Ramadan 1434

SubhanAllah (all glory to God), this Ramadan is already half way over!  Inshallah (God willing), you and your loved ones have had an easy and blessed fast so far.  For those of you who do not know, Ramadan is the holy month in the Islamic (lunar) calendar where it is obligatory on all able bodied (not sick, menstrating, pregnant, young, infirm, or mentaly incapable) Muslims to abstain from food, drink, smoking, sex, and all other substances which may be taken into the body from sun up to sun down and to strive to abstain from lying, cheating, back-biting, cussing, cursing, fighting, and all other bad habits and traits for the entire month.  It is no easy task, but alhumdulillah (praise be to God), many find it to be refreshing both spiritually and physically.

Why do Muslims take on this fast, you might wonder.  The Quran in chapter 2 , verse 183 states: Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self restraint.  Fasting is prescribed so that the believer may draw closer to God, as all those who face a hardship more easily see their reliance upon God.  Fasting makes those who partake more grateful to God for that which they have.  To feel the pains of hunger makes one more sympathetic toward those who go hungry.  Additionally, fasting builds desirable characteristics such as, humility, tolerance, submission, and forgiveness.

Of course Muslims are not alone in their fasts.  Jews and Christians are also commanded to fast.  Jesus himself partook of a forty day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4).  In Acts Saul/Paul takes upon himself a fast (Acts 9:9).  Even Moses on mount Sinai partook of a forty day fast (Exodus 34:28-29).  Additionally, fasting is mentioned in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hebrews, and Corinthians.  Certainly, God expects all those who believe and are able to fast.

Personally, the month of Ramadan recharges my spiritual battery.  During my fast I try to be extra conscious of God and I strive to improve my piety.  It is also a very fun month!  Very often we gather with friends to break our fast together and we often stay up late enjoying one another's company.  In past years, I spent many nights at different mosques around Houston breaking my fast with new and old friends and gathering with all different kinds of sisters and brothers.  One of my most enjoyable Iftar meals (meal for breaking the fast) was an inter-faith Iftar I attended a few years ago.  I felt extremely blessed to break my fast in a building full of brothers and sisters from different faiths and backgrounds.  To sit in a mosque with Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Etc. from all over the world (Amperica, Saudi, Bahrain, Iran, India, China, Pakistan, Iraq, Germany, Mexico,  Columbia, Nigeria, Korea, Turkey, France, Morocco, Botswana, Canada, England, Israel, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.) and share a meal and discussion on faith and fasting, was an experience I will never forget.

My Parents

Growing up my view of my parents has changed with the seasons of my life.  As a youngster my parents were super heroes.  My father seemed so tall and strong and my mother so creative and smart.  As the teenage years approached I wanted nothing to do with my parents.  My bubble was burst and I found flaws, disappointments, and mistakes.  During young adulthood I don't think I had an opinion on my parents.  I was too busy out in the world to think much about parenthood.  Now that (OMG is it true?) that I am an adult and preparing myself (God willing) for parenthood in the next few years, I think a lot about my parents.  

There are so many things that my parents have done with me that I hope to do with my children (God willing) someday.   For example, on the first cold and rainy day of winter my mother would keep us kids home from school to make homemade chocolate chip cookies.  She would even let us lick the beaters from the mixer!  And I remember my father giving responsibilities which made me feel grown up, like tightening the screws on certain parts he was making or taking me with him to work on the restoration of an antique plane.  

I was reminded, by having my parents stay with me this past week, of how much our parents have done for us.  Our parents spent countless moments wishing for us before we existed.  Once we were conceived, our parents tirelessly prepared for us.  At our birth, our parents spent hours fussing over the smallest decision; were we eating enough, were we too hot/cold, did we need a change of diaper?  Our parents gave hours of their day to entertain us and teach us as we grew.  Eventually our parents labored for days to pay for our teenage necessities (particular brands of clothes and shoes, riding lessons, vacations). And after all of this, our parents spent never ending moments watching us walk away, move away, watching us extract ourselves from them.  

It is no wonder that we are commanded to be respectful, kind, and dutiful to our parents.  It was a pleasure to serve my parents for a week in return for the many years they spent serving me.  God willing, I will soon have the opportunity to serve them again.

Oh all of these lines across my face

My Birthday!

All of these lines across my face Tell you the story of who I am

So many stories of where I've been And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anythingWhen you've got no one to tell them toIt's true, I was made for you

I climbed across the mountaintops Swam all across the ocean blue I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules But baby I broke them all for you

Oh because even when I was flat broke You made me feel like a million bucks You do, I was made for you
You see the smile that's on my mouth It's hiding the words that don't come out And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed They don't know my head is a mess
No they don't know who I really amAnd they don't know what I've been throughLike you do, and I was made for you

All of these lines across my faceTell you the story of who I amSo many stories of where I've beenAnd how I got to where I am

Oh but these stories don't mean anythingWhen you've got no one to tell them toIt's true, I was made for youOh yeah, well it's true that I was made for you

BRANDI CARLILE - THE STORY LYRICS 

It was extra special to spend my 28th birthday with my parents!

And of course to share it with my amazing and handsome husband as well!

Busy Busy Busy!

It's wedding season!

It has been a busy past few weeks here at Khane Tabatabaei!  Lots of guests and parties.  We finally found some bedroom furniture and a coffee table.  The most exciting purchase though, would be our new outdoor furniture.  It's so nice to sit on the patio and nap or watch the birds (as long as it's less than 100 degrees and the mosquitoes aren't out).  We recently stained our fence.  OMG... that was one big project!  Thank God our great friends and neighbors let us borrow their paint sprayer.  I don't plan on ever staining our fence again (even though the paint only lasts a few years), but the finished product sure does look nice!

Now that it's July we are preparing for my parents' visit later this week, my birthday next week, and Ramadan!  It will be the FIRST time ever that my parents are guests in MY house!  I'm so excited!

Ramadan is just around the corner.  We will be fasting from sun up to sun down.  By fasting, I mean we will abstain from eating food and drinking water, swearing, and we will try our very best to not become angry.  This is going to be one thirsty month!  Although Ramadan seems difficult, it really is rather enjoyable.  It is a time when we gather with our friends very often to break our fasts together and reflect on the work our awesome God is doing all around us.  It is as if our hearts are filled as our stomachs are emptied.  I am sure I will write more about Ramadan as the month begins, but for now I am going to re-fill my cup and enjoy every last drop!

I can't believe I am turning 28!  Where did the years go?  Wasn't it just last year that I was learning to ride my bike?  I distinctly remember taking my brother's little red, training-wheel-less bike down the street for a spin to show my best friend's Mom how I could ride the big-kid bike and crashing spectacularly into the electrical transformer in front of her house!  Come to think of it, I can still feel the giant bruise it left on my knee!  And then I remember a few months ago when I allowed my brother to push me down our friend's stairs while wrapped in a sleeping bag singing a crazy song about "careless stinkbugs" and swearing I enjoyed it...  I think I can still feel those bruises too!  Then there was the horse incident a few weeks ago, when a crazy lady asked me to touch my toes while I was riding a very tall horse and somehow I ended up on the ground, underneath the horse, with a broken arm... more bruises!  Ah yes, I remember last weekend I moved out of my parent's home which only left little bruises on my heart, and just yesterday I got married which thankfully, only left bruises on my heels from spending so much time celebrating, and here I am today in my own new home which insists on bruising me every time I walk into a wall (I really think the walls move themselves in front of me sometimes)!   Growing up bruises are the best though... they leave little marks so that one day you will remember what happened.  Little bruises that hold the stories of childhood and the teenage years.  They're really little reminders of life.  If you can feel the bruise, you can remember how it got there, and you're reminded that, thanks be to God, you are still alive!

Playing straw tug-of-war with my little friends!

Playing straw tug-of-war with my little friends!

It is HOT outside!

There is nothing better than getting your relax on!

The cutest little frog buddy!

Fun in the pool with some great new friends!

My second attempt at Tachine

Isn't she the cutest?

Persian style BBQ master... he gets a little carried away with the lighter fluid.

Key lime bars... oh sooo yummy!

Kashk-e-bademjan
Persian eggplant dip with mint, walnuts, and dried salted milk (Kashk)
I know Kashk sounds pretty gross, but I promise, this dip tastes amazing!