Ramadan 2009

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Welcome attaya-girl

UmmSqueakster every year Waleed gets very sick during Ramadan and then I read your post about the blogger who has a strategy with her Jamba juice style shakes and she talks a lot about water and electrolytes and staying hydrated. I think that's really going to be important this year too since it's a summer Ramadan. I told the Dr.'s he works with to take care of Waleed this Ramadan because he always gets really sick every year and they told me to stay then.

[JeanneVictoria 55]

I miss Ramadan in Egypt. Wish we could be there again!

[MrsAmera 41]

Reviving the thread only a few more weeks! The last few years of Ramadan I have never really felt any different and mostly suffered through the whole time. I am really hoping this year will be different! We will be living with my parents (maybe, might have our own house ready before Ramadan starts) and I'm really trying to figure out how the logistics of eating in the morning are going to work. Inshallah it will be ok!

[illnevergetthis 5]

Does anyone know of a good young children's book on Ramadan (in English) that I could read to the babies?

Hi,

I am new to VJ. I have been obsessed with this site for several months, but only joined yesterday. This site has really helped me a lot!!!!!! I wish I had had the courage to join sooner.

tnh9479- I don't know if you are familiar with the website http://www.soundvision.com/

They have CD's and books for children. I actually learned the alphabet from Alif is for Allah. It is part of the Adam's World collection and it is in English.

Here is a link for a Ramadan CD http://soundvision.com/Shop/pview.asp?Item=7100-004

[amysaid 9]

I bought two books for my daughter last year, one was called "My First Ramadan" http://www.amazon.com/My-First-Ramadan-Kar...1174&sr=8-1

The other was called "The Best Eid Ever" http://www.amazon.com/Best-Eid-Ever-Asma-M...1203&sr=1-1

My daughter liked both of them, and they were helpful in explaining fasting, eid, etc.

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

We have both these books as well and last year my son enjoyed them. Although when I pulled them out a couple weeks ago, Tariq informed me that "My first Ramadan" is for babies and "The best Eid ever" is for girls. Sigh......

I recently got a book called Magid Fasts for Ramadan, The White Nights of Ramadan and Night of the Moon from the library. If I like them, I will end up purchasing them. Anyhow, I wish I could get Tariq into Ramadan more. He loves the Eid (cause he knows he's getting toys and will do a fun activity) but I want to build excitement about Ramadan, I just don't know how.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

This year is John's first Ramadan and we are so excited! He has been reading a lot lately and we are having a lot of enjoyable discussions. He actually fasted a few times before on Mondays and Thursdays and did really good alhamdulillah. A few days ago I sent him some really nice Syrian dates with almonds inside instead of the seed that I usually have here every year to break my fast. He likes them a lot. They are for Ramdan though not to be eaten before that.

Ramadan in Egypt in wonderful! Just the way everything feels and smells is indescribable.. I'm sure those of you who have spent Ramadan(s) here know what I am talking about. All the family gatherings, the time right before maghrib, the nights of Ramadan, Dawn time, everything about is amazing...

We usually have yogurt, dates, water, a cheese sandwich during Sohoor.. Usually all the great favorite dishes at iftar and sweets later.. I'm not into sweets though and luckily I don't gain weight during Ramadan.. Oh and we have that habit in my family that there are days that we eat really simple food to feel how the needy and poor feel and be thankful.

Does any of the ladies know where we can find grape leaves in Florida? John won't be able to cook them until I'm there, but we really like to know...

[MrsAmera 41]

On one of the homeschooling (the best Islamic homeschooling site I've found!) I discovered that she has a special Ramadan site! Anyway she also has this great planner! You can just print the pages that you like - I especially love the meal planning pages. Since we will be living with my parents (non-Muslim) during this Ramadan I hope that this will really push me and help me to have meal plans in place - make my shopping and cooking easier as well. *crosses fingers*

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Anyhow, I wish I could get Tariq into Ramadan more. He loves the Eid (cause he knows he's getting toys and will do a fun activity) but I want to build excitement about Ramadan, I just don't know how.

These Ramadan calendars are pretty cool - maybe put a little quranic ayah in each pocket along with a piece of chocolate, and when he's read the ayah, he can have the chocolate. Or maybe a trivia question, and once he's gotten the right answer, etc.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

On one of the homeschooling (the best Islamic homeschooling site I've found!) I discovered that she has a special Ramadan site! Anyway she also has this great planner! You can just print the pages that you like - I especially love the meal planning pages. Since we will be living with my parents (non-Muslim) during this Ramadan I hope that this will really push me and help me to have meal plans in place - make my shopping and cooking easier as well. *crosses fingers*

Very spiffy. If you can, try to prepare the food on Saturday and Sunday. I've found that trying to run around cooking on week nights, especially after work, is a real drain, and sucks up any time that could be used for ibadat. One huuuuge pot of soup/stew, a huge pile o meat + salads and fruit usually gets us through the week.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Something I had planned on doing last year, but ended up not having time was the Heart Wheel Journal. Along with ten minute daily video clips you can find on youtube, each day has reflections and exercises to help you get the most out of the month.

If the download doesn't work anymore, let me know and I'll upload the pdf somewhere.

inshaAllah I'll have time for this this year.

[Muhammad n Maryam 1]

My first year fasting , I was living in Pakistan with my husband. Now I'm back in the states, the only good thing is I work 11:00 pm till 7:30am. So ... Fasting will be easier !

[MrsAmera 41]

UmmS - I LOVE it!!! That's exactly what I was looking for but a more general thing for a Qu'ran study! I downloaded this to use this year!

[HLM 1]

This year is John's first Ramadan and we are so excited! He has been reading a lot lately and we are having a lot of enjoyable discussions. He actually fasted a few times before on Mondays and Thursdays and did really good alhamdulillah. A few days ago I sent him some really nice Syrian dates with almonds inside instead of the seed that I usually have here every year to break my fast. He likes them a lot. They are for Ramdan though not to be eaten before that.

Ramadan in Egypt in wonderful! Just the way everything feels and smells is indescribable.. I'm sure those of you who have spent Ramadan(s) here know what I am talking about. All the family gatherings, the time right before maghrib, the nights of Ramadan, Dawn time, everything about is amazing...

We usually have yogurt, dates, water, a cheese sandwich during Sohoor.. Usually all the great favorite dishes at iftar and sweets later.. I'm not into sweets though and luckily I don't gain weight during Ramadan.. Oh and we have that habit in my family that there are days that we eat really simple food to feel how the needy and poor feel and be thankful.

Does any of the ladies know where we can find grape leaves in Florida? John won't be able to cook them until I'm there, but we really like to know...

You brought tears to my eyes thinking of ramadan in Egypt but alhamdulillah 3ala kol 7al. I should be excited to try it here with my husband for the very first time living together.

[MrsAmera 41]

This is my 5th Ramadan and I've never done it outside of the US. I wonder what it is like. The vibe I get from my husband is that everyone sleeps all day, no one works, and parties all night. If so I don't know if I would like it. It really makes me mad when he thinks he should just sleep all day because he's fasting - sort of misses the point doesn't it? Couldn't we then say that every night when we go to sleep we're fasting?