The New Year

what will it bring? Only Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) knows but we can still look forward to it. I have to say after many years or troubles and tests Im finally seeing the benefit of it all alhamdulillah. I thank Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) every day for giving me my life and for making me into the person that I am today, trust me.. things could have been alot worse :)

Last year (well still this year really) saw many changes and these changes were all welcomed, memories have been formed and bonds solidified alhamdulillah. What did we do? well, I suppose the biggest thing really is that we got married (civil ceremony) so now we are more officially married which in turn helped to keep hubby in the country with me :) yay me :) this may not seem a big thing, but it took many months to finalise, and that wasnt just to plan... that was mainly to get my mum to actually be on board with coming over for the wedding full stop.

I got a new job, which in turn lead to us buying a car which I love having now :) Now Im on proper shifts, which means I work every other week with all weekends off yay :) which was a welcome need lol

We booked our tickets to fly to Pakistan on Xmas day :) so we are very looking forward to that insha'Allah it will be tons of fun. Hubby is getting very excited now I think, every time he talks with his parents there is something to look into. We just recently bought all the presents to take over with us for the immediate family so no more present buying insha'Allah.

As for the future, we look forward to 2 holidays next year insha'Allah.. Pakistan then over to Canada in the winter for 2 or 3 weeks, depending on my work :) and who knows what else 2011 will bring. Im just looking forward to another year with my husband insha'Allah

Peace and salams
Ammena

News

We got the most amazing news yesterday.. after paying extra and not getting what we paid for and having to wait over a week we finally received hubbys spouse visa by recorded delivery alhamdulillah. We are so pleased to be over this for now and thank everyone who remembered us in their prayers masha'Allah. JazakAllah khair.

So now we are looking at flights to Pakistan and figuring out how much we need to save in order to have this next wedding for his family over there. I will get to meet my parent in laws which is both scary and exciting, but honestly.. I cant wait insha'Allah. We are looking at the end of February, so anyone who is in Karachi around that time, do feel free to drop by.. just tell me so I know to look out for you insha'Allah.

Again, many thanks
Peace and salams
Ammena

So this time last year I was getting ready to say goodbye to my old lonely life on my own in a small bedroom with shared kitchen and hello to a life filled with another person (for now) in our own little flat away from everyone else. The day was a mad rush of getting last minute things from my old flat and moving them to the new and finding time to squeeze in chats with a dear friend who had travelled down for our nikah. In the end we (me and A) both turned up late for our own nikah but alhamdulillah it ended perfectly and we started our life together.

Im grateful for everything this year has given me, it hasnt all been sunflowers and rosy days and there are still many more of the unpleasant days in the near future. However we are still here, together and just as strong. Constantly learning about the other and surprising each other with tales and comments. We both know the other family alot more and have more communication between all of us alhamdulillah, we are now officially married to everyone (including the Home Office) and now we can start looking forward to a walimah in Pakistan and the first time I will meet the rest of my desi family insha'Allah.

I look forward to all the new things written for us in the future and pray we will never be separated insha'Allah.
Peace and salams
Ammena

My news

On Saturday hubby never heard the postman call to drop off a parcel than needed to be signed for, so I went off today to pick it up. We had absolutely no idea what it could be, my mum was supposed to be sending some things over for us but the card had hubby's middle name on, which Ive never told my mum. So that was quickly ruled out. When the guy passed it over to me in the post office I knew immediately what it was, first of all I could feel our passports ;) Alhamdulillah, it feels weird not having a passport around. Although I still have my Canadian passport here it was strange and I was nervous that they might lose it somewhere along the lines (the Home Office that is) As I walked to the road I felt the long envelope a little bit more, why use such a long envelope for just 2 passports?? Then I realised there was a longer piece of paper inside and remembered reading that we would get the passports back once the application was finished. On my way home hubby phoned me (after making me promise not to open it) I told him, its our passports and something else, can I open it? lol... so after pulling out our certificate of approval for marriage in the middle of Argos I tell him 'Congratulations, we can now get married legally' Alhamdulillah, I knew it would be ok but to have the piece of official paper in my hands seemed to lift a weight off my shoulders.
Until I saw the validity date which said that it expired July 2010 which gave us a space of 3 months. That was when I started freaking out... I know this needs to be done, but when I get things telling me it has to be done before a certain date, thats what I dont like!!
When I got home I read the notes that came in the envelope which told me that the certificate validity date was for the notice to marry. So basically we have to register and set a date to marry within that time which made me less freaked. Then I started looking at flight prices for around those times, because this is what my mum will be looking at! and they are astronomical!! :( school holidays, which is annoying.. so will have to see.
Going up north the end of May insha'Allah so maybe that will be when we tell the family, although dunno how Im going to tell my mum. Im trying to not think about it just yet, because I freak out when I think too much about things and hence all the different scenerios. However, not thinking about it means Im destined to push the date later by not doing anything... hummm
Suggestions? ;) Anyways.. Ive got a few recipes to type up for some sisters.. Enjoy
Peace and salams,
Ammena

One step forward

So today A picked up the keys for our little place, I love it :D it looks so much nicer with no stuff in it now. We can add to our tastes and our desires.. Im already moving the fridge and deciding where to put the wardrobes when we eventually get them. Its very exciting, I went over tonight to drop off a suitcase of stuff so that I can refil it with more stuff to take back tomorrow.
Ive hired a van for wednesday for me to pick up a couch a flat mate is giving us (yes you heard right! masha'allah) and Im going to fill as much stuff as possible into the van with the couch insha'allah. Then anything else I dont get to move (which will be minimal and consist of clothes for me to wear until saturday) I can ask my good mate julia to take over when she drives down her for my nikah and Im going to show her and Dee my new pad.. Sans A :) he left his suit at his old place so he can get changed there insha'allah. Everything is coming together alhamdulillah and the minor moral dilemma sure did clear itself up alhamdulillah when a dear sister gave me cash to buy the Quran as a wedding present. Masha'allah.. truely special sis, truely!