ولَك الحمد ربي أضعاف ما ارتوينا من نعيمك …

As life slowly drifts back to normal like a cool, winter wave washing upon the sandy shore, smoothing down the coarse sand, I ponder upon the little things that we took for granted before. Traditions such as family gatherings which I considered ordinary and mundane, children’s birthday celebrations or going to the gym and so on… Today those little things have new meaning and now I anticipate them with eagerness and joy.

So this months entry is about gratitude and appreciation of the little things we once thought were ordinary that today we realize are of tremendous value. I am finally at peace with my life and I spread forgiveness and acceptance for all that’s gone and I appreciate and anticipate all that is to come. Tonight as I sip my camomile tea I reminisce upon the little things and the big things in my life that bring me joy to remind myself and you that there’s beauty and love all around us.

Things that bring me joy…

Simply being born a Muslim…

Hearing the call for prayer early dawn reminding me to give thanks to a God who is all mighty and compassionate.

Enjoying the morning sunrise & cool breeze on my garden swing while I reminisce upon all my blessings and recite my morning prayers…

Reading my weekly verses of the Quran as I observe the messages written within intended just for me. Messages of promise and comfort that God is watching over me, protecting me and is all merciful and all forgiving.

The smell of my morning coffee as it is poured into my favorite mug…

Motherhood and the smell of babies and holding them in my arms…

Hugging and waving my children goodbye as they hurry off to school and missing them the second they step out the door…

Appreciating my husband’s hard work and his determination to provide us with a comfortable life…

Family that feel like friends & friends that feel like family…

Homemade jam, cheese and freshly baked bread…

Flowers and scented candles…

Yoga and meditation…

Taking care of my mind, body and soul and knowing that it is important and necessary to care of myself and then others…

The luxury of being my own boss and planning my own week…

The joy of reading and escaping within the written world…

The sight of books especially on my night stand gives me comfort as they help me unwind at night…

Long drives with nothing but music, beautiful scenery & city lights…

Date nights with hubby…

Brunch with friends…

Picnics on the beach and desert barbecues…

Sea shells & the sound of waves… as it always was and still is a dream of mine to live by the sea…

The pleasure of having and still being connected to my parents and realizing as a parent myself the tremendous effort and sacrifice they made to make sure I was happy growing up. And they still do…

Growing internationally yet nurtured traditionally…

Nightly phonecalls to my father and being comforted that he’s alright and that he’s only a phone call away…

My parents beautiful new home and knowing there’s still room for me there…

My cat for there’s nothing like the unconditional love and trust of an animal you care for… she’s my fourth baby..

Ice cream, hot chocolate, affogatos and the traditional cafe viennois…

Dressing up for a special occassion…

Jewelry; a diamond is a girls best friend…

Traditional, Arabian gold with designs that tell a story of the past…

The magical & mystical scent of oud and Arabic incense…

Shopping & brands… I’ll admit…

Photos and photo albums that capture our best memories forever…

Holidays & traveling with the excitement and the anticipation of the adventure ahead…

Hotel breakfasts & room service…

Sipping my morning coffee in a new city…

Beauty & spa treatments…

Simply being a woman… and especially from the UAE

The aroma of biryani and traditional Arab dishes which always take me back home no matter where I am or how far….

The ability to care and show compassion to those less fortunate which makes me realize even more how blessed we are…

Being of service to others and bringing a smile to a friend or a stranger makes me happy

Updating my site as I am now and having a platform in which I can express my thoughts and share my feelings…

“These are a few of my favorite things..” as Julie Andrews sings bursting into melody…

This entry shall be an ongoing one as I continue to remember more blessings around me. I hope this entry can be used as a reference in which we turn to for comfort when we feel overwhelmed by life. I encourage you to make your own list to realize just as I did how much we have and the joy of simply being alive…

الحمدلله على كل نعمة اعتدنا وجودها فنسينا شكرها… الحمدلله دائما و أبدآ