Better Ramadan...

Last night I felt really good about going to taraweeh, although it made me tired, but still, I am living a better Ramadan here this year, compared to my previous one...
Mainly because, I moved to the states last year during Ramadan.

It was painful and it doubled my home sickness to fast and then break my fast by myself, to cook by myself, to pray by myself...well, most of the time Jeeej was there with me and breaking fast with me, but those times I did it by myself, it was really unbearable!

I spent most of it's nights crying because of loneliness...It was actually because of husbandi's worst working schedule on earth...Thank God his schedule is way more flexible this year:)

I wasn't as good as I am now in cooking back then and it made me feel really bad whenever the meal came out awful!! Jeeej has never complained about my bad dishes, but deep inside I knew I should have done better...but I was still a fresh bride! Cooking good and make it ready by time seemed like mission impossible!
This Ramadan, We have people coming to our place eating with us, and we have people inviting us too!!
Today we are making Ribs and fattoush and mashed potatoes for some family and friends :D

I had no car last year, I wasn't driving! I couldn't get what my dishes were missing while cooking! It taught me how to be creative in finding alternatives, but still, it didn't make me feel good!

I wasn't teaching last year...I felt really bored during the month! I had no one to see or to visit or to talk to...while Jeeej was at work the whole day...

I'm so used to Sohour meal, and Jeeej wasn't! I skipped it many times last year for I had no one to eat with...but this year...we haven't missed it once, and he loves it :D

Last year, I used to go to the Muslim Community, seeing hundreds of people every night we go for taraweeh and sessions after prayer and still felt lonely...seeing how most of them know each other, feeling familiar to the place they were in, and I wasn't feeling the same...I KNEW NO ONE!
But now, working for the community since January, and meeting many people from all over the world made me feel it's my second home now! I go there with my heart happily beating, I see may familiar faces, many of my students with their parents...

I LOVE RAMADAN THIS YEAR!!
I miss my family so bad...but going there last July gave me a great push towards this year! I'm so glad I went there to have extra dose of my family's love and care...and food :pp
I miss ATAYIF!!

Last night,,,this is what we were talking about and then Jeeej promised he'll make me some Atayif ! He knows how to do them really well :D

Thank you GOD for everything...& Ramadan Mubarak everybody!