Iftar - fast breaking with family

My sister and her family hosted a heart warming experience Saturday night -- melding so much of my youth, memories, and days when I was the little one getting run over by all the "big people" in the room -- sometimes as many as 20, 30, and 40! Now, faster than I could have ever imagined, our kids are the ones running carefree, enjoying unsupervised mischief, and we're the ones talking, laughing and cooking for our families...



At 8:07, sundown, the clutter of noise lifted from the room -- our palms open infront of us, our hearts praising God in our own words - we prayed. We shared dates and ice cold water - as millions around the world did too -- officially marking the first Iftar of this Ramadan...





We set our table on the floor - which traditionally for Ramadan - and any special large gathering of family and friends - is done, so that we could all dine next to each other, and feast not only with our eyes and tummies, but with conversation and loving kinship.