"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." - Walter M. Schirra

Well hello, its' been a while! So much has happened in between my birthday and today, the Teacher's Day, I don't know where to even start. Went to Sydney, have a secret I will spill soon, I was infected with bad cough, son was hospitalized, celebrated Mother's Day for the third time, son turns three (gasp, such a big boy, and a chatterbox too!) and so many more! Perhaps I'll write soon about our Oz trip before I entirely forget about the awesome experience but for now, I shall leave you guys with something from the day Hadi turns three on May the 13th.

 

  

Hadi sayang, you may outgrow my lap, but never my heart. I love you always and forever.

 

 

“The cake had a trick candle that wouldn't go out, so I didn't get my wish. Which was just that it would always be like this, that my life could be a party just for me.” ― Janet Fitch, White Oleander
 

 

Had a blast turning 31, thanks to the wonderful people in my life. And my boys, they're like the sugar-glazed strawberries and peaches on top of my scrumptious peach cheese cake, pemanis hidup, pelengkap rasa :)

 

 

"Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new." - Sammy Hagar

I like what an old friend wrote about birthdays; that he doesn’t deserve all the wishes, celebration and gifts, because he said, what have we done to deserve that? We owe our birthdays to God, and to our parents. I kinda agree with him. It goes without saying that we shall thank Allah for bestowing upon us years of living and yes, to our parents for making the momentous decision to keep us, raise us, showering us with love, affection and everything we need until we’re old enough to leave their nest. We owe them our lives. Forever indebted in so many ways.

 

I’m turning 31 tomorrow. Phewww that is a lot of number. Scary to be closer to wrinkles, old age maladies, white hair, and most importantly it’s scary to be older when you think hey, you have yet to do anything amazing and yes, still isn’t a better Muslim than you were last year. You’re not the best lawyer in town nor are you the most sought-after gift maker. You ain’t a trophy wife. Your son is turning three and he isn’t able to hafaz 30 surah like that genius kid Darwish, no thanks to you. Heck, even you yourself hafaz merely a few simple surahs, shame on you! You’re not really an awesome 31 years old, no thanks to you. I bet Michelle Obama was really awesome when she was 31.

 

Hahaha hey what is this negative talk on your birthday eve, woman? Muhasabah diri tajuknya. Anyhow, alhamdulillah. At least you’re sitting in an air-conditioned room, typing this and not begging for food to feed your children somewhere in a remote part of the world. MasyaAllah, so many blessings in my life. I just have to strive to be better, and that has got to start with me. 31 years of beautiful life, thank you Allah.

 

Oh and by the way, unlike my friend, I wouldn’t say no to birthday gifts. I have no shame. Heee.

 

 

 Har har har. Just kidding, girlfriends. You know I'll always be the chubby one.

 

 

"I've always said music should make you laugh, make you cry or make you think." - Kenny Rogers

 

 

Turning 31 in 9 days but I'm 51 at heart sometimes. Did you know that I'm a fan of Kenny Rogers? The singer lah, the ayam not so much (I do love their muffin though). My mom's a fan but when I was younger, of course I was like, Kenny who?! But yeah, old age (uhuk) mellows you and you tend to get headache when you listen to techno, the likes of Lady Gaga and sometimes, even Taylor Swift and her fellow bubble gum pop stars.

 

Good music perlu ada soul, kids. And Pakcik Rogers' songs have lotsa 'em. The first song that hooked me to the pakcik was She Believes In Me; I first heard the Ronan Keating version and decided to look for the original, and man, I fell instantly in love. Suffice to say, the husband akan dipaksa menyanyikan lagu ini pada setiap karaoke sessions.

 

This morning, I heard Through the Years on Lite FM (yes I listen to Lite because I'm 51 when it comes to song selections, remember?) and can't stop replaying it over and over again. This is for you, husband, you who never hesitate to channel the Kenny Rogers in you each time I demand for it! (sounds kinky but eyewww, no!) But yeah, this is for you dengan ucapan, birthday daku 9 hari lagi ;)

 

 

 

Ya aku suka. I'm mellow like that.

 

 

"Eighty percent of success is showing up." - Woody Allen

 

 

Today I watched from afar a certain someone getting an opportunity, a rather undeserving one I must say, when that opportunity should have been given to someone more worthy. The difference between the first someone and the latter one is that the first one actually tried. Talking cryptic here, trying to disguise what I really am talking about. Heh.

 

When I was in uni, I read an inspiring article about people who keep on winning prizes from competition and such. The article points out that the difference between them and me is that they TRIED. As simple as that.

I was so moved that I actually went on a “trying” spree; competitions, articles, comments, and guess what, I did get a lot of prizes and cash money. I remember getting a lovely Swatch watch simply by getting picked as ‘Reader’s Comment of the Month’. It was a no brainer, but the fact was that I took the opportinuty to send what I was thinking rather than just sitting it out. Aku tulis ini mostly as a self reminder.

 

Memang key ingredient sangat mudah. Kau kena cuba. Kau mungkin tak akan berjaya. Tapi kalau kau tak cuba, kau tak mungkin akan berjaya. Because the only way to truly fail is to never try. Melainkan ada magis. Atau kroni.

 

 

“The whole point of the week is the weekend.” ― Angela Montenegro

“Sometimes I think that the one thing I love most about being an adult is the right to buy candy whenever and wherever I want.” - Ryan Gosling

 

 

Someone shared the link to NickMom.com on Facebook and I was instantly hooked. And look what I found!

 

LOL. LOL. LOL.

 

Our Prophet (peace be upon him) told Jabir, (may Allah be pleased with him),

 "Marry someone who makes you laugh and you make her laugh."

 

 

The topic for Lite FM Breakfast Show discussion tomorrow would be something about putting your marriage first before your children. From the promo, I gather that Richard seems to disagree as he thinks it is impossible to do so when your children invade your life and take most of your time. I guess for most mothers I know, the notion that your children would ever come second seems ludicrous. But I personally think you should not let your children take over your life and your marriage. Children are supposed to strengthen your love and commitment as husband and wife and not the one driving you away from each other.

 

It’s easier said than done though! When you have kids, putting your marriage as the main priority is not a walk in the park. You’re tired, you’ve spent all your energy on your kids and sometimes, you couldn’t care less about anything else anymore. Especially when you’re a new mom, it would take some time to balance everything out. I think during the first few months of being a mom, I was guilty of being a mom and nothing else. Simply because I was so damn tired and the little energy I had was drained out of me at the end of the day. The moment that this hit me was this one day when I had fallen asleep as I was nursing Hadi, and I just realized that I didn’t notice that my husband has been sick all day long. A pang of guilt hit me and from that moment, I vowed to put in more effort as a wife.

 

In Tony Parson’s The Family Way, one character cheated on his wife not because he doesn’t love her anymore, but simply because after becoming a mother, his wife became “a mom first” (the words he used) and neglected him. I thought he was so damn selfish but let’s face it; the wife was at fault in some way. I think most of us would agree that we all need love and attention.

 

It takes effort. And I believe everyone should make the effort; to spend some time together, to make your spouse happy and all that. Have lunch together on working days. Stay up late after your kids are all in bed and maybe watch a movie together. If you’re lucky enough to have maids or family help, coffee break, movie outing, mini vacay and all that really helps. Or simple romantic gestures would do - a morning kiss, lovey dovey texts, flower bouquet - most women are not that hard to please you know? A happy wife is a happy mother and a happy mother is the most crucial key to a happy home! It’s a simple equation!

 

If my logic doesn’t suit you, let us go back to our faith. Our religion really emphasizes on creating a happy marriage. In fact, it is considered "Half the Deen". Our beloved Prophet Rasulullah SAW is the best example of a husband; Baginda is loving, kind, helpful, romantic and playful, everything every women dream of. I’d like to share this 28 Tips You Need To Be A Successful (Muslim) Spouse! by Yusuf Estes which I really, really like as it has advices for both husbands and wives, and was written in cool, interesting tone.
 

 

It’s not about choosing to put your marriage above your children or anything like that per se, I believe it’s about balance. After all, a healthy, loving marriage would result in healthier, happier family, don’t you think so? I do.

“May Allah turn all our heartbreaks into hope, and free our hearts from the shackles that bind them.”

 

 

Reflect on this: Sometimes we lose hope in turning to God and asking for His help because we feel like we have done too much wrong. And yet think of a child who has just angered his mother and immediately after trips and falls on the stairs. Even if that child had just angered his mother to tears, the moment he falls and cries for help, she runs to him. This is human mercy. And God is infinitely more merciful than a mother is to her child. So, do you think -- no matter what you've done -- when you're falling and cry out to the most merciful ... He wouldn't come save you?

 

Sejak aku baca nukilan Yasmin Mogahed ini, aku tak boleh keluarkannya dari benak. Terlalu mudah analoginya, terlalu sampai maksudnya; Allah ada. Aku kepingin nukilan beliau, Reclaim Your Heart. Ulang tahun aku 24 hari lagi.

 

 

“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.” ― Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the UK (1940–45 and 1951–55)

 

 

My dad is a police officer. When I was smaller, he used to be a Polis Hutan in Sarawak and only God knew how much we missed him and was petrified for his safety each and every time he went away for any operation. I pretty much know how the families of our troops in Lahad Datu are feeling right now, but I’m sure it is much scarier, knowing that there is actually a war, our beloved Sabah is at stake and the front liners’ lives are in threat.

 

So hear me up ungrateful jerks! There may be are a few corrupted kambing hitam in our police and arms forces who now and then make the headlines and disgrace the name of the force, but when they are currently putting their lives on the line to protect our nation, and you are being nothing but keyboard warriors, I suggest you save your sucky opinions for your stupid self and pray for the safety of our troops, the Sabahans and the nation we all love.

There are time and place for sarcasm and snarky opinions but not today.
Today we shall stand united and pray for our fellow Malaysians and our beloved nation.