Going random and yes I am back from the island

Assalamualaikum!

I am back from my summer vacay! The graduation went well. My brother did an awesome job delivering the welcome address. The visit to one of the beautiful islands in Tawi-Tawi was amazing, mashaAllah! A much needed vacay it became, indeed. The thing I fear to happen the most, didn't happen. Ya Allah, You are the best!

The trip back home, though, was an entirely different story. @@ The little ferry we (Mom, younger sister and brother, and I) took stopped four times in the middle of the sea, it kept pushing and pushing to continue with the travel to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi even though the engine keeps failing until all the passengers demanded another ferry. After the transfer, I felt nauseous. It was the longest ferry ride ever. When we got to Bongao, we're dead tired. x__x Good thing the flight back home to Zamboanga City went smoothly. And now, I am back to the cityyyy! Living in the island surely makes me thankful for all the little things the city can provide--"freely" flowing water from the faucet, electricity, cold water from the fridge, internet.. Yeeah.

I arrived yesterday and after the ferry issue, I just took the day off and went lazy. But today, I finally got some things done that I kept postponing. I am crossing out two 3 things from that list 'cos it was a productive day. Alhamdulillah. Good vibes everywhere and in shaa Allah!

I am all perked up about recent employement talks.. nothing's sure yet but I am praying I get a job soon. Make dua'a for me please? :)

Till next update!

Excess

Assalamualaikum!

This, of course, doesn't mean that I am back from my trip. I am leaving tomorrow and I am so anxious about this trip that I need an outlet. My sister and I are done packing. She's the only one with baggage so we're trying our best to fit everything into the allotted 15 kgs. We've weighed the stuff for check-in, and our weighing scale says were okay--like 12 kilos okay. But, well, I am thinking about the high-tech weighing scale at the airport and I am worried we get pass the 15 kilos, I hope not. And I have all these stuff to carry. And I am sick worried.

I just remembered I haven't packed my slippers and my other shoes yet. :s

*sigh*

Ya Allah, I pray for Your guidance during trip with my sister. May we reach the islands of Tawi-Tawi safely. May everything go well.. You know what I mean. Like the "thing" that is worrying me? Yes, that.. I also pray that we get back here to the city of Zamboanga unscathed, unharmed and with hearts full of love and joy and peace. Ameen.

YEZ I STILL EXIST

Assalamualaikum!

Here goes the usual rant: blog, I am starting to disappoint you. And I wish I could do better than leave you hanging. Story of my life. I feel like everything's on hold and I am well aware it's not. Time goes by, and I am losing it.. allowing it to fly. Tsk tsk tsk. *siiiighhhh*

I decided to update before I go on leave for a while.☺ 10 days to be exact. I am leaving the confines of my lola's home, the infinity internet equivalently the www, this city, the electricity (or the irritating power interruption that is ruining this beautiful city), my annoying yet adorable little cousins, Maya and Sir Chief (cos there'e no electricity during the daylight in the island of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi where I am going with my sister for my one and only brother's graduation from primary school), and every beautiful thing in this city life. 10 days. It's not like I cannot do it (I stayed on retreat for 1 month in the place mentioned earlier right after my licensure exam 3 years ago) but astagfirullah, this dunya can be quite, you know, tempting. Ya Allah, forgive me.

On another note, I am currently trying to improve my Arabic reading skills!! Thankful to Learn Iqra apps on Play Store that in shaa Allah I'd be able to read faster. IN SHAA ALLAH! :)

So. I'll update once I get back. This is a promise. Like the minute I get here, after eating and getting the needed sleep (I am already anticipating the scenario when I get back from my trip), I will extend my salaam(s) to all of you. I'll post pictures of the beautiful island and the equally beautiful people there.

Wasalaam ❤

Hi ho!

Assalamualikum!

I know, I know I haven't updated for almost a month now. Just being typical me. :) Well, last week was pretty eventful for someone like me. First, I was invited to dinner by my former co-nurses. It was grand to see them after so looooong. And I was indeed full that night. I enjoyed the Caifornia Maki and the mango cake thing.

Alhamdulillah for knowing such smart, passionate and humble people in my life. I was truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with them.

And then, well, I watched the Cheerdance Competition with my sister since we got tickets. We we're supposed to meet the guest performer during the said event the following day but that didn't happen leaving my other sister sad. So I took her out for retail therapy. That didn't work. :s But we were promised a next time. ;)

That was pretty much it. No new nothing really. In shaa Allah I will be posting an update soonest.

To Allah We Belong and To Him Is Our Return

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatu.

For 15 months I worked as a nurse at one of the busiest units of Zamboanga City Medical Center, the Surgical ICU. All patients I cared for are critically ill, most of them with poor prognoses. So, it ends up in two ways, they go home back to their families or return to our Almighty Creator. 15 months and maybe you'd think I am used to seeing people die (they were quite a few). But no. I don't think I will ever be. I don't think anyone will be. Yes, death is inevitable. We live, we die. That the journey of living ends in death. 

The Quran tells us:

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to Us shall you be brought back." (29:57)

Then, it is the only thing certain. Death is the barrier between this wordly life and the Hereafter, the only barrier from coming face-to-face with Allah, the Exalted, the Most High. It should be an awesome moment. To finally see Him and talk to Him and thank Him non-stop for all the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon you and your family during your "living" days. Then it hits you. There's one of these two places you go to and stay permanently: 1. Heaven 2. Hell. If you have been a good person, you go to 1. If you were otherwise, the very hot 2 awaits you. This is the part I may be worried the most. Am I ready to face him? Truth be told, I am not. And maybe even most of us. I have cared sooo much about living in this world and it scares me how little I think I am doing to prepare for the Hereafter. I wonder, have I done enough to deserve choice number 1? Do I still have time left to work on my deen?  I hope so. 

"What is the life of this world

but amusement and play? But verily the Home of the Hereafter -- that

is Life indeed, if they but knew." (29:64)

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of

Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is save

far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the

object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and

chattels of deception" (3:185)

I frequently tell myself that for as long as Allah wills, I will do my best to do the things the way Allah wants things to be done. Everyday is a chance to be a better Muslim and to be closer to Him. Blessed are we all to wake up and be given the chance to read the Quran, do good deeds, pray the 5 obligatory prayers, give charity, dwell in the remembrance of Allah and do everything it takes to enter the gates of Paradise. In Shaa Allah.

Earlier today, my grandfather's brother passed away. I happened to be one of his nurses during his stay in the Surgical ICU after the doctor's discovered a tumor in his colon and removed it surgically. He was doing well and was even told by his physician that he has a high rate of survival because no metastases was seen. He just needs to go thru chemotherapy. But I think his family decided against it (I'm not sure about this part, though). So weeks passed, he was feeling okay but eventually, grew weaker and weaker. And today, he returns to face Allah Almighty.

انا لله وانا اليه راجعون

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon.

(To Allah we belong, and to him is our return
Holy Qur’an – Al- Baqarah 2:156)

May Allah rest his soul in peace, expand and lighten his grave. May he be forgiven for all his sins and granted the highest level of Jannah. May Allah guide those he has left behind, grant them patience to bear this hardship and turn to Allah during this difficult time. Ameen.

P.S. Photos are not mine, credits to the owners.

Assalamualaikum~

These past few days, I have been trying my best to be smart about my expenses. As in everything's on a super tight budget since I am currently unemployed (but running a small time business). Anyway, for today, I added things up and budgeted 1000 pesos for the one-way plane ticket to Tawi-Tawi (on March 2013, I got the promo flight tickets, of course) and some personal supplies. To my surprise, I spent more. @@ I dunno how it happened but I lost a couple of bucks while getting groceries. Still pissd abut it but there's nothing I could do about it. Just gonna pray that someone in need got hold of the few bucks I prolly accidentally dropped.

^ I have no cash on hand. My red wallet is currently sad. :s

So much for being intensely thrifty. Le sigh~

Home bound

Asslamualaikummm~

It has been 2 days since my last day at work. It was a stressful ending to my one year contract at Zamboanga City Medical Center but everything just felt worth it. The last two weeks were a struggle.. I had to work the night shift by myself, Alhamdulillah I survived. I am most thankful to be home, though. Don't get me wrong, I love being a nurse but circumstances make it best for me stay home for now.

Right now, I am savoring every bit of being a home buddy. I get to cook again, spend time with my little cousins, get fit, watch tons of TV and etcetera. So far, home is treating me well. Nyahaha.

^ Taken during my last few days at work. Yezzz, things were toxxxxic.