Thank You Jesus

This being my first Thanksgiving in the US, I wanted to experience the Thanksgiving Dinner with a family. I have so many wonderful people around me, that I got invited by 6 families. Ofcourse, I had to turn down 4 of them, and I accepted a lunch and dinner invitation.

But you know God, and how his plans are not our plans always, right? The day before Thanksgiving, my lunch plan got cancelled becoz of a family emergency with the wonderful couple who had invited me, and my dinner plans got postponed to Saturday.

So here I am on my couch, on Thanksgiving day, with a tall mug of chocolate milk and my laptop, and decided to put down in writing, what I'm thankful for:

• First and foremost, I thank Jesus for his blood that washed away my sins. And I know that He is my best friend.

• I thank God for my mom for all the love she poured on me and all the values she instilled in me.

• I thank God for my sisters Christy and Mary and all others in my family, for being there for me and supporting me in all that I do.

• I thank God for aunt Karen & Uncle Paul Watney, Pasadena, California, who sponsored my studies when I needed it.

• I thank God for aunt Irene & Uncle Darrell D'monte, Australia, who taught me a great deal growing up, and who continue to be my role models for a strong marriage. They have been married for over 50 years, and I admire the love they share for each other.

• I thank God for my dear friend Char, who has truly been my "American mom", without whom I wouldn't be in the US right now. I thank God for her kids the Herberts, the Cobbs and the Browns, and family friends the Abshires, all of whom have awesome families that I admire a lot.

• I thank God for the people of my Church in India (CSI Emmanuel Church), where I've gone for almost all my life - the place where my faith was nurtured, and where I was able to spend a portion of my life.

• I thank God the people of my Church here in the US (Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church) who welcomed me warmly, and provided me with opportunities to serve. I feel like I'm in my home Church.

• And once again, I thank God for everything and everyone - my family, my friends, my Church, my job, my material possessions,etc.

• And most of all, I thank God for being there for me, for breath in my nostrils, and being my BEST FRIEND!!

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Trampoline......

Well, I haven't been all that diligent lately in updating the blog, but I try...  :)

The title of this post is "Trampoline", but I'll get to that at the bottom of this post.

So let me bring you up to speed with what's happening in my life......

Late last month, my friends Char, Jenny and Prashanth went to the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, and had ice cream (yet again!!) at Fenton's.

And this weekend, I went to my friend Char's daughter Keri's place, to celebrate Hannah's sixth birthday..

Opening gifts with friends......

Cake, cake and more cake......

Love in the air.......

Later that evening...... all of us were relaxing

except for my friend Char, who was on the wii-guitar!!

Ok, now I'll explain the trampoline which is the title for this post.

After Church today in Wasco, we all walked to Liz and Aaron's place, and they have a trampoline.

You know, I've never been on a trampoline before, and when 5 adorable girls wanted me to get on the trampoline, I obliged, much like any gentleman would. 

Come on, tell me how hard would it be to just jump up and down on a trampoline?

If you ask me now, I'll say "I wonder how the kids do it". It is just too tiring. 
My calf muscles were screaming after the first few jumps.

And you know how fancy kids could be on the trampoline? They jump up on their feet, land on their bottom, and then go right back up and land on their feet. When I landed on my bottom, I stayed down, and did not jump back up!!

Cute little Hopie said "Hey girls, let's not do that, becoz Alex is tired". Thanks Hopie!!

That's all the trampoline I can handle!!

But I had a great weekend, with all the wonderful kids, including Jim, who is Rob's dad. 
Jim and Sue are a perfect match, and they have great fun together!!

It's almost 1 am now, and I have to get to work tomorrow, so it's good night from me!!!!!