Hello Sweetheart

How are you feeling today?  Feeling good?  Are you planning more journeys, more plans, and more visitations?  I do pray that you be cautious and take care of your health.

How's life in your private plane, Natty?  I'm glad to see that you're flying high.  Remember what I told you, don't eat just to be polite.  I don't want you to get sick or something.

Are we getting clumsy in our old age, Pina?

I took it easy today.  My feet feel unstable, and my voice sounds like gravel.  I did drive my elderly mother around in the evening, to visit her relatives.  Yesterday was a busy day, so I'm kind of worn out today.  No, I don't believe in luck.  I believe in God.

Qur'an 20170425

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

86.  Say, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?"

87.  They will say, "Allah."  Say, "Will you not then be filled with awe?"

88.  Say, "Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?"

89.  They will say, "To Allah."  Say, "Then how are you deluded?"

90.  We have sent them the Truth, but indeed they practice falsehood!

91.  No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with God.  Behold!  Each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others!  Glory to Allah, from the things they attribute to God!

92.  God knows what is hidden, and what is open.  Too high is God for the partners they attribute to God!

93.  Say, "O my Lord!  If You will show me that which they are warned against,"

94.  "Then O my Lord!  Put me not among the people who do wrong!"

95.  And We are certainly able to show you that against which they are warned.

96.  Repel evil with that which is best.  We are well acquainted with the things they say.

97.  And say, "O my Lord!  I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones."

The Believers  23:86-97
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Thank you for your love

Qur'an 20170424

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

78.  It is God who has created for you hearing, sight, feeling, and understanding.  Little thanks it is you give!

79.  And God has multiplied you through the earth, and to God shall you be gathered back.

80.  It is God Who gives life and death, and to God the alternation of night and day.  Will you not then understand?

81.  On the contrary, they say things similar to what the ancients said.

82.  They say, "What!  When we become dust and bones, could we really be raised up again?"

83.  "Such things have been promised to us and our fathers before!  They are nothing but tales of the ancients!"

84.  Say, "To whom belong the earth and all things therein?  If you know!"

85.  They will say, "To Allah!"  Say, "Yet, will you not receive admonition?"

The Believers 23:78-85
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Ya Allah, thank You for all You have given me.  Please forgive me as I will never be able to thank You adequately.

Happy Earth Day

And so to celebrate Earth Day, I cut the grass over at your house inshaAllah.  Here it's not a matter of growing more trees, it's more a case of controlling the growth here.  The weeds here are the size of trees, well because they are trees.  And the vines, you can swing on them like Tarzan.  I took down some jackfruit and gave it to the neighbor, and I harvested some young coconut for my Mom.  It's been a while since I rode a bicycle, but I used to back in the mountains of Utah.  Instead I rode my motorcycle to town to get gasoline.  It's not a car, at least.  I do so much gardening and yard work, I must be giving back to the earth.

Just the usual today for me

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is say a prayer.  It's an "after difficulty, there is relief" prayer.  It's in the Qur'an.  Then I feed Floofy and her daughters.  I had already done extra worship earlier on, so all I had to do this morning was the dawn prayer.  Then I fed the outdoor cats, and watched Chee Cheah eat, while keeping a watch for the Cat Bully.  Chee Cheah eats so slowly.  I was about to clean the cat room and water the plants, then my Mom wanted to go to the downtown market and get a kilo of hot peppers, her breakfast, and my Dad's newspaper.  So I did that, and when I got home after eating breakfast (which was glutenous rice with salted fish and fresh tomatoes) and cleaning up after the cats, I planted another mango tree.  Then I watered the plants, then my Mom wanted me to hang up some curtains.  By the time I got done with that, it was time for a nap.  I was tired, but I didn't really sleep well.  I made my lunch, which was a chunk of sirloin steak.  Just the steak, ma'am.  It was awesome.  Alhamdulillah.  It was also the most convenient.  Then it was time for the noon prayer followed by voice training.  After that I tidied up my Mom's kitchen, then after the Asr prayer I had to go back downtown to do more shopping.  It was raining, so I took the car.  I had to go to the supermarket, the pharmacy, and the furniture supply store.  I stopped by Ina's for a quick dinner.  Then when I got back, I had to fix the my parents' cutlery drawer.  It's almost sunset now, and I'm writing a love letter.  I love you.

Natty you generous little sweetheart, are you giving your buddies another treat?  I want you to save up your money for yourself, so you can have wealth that's all your own.  OK?

There are two types of jackfruit trees growing on the compound.  I don't particularly like either one, and I mostly give the fruit away to the locals.  This type is the not-so-sickly-sweet kind.

To brood or to gloat

Let's face it- public speaking can be a tremendous strain on the heart.  Whether your heart be young or old, you get your emotions boiling in the heat of battle, and you go home still seething and thinking about the fight as you toss and turn in bed.  It's impossible to say the right thing all the time.  It's easier to look back and think to yourself, "Oh I should have said this, and I should have answered that, etc etc".  Well you have to calm your heart down somehow, and if you're going to be thinking about it anyway, then you might as well write down what you should have done, so you can use the wisdom you've learned the next time the situation comes up.  And it will too, because people are repetitive.  But pour your heart out then let it go, and get some rest.  Nurture your precious heart that I love so much.

Gloating is a different matter, because you're so pleased with yourself that you want to live the moment over and over.  Our own ego keeps the gloating going, and it never ends even years later.  May I ask you to be humble, please?  Give thanks to God, and do a kind deed.  Hug and kiss your kitty.  Then get some rest.