Earthquake Reality:

Pakistan:
News from Pakistan is very disturbing. SubhanAllah. We need to do more inshaAllah.
I learned a long time ago, Allhamdulillah, it is not by us or from us that a people are helped.
It was written for them, and whatever is due to them will come. We help others, inshaAllah ultimately for our own salvation, because we are all created beings assisting other created beings in their time of need.
We need to be so much more grateful for everything. These times are a wake-up call for everyone in the world. Our kids, our life, our homes and comfort. We think we are so detached and away from the devastation that is hitting the rest of the world. It seems like everything is happening all at once, to everyone but us.

The reality of death is very important for us to keep near in our minds. The little troubles of the day do not seem so heavy, knowing that we will soon one day meet our Lord- Most High.
"All that is on this earth will perish: But will abide (for ever) the Face of your Lord, - full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor " Quran 55:26-27

In these last blessed days of Ramadan, we pray to keep near to the important things, inshaAllah- and cleanse ourselves from our faults. Hopefully to last all year through. And I pray for life to again meet Ramadan-i pray inshaAllah in a higher spiritual state.

Kids Update:

Dental Health:
We learned yesterday at the dentist's office that kids should floss! (or be flossed)I can imagine how much they will love this :) Especially Mustafa who is not too keen on the basics of brushing :) Also we learned that even if the boys fall asleep before brushing, to go in with a wet cloth or tooth brush and wipe off all the food. This is because there is no saliva action happening while we are sleeping, and to clean off the food particles is very important.

Speech:
I learned from a meeting with the speech therapist how to help kids with speech progression. Particularly reading with interactions from the kids. We read very often, but it is always directed at the older child. However, the younger child has his own special needs and enjoys reading more at his level. I am very happy that the boys, Allhamdulilah, love to read. This has a lot to do with lack of television. Daddy is more careful about this, than I am.
I am perhaps more lenient, i give in to the kids too much :)
Also, I am sure inshaAllah, Mustafa will begin talking non stop soon enough.
We are not too worried as all kids have different levels and different strengths.

Dinosaurs:
Both Kids have a fascination with Dinosaurs. Maybe its a boys thing. My brother also loved dinosaurs when we were young. They love seeing pictures of dinosaurs or even discovery channel clips off the internet. They are always playing and pretending to be dinosaurs. Its really cute :)
Abdulwadud sometimes confuses the word 'extinct' with 'stinky' :)