Squirrels are cute, but sometimes just a little too reminiscent of their rodent family members for me to love them. If you've never seen the 2005 animated movie "Hoodwinked!", find it. There's one in there you'll love. Insha-Allah the writing will take you to places far better than what you lost. The bigger picture often only becomes clearer much later on.
“Every small act of doing the right thing creates a chain reaction.”
I LOVE this reflection and I think the above is my favorite line.
I’m sorry your year has been so difficult (as has the last several months of mine), but I admire the dignity, strength and conviction you have carried throughout your struggles.
And I share your love of squirrels. They are such funny little creatures.
Happy Birthday in advance and enjoy your cake! I myself prefer a carrot cake (without walnuts) with cream cheese frosting. May your cake have all the chocolate you desire.
Thank you so much, Elaine! I’m sorry that you’ve been having a difficult year as well. I hope next year will be better. I love carrot cake too, especially with raisins. But I’ll always choose chocolate if I only have one choice. But I’d love to have both lol
You made my year by sharing you 'how we met' story. I try not to fantasize about what my 'how we met' story will be, Insha'Allah it will be a fulfilling experience though.
You're literally such a girl boss for having an impact with your writing. May Allah put immense barakah in your efforts and continue to make writing a means of impact for you!!
I feel like I'm looking forward to painting in 2026. I'm really trying to make it a habit, Insha'Allah.
Awww, you’re so sweet! Haha. I could not have imagined this would be how I met my husband. InshaAllah it will be a pleasant surprise for you whenever it’s your time. Ameen to your duas. Love that you’re looking forward to painting! I hope you’ll share some pieces in a future post ;)
No no no to a regular chocolate cake with icing and other filling. Chocolate chocolate chocolate all the way! Tell Mr. Rafia I said so and I'm willing to hop on a call to make the case lol....
Your dad complaining about the electricity bill lol.... I laugh in a self-conscious, self-aware way because I was doing that myself until a few years ago. I was the grinch who pointed out the waste of energy every time one of the kids or my husband said how pretty the houses looked with all their lights. Maybe three years ago, I decided to stop doing it and just... enjoy the way they looked? There are so many other ways energy is being wasted. I will not begrudge people their lights.
Running... I can't get into it, but I have gotten back to yoga and it is such a good feeling. I do want to move more in general. Staying still just makes me feel gross after a day or two, although it's heaven when I first melt into the couch or the bed.
I'm also obsessed with squirrels. They are just so great! Chipmunks are even cuter... do you have any chipmunks? We lived near the forest but never IN the forest so reading about you actually up and doing it is pretty cool... Do you feel weird being away from the city? I felt weird being the only hijabi for miles...
LOL. I think he may have already ordered it. That's okay. I'll be nice this year so that the next year I can get the chocolate chocolate chocolate cake I want for my 40th.
Haha, there's always gotta be one parent who plays your and my dad's role. Otherwise, where's the fun... and the childhood trauma your kids will be living out for the rest of their lives? I shouldn't be making light of this. I can't help myself, it's the most wonderful time of the yeaaaaar.
I'm glad you enjoy yoga. Do you go to a studio or do it at home? I've recently gotten into HIIT and Pilates and am enjoying it. Maybe I'd like yoga if I tried it again.
We do have chipmunks but I've not seen them since it's gotten colder. They just run around the lawn really quickly. They're not quite as territorial and bullish as the squirrels. OK, so I'm not actually IN the forest. I'm about a half mile away from a municipal park, but they didn't cut down all the trees in my neighbourhood which I am so grateful for. I'm actually like 16 minutes from our downtown, which is not really much. I don't quite like that grocery shopping is farther than I'd like, but I think the peace and quiet and the trees make it all worth it.
Squirrels are cute, but sometimes just a little too reminiscent of their rodent family members for me to love them. If you've never seen the 2005 animated movie "Hoodwinked!", find it. There's one in there you'll love. Insha-Allah the writing will take you to places far better than what you lost. The bigger picture often only becomes clearer much later on.
Oh I get it! Luckily mice have not been an issue for me so far. I’ll try to look out for that movie! Thank you so much for your dua!
“Every small act of doing the right thing creates a chain reaction.”
I LOVE this reflection and I think the above is my favorite line.
I’m sorry your year has been so difficult (as has the last several months of mine), but I admire the dignity, strength and conviction you have carried throughout your struggles.
And I share your love of squirrels. They are such funny little creatures.
Happy Birthday in advance and enjoy your cake! I myself prefer a carrot cake (without walnuts) with cream cheese frosting. May your cake have all the chocolate you desire.
Thank you so much, Elaine! I’m sorry that you’ve been having a difficult year as well. I hope next year will be better. I love carrot cake too, especially with raisins. But I’ll always choose chocolate if I only have one choice. But I’d love to have both lol
You made my year by sharing you 'how we met' story. I try not to fantasize about what my 'how we met' story will be, Insha'Allah it will be a fulfilling experience though.
You're literally such a girl boss for having an impact with your writing. May Allah put immense barakah in your efforts and continue to make writing a means of impact for you!!
I feel like I'm looking forward to painting in 2026. I'm really trying to make it a habit, Insha'Allah.
Awww, you’re so sweet! Haha. I could not have imagined this would be how I met my husband. InshaAllah it will be a pleasant surprise for you whenever it’s your time. Ameen to your duas. Love that you’re looking forward to painting! I hope you’ll share some pieces in a future post ;)
Inshallah in my roundup!!
I have SO many thoughts!
No no no to a regular chocolate cake with icing and other filling. Chocolate chocolate chocolate all the way! Tell Mr. Rafia I said so and I'm willing to hop on a call to make the case lol....
Your dad complaining about the electricity bill lol.... I laugh in a self-conscious, self-aware way because I was doing that myself until a few years ago. I was the grinch who pointed out the waste of energy every time one of the kids or my husband said how pretty the houses looked with all their lights. Maybe three years ago, I decided to stop doing it and just... enjoy the way they looked? There are so many other ways energy is being wasted. I will not begrudge people their lights.
Running... I can't get into it, but I have gotten back to yoga and it is such a good feeling. I do want to move more in general. Staying still just makes me feel gross after a day or two, although it's heaven when I first melt into the couch or the bed.
I'm also obsessed with squirrels. They are just so great! Chipmunks are even cuter... do you have any chipmunks? We lived near the forest but never IN the forest so reading about you actually up and doing it is pretty cool... Do you feel weird being away from the city? I felt weird being the only hijabi for miles...
LOL. I think he may have already ordered it. That's okay. I'll be nice this year so that the next year I can get the chocolate chocolate chocolate cake I want for my 40th.
Haha, there's always gotta be one parent who plays your and my dad's role. Otherwise, where's the fun... and the childhood trauma your kids will be living out for the rest of their lives? I shouldn't be making light of this. I can't help myself, it's the most wonderful time of the yeaaaaar.
I'm glad you enjoy yoga. Do you go to a studio or do it at home? I've recently gotten into HIIT and Pilates and am enjoying it. Maybe I'd like yoga if I tried it again.
We do have chipmunks but I've not seen them since it's gotten colder. They just run around the lawn really quickly. They're not quite as territorial and bullish as the squirrels. OK, so I'm not actually IN the forest. I'm about a half mile away from a municipal park, but they didn't cut down all the trees in my neighbourhood which I am so grateful for. I'm actually like 16 minutes from our downtown, which is not really much. I don't quite like that grocery shopping is farther than I'd like, but I think the peace and quiet and the trees make it all worth it.
Your dads reaction to the snowflakes - so relatable! I got asked the question by my 4 year old this year, “Why don’t we celebrate Christmas?”