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Yep, that’s right . . . we celebrated our 2nd 1st anniversary this weekend. :D A year ago Sunday–March 7, 2009–we had our Taiwanese wedding and banquet. Which means . . . we’ve been married-married for a year and a half. How can that be?? It’s hard to believe that I’ve only known the man who knows me most and best for a little over two years. All I can say is . . . God is good. He is so very kind. So, happy 2nd 1st anniversary to us!! Wuhoo!!!! Even though I’ve let my blog slip majorly in the past few weeks and months, I couldn’t let my blogaversary and annual tradition of choosing one photo per month slip past. This will be my fifth year to do this:
I think I took less photos in all of 2009 than I did in many of the months of 2008. Kinda makes me a little sad, and makes me want to resolve to take more photos in 2010. Anywho, not analyzing anything right now, which I am OH so tempted to do. Let me get right to the point . . . below you find a month by month look at our 2009 using only one photo per month. January: We celebrate our first Chinese New Year together in Meinong February: New Life Bilingual Church in Kaohsiung starts meeting March: We marry again . . . well, ok, we celebrate our marriage covenant in Taiwan with our Taiwanese friends and family April: I have my first birthday as a wife (aka, I turn 31) May: Some of our friends marry . . . and Lawrance is the MC at their wedding banquet June: We start our summer Sunday afternoon tradition of eating ice after church
July: We go on several dates during the summer . . . Thai food, the beach and more
August: We celebrate our first anniversary in Kenting September: Sadly Wu Mama is diagnosed with liver cancer October: Lawrance is a clown (well, maybe he always is one, but at least he LOOKED like one this time) November: I start studying Chinese again (This is my awesome Chinese teacher) December: Law’s parents help us to decorate our tree . . . a Wu family first! To celebrate our first year of marriage, Lawrance and I went to Kenting for three days. We had a great time just being together, relaxing, and being in a beautiful place!! As for "anniversary traditions," we've decided to read our vows to each other each year and to write and then read a card to each other each year. We'd also like to make it a tradition to just get away for at least one day to be together alone. This time, Lawrance choose for us to read our vows and cards to each other on the beach. We got there a bit late (after sunset) so we used his cell phone as our flashlight to read to each other on the darkened beach. It was really sweet.  {we first took a tourism train–to kaohsiung–huge seats} ~*~*~*~*~*~
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~*~*~*~*~*~ We did go to the beach twice . . . but those photos are on Law's cell phone. And, even though we used 50 SPF, we both still got sunburned. :(
Sunday, after worshiping the most high God and fellowshiping with our church family, Lawrance and I took a three hour nap. I guess we were tired. :) When we woke up, Lawrance asked if he could invite me to the beach. I said, "Yes!! Let's go now, before the sunsets!!" We got there and were actually surprised to see so many people there! Last time we were there it was during the school year, and we were the only ones there. :) This beach is only about 8 minutes from our house . . . we should go there more often. And it's cool because the sand is black. So, here we are last spring and this summer . . . then just dating and now married 11 months . . .
God is kind! :) I am so thankful to my very generous AbBa Fu (Daddy God) who has given me such a kind, considerate, patient husband who cherishes me, protects me, meets my needs, and invites me to go with him to the beach!! :)
Everyone keeps asking me what I'm doing for my summer break. I reply "just being a housewife." Without exception every Taiwanese friend, student, and stranger I've had this conversation with then expresses their sympathies for me, trying to cheer me up. What they don't realize is that I need no cheering up. I am SO looking forward to the month of July where I get to be a full time housewife for the first time in my life. I've already enjoyed these past two weeks of laundry and washing dishes . . . it's so much easier and more enjoyable when I can do it during my day as time allows and as my work for the day rather than as a chore I must squeeze in before going to work. They don't get it. I don't know. Maybe you won't either . . . maybe you think, "silly girl, wait to you've done ten (twenty, thirty) years of your man's dirty laundry–then we'll talk about the 'joy' you have then."
Depending on the situation and/or depth of the relationship, I will remind them that not too long ago I was living alone all day everyday. Now, I have someone to anticipate coming home to me. Now, I get to eagerly wait for him to call me and return back to me. It's WAY better than living alone 24/7. And, crazy as it may sound, it is way more fun to clear the table, change the sheets, dust the furniture, or what-have-you when I know I am blessing someone else. When it was just me living here . . . OH it was SO miserable "keeping house." I hated it with a passion. I secretly wondered if I'd even make a good wife. My married friends were able to manage their households of 3 or 4 or 5 . . . . and me? well, I was struggling with my little household of 1. :( I know I wouldn't score perfectly in housekeeping 101 (I thank God my hubby is so patient and understanding), but I do know (again, crazy as it may sound) keeping house is a lot more fun and rewarding and joyful when I'm not the only one making the messes. ;) So, yes, I totally look forward to a "boring" summer of being a stay-at-home wife. I'll be honest: it almost feels as if I get to "play" at being a house keeping wife. And, actually, it feels like I'm getting to live my dream. For the latter half of my 20's I dreamed about being married . . . I longed to have someone's socks to wash and underwear to fold. Speaking of . . . I think there's a basket a clean laundry awaiting me in the other room right now as I speak! My mom and sister have both been asking for photos of our apartment. So, I took a few. And thought I'd share them this week. Standing from the front door here is what you can see . . . Looking right: Looking a little less right: Looking straight ahead: Looking kinda left: And, looking very left: Coming up next . . . our kitchen. And, here is what our apartment looks like empty; taken two years ago before moving in. The wedding banquet started around 12:30 following the wedding ceremony at the church. First, we signed the guest book and gave the people at the table our wedding gift (a red envelope with cash inside). They immediately record the names on the red envelope and the amount of the gift. In modern Taiwanese culture, the majority of the money given at the wedding goes towards paying for the banquet. And the banquet room was really festive with balloons everywhere! After the guests had found their tables and sat down, the bridal party and bride and groom entered the banquet hall. The flower children came in after the groomsman and maid of honor, the only thing that indicates that they are there is that someone had tied helium balloons to their wrists. (The man speaking the Chinese . . . that's my hubby, he was the MC of the banquet.)
Thanking all the guests for coming by toasting from the font stage. Since I didn't get many photos of the food from our banquet, I made sure to get a photo of EVERY SINGLE dish taken at their wedding as well as some of the drinks. There were around 25 tables. Here's the view of our table.
After a few dishes . . .bride and groom enter again, this time with the bride in a new dress. Games and tricks on brides and grooms is a HUGE part of most wedding banquets. This very private couple didn't want to be embarrassed. So, Lawrance and I came up with a game for the new couple to play. He asked them questions such as "who fell in love first" and "who will hold the remote control to the TV." Then they decided who and held up a photo of the one they thought was the answer. Their "punishment" for not agreeing with each other was for MeiShiang to find (with her hands only, eyes closed) some black file clips that Lawrance had hid on GouJong–one for every question "wrong." They also had the really sweet idea to "reward" their guests with a "lucky draw." They asked their guests to leave words of blessings on little cards and then drew out 30 of the blessings to read aloud during the banquet. Those whose blessings were read aloud were given homemade mango pudding as a reward. They then went table to table toasting their guests ten at a time. After the toasting, they disappeared for awhile and came back with the bride in dress number three and ready to give away the bride's bouquet. They had a really unique way of giving away the bouquet. They called all their single friends–male and female–up to the front by name. Then handed each one a red string. One of the red strings was attached to the bouquet. The one with the lucky attached string got to keep the bouquet. The rest went home with consolatory chopsticks. The happy bride waves "bye!!" :D This past weekend, Lawrance and I had the privilege to attend our first Taiwanese couple wedding as a married couple. (We attended a wedding in Taiwan earlier this year . . . but both the bride and groom were American.)
It was a sheer joy to watch these two friends–both believers–commit The elder who helped them with their Because the churches here are small and because the wedding party is usually just one best man and one bridesmaid (in white too), usually the groom comes down the center aisle before the bride. So . . . here comes the groom . . .
and the bride too . . . Lawrance was able to get the cute flower girl to smile for the camera. They repeated their vows together at the same time both facing forward. I'm glad they got to say vows at all though . . . because many times Taiwanese weddings have no spoken vows. The elder who led them in their vows, also had the privilege of stamping their (unofficial) marriage certificate. They honored their parents by giving them bouquets of flowers near the end of the ceremony. Then both sets of parents stood up, faced the wedding guests, and bowed in order to show their appreciation for the guests' attendance. What followed next were several group photos with the bride and groom front and center. :) And, finally, after much coaxing (from me and my hubby), we finally were allowed to get a photo of just the bride and groom.
And, then, after some major begging, we were able to get a photo of the newlyweds kissing–well . . . at least of him kissing her on the cheek.
Before we all headed off for the banquet, Lawrance and I were able to get a photo alone with our friends on their wedding day.
I really appreciated the people who encouraged me and were excited for me when we were "falling in love." I am thankful for those who cheered on all the "foot-popping, birds singing, the world is a beautiful place" feelings associated with "new love." And, it really irritates me when people–especially younger-than-me-couples who married in their late teens early twenties–"poo-poo" (make fun of) the idea of "new love." It seems that they equate "new love" with "immature love" that only "young people who don't know any better" experience. Or they even think of new love as being fake. I guess I can understand that if all the "ooey-gooey," star-gazing love for them happened when they were young and immature that they would assume that the "ooey-gooey," star-gazing love is also immature. But it's not. It's a necessary building block for developing a lasting love. You have to "walk on air" before you can walk together on the solid ground of commitment. New love is exciting. It is delightful. It is fun. But, it is not immature. :) I like the way Ed Wheat talks about it in The First Years of Forever. He claims both new love (what he calls "belonging love") and "absolute love" "need to be at the heart of a relationship" and that the "two loves merge into one to bless [a couple's] new life together." Wheat further gives this advice for a "sure formula for a lasting, love-filled marriage: Enjoy the feelings of love and guard them well, but live by the facts of love." Like I said . . . we have to get to experience the excitement of new love first before we can build our lives on commitment and agape love. And, therefore, new love should not be made fun of or joked about in a way that puts down those that are living it. It is great and wonderful. In fact it is exhilarating! :) If you have had the privilege of experiencing new love you should count yourself blessed . . . not poo-poo the idea of it. Here is the first of several confessions I've been thinking about . . . Before, watching others fall in love, get engaged and marry was VERY bitter sweet. I was happy for them, but the pain it caused inside could be intense, the struggle it reawakened difficult. Now, I love weddings! I love watching people fall in love! I've even cried in joy at youtube videos of strangers weddings and even teared up watching this news reporter propose on air to an anchor!
It's so fun to be able to experience sheer joy at watching people commit to marriage! :) And, you know what? It's fun to have a husband who celebrates right along side me as we watch (and sometimes encourage) others as they fall in love. :)
There is a eighty year old man at our church who is a master calligrapher. He has gifted several of members of our church with calligraphy. We were his latest recipients. He gave us this print that is 1 Corinthians 13. He told us that he gave us this artwork because (1) he sits behind us in church and enjoys seeing us arm and arm and (2) I have good English (I wonder why?? *smile*). We've been told that this print is worth as much or more than our new fridge!! And it (the calligraphy, not the fridge) was just given to us folded in a brown envelope! WOW!!! :) Lawrance and I got it framed last week, and then Law hung it up in our living room this week. Law enjoys doing calligraphy himself; and, he absolutely loves our new living room art work. We are SO blessed!
When we married he could fry an egg and boil instant noodles. Law's mother is an excellent cook, and she prepares three meals a day every day. They hardly ever ate out. Moreover, she grows her own vegetables organically. Very healthy, very frugal. (Confession: this knowledge kinda scared me after I found out . .. I knew I'd never be able to live up to that.) Anywho, one day he got the random idea to call her and ask how to make shrimp and fried eggs. Then he started playing around with other dishes. Let's just say . . . I'm blessed. :) I always look forward to lunch on Fridays.
But . . . there was one huge disappointment . . . the "peppermints" I bought here in Taiwan had some extra "flavor" (menthol). That's just not right on a birthday cake!! :) My birthday present was the purse sitting behind the flowers . . . I got to pick it out. And, on the Saturday before my birthday, Lawrance came home with the flowers. At that time all the lilies were closed. It was fun watching them one by one throughout the week. He is SO thoughtful!! :) ___________ ___________
And, Lawrance took me out to a stake place called "Tasty." They have a set meal that is 7 courses–for most of the courses you get to choose between 2 or 3 items. It was very nice! I think they have some of the best wait staff in Taiwan. Not all of the courses and also not in the correct order, but to give you the basic idea . . . Maybe not the best dessert they have but definitely the coolest (as in most unique) is a fried chocolate wanton that you break and pour over vanilla ice cream. Then you get to eat the rest of the fried chocolate wanton.
I love this idea!! As each holiday comes (trust me there are TONS when you are combining two cultures) Lawrance and I talk about the traditions we want for our family. It's fun taking time to decide what is most important to us and contemplating how we want to celebrate these special days as a couple now and later as a family. There are some distinct advantages of being a cross-cultural couple.
Maybe it's because I'm left brained. Maybe it's because I'm a planner. Maybe it's because I am list maker. Maybe it's because I'm afraid if we don't have a plan in place, my children won't delight in (have a special connection to) American holidays. But whatever the reason . . . I want to live intentionally, making the most of the time we've been given. Besides reenacting the Easter story with playdough, does anyone have any other ideas, suggestions, or traditions to share about how you meaningfully celebrate Easter with your family?
The headdresses and clothing is all handmade and real (and real old too). Also, the headdress I wore was incredibly heavy–I would guess several pounds. We didn't do the entire "2 day professional photo taking extravaganza" that most nearly-weds here in Taiwan do. We just did a quick afternoon session to get some photos of us in traditional wedding attire and a few studio shots in our own wedding attire too. (Note the red scarfs–long one for him, small one for me. I've yet to know why they were used.) Like most things we do together, it was fun. :)
So, right after the ceremony, we headed over to a large Chinese restaurant for the wedding banquet. Law's parents picked out the restaurant, but we were pleasantly surprised that they had chosen a restaurant that was own by a Christan. Very cool!! Here are some of the banquet highlights:
We got some amazingly creative wedding gifts that I will share details of with you a bit later. Today, I just wanna celebrate our biggest gift of all. . . . a new fridge!! :) Many friends and family (on both sides of the ocean) graciously gave us cash as a wedding gift. It is the traditional wedding gift in Taiwan, but not so in America. However, we are very thankful for all our American friends and family understanding that many traditional wedding gifts from a registry in America would have been quite impractical. (Nevertheless we did register for a few items for our home, and I know my mom and sister would love to see what they look like in place, so I'll do that a bit later too.) Boy, I am gabby today!! :) Guess I must be excited. ;) So . . . now . . . . for the grand revealing . . . .our beautiful new fridge that arrived yesterday: The fridge part is on top (which I LOVE). I love being able to stare directly into the fridge part. Before we had a freezer top fridge, so I had to lean over and down to look into it. Then below the two door fridge, there are two sections that pull out. The middle section is for fresh fruit and veggies (a huge crisper, I guess). And the bottom is the freezer. So, instead of shelves, it is kinda like a top loading deep freeze–just pile and stack. I really like it. Here are some shots I took last night of the inside of our new fridge–this might be the only time I ever show you the inside . . . so make sure you take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity. ;) (Clicking the photos will take you to their flickr page.)
____ ___ Some other missionaries that knew I was coming took it and kept it for a few months, then when I arrived they gave it to me. I love the way the missionaries I've met here take care of one another and bless each other by sharing not only material stuff but of their time and care too. God is good. We loved little black, but he was not working quite as hard as he once He did quit working all together back in 2006, but then he came back on. I know it sounds weird or insanely selfish to some that God would care about insignificant me and my stupid old fridge, but I honestly believe that God caused it to work again. He cared for the widow and her son by causing her oil to run over; he cared for me by allowing a broken machine to keep running for three more years. He is a God who cares about us and meets our physical needs. What a great God we serve!! Here is another slideshow of Abu's photos; this time from the ceremony. Here are some of the highlights:
I fell deeper in love with my husband as a direct result of celebrating our marriage in front of new witnesses. However, I did tell him that although I love him deeply, I will not marry him again. ;) After we talked, trying to compare our two weddings, Lawrance and I concluded that it must be kind of like having two children and trying to choose which one you love the most . . . it is impossible.
We didn't want to "hide" before the ceremony. We were already ready; we were already married; we wanted people to know we were glad they were there, so . . . . there was no reason to hide. The hardest part of standing out and greeting people was helping my groom let go of his wedding planning role and just relax and be in the moment. And . . . . to answer yesterdays question . . . And now for a few photos that Abu took before the ceremony started. Mostly they are just us with friends and family. Most Taiwanese grooms go to the bride's home to "get her." Usually the bride's sisters and friends make it difficult on him by playing tricks on him. Since the three bridesmaids and I needed to start getting ready at 5 AM, we decided that it would be best for all the girls to say here and for Lawrance and his brother to come and "get us" just like tradition. However, unlike tradition, my friends were nice to Lawrance. :) It was raining, so we decided to use my paper umbrella, which is an icon of his mother's hometown (which is also the first city I lived in when I first moved to Taiwan six years ago). It was the first time my paper umbrella had seen rain. :) Although unpleasant, the rain provided for some neat photos. In American folklore, rain on a wedding day means good luck. Do you know what it means in Taiwanese folklore? Guess in the comments and I'll tell you what I was told is the answer in my next post. Enjoy another flickr slideshow of Abu's photos. There are so many great photos, I don't know which ones to share first . . . so I'm just going to share them all. Here is a flickr slideshow of our photographer friend's, Abu's, photos. The three girls in purple are my bridesmaids: Ellen, best friend and previous college roommate, have known her since 1997. Kady, former coworker and office mate, very special friend since I moved here in 2003. And, Cindy, my future sister-in-law, she is my husband's brother's girlfriend (maybe they will wed next year!!). :) The woman dressed in purple but not in a "bridesmaids dress" is also a very special friend of mine. Her name is Corrina. I've known her since 1999, when she became my long-lost big sister. She is also the one who introduced me to Lawrance . . . I probably owe her my firstborn child she's done so much for me. Corrina got her sister-in-law to come do our hair and make-up. She did an awesome job and also loaned us all the hair stuff and the veil too. She also was the one who brought the bouquets, bouts, and corsages for us. All I did was provide photos of what I was wanting with the directions of "please use purple and no roses" . . . what she brought was better than any of the photos I sent. God is kind. :)
Our Taiwanese Wedding ceremony and banquet was on Saturday! Today is Monday . . . I am still tired beyond all get out. Our Groom and groomsman arrived to pick us up at 8:20 (Taiwanese tradition), and it was RAINING!! :) Before The Oh yeah . . . .and one of those songs was a solo from my hubby to me!!! It was SUCH a BEAUTIFUL SONG . . . and he sang it SO beautifully (if I do say so myself). Every time he practiced it, I cried, but at the actual wedding I made it through his song without crying. After the ceremony, we took pictures with different guests for about 45 minutes (mostly students that wouldn't be attending the banquet). Then we Then One After all the feasting and toasting and singing, We
That's it for now . . . . All in all it was a GREAT day. . . . a long, exhausting day . . . but VERY wonderful too. :) (I "stole" some of these photos from Sandy, who blogs here. Sorry and thanks, Sandy!!) I found these in my desk chair on Friday . . .
I was so totally surprised that I actually cried.
Perfect! And, he left them in the perfect place too. There could have been no better place where he could have left them for me to discover. :) Thank you, Honey!!! :) For the first time in my adult life I have a valentine. Sweetheart, you are the love of my life! I love you. You have totally changed my life . . . for the better in every way imaginable! Happy Valentines Day, Honey!! Awhile back Lawrance and I had fun looking around in a toy store. We've actually done this a couple of times since–I guess we are just kids at heart. Here are some of the cute things we found on the shelves. I love that one"kitchen set" includes the hot water heater thing most homes here have and that the other one is a rice cooker with chopsticks and sushi.
I can't wait to have someone to buy these cute kitchen toys to play with. Then of course what little kid wouldn't want to zip around on his or her own little moped? |
Hi! We are Lawrance and Amanda Wu. We live in Taiwan--a little tea leaf shaped island in Asia. Amanda is from Texas and Lawrance from Tainan. We met, fell in love and married in 2008. We both teach English and both love to tell others about Jesus. We also both really enjoy laughing, and we both just happen to enjoy "ching cha," a type of fabulous green tea. Thanks for stopping by our blog. Wuhoo!                      
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