December 2021

 Almost at the end. 

The past few days had been such a trying times. 2021 brings about challenges. Different challenges to different people at different time. Selangor was hit by the worst floods ever. Personally, I have not seen anything like this in Selangor. Videos of cars floating in basements, houses destroyed, people stranded, pets drowned. Its heartbreaking. 

December is the month of monsoon in Malaysia. Floods in the east coast is expected but this year, Central Malaysia was badly affected too. The rain had stopped for 3 whole days. Rescue works are still on going but from the windows of my house, I can see dark clouds with occasional rain. 

I can go on and rant about how incompetent our current government did in managing the crisis. Viral hashtag like #kerajaanpembunuh has been circulating since the tragedy. More than 30 people lost their lives but I shall refrain.

I pray that God grant the victims, the volunteers, the rescue team strength and perseverance. InsyaAllah, we will overcome this.

October

I have a draft titled "September". Didnt even finish writing it as there are so many things happened in September. Sooo many. 

We are already reaching the end of October. The best news and probably the only good news since Covid hits is that the border is reopening. That means international travel is now allowed. I've been dreaming of Europe and English countryside the whole 2 years we were on locked down. Now that the border is reopening, it feels so sweet to be able to make plans again.

The other good news was crypto currency reach another all time high last week. Our current holding was valued around RM12K. We are still hodling and hoping it will reach at least 20K before we consider liquidating. That could be our money to travel next year. 

I've been dreaming of Christmas market since forever. Maybe we could travel in November next year and visits the Christmas markets around Europe. Not too sure if the weather is idle for sight seeing that time of year tho. I'm still trying to pinpoint our destinations. Its going to be a different type of holiday that is for sure since I am planning to take the kids along.  It will costs more that is for sure, but I believe Allah will provide and make it easy for us.

 

Manifestation (1)

I love making gratitude list but rarely I progress on making a manifestation post. I've been slowly hinting manifestation way of thinking with Eddy. But maybe writing it down would make it clearer. Let's give this a go since I am in such a positive mood today. 

Jannah

Jannah for my whole family is always high on the list, it is in my daily prayer. May Allah grant us all the highest Jannah.

Umrah/Hajj

It would be a blessing to be invited to the holy lands once again. This time with Eddy and perhaps the kids. We have so much to thank Allah for

Family

Being with the whole family, Aqeel included, taking a trip just spending quality time with my parents and sisters would be epic. Apart from my wedding, they have not have the chance to be together.

Work

Abundance of opportunity for me and Eddy. Earning honest living to raise our children and have a lot of cushion money for a comfortable retirement. Having side hustle, investment, passive income that keep churning money into our accounts.

World tour

Sight seeing, admiring Allah's creation. Starting in England and then the rest of Europe. For some reason, I'm just drawn to England. After the Holy lands, the English soils are simply magical to me. Scotland, New Zealand and Switzerland is high on the list as well. 

Retirement

If only it is possible to retire in England. A small cottage in a small village. That would be idle. But a small cottage in a village is Malaysia would be just as beautiful. I clearly have not given retirement much thought as I can hardly decide where I want to retire.

Gratitude List August (3)

 The last post was somehow posted today. Anyway, today is the 10th of Muharram. We are all fasting. Alhamdulillah for that. We had my childhood suhoor today. Rice with fried egg and fried anchovies.

This week has been such a blessing. My parents were here for their 2nd dose. We get to spend a lot of quality time. Catching up and just be together under the same roof. Those are blessings that we took for granted before the pandemic came about. I pray that we would remember to cherish every single meeting, every single phone calls, every holidays, every makan session, every memories we shared together.

We made plans to have a family get together. A trip of some sort once cross borders are allowed. We hope to carry out our plans end of this year. 2021 has been odd and we are almost at the end of it. Despite all that, there are a lot to be grateful for. Many lost their lives this year yet all of my family are doing well. We still get to see each other. We still get to make plans. Alhamdulillah for these blessings. 

My husband received wonderful news as well. The case that his ex wife tries to pin on him did not stick. Alhamdulillah. Nowadays I pray for Allah to give both of them the closures that they needed. I hope that they find it in their hearts to forgive each other and to be kind to one another for the sake of their children. If it is tough on Eddy, I am sure it is tougher on the kids. May Allah protect them and give all of them the solution to this matter. May Allah make it easy for them.

I am thinking of making salmon pasta for ifthar, with veggies on the side. Alhamdullilah for this wonderful week.

Gratitude List August (2)

Alhamdulillah. Today is the 2nd day of Muharram. The month of Allah. Yesterday was a public holiday which we spent doing several chores as well as taking an hour walk up a hill nearby our house. It was such a good walk. I get to spend time with my husband simply chatting away. 

Just a few days ago, we received a heartbreaking news of a local celebrity passing away due to Covid 19. The number of death due to Covid 19 has been on all time high but this death was especially amazing because the deceased was pregnant and the doctors manage to save the child. Amazingly, upon the news of her death broke, many videos and other evidence emerge to proof that the Allahyarhamah was an amazing Muslimah, a loyal wife and simply a wonderful person. Everyone was so envious of her death. I pray to be granted a similar or even better circumstances for my own death. Her death serves as a beautiful reminder to all of us. It reminds me of the duá i made when I was in Mecca. I asked Allah for a husband who will take me to Jannah. I aim to be a wife who is loved by my husband, a husband who will keep reminding me of the greatness of Allah. I pray that Allah will invite both of us to visit their Holy lands together. Ameen. Her death also remind us that death does not wait for anything or anyone. Allahyarhamah left behind small children and a husband who loves her so much. Death does not wait for you to grow old, or your children to grow older. When your time comes, you will go. Her death remind me to be a person who people will remember for the goodness inside me, the calmness i bring to them, the assist I give when they are in need. 

A lot of things happened the past few days. I am just grateful that Allah is making it so easy for us in all regards. Alhamdulillah, my works keeps me busy and sane during this pandemic period. I have salary which I get to use part of it for zakat and charity. May Allah increases our rezq so that we get to spend more of it to do charity. I pray that Allah protect us from rezq that is haram for us.

Now I am sitting in front of my tv, with laptop on my lap, typing away all the things I am grateful for. I am waiting for e-mails to come in, meetings to attend and reading a few documents that will be discussed during today's meeting. I long for holidays abroad, visiting new places, learning its history and trying new things. I pray that we will get to share those experience with our children. Right now, I simply filled my mind with youtube videos of people visiting places around their own country. Before the pandemic, the world was borderless. We get to travel freely. Nowadays, borders are close for foreigners/tourists. The only way to visit the other countries now is to watch them on youtube. 

I pray that this pandemic ends soon and we will all learn something out of it.

 

Gratitude List August (1)

Its Monday again. Alhamdulillah. I had a restful and somewhat productive weekend. A good balance between doing a lot of things and nothing. Complete bliss.

Here I am counting my blessing and being grateful for everything that I have and going to have in my life. I am so happy to see a bright blue sky today. Sitting and typing this on my laptop waiting for a virtual meeting in an hour time. I am grateful that I am still employed. My work keeps me busy on the weekdays. My company is thriving. Always looking for business opportunities. That would hopefully mean that we would get some bonus and a raise!

I woke up early and manage to make buttermilk pancake with mixed berries compote for breakfast. The pancakes are fluffier coz I am using buttermilk and the compote are just nice.

I am happy and grateful to see that the crypto market is recovering and the prices keep rising. I love the dips too as I get to buy more. That would hopefully be our money for a nice vacation in the Maldives, South Korea, Australia or Europe. My savings are growing as well. Hopefully I could save even more in the future. It would be amazing to see beautiful Jeju. Or basking under the sun, by the beautiful turquoise water where you get to see beautiful fish and corals and white sands. Or having fun with the kids looking at unique wildlife in Australia. Or just walking around old cities, eating cheese, chocolate, waffles and gelatos all around Europe. 

I am happy now that the courts are reopening again and taking on new cases. We pray that Allah will assist us and grant is ease. We are sure in our hearts that God will protect us and grant us the best outcome. If Allah is willing, we will all be together again.

I am happy for my parents especially my mother who always prays for me. With her prayers I am protected against harm. All my success and rezq is from Allah but definitely because of her prayers for me. I can feel her love as I am living this blessed life. Everything that I am today is because of her. I pray that she will be granted Jannah and happiness in this life and the next. I pray that both my parents are healthy and live long life so that we get to travel the world together again. 

I am happy to be able to wake up early today beside the man I love. Being able to kiss him every morning before he goes to work and telling him I love him. I love that he kisses my lips and my forehead too. He loves me just the way I am and I could not ask for me. Allah has been kind to me. I hope to be the best wife so that I could enter Jannah from any door that I wish for. InsyaAllah, we will get to visit the Holy lands and make our pilgrimage soon. Once the borders are reopen. To be able to pray in front of the Kaabah once more. To be close to our prophet Muhammad SAW. To drink the fresh water of Zamzam. To feel so close to Allah that He hears every single words in our hearts. To feel the miracles of immediately getting whatever you wish for. To be grateful to be born as a Muslim with imaan in our hearts.

Thank you Allah for this beautiful life

Alhamdulillah for every blessings that I received today and continue to receive every single day.

Planning For Ramadhan

I expect Ramadhan this year would be slightly different from last year's since the kids may not be with us. We had such a blast fasting with the kids. I tried various new recipes. There will be sweet cakes almost every night for moreh. I will be in the kitchen, half of the time, cooking something.

This year would be much simpler which may not be such a bad thing. I could just focus on eating healthy and being healthy. I could focus on reading the Quran perhaps attending taraweh at the surau.

My ideal ramadhan schedule

4.30    wake up for night prayer, read quran

5.00    sahoor [oats, kurma, fruits, eggs, bread]

6.00    subuh, read quran

7.00    prepare for office if WIO

1.30    zuhur read quran

4.30    asar read quran

5.00    distribute kurma in ttdi/penchala

6.00    prepare for berbuka 

7.30    light berbuka [fruits, yogurt]

8.00    proper food [salad, quinoa, fish, chicken]

8.30    isyak, taraweh, quran

9.00    light exercise

10       sleep

May Allah grant us the opportunity to meet Ramadhan this year

Gratitude List No. 2 of 2021

I was suppose to write this on February but I guess life happens and today is already the 7th day of April. I am so thankful that I still have a life. I am healthy, well, still employed, very much busy with work and ever so grateful with everything that I have.

A lot had happened and I have a lot in my mind as well. All I can do now is to ask Allah to easy everything for me and all parties involved. I keep reminding my self that better days are coming as Ramadhan is approaching and I am looking forward to that as well. May Allah grant us the opportunity to meet Ramadhan this year.

I am thankful for my health, my work, my spouse, my family, the breakfast I had today, the colleagues, the happiness and contentment i feel in my heart. Thank you Allah for making it easy for me

Gratitude List No. 1of 2021

 Let's do better this year InsyaAllah.

Alhamdulillah. My life has been a constant blessing which sometime i feel i dont deserve any of them. 

I am so happy and grateful that Allah has given me my health despite the rising numbers of positive cases especially in Selangor. I have not been anywhere except weekly grocery shopping and a few occasional coffee run with my husband.

I thank Allah for lending me my loving husband. He truly completes me in so many ways. Alhamdulillah

I also am very grateful to God for opening my heart to keep on learning and increasing my imaan through many youtube videos. I could feel that these videos increases my deen. I pray that Allah blesses those who shares all these videos and count those deeds as good deeds on the day of judgment.

I am so happy and thankful for having enough of everything to sustained me during this quarantine. I always have enough food, time and entertainment sources to keep my self company so much so that both my husband and I are gaining a little bit of weight.

I pray that God help us all during this difficult time. May Allah give peace in our heart and ease in anything that we do.

Ameen

Peaceful Morning

Malaysia is finishing its 2nd week of MCO 2.0. Since the numbers are not improving, MCO has been extended. It has been a dull 2 weeks with intermittent drama at work. I spend a lot of time napping and playing mobile games. Pretty unproductive I might say.

Today, I feel like I am changing somehow. I woke up pretty early, not sure why coz I set my alarm at 5.30 but i woke up at 5am. Prayed tahajjud, which I have been neglecting for awhile and then workout early in the morning while listening to a lecture by Nouman Ali Khan.

I pray to Allah that He keeps me steadfast so that I can continue today's schedule and learn from all these scholars. There are so many lectures that we can watch which would increase our Deen and remember Allah and His prophet.

To Do List MCO 2.0

This is not the first time I had to work from home. This is the 2nd full lockdown in Malaysia yet I am having a hard time adjusting. Its not like I'm not used to just having a downtime, but somehow i feel like i'm struggling.

Perhaps a to-do list can inspire me to be more productive

1. Spend less money shopping online
The first lockdown was bearable because we have moratorium in place. I get to save some money and shop for a lot of stuff which i dont really need. Now that there are no incentive of being in lockdown this time around, I need to -frugal like super frugal. Its not like I dont have savings, I feel a bit apprehensive of the current economic condition. So, lets not waste money on things that we dont need

2. Lose more weight
Both of us loss quite a bit of weight before our anniversary weekend last year [which i forgot to update in this blog]. We were thrilled but we did a lot of eating during our anniversary break and now it feels a bit hard to get back on track. We've been craving sweet stuff and junk food and I've been too lazy to get my fat ass on the treadmill. Let's get back on track shall we? Let's try to hit the home gym everyday after asar for at least 1 hour.

3. Clean/tidy up a corner a week
I dream of decorating my house. I feel like I dont have the talent or the eye to redecorate but i can clean. I dont like cleaning but I can do it. I nook per week is not that hard (kan? but it is hard if you dont really enjoy it). Maybe I can do it every Saturday? I really really need to clean my kitchen and I 've been putting off for awhile. Now I have all these time on my hand and zero excuses to keep putting off. Several corners I that requires my attentions are:
- my wet kitchen
- my closet
- the store

4. Quran reading

Ramadhan will be around the corner soon so I want to get a head start so at least I could really try and finish reading the whole Quran this year, Read at least page after each prayer.

2020 taught me to be grateful for every single thing that happen and to not take anything for granted, I hope that I do not forget those lessons. Although currently I am feeling apprehensive, worried etc, I should be focusing on the positive, on being happy with whatever I have, my health, my family, my work.

2021

 Here we are. A new year hoping for a better one than 2020.

As for me, 2020 was just perfect. I get to do what I set up to do and more minus the lockdown and the virus bit.

This year I wish to accomplish a few things:

1. Get into healthier eating habits by incorporating more veg and fruits into our diet

2. save more money since international travel is a no go (yet), perhaps we get to save more for a good international holiday once the ban is lifted.

3. read more. try and finish at least 2 books this year

4. be grateful of every single day God gives. everything is temporary. If we remember that, we will cherish what we have even more. Our troubles and problems are all temporary. Our life is temporary so let's not waste time doing something that we don't like.

Work is starting to pick up again. I am grateful that i still have a job with steady salary even though there were no bonus or increment, which is totally understandable since business is very very bad for my company last year.

So Malaysia is on our 2nd total lockdown. Generally everyone is less panic now. They already know what to expect so no more panic buying. Just panic gathering at the eateries. Yesterday, more than 3000 new positive cases were recorded. The numbers seems so scary but they are all numbers to people who are not the frontliners.

Anyway, I have not been productive like at all. According to Eddy, this lockdown will last awhile. I cannot continue this habit. I need to come up with something constructive to spend my time on. If it could generate income, it would be awesome.