life
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.