanya membangkitkan persoalan. Soalnya lagi jikaperkara itu tidak dilakukan oleh Nabi dan juga para sahabat maka darimanakah punca amalan itu diambil.
> "Apa yang paling mendukacitakan, mereka menganggap amalan tersebutsebahagian dari amalan Islam, padahal Rasulullah sa.w. tidak pernahmenunjukkan contoh seperti itu dalam sunnahnya," katanya.
> Bagi umat Islam marilah berlapang dada dalam menghadpi persoalanagama dengan menghayati petikan ayat daripada surah An-Nisaa' 4:59:"Hai orang-orang yang beriman, taatilah Allah dan taatilah RasulNyadan ulil amri di antara kamu. Kemudian jika kamu berlainan pendapattentang sesuatu, maka kembalikanlah ia kepada Allah (Al Qur'an) danRasul (sunnahnya), jika kamu benar-benar beriman kepada Allah dan harikemudian. Yang demikian itu lebih utama (bagimu) dan lebih baikakibatnya." -Az> >

Catch...

This issue keep circling in my mind. Basically I don't know much for what to say about it coz' I dont even know where to begin...One thing I know..it is faced by many women and their initiatives were either to ask about it and non-commital answers given or more ridiculously being given a look like..hey..its my money so I know how to take care of it...But money here is hardly the issue....the issue will be how to go on after the inevitable happens. Many women once face with these issues will just shrug it off...malas nak tanya lagi..bising telinga...and just go on with life...But personally..at the very minimum we need to know how it is coz'if we are left back we know where to even begin....I am talking about death and specifically if the husbnad were to leave first and we are with still school going kids...

Things that mystify some but clear to the very few are :-

• EPF....nama pewaris. What actually does the pewaris can do? We need to find out about this..I am not sure myself...There's 3 spaces for names of pewaris. Know who they are and especially if you are one of them...or worst case NOT one of the names..If you are in this case then there will be many things that we need to find out further..especially if the wife was a homemaker from beginning...Many cases happens that the pewaris names were that of parents or siblings....alasan nya..Ala..lupa nak update...Tahulah nanti adik/abang I nak take care of you&kids..taulah parents I nak take care juga...Kang I letak nama you(wife) jadi janda kaya you pulak...kalau you kahwin lain..untunglah suami baru..ekekek.. Soo..jealous juga rupanya sampai gitu sekali nak jaga..my interpretation lah...Tak nak nanti duit yg dapat kot banyak.. menyenangkan orang baru..itupun jika benar bagai disangka.. Tak teringat ke..siapa yang akan lebih prihatin hal kebajikan anak2...Siapa yang akan lebih menyusahkan dirinya demi anak2... Pernah dan banyak kali berlaku...suami mati dan duit EPF yg agak lumayan diletak pewaris pada abang...dan parents..nama isteri dan anak takde... Maka apa yang jadi..isteri satu sen tak dapat so anak2 tak dapat juga..pewaris lebih berkata dah letak nama dia maka untuk dia lah..if nak bagi wife dah lama tukar nama... Tak ke nama pewaris tu sebagai pemegang amanah utk menjaga kebajikan org yg ditinggalkan lebih2 lagi anak2...Bagi harta anak yatim tu bukannya untuk dibolot... By even thinking that you can't trust your wife after you die and all your hard earned money will go to someone else if she remarries... so tinggalkan pada orang lain to take care..this to me is such a humiliation to the wife after so long being together with her thru thick or thin.. unless lah wife ni bukan that wifely type...

• I heard this being said too....." I tak taulah kat mana and berapa duit simpanan dia" Bila tanya dia marah marah..so malas lah nak tanya..asal semua cukup dah..Rumah pun belum ada lagi bila balik2 cuti kn tumpang rumah in-laws dulu or duduk hotel ke.... Semasa hidup maybe things will be okay...but once he is gone where are we going to get hold of all this information. When we dont know even the bank and account number...let alone how much....

Since I am still pondering on these issues and contemplating each of them to improve on my own situation will definitely needs lots of discussion. My priviliges in all this are being open to each other and decided together on most of it but we still have many unsettled issues that need clarifying so that things are more or less settled with the what if both of us gone together....

It's Blowing Sand Out There...

Today seems slightly gloomy coz' the sand is in the wind....but at the same time many many things is trying to overcome me..and part of me is still in pause mode..still lazing around. Maleh..nak buat apa bende...

Tentatively...it will be 7 weeks till when we will be back in Malaysia for the ritual repat..this year the air tickets we bought it way back end January..some people call it crazy but its just precaution against rising prices and conflicting schedules. But then again..no matter how sure you are of certain things..it ends up being a mess no doubt. Why?? This time a few factors disturb our intial plans...the hubby got a new boss recently and he panics looking at the leave schedule for summer...well..the oil has got to be pumped out no matter who goes on leave..if not probably we dont enjoy the SR0.45 per liter gas. Anyway..we couldnt change the departure date due to the increase in prices and only change Azlan's return date a week earlier. Now I am not having the confidence of staying back another week in Malaysia or probably extended further due to Adzrul might not get certain things settle bcos he will also return late to Malaysia. He may only just meet Azlan for about 12 days....

Next..after the dates are more or less settle. The next decision will be where to stay. Since the house is not ready yet..we cant stay there. We need to get people to come and do something. Lately the help was ever so busy so we got to wait once he got a breather...But he has make the decision much easier for short-listing the contractors and than it is just money..money...ouchh...

I have arranged for us to be in Shah Alam for a week and than fly back to Kelantan for a few days..next return to KL for 2 weeks somewhere and the plan stuck there...still ahve another 2 weeks to plan for. In between will run to Seremban...maybe Bukit Merah and if no choice to Sunway Lagoon as a peace offereing to Hannah..who is so into this theme park & water park recreation whatsoever and no matter what...She is accusing me of promising to her less than half-hearted. Thus..the plan stays in KL where she said..."Doesnt matter where but KL..ada pool and near KLCC" Macam lah nak shopping giler...

The plan is still going on....

Wishful Thinking...

Do you realise how fast time flies? Sometimes while you are doing nothing too...tup..tup..dah weekend..Eikk..banyak lagi benda yang tak terbuat ni! And than again I will come up with a resolve that next week I shall do better...

Well..the matter of fact is that being alive is an unsure thing but death is definite...Being alive we need to cherished the time that we still have to honor our promise "Laillahaillallah..". How do we do this..by all deeds that we do in the time that we have..How so...?? Believe in Allah swt mercies and the forever forgiving...Like a talk given by Prof. Jamal Badawi recently...Rasullullah saw. draws 2 points on a sand and draw a straight line between these 2 points...then he draw several other lines that is not straight but still linking the two points....He says the shortest distance between two points will always be the straight line. Think about it !! But this short distance is full of trials and tribulations while the longer line is merrier..this depicts part of life...we dont have to bother about much and we still move on and at the end of the day we wonder where has our life gone too...while the straight line...the trials and tribulations are actually the difficulty that we feel to fit it into the needs of this life...we found such difficulty to bring along our religion with us..we want it to be something private..it is and yet it is not...How do we go about doing this? Always remember Allah's mercies and that HE knows whatever it is and since we dont know..HE gives us freewill to choose..good or bad, right or wrong..in order to make good choices we need to educate ourself...we need good companions...we need reminders...etc...etc....being human...easily we fall and easily with faith we can come up again....Understand that this world is temporary even with all its glories....that the Hereafter is what we should aim for...and yet we fear..fear of the judgement of the wrongs that we did...the backbitings..the promise to Allah swt that we forgot along the way..the promise to obey HIM...but always believe that whatever it is only Allah swt knows....so we should not despair in knowing this...and keep on trying..there's no despairing and giving up!!

Well...what I want to say was just about WORRYING...we worry too much...will I pass the test.. will I have enough money...we lose sleep over things... and yet worrying about things like this we did not do anything to overcome it..we just worry for the sake of worrying...Since its already predetermined from 50000 years b4 earth is made so what we do has no basis in changing what is predetermined? Our Qadar...means measures... Here is where we oversimplify by thinking... whats the use of trying for example....since Allah has decree it all... Yes our life has been predetermined by Allah swt but we did not know what it is...we do not know what our actions can do...but by the choices that we have..the freewill to decide we can make good and bad decisions... thats why we have the Quran and Hadith to guide us...Its not as easy or as difficult that we might think..but definitely we need to seek knowledge..explore... find out from scholars for those issues that requires elaboration..do not merely take the word of someone whom we are not sure of their expertise...like going to a heart surgeon for consultation while the pain is only about your tooth..should have gone to the dentist first..Seek from those in the right field to make us understand...

Like my ustazah use to say also...Emm..I want to learn Arabic or memorize this doa..but we did not go and find a teacher..we did not do any homework...we did not take action..we just wish it and hopes everything will come to us without us doing nothing...When somebody ask something we tend to give out fatwa's...not really answering the questions...We say Ooo..this is Haram..this is Halal...Need to understand this more....

He..he...reminding me that the class is just next Sunday & Monday and I havent start on anything....thats when I find that time is wheezing so fast by me....

Youth..Teenagers..Kids..Tough Love...

Somedays just seems to be dragging by..most times I wish that things esp. life are without hiccups but than again it would not be life...

When your kids are small you only worry about feeding them right most of the time. So that they grow up healthy and strong. Slights here and there is normal cause most times eventhough rebellious you can always catch them and hold tight.

Teenagers are another world of its own. Do you know that "youth" is a term from teenagers till about 40 years of age ? Beyond 40 than you are a mature adult..he..he..he.. No wonder life starts at 40..But than come to think of it...there's many truths behind this statement. Reflect back on your life and you are sure to come to some truth about this...Anyway...from this statement what is expected that once you reach 40..you should have all the maturity in life to settle down and be more organized in life..If at 40 you are still easily tick-off or unaccountable for many of your actions than growth in terms of the grey matter up there might have been stunted somewhat.. Well..believe me some says all your experience in life should culminate once crossing this number and you can therefore chart your life or what remains of it still...so that each and everyday is cherished till the day do us part..ehemm... Something basically simple to say will be...if forever you are hard headed cursing here and there..now its more expected that you are more calm not easily perturbed by the small intricasies that you face daily life...

But will all this calmness works if you were to work or face with your teenagers? I am facing 3 teenagers right now. A friend use to say.."What ?? You are a teenager? Soo..You can kill people now?".. I understand what she means behind it...As if once you are a teenager you got a license to kill or do just about anything...

How can you protect them and let them go thru this phase with less glitches and bruises.. especially when it comes to matters of the heart...Not really with the opposite gender but with families and friends and those they come in contact with as they move along...I guess in wanting to establish their identity they will face many heartbreaks or breakdowns? This is the worse case...

I shall write more about this...I am still overwhelm by it all in wanting to give the right support and advices to my now teenagers. At the same time..I am hurting to see how they are facing the insecurities but it also hurts at how they hurl back their insecurities on the things they are more accustomed to.

What I Have & Have Not Been Doing....

Have's....

• Been practising some memorising of As-Sajdah..manage the first 5 ayahs...slow..ee..
• Going to Monday classes..that's why the memorizing above...
• Been straightening up my collections of book..am trying to sort them by interests...
• Clearing up my laundry and ironing...just my tudungs still in the basket..been thinking that it's such an easy task but still not get done...
• Completed paying this month bills and last month daily monitoring...
• Did an entry update...shucks...wish it was more..
• Got my frozen curry puffs, keria and cok badak..he..he..easy peasy tea treats..
• Been to MK a few times for tea-tarik's...
• Been caught in a few arguments near and far...hate these issues...
• Have manage to resolves certain issues which relate to the arguments..
• Manage to still enjoy foods and life..see..speak..listen...manageable health...syukur to Allah swt for all these small wonders on top of the big ones...

Have Not's...

• Been reading much..
• Been practising my painting strokes..
• Not taking the walk as promised..maybe today..
• Been revising my tafsr..arghh...
• Manage to complete my pantry clean-up..only done the refrigerator...hope to complete b4 repat..
• Keep my temper in check esp with the young ones...
• Been getting the extra few hours night sleep..still abt 5hrs...
• Been actively doing anything at all..just bits here and there
• Even try the cup-cakes recipe that I got..

No matter what...Adzrul and friends manage to get the letters from embassy for status re-affirmation...Totally have move forward in some areas than last month..spiritually that is...

Wanderings Of My Mind....

The week that was leaves me in a very complicated emotional state or rather too many of the what if's and what I want to do and not get done...Too much lazing on my back didn't help either. Anyway...for what it's worth I believe everybody including myself got a couple of things completed...So the week that was....

Sat. 4/26....Been crazily trying to memorize certain vocabs in order to do a test on my Quran translation..Urghh..been at it for a few days...more like cramping weeks of lessons into 3 days...Been throwing bits of that vits and this vits in order to jog my memory....I feel uncertain and to come myself down...said to myself that whatever is the effort I know I am getting the hasanah although the results or outcome may not be in passing the test...but I least I begin to put together some words...

Sun. 4/27...The test!!! Nervewrecking I can say...got the paper and couldn't believe that I cant read the writings..my heart beats so fast...I believe poor copies and handwriting was the cause and not really that I dont know most of it..ha..ha...Halfway thru..I give up says that I got to do it again the following week...sheer mistake as I have again not been studying and tomorrow is Sunday again...

Mon 4/28...Couldn't really remember what were the main things I did except for preparing Zayd's stuff for going to Riyadh for his SAIK band festival..he was blowing this mean thrombone.. but I guess his refusal earlier in going stems more out of nervousness than not knowing what to play..I guess the talk with Mr.Elkins on prev Wed helps to calm his nerves and look forward to the trip as something that is going to be fun...

Tues. 4/29...Just the 3 of us at home...the morning part of my day started off quite good but I got caught in an argument..Got to watch my fuse not to be easily ignited..Myb the way its being thrown or maybe its the truth of the question...the teacher was saying that we are not really focusing on the subjects for class..we want to stick to the safe side..knowing numbers.. colors.. time..That for me was still a struggle...mainly due trying to convert every meaning 3 ways..Arabic-->English-->BM-->Arabic..thats how my brain is accepting it right now..Maybe the age ka?? No wonder it takes ages to grasp and she's not happy of the rate we are going..

I was frank in my intention to learn a new thing and on top of everything that I put myself in I believe its not fair to say that we are not focussing and not spending time say 1 hour a day...I do believe with more time spend I can eventually get it right but my excuse was that I am having much to do...but I also think I can be organize and do better but when she says that as if we just do for whims was not fair..there are some in the class who are really good but some who's eager and says anything are not really that far away ahead of me..he..he..just being mean here... I feel bad for honestly saying what I did..but maybe its just something of my fuse being short again...

Evening time - when for a walk around the golf course with Azlan before Maghrib..completed it in an hour which was great for me...but then dinner at MK almost tip everything off...but sheer bliss the tea-tarik and mee mamak ( fried spagetti MK style)...

Wed..4/30...Lunch was simple as we got invitation from ASB for dinner which definitely going to be a spread as usual. It was definitely fantastic..I envy her for cooking all those lovely stuffs..Well..it get me thinking that what do I know..except for the few mastered recipes I didn't kknow more..I wish I could but in having reliable suppliers before back home makes me leaving the culinary skill aspects of what I should do behind and not really being ashamed of it until NOW...anyway..I manage to put together sort of a Bread Pudding...without the vanilla sauce..I feel so small beside the carrot cake with cream cheese topping by Aida..another sort of a mix cake too..puddings and apams and tapai..the lot...

Thurs ..5/1..its Labor Day!!! But I am still in labor not of the birthing kind...Got to get up early and take everybody for breakfast to MK that is..the labor wa sin getting everyone up so that we can reach MK early and get back to camp by 10:30 bcos Hannah has her Girl Scout Bronze Award - First Aid presentation today...At breakfast get to meet everybody which was fun..fun... and rush back to camp and got to volunteer for the day...being on my feet was not a good idea for that long a time....

What I regret today was my unexpected blurting out my assumptions...shouldn't have done it but it happen...it might hurt somebody if the assumption is wrong or just by talking abt it...The eyes might not see the actual truth...Anyway...I believe I am ahead in my assuming so thus the trouble...shouldnt have bothered too..but sometimes I tend to let my heart go..I cannot judge on the same principles that I carry...Well..just for saying it out here...I believe a family unit should have a consideration for each other in the unit i.e. between husband & wife, parents&children and between siblings. But then again the care and considerations may not be the same for everybody..but myb due to some privy that we got to know way back makes what we see today looks a little bit off-sided. Well..in coming to Saudi..many ladies had to forgo things that they are use to doing..like going to work and earning under their name..but when does this earning not become so important and not having this doesnt even indicates that your freedom is at stake..?? The feeling of having to depend on somebody even for the small pocket money you need to get things..does not have to be a sign of your independency being taken away from you...of you not being useful....Ya..lah..sume nak kena mintak...so terasa rendah diri juga kadang tu..said a friend. Maybe in my case I have been taking for granted many situations that I share with my husband... I didnt have to resign but I want to resign..many people says I will regret it financially but I say know I wont and I still wont..I got the pleasure of spending someones else money..and the pleasure of setting my own time and rules for what I want to do..this is bliss..But anyway... life here is in a way dependent on the husband in a lot ways...if he does not take you anywhere outside of time spend when he's working and you are home..basically the days just fly by... Not saying that I want to keep him to myself all the time..but hey..if he feels like being there with me I am fine with it..basically he doesnt want to do things by himself...but I did tell him..Nanti orang ingat I tak bagi you buat apa2 pulak nak berkepit je dgn I...but truth of the matter is..its been like that since early on..now that I got to again think about it..sometimes ya you need your own space..but then why should I complaint...

Zayd returns abt 8:00pm on a bus who had had AC problem from 50miles back..the kids were running the bus and rolling on the grass...He was saying how fun it was...Lucky that he got to go..huh..huh...

Friday..5/2...Adzrul says the qualification paper for matric is obtained and should not be a problem to sit for his finals. earlier there were an absolute no...no....until get the approval. spend the nite looking for cup cake recipe instead of studying..but hey..I manage to memorize ayat 1-4 of Sajdah...very happy abt it..but got 4 more to memorize by Monday.. have fun drooling on this Chocolate Cupcake.

Solat Qasar

Thought that I would write this down as a reminder to myself...as often we get it wrong for not really understanding as to the different school of thoughts. Wew can get similar clarification from Arab News, Islam-On_line and this explaination by Sheikh Mohammad Salah from Huda TV...

Qasar ~Shortening of one's prayers.

When : You make intention to travel.

Opinion #1. - Travelling any distance even less than 80km.

Opinion #2. - As long as you are travelling with no limits to the number of days ~Qasar & Jama

Opinion #3 - * More commonly accepted.

• If you travel and decided that it will be more than 4 days, than you can opt to do prayers regularly after the 4 days.
• Your travel is up to 4 days - than you may shorten and combined the prayers during this time~ Qasar & Jama'
• If you are not certain/ sure of your travel days than you can shorten your prayers as long as you are in this state.

In addition - If you are travelling and it is Friday than you do your Friday prayers while a traveller, you can after Jumaah pray your Asar ~as shortened and combined.

Note : Qasar only the 4 rakaah prayer to 2 rakaahs and Jama' for Zohor & Asar vice versa and Mahrib & Isya vice versa.

Waállahualam ~as quoted from the session of Ask@Huda this morning. We can decide to do which will be a benefit to us. We cannot miss our 5 daily prayers and sometimes we are in a situation so we can do our prayers without any haste or missed. It helps as many of us will be travelling especially summer. Another state to understand will be the Jama' prayers that you can do in a state of need and not done as a habit or regularity and solat "hormat"waktu..what are they and its meaning.

'Kindly advise to that I may err..the good from Allah swt and the mistakes purely my ignorance.

Cerita yang Terdelete....

I make a posting about this few days ago but somehow not sure why it did not get upload but deleted instead.. I go like this..Uh..uh..Ohh..Ohh...penat..hilang pulak!! I was just writing about the feeling of togetherness that I felt recently..with the kids and hubby... firstly it was the spring break...so Ayman had a week leave while Zayd and Hannah had a month..originally plan to go for umrah but unfortunately due to a lady monthly thing...it was cancelled...so Azlan spend the week sending the car for service..sleep..sleep..and more sleep...plus makan-makan in between. Anyway...the Tuesday b4 Ayman got to go back to Bahrain...we decided to go to Bahrain...just to spend the day elsewhere instead of everyone under their blankets..We left abt noon and head straight to Ponderosa for lunch..here is when I felt the togetherness thing when everyone was munching...and talking and laughing...the one missing was Adzrul...but than we sit in the same spot that we did when he was here the last time...after Ponderosa we went over to Seef Mall... the kids was thinking of getting a game cartridge for PSP...as often as I tried telling them that the PSP is not theirs..it is mine...tactic ngumpan sebenarnya...

Well..since they did not find anything else to check on and the movies are not the one they like we proceeded to Dana Mall pulak... a drive across the highway from Seef...**it's fun to go to Bahrain during the weekdays as there are ample parking space and no jams to get to the parking space..* At DM we decided to watch 2 movies each...the kids watch the new Jim Carey movie Horton Hears a Who.. Az&I decided on Jumper...weird movie but somehow we are watching alot of this tak masuk akal stuff these days..it is better than talking about others per say..not that we indulge in talking about others...but just comparing two nonsense... The kids had fun I think..keluar movie tu full of praises...lepas tu mintak makan...since the next movie was in 2 hours time..we decided to go to Geant to buy some groceries..org duduk saudi gi beli beras kat Bahrain..sebab harga beras dah gila2 kat Saudi...eg. 5kg Tilda in Saudi is SR58 and in Bahrain is SR45...kat Bahrain still the old price..so ngangkut lah a few 5kg bags..funny thing is the 5kg bags if x2 is cheaper that the 10kg bag....tak sure why... than we got back to Dana Mall a very short drive from Geant and snack on something and watch the 2nd movie we plan earlier..Vantage Point....as the movie finish..we drove back to Saudi... everyone was tired..sleepy but had fun no doubt...

End of Spring Break...

T.G.I.F...



Today being Friday was sort of a relaxing day although the weather outside was bad...very bad sand storm...visibility almost nothing...but thats life in Saudi...I guess..the weather will get hotter soon...My throat has beinn scratchy the last few days...



To start the day...Azlan & I went for breakfast at the Hobby farm....I use to wonder why they call it hobby farm since its for horses..sorts of horse stable's...Anyway...I dont waste my time to ponder over it....Breakfast were coffee and waffle for me and coffee and sandwiches for Azlan...its the best time of the weekend when we can sip coffee..talk...and the kids were still sleeping at home...we just tapau whatever for them..if they complaint..always the answer will be "You have to make your own bfast next time ya..."and the urgh...and grumble...mumble....and..wake up early to have your choice..!!..What I will say to their backs....



The day when by pretty quick though...after Jumaat prayer...Azlan decided to go to the office to look over things...since he was on weekend duty and nobody seems to ring him up updating whatever...so he went to check for himself....we decided after Mghrib to went out for dinner to Malaysian Kitchen in Khobar...we tend to call it MK now...

Adzrul is 25 years old today.....

Time flies so fast....it is now 25 years since I had adzrul...He was my first and frankly the easiest birth....How I miss those times...but for evrything that has happen Allah swt plans always beats that of ours..May we always have HIS blessings...

April 25 years ago..1983

A bit short of time here..but just want to write this short entry..I remember 25 years ago in April 1983..I was in Carbondale, Illinois..at Queens Apartment..shucks..couldn't remember my room number but it was the one beside the laundry...What was important..I was ripely pregnant at this stage with my first born...huffing around just to get by the days...Delivery was just around the corner...I was in the midst of preparing for exams mid-semester..wishing that i could sit for all of them before my maternity..actually there were no maternity leave..just I will be missing some classes till I am fit enough to move after giving birth...I was just 21 then...Azlan were going to start his Spring break in the coming week and we hope that birth will be around this time...

We were anxious..scared..and thrill at the same time..but we are more or less prepared...I have met some of my lecturers that if I were not present in class in the coming week b4 the spring break..my reason will be that I am having a baby..I remember some shock faces..but pointing at my tummy my excuse for asking for resitting my exams during the spring break was accepted...

How time flies..soon I will be celebrating that particular day in spring that our bundle of joy was delivered...25 years ago...in the wee hours of the morning...

Post- PRU-12

Today..I was smiling after knowing the results of the Malaysian PRU-12. Yes..a wave of wanting CHANGE has swept Malaysian citizens..thus the results that we see. Each and everyone need to know their standing..the reasons why..not just follow-follow neh..It is not that bad in thinking why not try it at least once...CHANGE..that is...the fear for change even in our own personal life is sometimes too scary to think about..Why??..bcos we have all the what if's in our mind..worst case if it is worse than existing situation..this is what scares us usually...moving from something predictable to something with uncertainty..Uncertainty bcos we do not know what is step 2 from step 1....BUT..if we never ever try to CHANGE..we will never know how it is going to be...Worst case for PRU...in4~5 years time you can always again use your power to effect another change... The changes will be in those who are in power to set the policies and manage it's running...the worker or those that runs it will be the same people toiling day in day out..the difference will be in focusing on what matters most..Nobody will lose their job just bcos of the change-over of top management like what will happen in 4 states...unless the person itself has some issues that now somebody will take a look at...the one who runs the show will be different but the ones who work for the show will be the person who is hired for the job all along...Nahaslah..bila tukar governance so tons of people will be laid-off..tak macam tu...

BRAVO to all those people who open up their heart and decide to take up CHANGE...the fears in your heart..let it be..definitely it will be fan by all the media news that you read..infact today in Utusan..it has already printed down that the BA cannot get their heads together to govern..they started with who will be the MB for Perak...Huh..3x..Huh...Why la..lo...Be fair...wait and decide... this is not anymore for us..it is for our kids and kids future..It is already tough making ends meet as it is..lets try to make the future of Malaysians will be something that there'll be benefits for all to share...I am not really into politics..to me no matter what.. it is tough for all those in it...But as long as the reps will work for their constituents..bring forward the needs of the people in parliment and try..try..no matter how hard..I guess..something will surely come up. I guess...for BA it will give them the chance to invoke changes...to prove..what can be done...even for BN definitely they will need to work harder..they will not be resting on their laurels too much...At the end of the day..we must give the HAQ to the deserving no matter who they are..do not deny the Haq for the good that somebody do...Open up our mind and hearts and our eyes and ears and even our nose will get the sense of it all....

My heart was in shreds looking at the photo of TGNA with tears falling down his face... my doa for that day are that people will open up their hearts and mind..May all the "hantus"pangkah BA...May Allah swt give guidance to the voters and May we be Sabr for whatever the on-goings will be..Alhamdulilah..Allah swt show us the way..The wins are not an easy thing to carry or run...it is an amanah with lots of trials..definitely BA have to work together..not just their heads but their heart too...I hope they will and find a way to resolve issues between them..and rule collectively with consensus...prove that the fears we have are just that..fears of the unknown....DSAI is still relevant definitely....at the end of the day we are Malaysians...lets start behaving as Malaysians to break all barriers..teach our children no matter what..we are from the same country...have the same fears and the same ambitions..may it will be a brighter future for everyone....

Living In Aramco - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

This coming July'08 will be Azlan's 5th. anniversary with Aramco. Not bad..he got a SR1500 gift certificate and for sure..you know who will it be going to..May Allah swt. make it easy for him in anything that he do...anyway..when we first got here we were the first Malaysian family... although there were 1/2 Malaysians too..those married to another passport holder. There were those who were Msian but has now become holders of other country citizenship. But after 5 years there are now about 50++ families scattered in Dhahran, Udhailiyah, Ras Tanura and Abqaiq...Dhahran being the most populated and nearer to the Al-Khobar and Dammam and just a causeway away abt 45mins from the country of Bahrain. So..I guess those who got to stay in Dhahran got the better deals in terms of amenities..although you can be easily tempted with all the sale that is always going on. Probably those who stay in other camps will be able to save more money compared to us here Dhahranians... No matter what..I guess in Aramco that's where you can find the most varied citizens from around the world..just go to the schools and you know what I mean..the most mixed marriages...all in all it is quite a unique community.

Honestly...I dont venture out of the house much as I am without any help at home...got to do the 1001 things myself that the house and family needed..almost always 24 hrs on call...but basically no complaint as I got my equal share of fun the way I want it..But 3 mornings in a week I attended classes...this got me going and meet more fun people..like minded in the way we want to learn new things..so got to make sure I can maintain the consistency of going to the Quran & Arabic classes...There are always something going on..like the Womens Group..Garden Group and plus if you volunteer in schools for certain activities. You might end up having no time to devote to what your house or family need...sometimes I have a houseboy come to clean the windows and toilets etc..but since he's back to India not sure till when..I havent yet get a replacement...On camp there also have a few snack bars, a cafe, a restaurant, a dining hall, a movie theater, swimming pools..hiking tracks..sporst facility, library, bowling alley, golf field, a hobby farm for horses..beautiful beach when its not hot... a great wall climbing area, art classes, individuals who also provide services like gifts, beauty, piano lessons, dance...you name it and almost always its available.. so life here is not too bad..once you get bored with not finding anything to do you can always go away for a short or long holiday. We were in Lon&Paris for 2 weeks, now planning for a 5week trip to Malaysia and in between maybe umrah to Makkah, weekend in Bahrain..thats what sums up your life here....

But the things you will almost always miss being here are relatives and the time....the food you once love but in actual fact not that healthy for you always..though it taste great and looks wonderful...But for me, the best thing will be seeing my children grow from my own nurturing... seeing more smiles each day between us...although the age is now slowly creeping up...

Zayd & Hannah

Student Lead Conference ~Sunday Feb. 10, 2008..Aramco School, Dhahran.

Trios at the 7th grade hallway...waiting for Zayd's turn..

Zayd at his famous locker...

Hannah & Papa front of the date tree...

In front of 7th. grade building...

Hannah waiting to be called in...

Hannah & Mrs. Lunsford her 6th. grade Oasis and Math teacher...

Student led means the kid got to present and show/tell their parents what they have been doing. Their progress in school that is...well..Hannah has great grades and Zayd has make some big scale improvements in Science from C- to now a B+ avg...wonder if he can maintain them... Here are some photos of them around school...