Happy Woofday!

Happy 3rd birthday, Wonka!
You make Mommy and Daddy so happy :)

Happy JennOpher Day!

Three years have flown by since the day I waltzed down the aisle and married my favorite guy. Surrounded by our closest friends and family on that mountaintop in the middle of the ocean, I could only describe that moment as perfection. I truly thought life couldn't get any sweeter. Little did I know, it was just the beginning. 

We have come such a long way and flourished together in this marriage. It just keeps getting better, and I am so excited about all the things we have to look forward to.

The memory of my father's speech that evening is one that I hold close to my heart. Every time I revisit these words, I feel deeply encouraged, blessed, and loved.

       "Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking a long trip to witness Jenn and Chris exchanging vows, and to share the joy of their families. This is a happy moment, a moment to celebrate, a moment to reflect, a moment to look forward to the future, and most importantly, a moment to thank our Lord, who has been loving and watching us all the way.

       With my eyes closed, I vividly remember the first time I saw you, Jenn, a newborn baby girl in the hospital. Your first cries were really a beautiful song in my ear. Mom had experienced physical problems while carrying you, and doctors and friends advised us to terminate mom’s pregnancy for her health. But we decided to keep you, with our trust in the Lord.  It was indeed a prayer answered to see you born as a healthy baby. This was a humbling experience to us. I always view you and Tim as precious gifts from God. So, Jenn, let’s continue to trust in Him in whatever circumstances.

       Jenn, you are a happy girl. You always have a way to entertain yourself. You also bring joy to us and many people. I believe that’s why you decided to be a cheerleader in high school. This cheerful character is a precious gift from God. So, keep being a cheerleader of life! 

       Jenn, you are also very adventurous. We had to always keep an eye on you when we took you to the beach when you were a child. You were so curious in exploring new things and easily wandered away. Being adventurous in new experiences can bring you richness in life, if you put yourself in God’s hands.  The Bible tells us to be constantly transformed by the renewing of our mind, to test and approve what God’s will is in our lives.

       Jenn, you are also very artistic, always having fun making things pretty and enjoyable. So, Jenn, continue to exercise your gift and make your life together with Chris a beautiful art piece in God’s eye.

       Chris, I believe God must have bestowed special grace upon you to make you such an upright young man. We have liked you since the moment you called us asking our permission to date Jenn. Your phone call showed you were honest, sincere, responsible, and respectful to us. Over the years, as we have come to know more and more about you, we've realized you are indeed a young man with great integrity, and a lot of fun. We love hanging out with you, talking about our faith, or watching a Lakers game together. Chris, our new son, although we don't have memories of your childhood, we do look forward to building precious memories together with you and Jenn in the future.

       Chris and Jenn, we like the idea of having your wedding ceremony in a garden, because the first wedding in the world was in a garden, too. Besides, you know I like gardens and gardening. This garden is really a beautiful place, isn’t it? Did this garden become so beautiful by itself? Of course not! Surely it takes planning, cultivating, fertilizing, weeding, and depesting to create and maintain a beautiful garden.

       Keeping a happy marriage is very much like maintaining a beautiful garden. God has started the garden for you, and now, both of you, Chris and Jenn, are the co-gardeners; it might take sweat and tears, but with a humble heart to learn the lessons of loving and forgiving, your garden can be more beautiful than this one.

       May God bless your new life together, and may your marriage be a blessing to many others.

       Ladies and Gentlemen, once again, thank you for your love and friendship with this new couple. Let’s toast!"

Pinch Me

First off, let me preface this post by stating how much I loathe job searches. I hate writing cover letters, editing resumes, interview anxiety, waiting by the phone like a schoolgirl, and most of all... the way I tend to overanalyze and second-guess everything I say and do throughout the entire process. It is utterly exhausting! I'd been contemplating career moves for over a year, and kept procrastinating for these exact reasons. However, I knew that taking risks was necessary in order to further my professional and personal growth, and finally started making moves about a month ago.

It's been a challenging process, but over weeks of stress, deliberation, and sleepless nights, I've learned to identify and overcome many things that used to scare me and hold me back (which mainly revolve around my fear of change, mistakes, failure, and rejection). I learned to force myself to see the positive and not just the negative in each situation, and to allow myself to believe in possibilities instead of instantly shooting them down in order to shield myself from potential disappointment. I learned to take discouragement and turn it into motivation. Most importantly, I learned to be kinder to myself and to stay true to my gifts, talents, and dreams.

It was all worth it! I just accepted a job offer at an amazing company that I never even dreamt of working at prior to this journey. Praise the Lord! I am over the moon and super excited for this new opportunity. It feels pretty surreal, but I have a feeling it's going to be incredible.

Throughout this process, my family and friends have been overwhelmingly generous with their cheer and encouragement, and it has meant the world to me. I am especially thankful for my husband, who has been unfaltering in his faith, love, and support along the way. He's just so wonderful.

Anyway, I've really missed blogging! This site actually played a role in helping me land my interview, and I am really looking forward to sharing all the exciting things that are headed our way. More later!