Be generous be generous be generous

Thats what I've learned this week.this Tuesday was the 10th day of Muharram ,a day on which we are encouraged to spend on our families .Allah increases the provision of one who does so and this year I witnessed it almost immediately!

I love this time of the year,there's such a thrill in the exchanging of gifts.in Islam we are encouraged to do so as it builds love between each other and I'm certain helps to improve the quality of our relationships.so often it's not the item one receives that is important,rather I find the effort behind it to be the real highlight.it makes me smile thinking how the giver took the time to make or buy the gift,wrapping it as best they can and presenting it to you with love. a very important aspect to remember during the exchange of gifts is appreciation.whether its a sweet you have received or an M3,be gracious and express your gratitude.so heres A BIG thank you to all who have showered my family and I with gifts of your time and wealth. May the Almighty bless you eternally.

No matter your financial standing try to give as much as possible and be sincere.u will be amazed by the rewards both in this world and in the Hereafter.

Have a spiritually charged weekend
Until u read again

Ma'assalam

Anger is the opposite of sanity

I had mentioned giving birth made me discover some things about myself ,some that I'm not particularly proud off.chalk it up to the baby blues or hormones,I have previously never known myself to be that angry ,irratable or moody.

I guess you are allowed to be a bit under the weather emotionally,considering the enormous change your body has been through.but once the weather seems to be constantly "stormy" u know something's amiss.when other peoples concern and advice grates on your nerves u realize the devil takes his chances .he makes a person see things in a light that may have been unintended or non existent.and this doesn't just apply to woman who have given birth.how often is it that as quickly as the storm within rages,it subsides. So a pertinent question to ask when provoked is" Can u count to 10 and walk away?" it may deprive u of your opportunity to vent but it would give u something far greater.thats strength!

We say and do things in anger that we regret.so empower yourself with positive thoughts and zikr (rememberance of Allah).

u will resist the urge to punch someone in the face or avoid the urge entirely.

Until u read again
Ma'assalam

All those moments..

Thinking about lil mans future got me thinking about my past.the days when we would play until every last drop of energy was used up and we would pass out in weird random places.

I think I can best describe my childhood as being 'charmed'.it was the kind of childhood I wish every child could have. It was not filled with material wealth as one might think but it was filled with the wealth of love.and I think that contributed to it being as good as it was.growing up on a farm we had ample space for our imaginations to grow,and grow they did.i recall so many of our sentences beginning with the words 'lets pretend' .my mind falls back picturing the large gum trees which provided the perfect demarcations for our 'large mansions' and the flowers that fell from it made the finest jewels.its sheathes of bark made for 'large serving platters' on which our delicious mud creations were served.And then there were our 'pets'.any hapless animal that happened to wander onto our property became 'ours'.we had em all from a baby owl to a chameleon .we found it binding on ourselves to take care of them,digging up worms and Catching flies for the aforementioned when they were perfectly capable of fending for themselves. our adopted friends were endlessly entertaining except for maybe the skunk who made himself rather comfy in our veranda. The days seemed much longer back then,and our play would last as long as there was light.

I think Our mum is largely to thank for all the fun ,she allowed us to get our hands dirty and wasn't phased when we took half of the contents of the house outside to use as props.she allowed us to be kids and we loved every minute

Until you read again
Ma'assalaam


Typing this out and I'm smiling inside.

Too much ablog about something

Im afraid I concluded my last blog with the wrong words.instead of "until you read again" it should have read, " until I post again" .ah ,well,I'm hoping I don't take a leave of absence that long again.

I feel like I've lived a whole other life in the time I've been gone.in some ways I guess I have as iv experienced events that have changed my life,and changed me to a great extent.i won't go into all the details now,else you might be reading a novel instead of a blog post.i will just share the most significant of the events...im a MUM!! It still seems surreal at times,but it's one of my most cherished titles to date.overwhelming,amazing,enthralling,terrifying,there aren't enough adjectives to adequately describe the roller coaster that is 'mummyhood'.most new mums will agree that while you become a wealth of information about diapers and baby paraphanelia ,you learn a whole lot about yourself.and that makes the lil bundle of love all the more precious and me all the more grateful to my Creator for this incredible gift.

I'll save the gory details for a later blog inshallah (God willing).this was just a warm up session..
Oh and in case you are wondering,his name is Muhammad ,meaning 'praised' or 'praiseworthy,


Ma'assalam

the number game

42 years,7 siblings,11 years in school, 146 friends, 2 degrees, 3756 hits, 9 novels, 5 traffic fines,4 properties,12 overseas visits,0 arrest warrants,1 spouse, 3 offices, 8 languages, 6 awards , and  1 persian cat. totally random figures yet im sure your head is spinning having  read the above. be that as it may,its surprising to find that many of us define our lives by numbers and we struggle to draw distinctions between amount and value.

Be it the years we spend in college, the number of years marking a wedding anniversary or the amount reflecting in our bank account, we allow numbers to dominate some sphere of our existence. keeping count is definitely a must for certain matters but there is often undue emphasis placed on numbers. take the success of a partnership for example.it is not reliant on numbers.ask the couple who split after 14 years together,they will testify that happiness and fulfillment do not come from numbers. The amount we may give as a gift or in charity is inconsequential too, its our motive and thought behind what we give that defines its value.

Stop counting and start LIVING..have a peaceful yet uplifting weekend..


until you read again
maassalam

distracted

i was typing out todays blog post and browsing other sites as i searched for the right words, when i stumbled upon a simple yet amazing message. so i saved my draft of what i set out to write and am now sharing my finding instead.

 

                                                "Never Wish For More!
                                                        Be Happy With What You Have!
                                                                Thank Allah For What You Are Today!
                                                        

                                                             Say Alhamdulillah!
                                                        

                                                       Remember The Story!
                                     

                                         A Boy Was Crying For Shoe's But He Stopped Crying When...

                                                                   He Saw A Person Without Legs!
                                                  

                                                              Allah Know's The Best!"

 

 

be touched,be inspired and definitely be grateful...

until you read again

ma'assalaam

self assesment test

i often come across quizzes and self assessment tests in magazines,and most of the time i find them to be incredibly shallow .with ridiculous topics ranging from "does your hair color match your personality' to 'rate your kissability' , i catch myself thinking 'id rather watch paint dry'.im going to present a test of my own ,theres no tallying of a total,but by answering honestly,ul allow yourself to see if you are where you want to be as a Muslim in some respects.
Simply answer 'yes' or 'no', or rate yourself on a scale from 1 to 5.     1=poor/never    5=excellent/always

1.Do i put my Deen before all other commitments?
2.Do i read my Salaah on time, calmly and with concentration?
3.Do i think/assume the best of my fellow man?
4.Do i make time to read at least 5 pages of the Glorious Quraan each day?
5.Do i respect my parents,siblings, spouse,in laws and peers?
6.Do i dress decently ?
7.Do i refrain from gossip,jealousy and arguments?
8.Do i assist those in need?
9.Do i act and dress more like a disbeliever than a believer?
10.Do i speak only what is true and verified?
11.Do i know/learn about my Islamic history and its Heroes?
12.Do i understand the basic principles of my Deen?
13.Do i practice on 'inviting to good' and 'preventing evil' ?
14.Do i turn to man first or do i turn to my Creator when i face a trial or difficulty?
15.Do i accept the will of my Creator happily or do i become angry and rebellious?

The above does not encompass every aspect of Deen but its these types of questions we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis.
Our Creator can and will be the only one to judge us fairly, on the basis of the strength of our intentions. Its up to us to be honest with ourselves and work on who we are and to always strive for improvement ,inshaAllah.

until you read again
Ma'assalaam

dream big, or go home.

Following on my post yesterday you would think im on a "dream" rant.maybe i am, because  i really dont see much point to living without them. Anyway ,i alluded to the pursuit of a dream of mine ,and tho i would like to keep you in suspense for a few more days,i cannot contain my excitement.

Its not the biggest deal,but its a stepping stone for me,InshaAllah(if God wills), and i value every stepping stone that comes my way. I am sincerely grateful to the mister for setting it up! After many many hours of brainstorming,uploading and downloading  heres what we came up with...

                                            http://cocatconfectionary.webs.com/


Let me know what you think,and keep me and my venture in your Duas.(prayers) Remember that often  

                            "Dreams are the seedlings of reality."

                                                              NAPOLEON HILL

until you read again
ma'assalam

busy busy busy

im up to something,hehe.i wont let in on it yet but i will say that its in pursuit of my dream.heres a bit of inspiration if u are struggling to pursue your own..


Reaching Your Dream Takes Courage
Courage is admitting that you're afraid and facing that fear directly. It's being strong enough to ask for help and humble enough to accept it.
Courage is standing up for what you believe in without worrying about the opinions of others. It's following your own heart, living your own life, and settling for nothing less than the best for yourself.
Courage is daring to take a first step, a big leap, or a different path. It's attempting to do something that no one has done before and all others thought impossible.
Courage is keeping heart in the face of disappointment and looking at defeat not as an end but as a new beginning. It's believing that things will ultimately get better even as they get worse.
Courage is being responsible for your own actions and admitting your own mistakes without placing blame on others. It's relying not on others for your success, but on your own skills and efforts.
Courage is refusing to quit even when you're intimidated by impossibility. It's choosing a goal, sticking with it, and finding solutions to the problems.
Courage is thinking big, aiming high, and shooting far. It's taking a dream and doing anything, risking everything, and stopping at nothing to it make it a reality.
~ Caroline Kent ~ 

until you read again
ma'assalaam

sister sister

iv been threatening my  sister(the 1 with middle child syndrome ;P ) for a while now about this blog,so here it is

this blog is nostalgia induced,as you will soon tell. and its dedicated to me hearties, dweebys ,poppitys ,simply the two who are  best known as my sisters!

our geographical positions at the moment are such that we see each other no more than once a month.that changed yesterday as we had a wedding in the family,but generally the visits are infrequent.i miss them terribly because where my sisters are concerned ,theyv taught me the following:

that to get by in the world ,i must equip myself with honesty,good manners and common sense.
that whenever i have a problem ,i must read the Quraan and the best solution will present itself
that no task is too daunting (this is especially so for our handywoman miss z, who cemented and polyfilled and God knows what else)
that we can give off ourselves and of our time without keeping count and without expecting anything in return
that we can still be polite and courteous to people regardless of the treatment they have meted to us
that blessing lies in eating only of halal and  seeking of a halal income 
that u dont have to pretend to be something that u are not
that Salaah comes first.full stop.
that patience gets you what arguing and rebellion cant.
that ones parents are precious.treat them as such.
that sometimes u dont have to say anything but someone else can understand you.(esp at weddings,hehe)

i could list a lifetime of their lessons,but i would like to express a lifetime of appreciation. My sisters u are AMAZING .Blessed ,fortunate,lucky, im all of those things for u have filled my life with happiness,love and support.May the Almighty bless u abundantly in this world and raise u up on the Day of Judgement with the martyrs.Aameen

"I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again.  But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best.  ~Patricia Volk"

until you read again
ma'assalam

why is it ?

i wrote this a while ago and find myself still asking the same questions.

Why is it that...?
We are quick 2 point out errors of others but seldom recognize n correct our own.
We happily allow sin 2 continue but mock efforts of redemption.
We accept those who allow us 2 sin n reject those who try 2 stop us.
We enjoy teasing others but despise it when the tables are turned.
We question the intentions of others when we have been advised 2 assume the best about em.
We reject the advice of well wishers and deny ourselves the chance 2 prosper.
We treat our loved ones as if we have never loved them.
We treat some strangers as if we have always loved them.
We laugh at those with disabilities but dont recognize that our laughter points 2 a greater disability on our part.
We gossip endlessly about people but often will smile and play nice with the same people we gossiped about.
We love gossiping, vain talk and the like but seldom discuss Quraan n Sunnah with as much enthusiasm.
We dont listen 2 our parents and elders but carefully hang on 2 the words of our friends.
We ignore the advice of our elders but are quick 2 look in their direction wen things go pear shaped.
We argue and attack our loved ones but dont grasp that our stay in this world is temporary.
We regret when they are gone but not when they are in front of us 2 forgive them or seek their forgiveness.
We dont do what our parents or spouses request but we will try our best for others.
We shy away from making salaam but we know it was such a strongly emphasised Sunnah.
We wish for a wand or fairy 2 make things right yet each believer has the powerful weapon of Dua.
We chase after this world but we know that its only gonna 'run' further away.
We judge a man by 1 wrong action not realizing that we are all subject 2 change.
We judge by color,race and appearance yet the beauty of mankind is in its diversity.
We judge a mans appearance yet we know what is in his heart will always count 4 more.
We base our success on the recognition we get 4rm others not by the value it has added 2 our lives n the lives of the underprivileged.
We judge intelligence by report cards n certificates not on practicality.
We spend thousands on branded items and futile activities but when the beggar comes along he gets R2(if hes lucky).
We aim our efforts at people and seek their praise but our efforts should actually be directed at our Creator.
We find it hard 2 repent and think our sins are 2 great but we know that Allah's mercy is greater than His anger.
We spend hours shopping,playing games n talking nonsense etc, but we dont have time 4 2 rakaats Nafl Salaah.
We forget that Salah,Zakah,Fasting are compulsory,
NOT optional.
We think 2 highly of ourselves n develop pride when we do a little good but forget the enormous efforts of the Ambiya ,Sahaaba n Tabieen.
We lose hope at the slightest misfortune but fail to thank Allah 4 the blessings that are innumerable!



until you read again
ma'assalam

"The gift of patience" extracted from "majestic islam"

What is the meaning of Patience (Sabr)? As a child we are taught to be patient so that we can arrive at something we want. We reinforce this training by telling our own children when we don’t want to buy something they want straight away “soon, soon, be patient and you will get it soon.” I’ve heard myself say this to my Son several times. Children are smart and after only a few times of hearing this response he would reply: “Patience, patience, when is the end of patience!”

This brings us to the essential quality of Patience – timelessness. Patience has no boundaries, no limits. It is the refinement of the human soul, because our souls are trapped in our very limited bodies. Patience is a connection with our eternal soul and a true realization of its place in the grand scheme of God. This timeless quality is connected in the Quran with the eternity of the gardens of paradise:

“Peace be upon you for that you preserved in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!” (Quran 13:24)

The practical meaning of this is that a person cannot expect the result he/she desires at a certain point. Patience does not have an end and therefore the end that we desire (and are patiently awaiting) must be put aside. In essence the person must trust in God and have faith that whatever is occurring (or is not) is better that way in a plan of God.

We cannot at some point declare that we have been patient enough and become frustrated with God. This is the ultimate failure. If God places a person in a position of need, He opens the door of opportunity for the person to obtain Paradise, something much greater than whatever that person must be hoping for, for paradise contain the vision of God.

If we are to go on being patient without expecting an end, then the question arises as to how to we control the anticipation while we are patiently waiting. So that a person does not break his/hear fast of patience, he/she needs to exercise self-control. Just like fasting, where a person prevents himself from going to the fridge, no matter how thirsty he/she feels, the patient person holds his anger, desperation, fear, anticipation, eagerness or excitation with himself. This containment is linked intricately with self-control, something built up by fasting. The Prophet (SA) said: “Fasting is half of patience.” (Tirmidhi, Daawat – 86), proving this link and teaching us how to develop our patience, something emphasized in the Quran.

So in order to achieve the self-restraint required, the goal, whether it be our next meal or our next luxury car, should be placed out of the part of us that desires the now and into the part of us that is satisfied with the decree of God and knows that the thing desired will come, either in this life or the next, if we but trust in Him.

Developing your patience means developing your character – creating calm, inner peace, control and foresight. As we remove what prevents our desire by ruling us by exercising self-control through patience, we create a soul that is not rushed by here and now, but that feels the calm of timelessness. Whereas it is hard to appreciate what you already have, patience can tell you to appreciate what you don’t have, that we need not worry about things beyond our control and that we can achieve peace by leaving these decisions and concerns to God. This is why Islam (Submission to God) is linked so closely to Salam (peace). By trusting God and being Patient he nears himself to you:

“Those of faith! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for God is definitely with those of patience.” (Quran 2:153)

weatherly wisdom

attune yourself to your environment and the way it changes,for those  moments of change present lessons which could mould a better you..

if that sentence had you scratching your head a bit,heres a simple example to confuse you further and then to clarify the meaning of the above. walk from a warm room out into the cold star lit night or vice versa,and had you been paying attention to that change you would have learnt some of lifes greatest lessons. you see,life is just like that.it has periods of 'hot' and 'cold','ups' and 'downs' ..in a minute,or a moment it could all change.just when you are walking on air,head swelled to capacity(inflated ego) life gives you a 'cold night ' to walk out into.its not to crush you but rather to teach the valuable lesson of appreciation.when we step out into the cold we immediately are grateful for the warmth we enjoyed inside.if  we rush back in to put on a jacket we also learn that we cannot control our circumstances but we can control how we react to them.

il leave you to your monday with wishes of a blessed week ahead. remember that even when you are experiencing a 'cold' point in your life,our Creator has placed a number of 'insulators' at our disposal. they are  our family and friends. if you still feel you have no one to confide in, you have Him.and thats all you will ever need..

until you read again
ma'assalam

im baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack...

and thats enough for you today,just smile and rejoice knowing i have returned.hehe,just joking. hmm.so its been an almost three week holiday,where oh where do i begin...

the first weekend away saw us holidaying in the drakensberg  region at the ORION MONT-AUX-SOURCES
resort. it was a reunion sort of getaway where an over 60 strong group of my family pounced on the wilderness.you would think it would be the other way around,but no.when you introduce a bunch of smog inhaling  city residents to an environment of pristine air , you are bound to have some interesting results.through the craziness,it was a weekend filled with life,laughter and thankfully a fair bit of sun.one aspect i must mention is that the beauty our Creator has blessed that region with,never ceases to amaze me. if you are one of those need to connect with nature types, i suggest u plan a visit soon.so worth it.

the rest of my holiday was spent at my parents home :-D  albeit husbandless  :-(  .I spent the days with my sister,resuming our usual 'you cook and i'll gladly eat your food' relationship. hehe, i terribly miss troubling her when im away, so i made certain that i made up for it. :-P  my cousin was also there for a few days ,and i thoroughly enjoyed her company. the evenings spent with mum and dad reminded me that i have lots to be grateful for..

the almost 3 weeks were family filled ,relaxing and fun-everything a holiday should be.i wish the same for all of you ,it does wonders for the spirit!

until you read again
ma'assalam

sorry (with puppy eyes)

u must have been expecting this.sooner perhaps,but il offer the apology all the same. I AM SORRY! that is for the neglect i have imposed on you for the past week.now for the explanation..

it was not without reason,i assure you. it was neither writers block nor any nervous disorder.the truth of the matter is, tho u might have trouble believing it, is that i was busy.up to my elbows in icing and cake!my bath time,sleep time and meal time all suffered accordingly.i had 3 large orders for saturday and sunday.one of those was for a lady who visited me and phoned me a ridiculous number of times,much like a new boyfriend would pester his girl. a borderline stalker who changed her order more times than i would like to remember.ultimately she settled on a rather striking design but seemed none too pleased when she picked it up. sigh, guess thats what the fussy get. the other order was an alice in wonderland inspired 2 tier topsy turvy cake, which was incredibly fun to make.stripes,spirals and mushrooms in bubblegum colors.this bakers dream!

anyway, il be leaving again this time for two weeks.home bound, yay!  dont accuse me of neglect as im being courteous this time. before my memory fails me,thanks again to the mister for his endless patience ,creative advice and assistance. made the tasks much more enjoyable
.
 until you read again

ma assalam

when temper tantrums go too far

"Me and my husband are both 24 yrs old. We have Mashallah 3 beautiful boys together and we have been married now 4 yrs. But not all of those 4 yrs. have been wedded bliss and sweet harmony. i was young and living in California and ran away from home to marry my muslim husband, not knowing much about him.. when my parents found out, we got remarried again a month later. a year later we had our first son. now i have come to the end of this marital bond of ours. He has a very violent temper and becomes very very abusive. He has no control of his anger and he doesn't care who is hurting in the process. Twenty days had passed since our first son was born and he punched in the face n broke my nose. i called the police and had him arrested, worried and paranoid about him coming home and abusing me or our son again.
in the past 4 yrs, he has broken my nose, my hand [twice], punched me repeatedly in the head and face, and landed me in the ER 4 to 6 times a year. i have had enough, i don't want for my boys 2 grow up and abuse their wives, sisters, and daughters, and then eventually me.. do i have the right 2 get a divorce. b/c i have tried escaping, counseling, separation, and even having talked to his parents. and there is no solution besides divorce or early death. Possibly suicide. y are we the weaker sex? his parents tell me the reason he hits me, is cause he loves me... how do you abuse the one you love?? u never will hear that a woman is abusing her husband at least not physically. but  women every day, all around the world are being abused physically, sexually, emotionally, and psychologically.... when is it enough? wen does it stop? wen all the women are dead. and there is no more producing.. please give me some guidance on what to do next? how to get out still alive? and y is this happening still?? in our world."

i read the above this morning in shock and disgust.it should not have surprised me as this is a common scenario throughout the world but the extent of her injuries horrified me and it is an indictment on humanity at large.

any form of abuse is unacceptable and it makes me wonder how and why it happens. maybe when i was much younger i may have lashed out physically whilst in anger.but coming of an understanding age i rarely if ever get so incensed to react violently.i may think "im angry enough to hit someone" but it hasnt and i pray that it wont ever reach my hands.

The Prophet PBUH advised regarding anger saying'"The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger."

ultimately i guess its just that;a lack of self control coupled with the inability to see the havoc you are wreaking.and possibly the environment in which one is raised..we need to help where we can and make sure such evils are prevented.more often than not we are like  the spectators many centuries ago in the circus of rome . it is as if no one cares or we are too afraid to stand up.


until you read again
ma'assalam

choc chip conveyor belt

sitting down to write this i feel like  im being transported back to grade 5.but the fact that theres no teacher breathing down my neck yelling about due dates,it reminds me that this is a voluntary effort and a way to share the wonders of a biscuit factory with you.

contrary to my - sleep until i cant sleep anymore- habit, i awoke early yesterday morning overly eager for  the day ahead.'take your wife to work day' or so i said, when my friend joked that i dont give my poor husband a break from me.im giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming that you have already figured out where he works.anyway come 9;00am the rainy weather did nothing to dampen my spirits which soared even higher the moment i stepped in.mmmmmm,that pretty much sums it up.the smell makes you want to lick the walls and jump into the oven,okay not really,but its pretty amazing.my tour started at my husbands office, then upstairs to view the mixers from where the dough is lead through chutes  down to the lower level,where it  is then  cut and baked. The process churning out more cookies per minute than i can eat or  count for that matter.The baked goods proceed on their journey along the conveyor belt,to be cooled, weighed ,packed and distributed. Im usually not fond of biscuits with a strawberry cream but the smell in that section was simply intoxicating!even the budget line shortbread had me close to drooling. I was told that the company began in a shed with just one oven so the experience made me hopeful that i would one day open a successful bakery inshaAllah or that you may even see my  cupcakes lining the shelves of supermarkets nationwide. hehe,a girl can dream..

from the HUGE rolling embossers to the 25kg blocks of margarine,the biscuit factory had me enthralled.make a point to visit one or some sort of food based factory, maybe just not a cat food one.


until you read again
ma'assalaam

brand me

baby shopping is awesome!maybe even more so than shopping  for myself.on saturday afternoon the mister and i spent the better part of an hour searching for a camp cot and i couldnt help but  feast my eyes on the darling itsy bitsy clothes on offer.whilst viewing the sale items, an absolutely adorable branded box set of sneakers and a t shirt caught my eye and would later form the basis of a rather interesting conversation.

my cousin is a few months more closer to delivery than i am and is a constant source of advice and information.whilst sharing our latest baby purchase stories i mentioned the box set to her to which she responded that she has no interest in brands.she further explained that she knows of too many kids with pride because of the brands they wear.i responded saying that i would buy brands for my little one at the right price and which i will pass on to my other kids or nieces and nephews,because the quality is often much better.. she then shocked me with the reply that she knows of 2 year olds who think they are better than their cousins due to the brand on their t-shirts.  here i think the blame cannot be put on a child who thinks that way.a 2 year old says and is what  he hears from those around him. if a parent places emphasis on a brand,so too will the child. every child must be made to understand that whatever he has is a blessing,something to be grateful for and not reason to become arrogant.they should be taught that they must wear clothes 4 a purpose, the clothes must not wear them!

this all reminded me of the following quote in which is a powerful lesson for us all..
Ali (RA) expressed beautifully, "Detachment [from the dunya/world] is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you.”

 until you read again

  ma'assalaam

today im sharing a beautiful Hadith i read, as no words of mine will ever inspire nor be as powerful as these..


On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) will say on the Day of Resurrection:

-O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me. - Hadith Qudsi.

 please remember to send durood upon our Nabi SAW and remember me (and baby) in your duas and forgive me for any errors against you

until you read again

 ma'assalaam

marriage matters

here's a bit of light heartedness following my venting yesterday.more so to assure you i have not lost the plot.. well entirely ; - )

Marriage teaches you more about yourself and human behaviour than i EVER thought possible.the downside is that there are some things you would have preferred not knowing.like the way your temper can flare from 0 to 100 in under 9 seconds.i have much to learn but here are some of the observations I have made thus far:

1.a wife will point out every error no matter the size and will EMPHASIZE how it makes her feel.
2.she will analyze every sentence, word and comma and often draws the most illogical conclusions.
3.she will tell her husband how she feels,using  the most polite terminology but inflicting maximum damage.
4.a husband can control his temper at crucial moments but a wife will cry or scream her temper dry.
5.a husband deals with PMS adopting the policy politicians use when dealing with striking masses.
6.a wife can cry herself to sleep and still feel miserable the next day, husbands get over things merely by sleeping.
7.both will always want to be right,but when making up they will both admit to being wrong.
8.im not sure if this applies to all marriages but this wife knows she will always,always love him(with the will of Allah)..

until you read again

ma'assalaam

WARNING!THIS BLOG CONTAINS EXCESSIVE USE OF THE EXCLAMTION MARK

This morning saw me close to screaming, or pulling  my hair out or that of someone else! my frustration has been building up for a few days now so maybe this particular incident tugged at my eyelashes more than it should, but i was really unimpressed. i'll fill you in..

Incompetence is stamped on a number of establishments in our country.and a number of individuals too. i may even be counted amongst them ,but im probably a bit biased when it comes to myself,hehe.anyway i contacted a well known company on Monday evening and i had to hold for about twenty minutes to talk to a consultant for about three minutes!baffling!
Yesterday i phoned another company - a ridiculous 12 times-with no answer!! the line was not engaged nor did it seem that there were any technical problems! the '12 times' was partially my fault,as  my husband later pointed out that i should have given up after a few attempts. the problem is that i was desperate to acquire some information, that they could only provide. note to companies,(not that any read my blog) If your business is closed for the day, or your receptionist is out with the pox ,LET YOUR CUSTOMERS KNOW!!! I am personally tempted to take my patronage elsewhere.

And now for my final rant(inspired by this morning).often when we are asked for something,or to do something for another we behave as if we have to displace the earth, transport it to within a mile of the moon ,then make the earth and the moon revolve in tandem around Neptune!! we are all at some point guilty of this ,but really, how hard is it to fulfill the legit requests of others? the requests are most often from our families and friends, so shouldn't our love for them be enough to say i will do it with a smile? shouldn't it be that we ask, would you like a slice of cake with that coffee? Grrrr!!!


until you read again (hopefully with me in a sunnier mood)
ma'assalaam

uninspired inspiration

of late iv been feeling rather uninspired.which would explain why i have not been blogging all that much. i have tho, taken to reading advice and quotes in the hope that it would spark some life in my fingertips.no such luck yet so i will share one of the quotes that i particularly enjoyed and which relates to eveyone, assuming the  organ of yours(as mentioned in the poem) is functional..

"The heart is the place where we live our passions.It is frail and easily broken,but wonderfully resilient.There is no point in trying to deceive the heart.It depends upon our honesty for its survival"

until you read again

no pretences

we had a gathering of woman at our home yesterday.being fairly new to this place there was much fuss over me and many hands to shake.most were much older than me and i have this to say of the company of elders.

1.they are easy to talk to despite the huge 'generations' gap.
2.they dont care about what clothes you have on,if your shoes are the right brand or if your headgear is sitting as it should.
3.they hug atleast twice before getting to the gate at their departure
4.they give sound advice and duas (prayers & well wishes) regularly
5.they try to establish some relation with you,even if it be through your second cousins mother in law
6.they feel no need to gossip or pick on others( well this group of ladies anyway)
7.they smile constantly despite their niggles and aches
8.they exude warmth, something our generation cant even fake
9.they are what they are,no pretences

i smile fondly at how welcome they made me feel, and i hope someday i will make someone laugh and smile as they did with me.

until you read again
ma'assalaam

when we lose our way

"Improve your secret and private life, and Allah will improve your public and social life." that quote triggered a number of thoughts and a fair bit of soul searching as they would call it.its such simple,clear advice and is exactly what we need to mend our ills.

most vices begin when we think no one is watching.if we have experimented with any illegal material or engaged in any inappropriate activity,its unlikely that our moms or dads were spectators.we often lose love and trust by those illicit actions committed in private which somehow surface later on. this brings me to the notion that if we guard our behaviour closely whilst  in seclusion its probably going to save us on all fronts.we must remember that the Creator sees and knows all.we may hide from our parents or spouses but theres no hiding from Him..the trick is to be the same person you are in public and in private-and let that person be good!!  we cant be perfect,thats been established, but to be good we dont need to be perfect. it just requires constant effort in  guarding our eyes, what we hear,guarding our tongues and protecting our nether regions.hehe. we make that effort and its what we will be rewarded for inshaAllah(God willing) 

the clubs,movies,drugs,bribery,lying,cheating,music,pornography,stealing etc. in private and in public are not for us,and nor will they ever be.we have been blessed with the best way (Quraan  &  Sunnah), its time we live up to it! inshaAllah

until you read again

ma'assalaam

 

el misereble

this post is way overdue,but not without reason. for the past 4 days ive been a bit grouchy, grumpy and had taken a firm liking to my bed.im not much better today but i did not want the risk of my blog feeling neglected. that feeling often leads to rebellion and im not up for a battle with anyone,so here goes.

being sick ive realised is one of the greatest blessings bestowed upon man.you might not see it when you feel like turning your throat and  lungs inside out,giving them a good scratch and returning them to their positions.nor when you feel like you might have coughed out a capillary or 10. you notice it as your symptoms peter out.after  sitting in bed for a few days straight you realise the value of your time.the value of your health,and most definitely the value of those around you who try patiently to nurse you back to health.as muslims we also know that whilst being sick our sins are expiated like with any trial we are afflicted with and bear patiently.

so looking  past the sneezes,the minor plumbing problems with the eyes and nose, the ghastly concoctions and seemingly endless coughs there's much light at the end of the tunnel..

until you read again
ma'assalaam

'someones'

life throws at us numerous challenges often in the form of fellow humans.and sometimes it nudges into your path someone who is the antithesis of that.who patiently helps you overcome the obstacles and eases the road.someone who redefines friendship and removes the shadows for you to see every color in the rainbow..

 the more i think of these 'someones' the more i wonder of the road to take to become one.its sure to be paved with kindness, wit,intelligence,honesty,sensibility and wisdom.we are given the opportunity daily to travel down this road but often ignore it for what we deem to be more important.that makes me think that these 'someones' are organised..not to the point of OCD but where they have achieved the balance that allows for growth in every aspect of life.

above all these 'someones' have a keen sense of understanding.taking you on your merits and allowing you the space to blossom. its simply  that 'i get you'   feeling that we often struggle to find. whether it be with a mother, a teacher or the love of your life,that feeling and these 'someones' are something to be cherished, to be grateful for and to aspire to.

until you read again
ma'assalam

so close yet so very far

i cant imagine what those who move away from their homeland must feel.and i hope i dont ever find out.moving 3ookms away from my home was hard enough and the nostalgia doesnt seem to loosen its grip..

technology allows for daily interaction with my family,yet somehow its still not enough.i may sound ungrateful but it simply doesnt replace the way being together makes you feel..the smiles and attempts at tickles,mealtimes and teatimes ,the hugs and the silliness.for all its advancement warmth is something that technology cant quite convey.u may talk to the person,even be able to view them but it wont change that they are miles and miles away.

i pack my bags and ready myself for a weekend at home.let technology take the back seat for a few days.dont miss me too much

until you read again
ma'assalam

va-mousse

at my wits end,or incredibly close,that was me at 9:30pm last night. after a bitterly bitter mousse experiment,lack of icing sugar and 1 carton too less of fresh cream i was about to throw in the towel and a new customer away.step in husband to save the day(or night),and you remember why you love him so much..

let me bring u up to speed coz the intro is a bit sketchy.i had an order for choc mousse cupcakes and i was rather delayed in purchasing the ingredients for the topping.consequently i couldnt find what i needed and there werent many shops open at that time. so i had to make a completely foreign recipe which frankly came out disgusting.i went moaning to my husband about my failure and he took me out at a little before ten on the search for fresh cream!ah,my knight in shining kurta!

phew, that was close.the kitchen was closed before midnight with me learning some valuable lessons.i also learned that  if i do happen to slip up i know i have back up! ;-)

until you read again
ma'assalam

disaster management

bloggers the world over have probably been inspired by what they have seen from recent events in japan.The images iv seen still send shivers down my spine as i recall the absolute carnage.It got me thinking that whilst we may be  insignificant in the face of 10m tsunami,the human spirit and drive to continue despite being overwhelmed is anything but insignificant.

if we really ponder about the course our lives have traveled,its plain to see that we too are resilient in the face of disaster.we may not face disasters of the same magnitude,but we are tested on a regular basis with 'mini disasters' .the difference being you get no press coverage,no relief aid and no trauma counseling .take nothing away from what the Japanese have gone through,im  trying to emphasize the fact that we were made stronger than we think. and we get through lifes challenges only with the assistance of our Creator.Furthermore we can identify in some way with the plight of the Japanese and make dua(pray) for their guidance and safety.

Natural disasters are often a punishment from our Creator,a test for the righteous and a warning of the final hour.
Sad to say it affects us not. Our hearts still stray and our actions take us no closer to the mercy of Allah. Be the relief worker in your own life.Sift through the spiritual corpses and work on the survivor.find light where there was once darkness..

until you read again
ma'assalaam

growing up..no matter how slowly

giggly,floaty,there yet not quite..yup thats me..u could be talking to me about fish and my mind would be registering the production of cheese.ive usually got too much on my mind to focus on 1 thing at a time.it proves especially embarrassing when im staring into the fridge or a cupboard ..for a good few minutes before remembering why im actually there.also when given any instructions i usually nod and say yes at all the right places without having absorbed a word.. call me a slow maturing scatterbrain and you are right on the money..

now to the maturing part..i had an appointment today with my gp, and whilst her poking and prodding is probably routine for any pregnant lady,i was largely uncomfortable..im just grateful that i didnt laugh through the examination and give the game away as im sure i must have been beet red at some point..i seem to have planted my feet firmly in the phase where it takes very little to make me laugh.how does the saying go?small things amuse...yah yah yah,im just happy okay!not such a bad thing considering the type of world we are in.. or so i keep telling myself..

im married,yes,im legally an adult,yes,im pregnant,yes, so you see i am growing up or well growing wide..


until you read again
love ,peace and light

WHAT IS THEIR SECRET?

The companion (R.A) fought fiercely that day, striking fatal blows to the opponents and suffering many wounds , and one of them left a deep gash in the companion's (R.A) shoulder, which took a whole year to heal. the companion (R.A) related some of what had happened during that battle. "I realized that people fled leaving the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, exposed," , "So less than ten men remained to protect him, while the others were passing by, defeated. The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, saw me without a shield and saw a man leaving the battlefield carrying his shield, he said, 'Surrender your shield to the one who is fighting.’ He surrendered it and I picked it up and used it to shield the Messenger of Allah. But those who gave us the hardest time were the horsemen, if they were on foot like us; we would have defeated them, insha'Allah. A cavalier came towards me, but he was unable to strike at me because I protected myself with the shield. As he was turning back I dealt a blow to his horse's hamstring and he fell on his back...

And that is but a small snippet of the bravery of a Sahaabiyat (R.A)..No,not a male,her name was Nusaybah Bint Ka'b (R.A).. amazing, is it not? its almost unimaginable in our time. if the female of today is not moaning about how her domestic ironed her clothing shes complaining about the lack of clothes in her closet. you sometimes hear the mention of the 'it girl'.the 1 who seemingly has it all, good looks,well educated,enough clothes to supply a few stores and definitely the ability to attract attention . i call for the redefining of the term 'it girl' .. let her be the one who is mature and accomplished,who has sublime character , common sense and wit,who is helpful and charitable without being asked and possesses  beauty that she feels no need to expose. But  above all has a fierce commitment  to her Creator.


let us be those women,those shining examples inshaAllah..who when they are observed by others prompt the others to ask ,'What is their secret?'

until you read again
ma'assalaam

wise words following a busy day

RESPECT

RESPECT: Respect is a lesson that everyone should learn Respect must be given before an expected return Respect is something that’s given for free Respect is about us and never about me Respect is the basis on which relationships are founded Respect is the anchor that keeps a person well grounded Respect builds the character and defines who we are Respect sets the standard and raises the bar Respect is magnanimous and helps to fulfil Respect is the partner that sits with good will Respect is like honey so sweet it’s perceived Respect a taste to savour for when it’s received don wilson

sincerity scenes

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has related: "Three persons from the tribe of Bani Israel got together and started out on a journey. On the way, clouds gathered above them and it started to pour with rain and so they sought shelter in a nearby cave.
Suddenly, a large boulder slipped and blocked the entrance to the cave, trapping the three inside and transforming the day into a dark night for them. They had no other alternative except to turn to Allahn (SWT) for help.
"Let us use our sincere deeds as a means to obtain deliverance from this predicament," suggested one of them. All the others agreed with the suggestion.
One of them said, "O' Lord! You are aware that I have an extremely attractive cousin and that I was infatuated and obsessed with her. One day, finding her alone, I took hold of her and wanted to satisfy my carnal desires, when she spoke out to me saying: O' My cousin! Fear Allah (SWT) and do not harm my chastity. Hearing this, I crushed my lustful tendencies and decided against the evil act. O' Lord! If that deed of mine had been out of absolute sincerity and only for the purpose of acquiring Your pleasure, deliver us from grief and perdition."
Suddenly they witnessed that the huge boulder had moved away a little, faintly brightening up the interior of the cave.
The second person spoke out, "O' Lord! You know that I had a father and a mother, so old that their bodies had bent over due to their excessive age, and that I used to tend to them regularly. One night, having brought them their food, I observed that both of them were asleep. I passed the entire night near them, the food in hand, without waking them up for fear of disturbing them. O' Lord! If this deed of mine had been only for the sake of Your pleasure and happiness, open up a way for us and grant us salvation."
As he completed his speech, the group noticed that the boulder had moved aside a little more.
The third person supplicated, "O' Knower of every hidden and manifest! You know Yourself that I had a worker who used to work for me. When his term had reached its termination, I handed over to him his wages, but he was not pleased and desired more and, in a state of dissatisfaction and displeasure, he went away. I used his wage to purchase a goat, which I looked after separately and very soon I had a flock in my possession. After a period of time, the worker again approached me for his wage and I pointed towards the flock of sheep. Initially, he thought I was ridiculing him, but later, realizing my seriousness, took the entire flock and left. O' Lord! If this act had been prompted by sincerity and had only been for Your pleasure, deliver us from this quandary."
At this point the entire boulder moved aside from the mouth of the cave and all three emerged from it, joyous and ecstatic, and continued their journey.'

 SINCERITY SHOULD BE PREVALENT IN EVERY FACET OF OUR LIVES.IN WORSHIP,IN OUR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES AND IN HOW AND WHY WE INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.  A STORY MAY BE WRITTEN WITH MANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS,BUT IF ITS MESSAGE IS SINCERE ITS LIKELY TO EVOKE A STRONGER REACTION FROM A READER THAN A STORY WRITTEN WITHOUT SINCERITY THAT IS LETTER PERFECT.  WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN WHEN IT COMES TO SINCERITY. TOO OFTEN WE ARE POLITE AND SWEET TO A PERSON WHILST HAVING  A HIDDEN AGENDA.SOMETIMES WE GIVE AND SHARE SIMPLY TO FEED OUR OWN EGO.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME,THAT WE CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT,WE ACTED SINCERELY FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH?


IM GOING TO CHEW ON THAT BIT OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT
UNTIL U READ AGAIN

MA'ASSALAM

mind your manners

the more i observe the behaviour of kids today, the more grateful i am that i was born in the nineties.i say this at the risk of sounding like a fossil but its true.. whilst kids will be kids with the odd tantrum ,vulgarity,failure to greet ,disregarding the property of others and not saying please and jazakillah (thanking) are simply unacceptable. i find it appalling that when it comes to their kids bad behaviour ,some parents tend to 'ostrich' - the thinking that if 1pretends that there is no problem with a said behaviour then there isnt!absurd! it further makes me grateful that i had a mother of the nineties..

now im one to talk,seeing as i have no children yet(hehe),but i seem to feel that good behaviour and good manners should not be limited to a specific race or creed. it must be taught universally,because to behave is to be human.is it not?  Islam has provided man with a perfect moral code and good manners have been encouraged in a vast number of ahadith. Nabi S.A.W is reported to have said ; “Nothing is heavier in a slave’s balance on the day of judgment, than good manners” and “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character”

perfect manners?thats not what im eluding to,for that is beyond our reach.we are however capable of polishing our manners  and making a constant effort to be polite,courteous and caring. children often become what they see and hear,so its our responsibility to provide the right examples.

weekends here,enjoy without forgetting your manners.. 

until you read again

ma,assalaam

life lessons fresh from my oven

*you don't go wrong if you begin with Allah's name
*if you give anything time and care,you will get a satisfactory end result
*some of our mistakes and failures are not always bad things - flopped cake makes a great dessert
*being resilient is the key to success
*you can be whipped,beaten and suffer extreme temperatures,without it making you bitter
*impatience is often the downfall of an otherwise promising start
*white sugar and brown sugar can mix
*don't judge a cake by its decor
*you learn and develop when you test and experiment within limits
*don't bake stress into anything,the result is often below par
  
  and my personal favorite.............

*YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT!!!


 

Fried green chilies

perhaps the title has given it away,as to what todays post is about.for those who havent guessed correctly,not to worry,it could mean any number of things.unless u do know me and still guessed incorrectly ,you simply havent been paying attention..tsk tsk. lol

pregnancies iv been informed come with many changes.at present im privy to two such changes..the 1st of which is constant tiredness and the 2nd is  an appetite the like of which u might find on mars..tho if u ask my mother about the tiredness,shes likely to tell you ive always been this way.she nicknamed me 'the cat' due to the ease at which i would fall asleep in the most random of places..My appetite however is a marvel.ive always had a healthy appetite but on some days  u may present the finest n freshest food to me and id only be mildly interested,if at all. and sometimes i feel as if i could eat anything and everything in sight..that brings me to my first craving;chilies[which popped up 2 days ago] and its still going strong{no pun intended} . i messaged my sister in law to establish if it would affect the baby,n thankfully the doc gave me the all clear! she even provided a recipe which i spared no time in trying out.so at 4 yesterday,i happily ate my fried green chilies with a 'sidedish' of steak!

 while i nurse my heartburn,which the doc warned me about, i anxiously await the arrival of my little one..my mum in law joked that its going to be a cheeky baby due to the nature of my cravings..i make dua[pray]that this baby will be happy ,healthy of mind and body and one day be an ambassador of Islam.Aameen

until u read again
wassalaam

adapted from hegab rehab

 HIJAAB DONTS:

DONT WEAR SKIN TIGHT CLOTHING

DONT SMOKE

DONT WEAR SOMETHING THAT ACCENTUATES YOUR BREASTS

DONT GET CONFUSED OVER WHAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING

DONT GO AFTER A PUNK ROCK LOOK IF IT MEANS SACRIFICING YOUR MODESTY.

DONT EXPOSE WHAT YOU ARE MEANT TO HIDE

DONT PUT SO MUCH MAKEUP ON THAT YOU END UP LOOKING LIKE A DRAG QUEEN

DONT WEAR IMMODEST DRESSES LIKE THIS AND THEN TRY TO HIJABIFY THEM - IT WONT WORK.

DONT LET YOUR HAIR HANG OUT LIKE ITS ON HOLIDAY IN MEXICO

DONT  PLUCK YOUR EYEBROWS INTO WEIRD SHAPES AND DESTROY YOUR FACE

IN SUMMARY.....

an attempt at rap- (proof that i should stick to my day job)

this world is an illusion,you'll find yourself bordering delusion
when you've become attached to your wealth, you've sold your health,you've lost your stealth
when you find yourself slipping ...
pull back,retrack,stop with the self attack
look up look around,fear the day you'll be laid underground
wait,can u hear it  abound?that sound?
theres nothing!no one else around
what have you brought along? your louis vuitton? perhaps a latest song?
right? or have i got it all wrong?


dont ever forget why we are here.the day is near
lets pray and have fear..

live for the One who created you
live each day knowing your purpose is true
beg for forgiveness until u feel  like ur slate is new
beg of ALLAH and His mercy will pull you through.. (InshaAllah,Aameen)

circus act

this weekend saw me navigating  at a hectic pace..not that i did much but it didnt conform with my usual 'weekends are for sleeping' notion.. saturday,the focus of todays blog, saw me attending a wedding where i knew a delightful total of 2 people-1 of whom is my husband.Anyway,that didnt prove to be too big  a problem as i eventually struck up a conversation with a lovely lady and earned myself a bb contact.yay me!hehe..despite that ,the wedding ,like most others left me disappointed.Heres why....

My ideal of a wedding is hardly ever met.i want to be at a wedding where the union of love -in accordance with Allah's laws- is the sole focus.where the dressing of the hall and its guests is dulled ,and the brilliance of new love takes centre stage.where i leave satiated-not because of the seven course meal,but with the feast my soul has had. with the drapings,steamjets,chandeliers,booming sound systems and fireworks,im often  tempted to ask wheres the ring master?


 The unions of simplicity were the most successful.The Prohet [PBUH] had the most basic wedding feasts yet all of his relationships thrived.today we feed our senses,but not our souls.
 Call me old fashioned....i am!


until you read again
ma'assalaam (with peace)

Bismillahirrahmaanirraheem..

'VERILY ACTIONS ARE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THE INTENTIONS' may this blog and all of our actions have pure intentions which yield good if not great  results.aameen

making love at 4 in the afternoon

its not what u think.and i know what you are thinking..hehe..its weird how our minds have been trained to think in graphic terms.the most innocent gestures perceived in the most lewd ways which is largely due to the media and music.but ill save my mind control theories for another blog..today its all about making love..

allow me to clear the proverbial air.the love im making is with my work..im a baker by trade ,islamic scholar by qualification.whilst my cupcakes shed off their excess heat,   i do too, writing  this with one intention in mind.let me fill u in.everywhere i look there are droves of listless people at dead end jobs,or individuals stewing in b2b traffic at the end of another tough day..and if you ask them about it  youre lucky to get a mumbled reply or if youre not so lucky a furious rant about the ongoings of their tedious job.and it got me thinking,why do you choose a said profession that makes u unhappy.i understand that some have little to no choice with regard to their employment and its conditions.but what of those who have made the choice? where is the love now? 
 
ive got it in my mind that to be happy we need love..love for our Creator,our Prophet [pbuh],our familes,ourselves and definitely love for what we do..if there is  no love, is there a point to living?


'put love in everything you do' thats the secret i think.to get past all our discontentment and frusrations with life..

until u read again..
love,peace and light...