I did it!!!!

Though my novel is not complete, I made it to the 50,000 word mark!!!! :D

Nanowrimo summary

So this month has been a learning experience for me, never thought I could write a really long story! As of today, I'm not yet at my 50,000 word goal but I'm getting there insha Allah! :) It has been fun, real fun I have to admit :D I'm attached to most of my characters, all except for one who I think is going to betray the crew of the Umati. there is also this very ominous presence following the crew, i'm not sure who it is, whether they are friend or foe, or why they are following the Umati. So i'm excited to get on with the story and see how it pans out!

Happy Writing!

Maleeka loves to Help

Copyright © 2009 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

Maleeka loves to help! She helps her mother wash the clothes. She helps her father clean the garage. She helps her older brother drive the lawn mower. She helps her little sister tie her shoes. She helps take care of her kitty, Mumu. Maleeka loves to help.

One day, Maleeka and her family decide to drive all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to visit her grandparents. They pile their luggage into the car. Maleeka helps her mother pack the food basket. She helps her father carry the food basket to the car. To help her brother, she lets her little sister help pack the travel pack full of books, games and activities. She even decides to bring along her kitty, Mumu, so she would not get so lonely while they were away, though she forgot to ask her parents.

Maleeka then helps her father go over their traveling check list: Luggage? Check! Food basket? Check! Pillows and snuggies? Check! Movies and activities? Check! Camera? Check! Full tank of gas? Check! Now where did I put my traveling sun glasses? Silly daddy! its on your head. Check! They are all set to go.

Along the way, they see beautiful things! But daddy can't see because he is driving. Maleeka wants him to remember everything from their trip, so, she decides to take pictures with his camera, though, she forgot to ask him. She sees a cloud that looks like a bunny. Click. She sees a tree that's shaped like an elephant. Click. Her little sister makes a funny face. Click. Maleeka sees so many things from the back seat of the station wagon. Click. Click. "Meow."

"What was that?" daddy asks. "meow, meow." Is that a cat?" her mama asks. "MEOW!" "What is that smell? her brother asks. Daddy pulls over. Mama checks the car. "It's Mumu," her little sister shouts. Mumu pokes her head out of a basket. "What?" yells daddy. "How?" asks mama. Maleeka's brother holds up his jersey, "Gross! Mumu went on my favorite jersey!!" Maleeka sits quietly, her eyes big as golf balls. Everyone looks at Maleeka. "Did you bring her?" her daddy asks. "What were you thinking?" her mother asks. "You are so going to clean this!" her brother says. "She would have been all by herself," Maleeka says meekly, "I didn't want her to be sad and all alone."

Her daddy, sighs and her mama smiles, her brother simply rolls his eyes. "You should have known better Maleeka to bring Mumu with out asking, but since she is here, lets find a box to keep her in." Maleeka helps find a box. Maleeka helps clean the car. Maleeka helps clean her brother's jersey. They are all set to go, again. "Let's take a family picture to remember this." mama suggests. "Good idea," daddy says. "Whatever," her brother growls. "Yay," her little sister claps. "Ummm, " Maleeka says. The batteries in the camera are dead, she forgot to turn off the camera. "Maleeeeekaaaa!"

Copyright © 2009 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

Yay!!! I'm officially CDA-ified!

Yes, that is correct! I received my certificate in the mail after one year of studies and months of waiting, which felt like FORVER! but yes, i'm officially certified child development associate. My certification is good for 3 years :) and now I feel like I can really give my students the best I can:) though, I have never done less than that! but it is nice to have a certificate. Now, I'm motivated to move on and finish my degree in early childhood education!

Cute story on youtube

this was a really cute rhyming story to listen and watch. The art was really nice!

Eid day celebration!

Masha Allah, today was very nice!! We got to the prayer hall at the qwest field event center early! It was massive! we had some 15,000 people O_O! Masha Allah, it was really nice to see so many muslims together though leaving posed a whole other issue!!! LOL! We were an hour in the parking garage waiting for the mob of impatient travelers trying to leave the center :D it was entertaining to say the least. To pass the time, we took pictures with Kiki's new camera, watched the impatient mob inch and honk their way out of the parking garage. It was an interesting experience, one worth laughing about in the end! Once that ordeal was over, we cruised over to QFC to buy breakfast food items. Every year, it is a family tradition to prepare and have Eid breakfast with the family. so, we all helped prepare, cheesy eggs, hash browns, pancakes, halal beef and turkey bacon, biscuits and orange juice. After breakfast, to walk off the food, we went to Burlington coat factory to look at some clothing for the next holiday coming up! Masha Allah, it was a really nice day, however, to end it, I have a cold (just started this afternoon :( ) Insha Allah, will try to nurse myself to beat it before it beats me!

Beautiful Pic

I found this picture on the internet and thought is was amazing!! I have been consciously following the phases of the moon this Ramadan and each day am amazed at the complex yet simple beauty of the moon from its beginning all the way back to its beginning.

In the News: Book Release: Poetry Anthology

New book release just in time for the holidays featuring two poems by yours truly, :D and one of my mom's poems!!! I'm really excited about this and I hope you are too!




Many Poetic Voices, One Faith is your window into the world of Islam through poetry! Come on in and find out what’s waiting here for you inside the attractive cover designed by talented IWA member artist, Nazaahah Amin.

The award winning poems written by Karen English, Marwa Elnaggar, Camilla Sayf, Corey Habbas, Julinar Diab, and additional poems written by 31 IWA member poets are enlightening, entertaining, and rich in a diversity of topics: from a point-by-point description of a soul mate to a sonnet-ode dedicated to a loving and missed mother; from vivid reminders and poetic verse awakening us all to the evils of domestic violence to heart-wrenching reminiscences of the plight of the Muslim convert; from beautiful English renditions of the traditional and ancient Arabic ghazal to the plight of eighteenth century slaves; from a thought-provoking rendition of life from birth to the grave and beyond; from a thoughtful insight into the significance of a single raindrop, to a very moving and heart-warming dedication of life from a long-gone friend.

All this and much more is waiting for you when you read the poetry of our IWA poets’ many voices and their one faith, Islam.

http://www.islamicwritersalliance.net/projects/poeticvoicesanthology.html

Mercy like the Rain

Mercy like the rain, covers like mist;
Gentle to the touch, thoughtful and reminiscent.

Mercy like the rain, is light as a drizzle;
To moisten the heart and refresh the faith.

Mercy like the rain, is steady like a sprinkle;
To wash away hardship and grief, bringing ease and relief.

Mercy like the rain, falls like a shower;
It waters the heart and fertilizes the soul.

Mercy like the rain, beats down like pelts;
eroding and erasing sin, washing it away.

Mercy like the rain, rages like a storm;
It attacks pride and tears away arrogance.

Mercy like the rain, cascades and floods;
Drowning spite and envy, leaving behind kindness and goodwill.

Mercy like the rain, is all around;
For the giving and the taking, the hopeful and the woeful.

Knowledge vs Wisdom

Quote:

Knowledge is understanding that a tomato is a fruit
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

Zhain Bhika- Welcome Oh Ramadan

Tips for a Healthier Ramadan

* Drink plenty of water throughout the night. Water hydrates your cells and removes waste from your body.

* Avoid too much liquids WITH your meals. Additional amounts of liquids dilutes the acids in your stomach and makes it harder to digest properly.

* Do not consume to much food at once for Iftar. Divide your meals out. A moderate iftar, 2 healthy snacks throughout the night and suhoor.

* Eat a balanced diet. This includes protein + carbs + GOOD fats (ex, olive oil). Try to use the 9" plate rule; take a 9" plate, make half the plate for vegetables/salad, one quarter protein like fish, chicken or beef, last quarter starch like rice (brown*), potatoes or pasta (whole grain*)

* Chew your food slowly. Chewing starts the digesting process and nutrients are absorbed.

* Reduce salt intake. This helps reduce thirst during the day.

* Exercise during the night. We lose water when we exert a lot of energy through sweat, so do your exercise at night so that you are able to replenish your liquids.

May Allah (swt) bless you with a happy and healthy Ramadan!

(*Whole grain is much healthier as the nutrients are not stripped off as in white rice, bread or pasta.)

Ramadan is Here

Ramadan is here
and we're glad you see.

Like no other
it is a Month of Mercy.

Because all of our deeds
Allah multiplies numerously.

We pray and we fast
and give charity.

To the poor, the orphan
and the needy.

In dhikr we remember Allah
day and night obediently

Bowing our heads
and our hearts humbly

Being kind, gentle and
treating others with humility

Loving our family and friends
and staying on the deen

Ramadan is here
Thank you Ya Rabbil Aalameen!

Ramadan is on the Horizon!!

Subhan Allah! how time flies. Ramadan is just around the corner, literally! we have just under a week left before the merciful month is here. Alhamdulillah, all my days have been made up :) today was my last make up day! I'm actually looking forward to Ramadan this year (and of course the ones to come insha Allah) I went to two different ramadan workshops that really boosted my iman and desire to make myself a better and more devoted muslimah. My resolution for the coming month (and insha Allah, for the year) is to "not set myself up to fail." I will not set unrealistic goals for myself no matter how grand those goals are. I'm going to take baby steps on my journey to the siratul mustaqeen.

Before the great oak came the seed!

'The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground'- Anon

Time

what is Time,
but a thing i can't posses.

40 hadiths Animated

Ain't no road muddy enough....!

Growing up in the California high desert, I hated the rainy season. The roads got so muddy. After Mama and Brother Fateen divorced, we lived on the land by ourselves. One season it rained really bad The roads were treacherous. One morning we left the land to go to the tutoring center mama had opened. The drive was horrible, most of the way mama had a rough time keeping the car straight. The car kept slipping and sliding in the mud. But she had managed to make it through. Soon we go to Calusa road and the entire road was muddy. Mama tried to drive through it but the car got stuck. Had Hakim, my older brother, or Brother Fateen been there, they would have gotten out to push us out. But they weren't, it was just us, Mama and girls. Mama did not ask us to get out and push the car, nor did she have to. A family that works together, stays together. Me and my sisters just looked at each other, then jumped out to push the car out of the mud. Being scrawny little things, it took us a while to push the car out of all that mud. We pushed and pushed and pushed, finally the car jolted out of the mud causing us to land face first in the mud. Me and Mas was covered from head to toe. Ahlehm had a good laugh at us since she did not fall in the mud. Lucky for us, the tutoring center had a bathroom and we had trunk full of clothes. Mama had decided we should stay at the office because the rains were making the roads undrivable and we were nowhere near the end of the rainy season. Mama was so proud of us that day. The whole day she told her friends how we acted responsibly without her having to ask us. Looking back, she did a great job teaching us how to be responsible little adults, but then we had a wonderful role model.

Wind Journey

Wind Journey

Whispering winds,
rustling through leaves.
Tales of journeys, from
across the seas.
Wandering over meadows, and
rolling down valleys.
Raising sand dunes, and
unleashing mansoons.
Carrying life and destruction
clouds and seasons.
Whispering winds,
rustling through leaves.
With stories and adventures
from across the seas.

copyright 2009

Ayatul Kursi

A great way to learn this ever so important ayah. It is always good to recite this ayah when lying down to go to sleep.

Bittersweet Goodbyes

This week has been bittersweet for me and my class. We had to say goodbye and good luck to four special girls who have gone on to bigger and better learning. My sweet girls have transitioned to the two year old classroom. *sniff* *sniff* While I will miss them terribly, I know it is for the best. Not only are they in good hands, they have two very competent teachers who will love and care for them as I have for the past year. Lucky for me though, their new class room is just down the hall, I can go a visit them on my breaks and see them on the playground as their playground area is just across from the toddler playground area. *sigh* Why do children have to grow up so fast?? *sigh* Goodbye my sweeties, and good luck!! it is my hope and prayer that I have given you what love and support you will need to become loving, kind, accomplished and well-rounded human-beings.

Race for the Cure - June 7th 2009

What a day!!! June 7th was a really fun day. Over 14,000 people ran and walked raising over 1.5 million dollars for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I was blessed to be one of those 14,000 people who celebrated those who survived the disease and prayed for those still fighting the battle against it. I walked with a group my brothers and sisters "Muslims for the Cure". It was really fun. I even bumped into Shelly, Tricia and Mary there :)

The Gypsy in Me

My feet are itching.
My fingers are twirling.
I'm filled with restlessness.
I got to go.
I got to do.
I got to see,
see more of the world around me.

I got gypsy in my blood no doubt.
Been in one place so long,
I am just worn out,
of the mundane. Over and over again
to the same song.

The gypsy in me is calling out.
Got to go.
Got to do.
Got to see,
see more of the world around me

In loving memory of my dear mother and friend.

(Naimah) Marva Louise Taylor 09.10.1949~10.12.2007

This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words "You have cancer", and like me, there's a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. We have all been touched by cancer in some way ... and we all have the power to make a difference. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in my own community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I want to invite you to join me in the fight against cancer in memory of my dear mother who lost her battle to cancer by making a donation in support of my efforts. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page where you can make an online contribution. Every amount, no matter how small, makes a difference and provides hope. You can also sign up to join my team and learn more about Relay and how it's changing lives.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Sabah.Negash

Relay For Life® brings more than 3.5 million people from across the country together each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. This fun-filled, overnight event empowers everyone to help fight cancer by raising money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission.

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we will celebrate, remember, and fight back.

Waves at Cama Beach, Wa

Here are some pictures I took at Cama Beach last weekend.

The Dawn Sea

Frosty Breeze,
Pressing Tress.

Seagulls dash,
Waves Crash.

Sun rising,
Life waking.

Moon rest,
Night vanish.

Lonely watching,
Sea dawning.