Happy Sunday! For those who live in Michigan, can you believe this weather? First snow, then ice, then rain, then fog, then rain again. We had a good weekend, although it went by so fast. I didn't get a chance to do much online, other than create my new blog masthead. Do you like it? I took that photo a couple of winters ago. I am loving all the fun I'm having with Photoshop -- wish I had time for a class.

Anyway, a few weeks ago a reader asked me to blog about my journey from Islam to Christianity. I've been a Muslim my entire life, and I feel like I've done a complete 180. I've never been happier, more content, more connected, more loved, more loving and more at peace. In some ways it's been a difficult journey, but in other ways it's been amazingly simple.

I knew since I was very young that I wasn't meant to be a Muslim. I suppose that statement makes this whole story a little less glamorous, but it's true. My parents sent me to a school that was part Arabic language school, and part Koran school. I didn't understand any of it -- it was intended for children in Dearborn who were fluent in Arabic already (but who needed/wanted additional schooling outside of the American public school system). There was a point where we had an English-speaking religion teacher, and I enjoyed the Koran stories she told. But I'll never forget the one time I put fifty-cents into a vending machine on our break, and pulled out a packet of Oreos. As soon as kids saw me pop one in my mouth, they surrounded me. Oreos were forbidden -- at the time they contained lard, made from pigs. I was only 7 or 8 years old, and I didn't understand it. How were cookies bad? Was I really going to hell?

Nothing made sense to me. Women couldn't be individuals? We weren't considered worthy enough to own property? We were "owned" by our fathers until we were married, after which we were "owned" by our husbands. I didn't understand why many Muslim women covered their hair -- didn't God give us hair so bountiful and so beautiful, in a place on our bodies where it's meant to be displayed? I'm not judging or criticizing... I'm just saying that it just all confounded and confused me.

And during those rough times in my life (there were many -- go back and read "My Story" for an in-depth look into my childhood), for as much as I prayed to Allah for strength and help and love -- I never once felt anything back. Never once.

When I met my ex-husband, I was done with the whole "Allah" thing. His family wasn't very religious, so I just never really thought about God and religion. I never prayed, I never acknowledged a God, I just never really gave it any thought.

After my divorce, I can easily say that there was a time when I was a true atheist. One of the guys I dated for a while had a religious, Christian family, but he made fun of anything and everything having to do with church, God or religion. I did the same thing for a while -- after all, science made much more sense. It was towards the end of my relationship with him, though, that I began to question my lack of faith. Here was a man in my life who laughed and scoffed at the mere idea of God. And this man was one of the most self-centered, selfish, mocking, loathing men I've ever met. My relationship with him was wretched, and I was completely miserable. There wasn't any appreciation, any unselfishness, any giving, any praise, support, or unconditional love.

If a man who disbelieved in God could be so skeptical, angry and narcissistic... then I decided I wanted to see what life WITH God could be like. After I left him, I began to think about Jesus and Christianity. I watched Passion of the Christ on my own. I Googled a couple of things. I didn't convert to a believer by any means -- I was just curious and wanted proof that God existed. Yet I couldn't find it. A few months later I met a new guy whom I thought was a good, solid, Christian man but who turned out to be anything but. Did my choice in a mate determine how/if I would find God? Should I try finding Him on my own?

When I met Randy and discovered that his parents were religious, I again expected him to be a man who rebelled against religion and who acted out in defiance of God. He turned out to be the opposite.

I began asking questions, and debated with him constantly -- from my atheist, disbelieving point of view. I threw every kind of "scientific" explanation at him that I could. And every single time he came back to me with an answer. He knew that Bible inside and out, and he pointed out passages that disproved my theories. I began to doubt myself. Could God really exist? And not just exist, but love me? And believe in me, too?

The most profound thing that Randy ever said to me was, "I love you with all of my heart. But I love God more. But one thing you should understand is that for as much as I absolutely love you, I can't take you to Heaven with me. And it will really suck not having you there."

Then he told me about the one and only way I could get into Heaven. I couldn't believe it. The love of my life told me that I couldn't be with him in Heaven???? Did I even believe in Heaven? I definitely wanted to.

And it was then that I pondered the last year of my life. It was one that was filled with genuine laughter, unconditional love, amazing support, lots of prosperity, and a big sense of fulfillment. I thought to myself, "What do I have to lose? Just read about it..."

So I went online and read more. And asked Randy a zillion more questions, only this time with an eagerness to learn. And one day, as I was driving to work, I realized that I wanted my own relationship with God. I not only wanted to believe, but I wanted to know him. And so I prayed, and asked to be forgiven for my sins, and I poured out my heart. And I declared my everlasting faith to God.

And I have never stopped. Since that day, I have absolutely immersed myself in my new faith. God is with me every day, and I absolutely love church. I love donating and speaking and working with people in the name of Christ, and I am so blessedly happy and full of love. I don't regret this for a second, and I am amazed by the whole thing.

My life now has purpose, meaning and direction. My soul feels whole, and I shine like I've never shined before. If anyone wants more detail or wants to chat more, please email me. I never thought in a million years that I'd be where I am today. Just an hour ago, as I sat here with Randy, I smiled at him. "If any one would've told me ten years ago that I would be absolutely loving Christian church, I'd have stared at them as if they had two heads. And then think they were on drugs."

It's awesome. That's the only word that can describe it. Awesome.