A Christmas Dream....!

 A Christmas dream I picture every year during the season, the season I love the most and dream the most beautiful dreams of all. Christmas is a time that we celebrate our savior's birth. Hence, it is the most joyous time of the year of Catholics and specially for me.

I will be spending the Christmas week with utmost joy with my sweetheart making delicious cakes, sweets and many more food. Shopping in the malls, looking at fancy items and buying some of them for her that we can afford. We decorate our house and light up the Christmas tree that we decorate with ornaments and our love! It will shine with white bulbs and love of our lives. Whatever she touches for decorations, is becoming illuminated with her magical touch and I sometimes stop what I am doing and just watch her giving  that special touch. CD player plays Carols and the house is full of Christmas spirit and love.

We will go to the Christmas eve mass together and celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and also take into our hearts the meaning of Chritsmas. That is, Christmas is not just commercial event that happens every year but a time that allows us to have the peace and joy of Jesus. I like going to mass with her the most because it is where the true love flows that lasts forever. Blessings of our loving Lord will be with us to strengthen our lives. The chritsmas "kiss" I get after the mass is just amazing and feels different. I am waiting for that special Chritmas "kiss" and celebrate with a wine glass and Christmas cake after the mass. I will hold her hand and look at her face to enjoy the moment while light Christmas carols played in the background. We will sit near the Christmas tree and exchange our gifts after a piece of cake. I know she awaits something more than the physical gift I present. Without that "something", her gift does not mean much for her. That is my Christmas "kiss" for her near the Christmas tree when she unwraps her gift. The moment I enjoy alot everytime. Then she would say, you are everything for me and I would say you are my Christmas present for every Christmas......!

I heard some Christmas music and suddenlky woke up. It was the Christmas radio station I kept playing before I took a little nap after the Christmas mass. I realised that I had pictured a wonderful dream which I dream every Christmas season and believe with God's grace will become true in future. Merry Christmas everybody and may the peace of the new born King be with you always!

Some thoughts on a true friend I met sometime back recently.....

I met this person accidentally and associated him closely over the past two years. It all started when I was searching for a grad school after working for 1 1/2 years in the industry. Unfortunately "fortunately" I spent most of my earnings to apply for about 10 grad schools worldwide covering 80% of them in USA hoping to get at least one to get into with a full scholarship. The qualifications I had are more than enough but people do not know Sri Lanka about studies and it was a great disadvantage for most of us when we apply for grad studies overseas. Anyway, I got accepted into about 5 of them including really top universities but no scholarship granted (there was the depression at its hike at that time in USA). So I was helpless and then said to myself "Okay, lets try for the next year and search for universities". Then I was looking for Sri Lankan students at universities in US and found out Thilina Gunaratna, who is in Indiana University, Bloomington. I found out that he is also from Kaluatara (which is my home town) and just sent him some e-mails. he responded to them and one day we talked over Skype and I said about my plans. He asked me what universities I applied for and then he said, at Wright State I have one of my friends and call him. his professor has some grants. So I contacted Ajith Ranabahu, who became my friend later and told him that my application is already been selected but no grants. So that is how, I came for grad studies and met Ajith ayya is one of the true friends I have ever met in my life. Unless for Thilina and Ajith ayya, I wouldn't be here (of course I tried my best and thats why I found out their details and made my way in).

Ajith ayya called me when I was going for a friend's funeral and told Dr. Sheth wants to talk to me and I though this is it and I have almost got it. That was one of the soothing sentences I heard for some time. Then all turned out that I happened to come to USA and to Ajith ayya's house. I had no body known here in Dayton (but now we made hundreds of friends here) and I just landed at Ajith ayya's apartment. He just got married at that time and he had no hesitation in inviting me there until I found a place for few days. Actually few days turned into few weeks. Ajith ayya was not hurrying to get me out into a place soon because he is so nice. but with my utmost force we found a temporary place for the summer. While I was at his place, they used to watch BasketBall games until late night. It was the basketball season at that time. The place I slept  for those few weeks was on their couch which could be turned into a bed. So I couldn't sleep until late night with all jet lags but it was funny. he asks me, "malli, you feeling sleepy?", I said "no, no lets watch". You know you never speak the truth on those occasions :D. I think Darshi akka, couldn't cook well at that time. May be couldn't cook at all. But I am not that selective when I am not at home. She asks me, "malli, do you have enough salt in curries?, is this tasty enough?" and many more questions. I always say the default answer "yes, yes" even though none of them were true :) . One morning she gave me a breakfast which I still bug her about. She put some jam into bread and also cheese and said here this is new kind of food we eat. try this and you'll like it. I said, okay.... and ate. You know jam and cheese never go together. Ha ha ha.......

Ajith ayya was the only one I knew  here around and we also celebrated my first B'Day here at their apartment while Hasitha ayya also came from Toledo. Ajith ayya helped me alot in buying everything when I moved out from their apartment and I also had a loan from him.  I still remember the time they dropped me to the new place and I never told it to their face before but I never wanted to leave their house. But it has to be done. I can't live at their house. So I think they also felt the same because there was no one from back home for them or for me in Dayton at that time. Dharshi akka was also just came into US and she also liked that someone is there. So I felt the feeling that they also didn't want to drop me and go and you know that moment you do not want to just leave. Keep on hanging out and telling, "malli, call us for anything, okay." , etc. I just felt like I left home for the second time within a month. Ajith ayya was always there to help me and one day he was coming early in the morning and knocking on the door with his sleeping garments because he received a call from my mom and thought it was urgent. It was like we all so close. That is all we got. It was a great experience for me and I think for them as well. I experienced many problems and i always asked help from Ajith ayya.

Actually, Ajith ayya took me on a trip to Chicago on the independence day. It was Dharshi akka's first trip in US and we enjoyed alot, walked, visited many places and it was totally memorable for me. So these experiences I will always have in my mind and when I remember them I always enjoy. We had such a great past and more than that Ajith ayya finished his PhD and started working at Amazon. A real success story for my first mentor and the best mentor I ever had. Some people are always selfish and we can't predict them when they will throw their back at you. But Ajith ayya is personally and professionally one of the best I met in my life. Always care for others and try to help. Otherwise, he wouldn't let me stay in his house just after he got married where he feels unsafe to have a stranger at his place. I am not a criminal or any person like that but he didn't know me when we first met. The funny thing was, he even couldn't recognise me at the airport when he came to pick me up because he hadn't seen me before. He was busy to look for my picture of Facebook but luckily Dharshi akka has looked for me in Facebook and identified me.

Over the past two years, I had great times with Ajith ayya and Dharshi akka where they became my responsible family in US. Sometimes I didn't think that way but when I look back now, it was the case for such a long time. The Holy Bible says, "There is no great person that one who gives his life for his friends" and Jesus also says, do help people where you can't expect anything in return so that your heaven;y father will bless you. So Ajith ayya and Dharshi akka are persons like that which I understand with all the great experiences I had with them. You meet very few people like that in your life and it is always great to be friends with them. People you hangout may not be your best or good friends but friends you share your life with will always be the best friends forever. I wish Ajith ayya, Dharshi akka and their little daughter all the very best, Almighty God's blessing and good health for many years to come. Finally, Thank you very much for all you have done for me where I did very little for you in return.

St. John Bosco Chapel dedication mass and opening 10-28-2012

Today, is a great day to celebrate in many  ways as for me and for the whole catholic and all here at Wright State community. For me, it is because we are getting a new chapel for worship and fellowship and also a B'Day celebration. When I first came to USA I was searching for a place to go for Sunday masses. With my greatest efforts I found this catholic community at the campus premises which helped me to go for masses because at that time I didn't have a car and had no way to go to St. Luke's church every Sunday for mass. Because of the way I grew up, it is one of my basic needs (not only wants) to go for Sunday masses. So today, we started dedication mass near our old chapel which brought me many memories and good friends (as I always had from my undergrads at my country). It proved me that when you meet God's people you always meet great people. It was the place we had exam crams, dinners, games, masses, etc, etc... It is not because of the building we came there but because we experienced good spirit in the middle of God. So when I looked at my right, I saw the new chapel, God's gift for us and for all of us in the campus to build the good spirit and live according to his love for us.

Before the dedication mass began, I overheard few ladies talking about how this building was a dream for many years. The spoke like how they thought it will never come true and will always be a dream as many people could not find enough funds to build it. But it was under many years or prayers and prayers and prayers. I think that is what paid off and God has his own plans and we have to believe in him. And this reminds me (strongly) to believe in him and pray for him as it is granted for a good cause. We may have thought that it is not possible after so many years as I heard that the old chapel was a temporary building for few years even though it stood for 40 years. If God wanted his people to gather in a temporary building for such a long time making that temporary building stronger than it looks, we have to believe in him that he has a plan. So here is his plan gifted to us today and we accepted with great pleasure.


It also pointed out by the Arch Bishop Most Rev. Dennis quoting that "talent is cheap but dedication is expensive". This building is an example of many people's dedication over many years and today we have this great looking building to praise God every day and experience him in a beautiful atmosphere. The chapel looks like God's dwelling place now with inspiring looks and we will make use of it to bring our good hearts to fill with God's love and guidance. Thank you Lord for giving us this beautiful gift and day to celebrate.

New Chapel at Wright State and good feelings...

We have been waiting so long to make this a reality and many have worked hard to find a way to build the building. Sometimes I feel I liked the old building because that is where I used to meet all the people but now looking at the state of the old building, it is a timely gift from God.

Throughout last few weeks, people were moving stuff into the new building and I get some time to go and help this Wednesday for a short period of time. The new church is well lit and full of people practicing hymns for the dedication mass, playing music, friends carrying things here and there and I felt like Christmas season already. It was a wonderful feeling and I felt good enjoying the atmosphere. Everybody was exited about the new building and for the first mass on this Sunday at 2 pm. It will be a big event for all of us and good times to come. Finally, we got a new building to meet Jesus and have peace of mind and enjoy his presence in a proper sacred place. I am awaiting for the time to come...

B'Day

Today is my 28th B'Day. It has been quite a long time to walk in life and there were many ups and downs as I recall what has happened. There were many achievements and some drawbacks. What I can think of happy memories are the times I had with many wonderful people in school, campus, church, etc. One fact is for sure that I do not have or at least I don't feel comfortable with people who are not my type. I mean I can say crazy. But it is according to my definition and for some I may be crazy as well.

It has been now 2 years since I started living in a different country and it is amazing how I kept myself going and had something to cheer about time to time. Most of it had to do with Church as usual in my undergraduate life. The time I spend there with friends and all the activities are always different and gives me hope to chill out my life or to relax a bit. I know for many this kind of experience is not possible and because of that I am grateful to God for giving all these good things in my life to have a happy life.

Today is my B'Day but I do not have a cake today. But it is okay, I will be having a small get-together with my friends here around. For the past few years I was always able to put up a small party for my B'Day whether I had money or not. I think before the B'Day that I will not be going to have a party this year but I always end up having at least a small treat and evening full of talks. One tradition that happened for the past 2 years is that Hasitha never missed the date to pay a visit here and have some fun time. Since I do not have the comfortable background environment I had when I was in Sri Lanka, the only time/place I feel home is when some good old friends get together. It is so nice that we had such a wonderful time spent together when we were in undergrad and bonds we started at that time pay off.

I received so many B'Day wishes today and that in fact made my day even happier for me. It is a great feeling that when I see people make wishes for my B'Day and seeing them bring life long memories sometimes.Seeing those wishes remind me different kinds of friends I had from time to time and it is like a tele-drama when all those people and their connections makes some beautiful drawings of memories.

After all I am 28 now. Getting older. But I still feel I am much younger and want to have many better days ahead of me like all the fantastic memories I have. That is a B'Day wish and may the almighty Lord guide me and bless me for my journey of life.

Easter 2012

Easter 2012..... hm.... Final days of Easter 2012 is already here. I can't believe that 40 days went so fast and I did not have enough time spent this year's Easter time for spiritual reflections as I think. But at least I am trying to spend some time before it is over.

Today, Holy Thursday, the mass was nice and I was able to participate in the mass among some friends compared to last time where I barely had any friends I knew at that time from the community. I wasn't able to spend some quiet time with Jesus. Sometimes you have a friend close to you for sometime and then you forget or couldn't make any close connections due to many reasons and suddenly after some time you feel uncomfortable with the relationship you had. So I am beginning to feel the same with the relationship with God. It is a great feeling when I feel Jesus is with me no matter what happens to walk with me. I know he is always there for me but I need to believe in that and talk to him.


Two days ago, Fr. Ed in the harmony mentioned that many think Judas is for sure in hell because of what he did. But is it almost the same what Peter did also? Hadn't Peter confessed in public that he did not know Jesus? Humans are always week and fail to do what they intend to do. So that is why Jesus gave us a way of resolving and making the relationship new with holy sacrament of confession. It is very hard to confess because you do not want to accept your failures and what wrong you did knowingly. But reconciliation with God always get you closer to God and ease the pressure of sin.

At least all of these thoughts, I should spend some good time with God in this Easter so that I may be able to improve my habits, life style and virtues in a way that is pleasing to God!

a new year to begin with

After some time I have few minutes to write about recent past in my blog. In fact, it was a fascinating vacation I had last December. Visisted my Sister in Dubai on my way home after almost 2 years. Then it was a pretty busy vacation for me. Sudu Akki (Ninoshi - my cousin sister) got married and the days were filled with work and happiness and also Christmas spirit. The only thing I missed or delayed is the work I had to do during the long vacation but it was a vacation I had to take after a long time. In fact taking your time off for some time gives you some in sight of what you have to do and think leisurely about what has to be done in all aspects in my life. So I figured out that I need to work abit harder than now.

And also there happened many miracles in Sri Lanka while I was there. Yes, miracles do happen and the faith on God finally or all the time pays off. We never know how his plans work and what will happen to us. But eventually good will happen as you believe in God. :)