Nothing is COINCIDENTAL

in Mekah or Madinah.

Alhamdulillah, the family and I came back from Umrah safe and sound since last Sunday after being in Mekah and Madinah for more or less 9 days.

Till now, I long the feel of not worrying about anything. I long the walk to and fro masjidil nabawi and masjidil haram. I long the feel of being so close to Allah that I know he listens to each and every dua'. I long the feel of being so small yet he hears my dua' and grants them almost immediately. Masya Allah.

To me, it was a big deal to land my feet on the Holly Land. Yes, it was my first. And I know Insya Allah if there is a second, third or fourth, it will STILL be a big deal to me for the land is so holly, nothing is coincidental. 

Like how I got to pray in Raudhah without getting kicked or shoved when there were people around shoving and pushing. No one crossed my head. The feeling was just Subhanallah beautiful. 

Like how I prayed that we'll be given a chance to pray near Raudhah on the last day we were in Madinah. You see to get to Raudhah, there is only one way in and one way out. Allah grants our dua' by moving a gentleman's heart to let us pass through the exit way from Raudhah to get to the area near Raudhah. We could visibly see the dome where Rasulullah is laid to rest. Subhanallah.

Like how a Turkish lady who sat next to me in masjidil haram during Zuhr, in her own words prayed that I'll be granted with a baby boy. Of course less she knew I was praying day and night to be able to conceive and have zuriat with Syam. *tear*

Like how I prayed after tawaf that I could spot my mother amongst the thousands of pilgrims. Prayer granted almost in split second.

Like how I did Istikharah to seek signs from Allah on a very personal matter. And He granted it almost immediately.

Like when I prayed that my wudhu' be protected until I completed my tawaf. And that was granted too. May not seem big to many but it matters a whole lot to me as I have gas problem.

Also when I saw a man with colorful tattoos all over his arm during tawaf. It was a sign that Allah is great. He accepts all ibadah regardless of size, color, culture, previous religion, etc. 

See, nothing is coincidental. 

I also had the most amazing sights of seeing muslims crying for forgiveness. Seeking to accept our repentance. Be it men and women. Including yours truly. 

Truly I miss. Truly I long the feel of serenity. Truly I long the feel of closeness to Him. 

Back in reality, I struggle to keep the balance. What matters is what we bring with us to the here after. Not the bags, the shoes, the car, the house. To keep the balance is not easy. When temptations surrounds us. 

For that, I respect Wardina Safiyyah for being bold to say, "I am religious and I am not ashamed of it."

Here are some pictures where the sky is always blue where I long to be:

 Jeddah

On the way to Madinah

The inside of Masjidil Nabawi

Subuh outside Masjidil Nabawi

 The peak of Jabal Uhud

 Subuh Masjidil Haram

 Of the many Masjidil Haram's tower

 They build house on pure rock in Mekah

 Favorite photo of the year, Jabal Rahmah where Adam met Eve after 40 years

 One day after tawaf, speechless

 Curious little bird, even that is not coincidental!

2012

2012 begun like 18 days ago. Well, hello! 19.1.2012. Alone on a lunch break in my room over sausage (i swear tastes similarly to 1901), small packet of cadburry bytes and nestle bliss (the one that cleans my bowel system. TMI, right?)

This time one year ago, I was struggling at a new working environment managing a small army of subordinates. Today, standing at 9 months into new working environment after the last new working environment, alhamdulillah I am adapting and adjusting well.

2011 was nothing but eventful from working dilemma and struggles, to getting married to the same dude I've been seeing for the past 8 odd years, to discovering what I am really capable off be it positively and negatively. 

2011 made me wiser. 2011 made me stronger. 2011 made me make mistakes which I would remember for life. 2011 thought me WHAT matters and WHAT doesn't. 2011 thought me WHO matters and WHO doesn't.

Here is to 2012 albeit 19 days later to a better year, to making me wiser, to making me stronger, to be as eventful as 2011. Insya Allah.

And i Quote:

"Words

I noticed something today. That some people, enjoy killing other people's dreams, or visions. Although unintentionally, they actually do through their very few words and innocent faces. We shouldn't sweat the small things, but small words, we should. Words carry real meanings, hence the presence of dictionaries. Never think that words are just words. They really affect one's world.

And words can also cure. They can be the birth of life-impacting innovations, of big changes for the world. The impossible and possible happen from a mindset. And mindsets, are developed through the words we speak and we tell to ourselves. When others speak about impossibility, I prefer closing my ears. When I believe, I believe. Have faith, friends..:)"

Taken from here 

So wise and so true.

Home Sweet Home

I am a believer of zen and coziness. Zen means something clean, simple, non cluttered. Coziness means a space which is livable and does not scream "DON'T TOUCH!"

For the first 24 or 25 years of my life, I shared room with my sister which was big enough to fit us two without our butts bumping into each other. Then the house went under renovation and we each got our own room. Prior to getting married, my room was faaaarrr cry from cozy, almost always messy and retained its teenage vibe. Now, my our room is my favorite part of my parents house. It was fun transforming the room. From Single bed to Queen bed. From wall paper to plain paint and wall sticker. 

Soon we'll be baby sitting sister's newly bought crib and i am super duper excited to be dressing it up albeit minimally and temporarily since our house will only be ready in 2013.

We're both such homebodies that we'd rather stay in rather than brave amongst the many shopping mall goers. Syam is pretty stoked with the idea of moving to our own place so that he can invite his friends over to just lepak. Family of course not excluded. *Need. To. Brush. My. Cooking. Skills.* Therefore, having a cozy house is essential! Found www.smallspacestyle.blogspot.com through this practicing lawyer cum blogger cum DC maker (gile multitasker ah!=)) and I've been hooked since! Just look at the space ideas below. All are inspiring. 

Those are just some ideas of how pretty a kitchen and a toilet could be for such small space. All inspiring! I am keeping the kitchen photos as reference point for a possible kitchen make over since our house-to-be will not be a bungalow but just a decent two storey terrace house. I love how space saving a toilet can be ,serving dual function with a washing machine in it? Awesome, right!

Say hello to my new obsession, house decoration! :)

This thing called L.O.V.E #2

Shue obsessed

 picture taken from here

Hello pretty thang. Anyone seen similar to these beaut anywhere? Please do tell. Its Pweeetyyy. I am after all, shuey.shoe.love. read: shoe obsessed!

Decor Inspired

I am a frequent reader of www.proudduck.com. Her recent post caught my eyes and interest. It was on her best friend's wedding. On how her best friend did everything from A-Z. If I were to ever ever turn back time, I'd like to try and emulate her wedding. It was just breathtakingly gorgeous. Just look at that wall decoration  (and her gorgeous gorgeous tiered dress. GORGEOUS!!) hand made from tissue paper. Genius and cost saving!

 

Reading through, her best friend did the flowers based on MADE tutorial. I was then instantly inspired by this image:

And so, I made my very own version of wall flower.

That is how my Sunday was spent. The End. =)