I came across an Invocation that gave me pause. “My Lord. I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.” Quran 11:47.
I thought about that. The logic is impeccable: do not ask Allah for something that is impossible, because it will not happen. But that could apply to what one asks of oneself. I get in trouble and am mired in disappointment because I ask of myself the impossible. I have great expectations, great unrealistic expeditions. It happened to me on Monday. I was gravely disappointed because my great expectations were not realized.
Perhaps some word and idiom expressions are needed at this moment. I think in idioms and big words and they often need to be translated. ‘To give pause’ according to Miriam Webster is to : to cause (someone) to stop and think about something carefully or to have doubts about something. Used in a sentence: I was going to ask for help but the look on his face gave me pause. “Give (someone) pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20%28someone%29%20pause. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.
Great expectations: “The title Great Expectations reflects the overarching theme of ambition and desire in Charles Dickens’s novel. It signifies the grand, often unrealistic hopes of the protagonist Pip and other characters, highlighting the paradox of expectations as both motivating and misleading.” This explanation from enotes.com
Discerning readers will see that I am not asking Artificial Intelligence for answers; therefore, expanding my knowledge. I am way smarter, as a result, than those AI guys. Hahaha
Back to Monday. I went to the Penang HSBC bank with great expectations – that I be able to make wire transfers from my US bank to do the final funding for my Sarawak visa and, at the same time, also open other bank accounts, get credit cards etc etc etc. Well – my US bank does not process wire transfers on Sunday. It was Sunday in the US, although Monday in Malaysia. For various complex reasons I could accomplish nothing that morning. I had insufficient knowledge of complex Malaysian banking laws etc etc etc.
It was my mistake but I viewed it as a hardship. Bravely, went on with my day. Sandman drove me to Gurney Plaza where I stocked up on my medications – blood pressure meds for example. Then to lunch at the restaurant where my friend Alice is the chef. I had a delicious lunch, you shall see photos at the conclusion of the blog.
I returned to Lyf – was met at the door with a staff member, opening the door, helping me out of the car with a package in his hand.
He: This came for you!
Me: Wow!!! Ma Shaa Allah. It is a belated birthday present I was expecting it. What a wonderful time for it to come!!
I opened the carefully wrapped and rewrapped package. I immediately wrote a thank you message to the woman who had sent the gift.
Me: Your blessed 😇 gift came today. I am SO grateful. Also a disappointment came today. But with hardship comes ease. With hardship comes ease, says the Quran. You brought me ease when I needed it! Alhamdulillah
Later I added.
Me: It was not only the gift but the blessed greeting which was so precious.
The greeting, so blessed, read: “Dearest Alexis. Hope these come in handy. Happy belated birthday again and may Allah keep you in HIS closest care always. Lotsy love.
The gift shall be pictured. It is a precious business card holder – actually two in a way. I enjoyed brunch with the benefactor and other Board members and friends. During the course of the meal I gave them each a blog card – taking it from a stack enclosed with a rubber band. Another woman laughed, saying she was addicted to a rubber bands as well. However, the benefactor promised she would give me a belated birthday present so I could present my precious cards in style. She kept her intention.
It arrived at exactly the right moment. It HAD to be Allah. Alhamdulillah
I did learn a great deal from that Invocation. I am in a conflict with a man, whom I now see is powerless to grant me what I am reasonably requesting. He is not humble enough to admit this as arrogance appears to be his middle name – Hahaha. He would be KAT, spelled wrong because of his first name. I am not sure how to proceed. I mistakenly thought he had greater authority than what he had. My great expectations were not met because they were not based on knowledge of the situation I was confronted with.
Earlier this morning sent the greatest good morning message, which you shall see soon. It is a Hadith, words of the Prophet (PBUH) which speaks of greeting people with a cheerful face. I am doing it and getting many smiles back. Positivity (as well as negativity) is contagious. My message to all was: How is this for a Good Morning message.
Received some responses.
She: FrantastIc
Me: It is working!! Getting lots of smiles back.
She: ❤️
Me: It seems to be a good practice.
She: Agreed. Religions expose devotees to a lot of opportunities for practicing.
Me: Exactly!! And the practices are worships in themselves.
She: She absolutely true 🥰
Another thread.
She: Good morning to you
Me: Hello!! Been smiling at many. Hahaha
My plans for the day are slowly solidifying. I shall go shopping with a new Muslim young woman friend. We are shopping for a Malay dress for me to wear at what I (laughingly) call the wedding of the century. Guests to the evening affair are to wear either formal wear or Malay dress. By the end of the month I should be officially a Malaysian because my visa will be fully funded and I will have gone to Sarawak for the necessary appointments with immigration, lawyers etc. I am thinking of royal blue – to match my eyes. I do not exactly look like a Malaysian but I will be one. Most probably on my death, In Shaa Allah, I shall still have the visa. I might just have to get another one when I am 93.
I had an amusing morning, so far, and it is only 10 am. I am dressed in black with a colorful ‘scarf’ worn around my shoulders. Colette, a life staff member, admired it.
Me: Thank you. I have had it for years. Bought it from a dressmaker in San Francisco. Wore it around my shoulders. But when I went to Abu Dhabi I would wear it on my head as a hijab. Later I opened my blog which had been posted on the Internet overnight. There was a photo of me in taken in the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque with me wearing it as a head scarf. It seemed more than just chance. It was another gift from Allah. Alhamdulillah
I sent photos from my Abu Dhabi days to Chris for inclusion on the blog. He sent back a greeting with the photo,
He: Very glamorous Alexis!
Me: Wow thanks. Maybe husband material is he sees it. Hahaha Just joking.
I thought it was a glamorous photo. Not so! I was the first photo, taken at Rixos Resort as I recall. I look absolutely stupid. Go back and look. The second photo is the one where I am wearing the shoulder scarf as a head covering. That photo was taken in the Grand Mosque. It was taken during covid days which explains the face mask. The third photo is one taken of the Grand Mosque itself. That photo was framed and on the wall of my Edmonton apartment. I left everything behind staying in Medina rather than go home and face Islamophobia yet again in Canada as I had in the USA. Apparently an evil man, Pita Patel, the manager of the apartment building sold all of my possessions to a man in Vancouver. I have led a chaotic existence; it is no wonder I feel so blessed living at Lyf in Malaysia, receiving blessed belated birthday gifts and greetings. I was able to escape from the US, from Canada and from Abu Dhabi. Those countries all facing grave and perhaps irredeemable problems caused by the Iran War caused by the aggression of the United States and Israel.
I am at breakfast at Kenny Hills Bakery eating the quesadillas. There is the most darling little boy at the next table having so much fun. I usually do not photograph children for the blog. I am tempted. I did – he is one of many folks in the photo. Actually there are two, another little boy at the back table. Needless to say we are all wearing cheerful faces – therefore making Allah happy.
Photos of food, an Hadith and a happy breakfasting family follow.
