I saw it on the counter the other day… a registration packet from school for my younger brother-in-law.  It’s almost that time again.; time to go… Back to school!

Today I’m going to be visiting the new school where I’ll be teaching this fall.  I need to pick up my textbooks.  There’re only two!  This is a major relief after the number of books I lugged around last year.  I’m only teaching Algebra 1 & Geometry as opposed to last year when I was teaching a whole hodge podge of classes– 4th grade Science, Math, Social Studies, Islamic Studies, Computers; 6th grade Computers; 10th grade Algebra 2; 9th grade Biology.

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About a year ago Saqib was looking online for good ice cream shops and he stumbled upon a company named Graeter’s.  He was so excited to read about this company because the site kept praising it as one of the best ice creams in America.  The company sets itself apart from the rest because they use a unique method to make their ice cream– the French Pot method.

After reading up on the store, he shortly thereafter became bummed out.  Why?  Because the store is only open in IN, OH and KY.  The closest one to him, in Illinois, was more than four hours away!  How would he ever get to eat the yummy ice cream he’d read so much about?

Enter our plans for our honeymoon.  We decided a while ago to drive to Tennessee.  We wanted to drive because we wanted the chance to stop at different places on our way down.  We were discussing different places we could stop and eat at on our drive down when we realized we would cross the path of… Graeter’s!

So on Friday when we left, after about 5 hours of driving, we took a detour in Louisville KY and pulled into this place.

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This past weekend Saqib and I returned from our Honeymoon, and arrived back in Illinois just in time for the AlMaghrib course Sacred Scrolls.  It was a one weekend seminar taught by both Imam Suhaib Webb and Shaykh Yasir Qadhi.

 
Click the picture above.

I was a little anxious to go to an AlMaghrib class in Illinois because I’ve only been attending them in Michigan and Canada.  My tribe, Qabeelat Ittihaad holds classes in both Dearborn and Windsor.  I’ve grown accustomed to the people, the set up, the lunches, the dinners, etc.  I wasn’t sure how they did things here in Chicago in Qabeelat Wasat.

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The bags are packed.  The Garmin is out.  The cooler is set.  Our path is marked.  Tennessee, here we come!

Saqib and I are first hitting up Newport, TN and staying in the above photographed, lovely inn called Christopher Place.  Next stop is Gatlinburg, TN, a town nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.  It’s only 2 miles wide and filled with neat little touristy things to do.  On our agenda is horseback riding and a sky lift right over the town and mountains.

If you know Saqib and I, the first thing we planned out was what we’re going to eat for the next five days.  You can look forward to a reflection post for our meals.  And of course, pictures will be included!

Until then, sit tight and wait patiently for a lot of pictures and a lot reviews.

I’ve been asked recently, quite a few times, about my whereabouts and happenings.  What has happened to Ayesha Siddique over the past few weeks?

Not too much, I guess

Two Saturdays back, as was mentioned in the previous post, I had my ruksati wedding party with my one and only SaqibSaab.  Sunday we made a few rounds with different relatives, and Monday his parents left back to Illinois.  We didn’t leave Michigan until Tuesday.

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