lyricalisse

Hello! Not sure if anyone actually reads this blog. But I was just thinking the other day that Joe and I need to take down our wedding website and convert it into a joint blog… maybe a “he said… she said…” thing… or just an online space for us to share our adventures as newlyweds in Canada with our long-distance friends.

We still think fondly of DC and oftentimes wish we were there. We miss things like free admission to awesome museums, Gravelly Point, old town Alexandria, hanging out with worship team folks, dinners with friends, saying hi to Andre at church, seeing Pastor Charles play his accordion (a rare sight), and Ray’s the Steaks.

But we are glad to be here as well. It has been a blessing to be able to be here for our families. My mom celebrated her 50th birthday in November, so we were able to drive down to Seattle to take her out for a special meal and play lots of mahjong with the fam It’s also been great getting to know Joe’s sister, parents, grandparents, and other relatives here in Vancouver.

Joe’s grandfather, Rev. Stephen Chan, passed away on Wednesday. It is a sad time right now but he lived a good life. I imagine God welcoming him home, saying “well done, good and faithful servant.” He was a pastor and author of Christian living books, mostly known in the Cantonese-speaking community.

I didn’t know much about Joe’s grandpa until after we got married, when I learned that my parents’ fellowship group read his grandpa’s books. It actually happened during our tea ceremony at Joe’s grandparents’ house. During all the tea pouring and photos, my uncle looked up at the wall and saw an illustrated map of China he recognized from one of the books he had been reading. Afterwards, it clicked that Joe’s grandpa was the author of that book!

Later on, I found out that Thomas and Celia knew Joe’s grandpa, because Thomas had taken a course from him at a seminary in Hong Kong. How neat is that?

Anyway, it is late and perhaps this blog will be updated again in the near future.

of marriage:

- he is INCREDIBLY patient and forgiving, and doesn’t seem to be capable of holding a grudge against anyone
- his sense of humor isn’t always dry– sometimes he can be really hilarious
- he really is laid-back, accommodating, and flexible… these qualities are just in his nature.
- he LOVES watching infomercials and is strangely fascinated and amused by them
- he is disciplined about his work– is usually working by 8:30am and often works until 1 or 2am (with breaks for food of course )
- although he is more quiet than I am, he is less shy and is equally content being at a party or being at home
- he can’t touch his toes
- he drives his car like a city boy
- he really doesn’t like vegetables and thinks they all taste the same… but he still eats anything I cook!

I saw this meme on Facebook. Answering the questions made me realize how quickly time has passed since our wedding! I’m really grateful for Joe, and even though the transition is still hard, I’m thankful for the opportunity to live and study in Canada.

Marriage Meme

1. How long have you been married?
It will be 8 months on Jan 23!

2. How long have you been together?
3 years, 2 months.

3. Where did you go on your first date?
First unofficial date: dinner at Malaysia Kopitiam in downtown DC and a 3-mile walk– from Farragut North to the National Monument, to the WWII Memorial, to the Capitol!
First official date: dinner at Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington, VA, then spent the evening at Gravelly Point watching airplanes take off and land.

4. Where did you go on your last date?
Lunch at Thai House on Robson and a long walk in the rain. Then grocery shopping. Not sure if that counts as a date though. Last one before that: watching Avatar in 3D.

5. What’s your anniversary date?
Wedding: May 23, 2009
Dating: November 3, 2006

6. Where were you married?
In the beautiful backyard of dear church friends in Maryland.

7. What was your best/favorite wedding gift and from whom?
Really good devotional book from Joe’s aunt… Devotions for Couples by David & Teresa Ferguson.

8. Where did you honeymoon?
At the Aerie Resort in Malahat, BC. We went ziplining near Sooke, rock-skipping at a secluded beach that we found by happenstance, fish-n-chips-eating at the pier, garden-traipsing at Butchart Gardens, and watched Star Trek!

9. What food do you like now because of your spouse?
Penang curry and beef rendang.

10. What type of music do you like now because of your spouse?
Passion Band and David Crowder.

11. What movie or television program do you like now because of your spouse?
Battlestar Galactica! When people hear the show’s title, they just think it’s a nerdy sci-fi series, but it’s actually a really deep and moving drama about the human condition, and funny at times too. You get really drawn into the characters and their victories, struggles, loyalties to one another, etc.! Full of honor and even some romance.

12. Favorite thing you like doing together?
Eating! Watching movies. Going on road trips. Talking about tech/info stuff. Playing piano and guitar together. Finding good bargains.

13. Last gift you bought your spouse?
Five bottles of different kinds of hot sauce!

14. Last gift your spouse bought you?
I have a terrible memory when it comes to gifts from other people… I think it was a heart-shaped pendant necklace.

15. Favorite things about your spouse?
I love how steady and calming he is. He has a deeply-rooted trust in God and a security that everything’s going to turn out all right. He’s also hard-working, easy-going, sweet, and a grace-giver.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

This is a great promise. I’m thankful for a God who is attentive and watches over us.

When I moved to DC in 2006, my friend Michelle and I did weekly devotionals over the phone together, using the book Devotional Classics (ed. Richard Foster).

Here’s a prayer I like from that book, written by John Baillie (Scottish theologian):

O Lord and Maker of all things, from whose creative power the first light came forth, who looked upon the world’s first morning and saw that it was good, I praise You for this light that now streams through my windows to rouse me to the life of another day.

Amen.