Preparation

This trip is much as for me as well as it is for the kids. I have got them involve in this experience from the start of my decision so to speak. I told them stories now and then about Makkah, madinah, Kaabah and the likes so that they would develop the love to this place. Masya Allah, they are excited to go. Their excitement is very motivating.

Zachary would say, today is Tuesday, tomorrow is Wednesday and Thursday is UMRAH time!!

Sya is not feeling well today. She has eye infection and also feverish. She is not happy about it. She is worried that she won't be well for the trip. I kept cheering her up today.

Here comes the Sya.
Here comes the Sya,
and I say it's alright.

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sya, here comes the sya
and I say it's all right

Tee he he

Suffice to say, our discussion for the past week is mostly on this trip.

Also to get the engine throttling, for the past two weeks, we had a good sitting down discussing the Umrah rites. OKlah more like me lecturing. We went through the rites, interjecting with stories and naseehah.

But I think the most fun part was when we made simulation of the umrah rite. Haziq trying to handle the ihram garment and doing the pretend tawaf and sa'ee. The whole work! They are motivated alright. Of course because the simulation only require a few steps for tawaf and a few steps from saee and marwa. I pray that Allah will make it easy for all of us.

I prepared a simple umrah guideline for the children to read. I have given this to the faths for their children. i hope it will be beneficial. Take a look at THE CHILDREN GOING FOR UMRAH.

For this trip, I prepared some quizzes to fill up the children's time. Some easy questions. Just so we can discuss more after that, Insya Allah. I hope the question can be expanded into examplary actions in their (my) everyday life.

At the moment I only have 50 questions. Will try to crack my brain for more. Tapi hmm rasa nak demam lah now. Tengoklah.

Wanna try some of the questions?

The food tastes bad. What should we say?
a. Ewwwww
b. Mama! Why you cook this food???
c. Cry
d. Keep quiet and leave it.

What was Allah’s promise to Abu Lahab?
a. Wealth
b. Health
c. Hell fire
d. Happiness

Which Surah is equal to the third of the Quran
a. Surah Al Baqarah
b. Suratul Mulk
c. Suratul Fatihah
d. Suratul Ikhlas

Simple kan?

See if you can answer like this child in the video below. May Allah bless her parents. Jazakillah to Diana for sending this to me. She is too cute, Masya Allah.



Then I gave each child a goody bag containing a drawing block, pencil colours, magic pen, stationery, the guideline book, cards containing the supplication so that they can memorise it. Oh yes. remind me to print a Saudi map for all the kids. I have a fascination for geography and I like taking opportunity when I travel to point out places for them.

Now, I am thinking of things for jack. Other than colouring. Bosan wei. Any ideas?

Other than that, I am listing ubats and stuff for all of us. I am gathering all the lectures in mp3. And the normal stuff that you take when you travel.

Oh I need to brush up on histories. You know how much I love history kan? Mak oi sempat ke ni? The possible story to look back are Battle of Badr, Battle of Uhud, Conquest of Makkah, Abdul Mutallib found Zam zam, Asmaa bint Abu Bakar and her underground work for Islam, the first revelation. All in terrible order apparently. It shows what is in my head. Tapi sebenarnya most likely is over ambitious aje ni. Ahhh i know, I bring the booklah apa susah. tee he he.

These activities are just fillers with the children. In between other more pressing-in need activities, Insya Allah.

I pray that the children will benefit their time in this trip. I pray that this experience will help them develop their love to their Lord, their Prophet and their Deen.