Already Missing Her!

So I am preparing for my mom and dad to visit this evening. I am cleaning the house, doing laundry, and *pause* (insert sniffle) packing up dd #2's suitcase. She will be spendinng a week or two with mimi and poppy so I can paint the walls. I am watching her play right now and she seems so excited to be leaving me (I know I am being dramatic!) She just finished zipping up her suitcase and managed to lift the case off the kitchen table. She's only four but already so determined. What will it be like when she is older stepping away from us to embark upon her own life, start her own family, assert independence. It's all a bit overwhelming. I love that she is so happy. I think it is fantastic that she loves spending time with her grandparents. I suppose I just wish she would afford me the knowledge that she will miss me. *pause* (searching for tissues).

I love my house! Alhamdulillah

Well I know that was a bit random, but I do heart my home. It's small, quaint, and has a cottage feel. DD 1 wants to move into a bigger house but I don't want to give this little gem up. Sometimes I understand where she is coming from. However, I have great plans that I just need to implement. I am starting first with the walls. Next week I will attempt to sling some color on them when DD 2 goes tot grandmas for a weeks visit. I also plan on pulling all the weeds in the garden that I plan to plant in the spring. There is also the issue of picking up any stray trash that happened into the backyard on trash day when the wind was blowing down fences and trashcans. *pause reading that again* I just realized I used the word plan a lot...now I just need to figure out how to implement. Since my little spring cleaning frenzy last week, the house has managed to stay in order. Mom and Dad are dropping by for a visit tomorrow and I can't wait to showcase how clean and organized everything is to my OCD mother. Once the walls are painted I might even post a few pictures for all you to ohhh and ahhhh at. What simple thing would ya'll like to do to your home that you feel would make a big difference? :)

Are Danes Really the Happiest?

I came across this topic after checking out 60 minutes. You can find the video clips here: http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/140/happiness ! I was prepared to discuss my findings and my interest in why we as Americans rank so low on the happiness scale. I will however discuss this after I bring to light something my husband told me. He has been very pacific asian centric as of late. So I was not all that suprised when he let me know that this was not the first study on happiness. In fact he told me there was a study done of a small island called Vanuatu. The Guardian published an article that stated the following: "Vanuatu comes top because its people are satisfied with their lot, live to nearly 70 and do little damage to the planet." Hmmmm they are satisfied with what they have and it appears they dont consume too much of their natural resources which means they are truly green! So does green = happiness...hmmm it would be something interesting to look into. You can read the article in entirety at the following website: "http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/export/sites/VTO/en/activities/happy_vanuatu.html

So I guess my husband was right. There is something doesn't smell so right with the whole Danes are the "happiest people in the world". My husband believes that the British just found it too disturbing to think someone on some small pacific island could be happier than someone in the West. Seems a little eurocentric *raised eyebrow*. Either way one thing really came to light in both research projects. Americans are miserable! It even appears that Big Industrial Nations fare the worst! So what is the conclusion....we want STUFF! I want stuff! I spent 2 hours last night on my computer wanting STUFF from IKEA! The other intresting finding was that the Danes have modest expectations. Therefore, when something went well it went really well. Here in America, if something goes well it could have gone better. This has really got me thinking. Less consumerism increased environmentalism = simplification. Hmm so interesting, I don't think this will be the last you hear from me on this subject.

Magazine Obsession

So today I was at the Dollar General picking up a new mop and some various other items when I get to the checkout stand and glance out the front windows at the gloomy rainy day. I then glanced to my side at the magazine racks. I thought maybe curling up on a my couch with a nice warm blanket with a few magazines might be just what I needed to get through the blaahhh of the day. So these were my picks. I wonder if they are reflective of who I am as a person. One of my best friends would have gone for people or some other celebrety tabloid. I feel embarassed even reading the front cover. I don't seem so ashamed when I am at home checking all the gossip websites. What I should feel is the shame of knowing that Allah is watching as I delve into the lives of others with perverse curiousity. I should feel shame in knowing that I worry more about the watchful eyes of the person behind me in linne. So I wonder if you were at the checkout stand about to purchase a magazine what would you pick up? I definently would have picked up a real simple if they had one. I love that magazine but feel a bit confused when flipping through the mag. It doesn't seem at all simple. I suppose however, it is more simple than the self-made complicated lives we lead. Ahhh I hear the raining crashing into the roof and finding its way to the parched ground. I should take this opportunity to read now...ahh per chance to drift into a warm sleep.

Spring Cleaning! Hidden Treasures

Well I have actually started spring cleaning a tad bit early. I felt compelled to begin after going out with my husband. Yes, we actually went on a date. It was actually to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. I still can't believe where the time has gone. Anyway, I came home after dinner and started moving furniture. Now for those that know me, moving furninture is very cathartic. It's my way to work through problems. There's something refreshing about creating something new out of something old. I felt so motivated in fact after moving furniture that I decided to tackle the whole house and start purging. Through this proccess I am finding a lot of old things I forgot I even had. My favorite find was a round crystal spherical vase. I inserted a candle and the light sparkling from it is breathtaking. I am finally feeling at ease in my own house. The clutter is being pushed out and I am actually enjoying the proccess. I believe this is metaphorical of our path in Islaam. I think we all need to take a spiritual spring cleaning. The treasure we might find could illuminate our lives beyond what we could ever imagine. I know for myself clutter in my life whether physical or emotional has really caused me to struggle with my faith and practice. I would love all of you to get a headstart on your spring cleaning. It would be great to hear what you have unearthed.