In the name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate

Assalamu Alaykum

I've been reading everyones stories. Al-Humdulillah Allah has guided us on the straight path. Now I'll begin my story. When I was growing up I knew nothing of any other religions.  I guess I just thought everyone was like me.  When I was almost 15  I met a guy from Jordan.  I did not even know where Jordan was.  He was the first person I had ever met that was from another country.  We became friends and occassionally would go out.  One time when we were in his car I noticed these beads he had hanging from his rear view mirror.  I asked him what they were.  his reply to me was that it was like the rosary.  I asked him where's the cross.  He replied theirs didn't have one.  That was the furtherest we ever spoke about religion.  We remained friends over the years but he didn't really interest me because he was not into the same things I was in.  He didn't party so for me he was kinda boring.  We lost contact with each other for about a year when we moved and chabged our number.  Then it happened that my sister ran into him somewhere and gave him our new number.  I wasn't too thrilled when she told me what she did.  Anyhow we would now talk every once in a while.  My sister had met this guy she went head over heals for.  They dated and got engaged.  I was devasted.  My sister, my best friend was spending all her time with her soon to be husband.  I felt so left out and so alone.  I went into a really bad depression for about 2 years.  I quit going out and stopped drinking and wasn't parting anymore.  I tried reading the bible I read a part where it said we were created to worship God.  I didn't feel like I was, going to church once a week.  Then I started to go to the mass during the week.  It still was not working.  I still did not understand our purpose.  I would look at TBN (trinity broadcasting network) pray and cry with them.  Still nothing helped.  I don't remember if I called Jordan ( the guy from Jordan) or if he called me.  Well now things were different.  I no longer partied so we had things in common now. He no longer seemed boring to me.  Time went by and we continued to go out and our feelings for each other grew.  I was coming out of my depression Al-Humdulillah.  He had given me a Book about Islam and I began to read it.  It made since to me.  It talked about how Allah controlls the universe and everything obeys his commands, not a leaf falls except by His Will.  One day I woke up and was feeling depressed which suprised me because the feeling and been gone.  It was like a grey cloud over myself.  I was not Muslim yet but I got the Jordan had given my which also showed how to pray and I began to pray like the book showed and said the prayer, then the cloud went away.  Insha' Allah I'll never forget that feeling.  We later got married, but I still had not taken the Shahada.  Before I went to the hospital to have our first baby I took the Shahada, that was in May of 1992.  I was now Muslim but I did not pray or cover.  I wasn't seeking knowledge either.  In March of 1995 my cousin was killed.  He was only 26.  At that time I realized our life is not guaranteed.  We can go at any time.  I prayed and asked Allah to please help me to find someone to teach me.  It was not a full 2 weeks and I met a very knowledgeable woman who taught me so much, May Allah reward her.  I started to cover and pray.  I continue to seek knowledge because there are always things to learn.  And just to feel a deep since of Iman.  I make Dua'a for Allah to always guide us and keep us on the straight path of Islam.

Assalamu Alaykum

Sandra