What's shakin'??!!

I found a text message on my phone that said those words from my sister Ang.What's shakin'!  It reminded me that I hadn't done my blog thing for a few weeks and absolutely nothing about the happenings of recent. It's been a crazy time here in the UAE but I'm happy to be experiencing the Ramadan season. A few things to know:
~ many of the expatriate families go home to their respective countries for the long, hot summer. Not much to do when the weather is 115-125 even in the shade.
~ the stores are empty, almost. It's GREAT!
~ our kayaking has to be done at 6am or not at all :-|
~ speed walking is now at 8:30pm when it is reasonable or 105
~ our 2 church wards are condensed to 1
~ the driving is absolutely perfect! Less people=reasonable drivability=less crazy!
~It's RAMADAN!
~Restaurants are not open until after sundown (except the sneaky ones who have their windows blacked out!)
~We have a new restaurant in the bottom of our building that we are dying to try~ later I guess
~I came home to a new Starbucks also in our building~ later too


For those who don't know or have just maybe have not been interested, here is a little thing about this holy month that I pulled off wikipedia:

Question: What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

Answer: During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.

Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

It is also a time to focus on others and doing good will and to practice charity.