6 Months & Counting...

I get super excited thinking about the rest of my life with James when I think about how these 6 months have already went... I can't believe it's been 6 months and counting already :) Just so thankful to God for my faithful, loving, so-not-perfect (like me) but forgiving, humble, passionate, motivated, inspiring, wise, funny and so much more handsome godly husband.

I know we haven't had a chance to share many photos with you from our wedding and our lives recently so maybe I can try to do that now, just a little bit. It always feels like there's more to do and I don't think this blog helps.

February 8th, 2014 we remembered 6 months ago we officially got married and got our marriage license and from that moment on we promised ourselves to each other before God and our family.

February 14th, 2014 we had our first valentines date together in person! James did an amazing job surprising me and bringing me to an awesome new DIY place nearby that I've been wanting to check out.

February 17th, 2014 we planned a night out for dinner at one of our favorite local places (although I think I like it better than James) but then I surprised him with one of his favorite dinners that I homemade for the first time just for him! It's a little hard and expensive to find all the ingredients around here but it came together so deliciously. Mexican night with beef and chicken tacos and all the fixings, tortilla chips and salsa and chocolate dipped pretzels for dessert :) Pretty simple I know but I'm finding out we like it that way. Oh and some wine to top it off :) James was super surprised. He loved it.

(This one is probably my most favorite picture of them all. Can you tell why?)

I also spent the day painting and making a canvas gift for him. I love painting and have been so busy I haven't had a chance to craft in this way and paint at all in the time back here so far. It was our Sabbath rest day to be with the Lord. I included a background of our wedding song that James picked out. "Stay With Me" by Amos Lee. I didn't like his choice in the beginning but in the end I did- even more than my song choice (that's usually the way it works with us too, I've realized)!

It's quite a weird song but it sounds so nice and the meaning of the song also isn't super clear but to us it means looking back at the end of our lives and knowing we were together through everything, the ups and the downs, the joys and the tears- staying with each other :) It definitely means much more to me even just after these short but long 6 months.

I was quite busier than I expected having to go to the vegetables market then the meat market for fresh food, the art store and do my online shopping for the special ingredients prior. But it worked out because I'm actually the worst shopper ever here- it is so hard and frustrating, sometimes to the point of tears ... sometimes... to get to the markets (that's for another blog post) but I worshipped the Lord and felt like He was right there with me speaking into my head and heart helping me to serve and love James.

Anyways, we really celebrated with all of our hearts I believe because we know we've learned a lot... A LOT already in these 6 months about marriage. And yet we know it's still just the beginning. We have so many lessons we have learned and are in the midst of learning and I know.. so many we haven't even touched on that we want to share with you.

The biggest is definitely that without Jesus we know we would not love each other more today than the day that we said, "I do". Without Jesus, apart from Him, we really have no true goodness in us.

We feel like we're in the Biblical school of love. Learning day by day what LOVE really is. Through tears, arguments, fights, thoughts of regret and fear, distrust, not wanting to look at each other or be in the same room, to cries of desperation, help, being on our knees in prayer, wanting to give up hope, but instead finding it in the Lord's grace and love for us, His compassion.

We're finding out more little glimpses of what this LOVE that God says He is... really is. Through changed hearts, confessions to each other, apologies (sometimes hard sometimes easier with soft hearts), forgiveness, GRACE, understanding, searching and ultimately just seeing the gospel at work in our lives.

We're finding out more little glimpses of what this LOVE that God says He is... really is. Through changed hearts, confessions to each other, apologies (sometimes hard sometimes easier with soft hearts), forgiveness, GRACE, understanding, searching and ultimately just seeing the gospel at work in our lives.

I just love doing life together. God's plan is so much better than what mine originally was.
I couldn't have dreamed up a better man for me.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your lives and for you being a part of ours in some way! We can't wait to continue walking this journey with you, sharing and walking and walking and sharing.




I will share more about our wedding and life and marriage lessons and adventures with you soon, promise. But for now....

... Check out more of our wedding photos up from our amazing photographer and godly sister and friend, Ica's blog! Thank you Ica for blessing us through your talents & gifts.

We also know many of you weren't able to share in our wedding day with us and we want to share with you the great blessing the day was through our wedding video that we love so much.

                               

  

What is better?

Recently, after returning home from travels, God has given us time to play catch up. I hate to say it's "catch up" because then I don't feel as relaxed when I look at my long to-do list. It's interesting how we have been using our time. The list doesn't seem to be getting shorter. And there seems to be more and more things on my mind. (Even blogging probably belongs closer to the bottom of the list but here I am)

It's been relaxed but also heavy these days. We feel tired but yet refreshed somehow...

When we returned from some travels this past month, we visited James' grandpa in the hospital a few times. We have to travel about an hour and a half one way to get there. He was in the ICU for over a month. Longer than I expected, I have to admit. But we are so thankful God answered James' prayers to give him more time so we could share more with him about Jesus. We prayed every chance we got that we could boldly clearly share about salvation through faith by grace in Jesus Christ. James' shared with his grandpa and his family before many years ago but they didn't seem to respond much at all. We are thankful for the many opportunities God gave us. But we hurt inside as we watched his grandpa suffering in pain and discomfort. We spent the week with his mom, having dinner at her house, going shopping for chinese new years to build relationship and love her through quality time, we chatted with her a lot. We saw her many tears. Every time she was in the ICU, she would cry out loudly and helplessly try to make her dad feel more comfortable. When I was beside his grandpa I heard her tell me to tell him "We will save you." "The doctors will save you." Again, I heard others visiting their sick relatives whispering, yelling, trying to believe their own words... "I will save you... We will save you."

When James and I would pray, when we would talk to his family and be with them, I could not help but think about Jesus. I know and believe that only Jesus can truly save us. It doesn't mean we won't have pain and suffering or hard things. But when we trust in Jesus, we know in those last moments/days/months of our lives, where we will be going next. We know what we are saved from. James and I together just talked about how nothing else in life really matters, especially in those moments, other than knowing and loving Jesus.

This past weekend James' grandpa passed away. We pray he had the softened heart to surrender his life to Jesus and place his faith in Him for his salvation. To trust Jesus' life, words, miracles, death, resurrection - to trust all of Jesus so that he could be saved from eternal death and suffering. We pray he is not in pain anymore and that God brings comfort to the family.

In this hard time, God has and is strengthening our faith and turning our eyes to Him.
We have been more united with each other.
And most of all, with Jesus.
There is nothing better than knowing and trusting in Jesus.

Thank you for praying for James and his family and for us to love them being instruments of God's love. Thank you for praying for his grandpa's faith. Tomorrow is the funeral. Would you continue to pray that God would use this time to draw us and many others that don't know Him to see Him and know that He is the way, the Truth and the life? Thank you for your prayers.

Our hearts have just been aching for those of our family and friends who don't yet know Jesus and his saving grace. Do you know what that feels like?

We see them looking at their circumstances and thinking that's all there is. Just living day by day missing out on the same Jesus that we, before, also did not know. Join us to pray for a continued compassion, passion and heart for sharing Jesus with those who don't know him, and not only fervently in the last moments of one's life. But, now. It is so real to me how short life is. I remember my grandpa passing away my senior year of college and how it shook me up. I questioned God, I cried rivers. I couldn't understand how to trust Him through that time. I felt like I was hanging on. But I'm so thankful for each time that God draws me closer to Him and grows my faith.

Let us allow God to grow our faith and draw us to Him.



Lately, I have been especially encouraged and challenged by the boldness and love of other Christian brothers and sisters in the spotlight. Is it just me or are there more and more Christians standing up and standing firm in their faith and genuinely wanting to love others and share Christ with the world? To be light in the darkness. Showing the world that Jesus is better and He is our hope. I hope these encourage you today as they've encouraged me.

Natalie Grant at the Grammys - definitely a light in darkness

"We left the Grammy’s early. I’ve many thoughts about the show tonight, most of which are probably better left inside my head. But I’ll say this: I’ve never been more honored to sing about Jesus and for Jesus. And I’ve never been more sure of the path I’ve chosen."

D.J. from Full House - balancing her life and going back to the Word of God

“My whole thing was that I always thought I was such a good person … [I would think] I’m such a good person compared to other child stars,” Bure said. “I was a people pleaser. … I never really understood my need for Jesus, because I never really saw myself as a sinner.”

But Ray Comfort’s book, The Way of the Master, changed all that for her. 

“I recognized for the first time, ‘Oh, I guess I’m not as good as I thought I was. I am good by worldly status … but God has a different standard,’” Bure said.

Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson & Others - What is better than the Super bowl?

"Jesus is better."

Gospel Coalition Blog Post: What is better than material wealth? Relationships? Sexual Freedom? Comfort? Ease? Jesus is Better

"As we share our faith, may we do so with the winsome confidence that life in Jesus is so much richer, fuller, and better than any life apart from him. The gospel is good news! Lives that reflect a joy deeper than circumstances lovingly bear witness to this soul-satisfying truth: Jesus is better."

Jesus is better.
and so now, we rest in Him.
                                       

But for now...

From a busy December to a busy trip this January...

but we'll be back soon to catch you up. :)

but for now... us celebrating J's birthday
and our 5 months of marriage
with a special western "Sizzler" dinner! yum.
eating way too much this month.

we love traveling the world together
on the adventures God gives us for Him!
very blessed...


Love, Mr. & Mrs. Chu

THANKS GIVING hearts

When November hit and I started to see "I'm thankful for this... " "I'm thankful for that..." I knew the month of thanksgiving was coming too fast. I was just getting done celebrating halloween with new friends and my spider webs and slowly-rotting carved pumpkins were still hanging around.

busyness and busy streets in a busy world

I didn't have enough time to think of a creative way to give thanks each day in November and start a new tradition (like I saw much of on pinterest and instagram...and I love traditions!) for our new family! I wanted to slow down. It felt rushed to switch into giving thanks after a busy October.

we did both finally got hair cuts though! :)
party hosting should be in our job description ;) they call me "party queen" here

It's now December and I have had 4 thanksgiving parties already in the past 2 weeks. Three of these thanksgiving parties were to give thanks with our friends and family for our wedding since they could not be there. One was a big potluck!

pumpkin pie!!!! from real pumpkins and homemade pie crust :)
I didn't know I could do it but life overseas does that to you...

yummiest sweet potato casserole! on the first try!

good ol' homemade mac and cheese :)

(I'm a housewife in the making, so I'm learning the art of cooking. I love baking and experimenting with new breads, cakes, muffins, everything! But I'm slower at the dinner meals! Thanks to James for being the taste tester of all things that come out of our kitchen.)

My heart doesn't feel rushed into giving thanks anymore.
It feels like it's really giving thanks to the Lord. For that, I am thankful.

We gave thanks with family and friends. We shared our life changes, love story, wedding pictures and videos with friends, we dug deep into scriptures, we worshipped our God, sang, meditated on the Word.

i love this little girl and her parents in our church small
group :) she's so cute. i hope our future baby is like her!

we found a big christmas tree in a hotel nearby
and ran in to take a quick photo

My heart is full- refreshed by looking first to God and seeing how HE loved me so much and sent me His Son, Jesus, to die for my while I was still a sinner. How HE did this for each of us in this whole world, whether each of us believe in Him and call Him Lord or not. He did it for each of us. And I, we, believers, Christians, get to know Him more and more deeply each day and know we will forever be in the presence and care and glory of the Lord.

And oh my heart burdens and breaks for my friends and family who don't know Him yet. But we pray. We pray without ceasing, giving thanks, that the Lord does not stop pursuing us with His love. We rejoice because we know that in our lives we see God's grace. We see many of our family and friends drawing closer to Him and we are thankful for that.

The rush of the past few months reminded me to give thanks everyday. That giving thanks in all circumstances is in the will of Christ Jesus. (1Thess 5:18) And to rejoice, to be filled with joy continuously. So, that is our prayer as individuals and a family. We will continue to count our blessings instead of our (my) grumbling and complaints. I will give thanks unto the Lord. We will give thanks. Because there is so much to be thankful for.

And now with thankful hearts, we enter December... the month of advent... "coming" ... a month of waiting patiently and expectantly for Christmas, celebrating the coming of the Lord, that we celebrate each day. "We are advent people" - Ann Voskamp So we wait... expectantly. :)

Love, Mr and Mrs Chu

Miss you, brother and sister bear

Good thing I found replicas of you here ;)

sporty cool big brother bear and my super smart pretty sister bear.

The hardest part about being overseas has got to be being apart from family :(

Thankful for technology and being able to skype with my momma bear today.

we love you all and miss you so dearly. together in heart.

Love, Little Bear

The Lord is always my Shepherd

A Psalm of David. Ps23     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3     He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness     for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,     I will fear no evil, for you are with me;     your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me     all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord     forever. This morning we spent time praying through Psalm 23, the next memory verse in our weekly "Truth Exists in our Hearts" memory verse prayer initiative with each other and friends. We desire to live prayer filled dependent on God lives, moment by moment, day by day. Each week as we think about the many things we can pray about and bring to the Lord I admit, sometimes, I have no idea what new topics to bring up to my friends. But we pray. We look at the word, we look at God, we praise Him, in tests time, in busy times, in peaceful times. We pray. Looking through Psalm 23, we found comfort in having confidence in our Lord being our Shepherd. Knowing He provides all we need and His providence and care is perfect for us in His will. We thanked Him and trusted in Him. We prayed through the Word for other lessons God is teaching us. We prayed for our mercy times to help the homeless in the new winter season and to break our heart to care for them and love them. We saw the gospel come alive in remembering we did nothing to deserve God's love for us, nothing to deserve Jesus' death- yet we receive love and forgiveness simply by faith and repentance, turning away from our own self-centered lives and turning to a God-centered Kingdom life. It was a great time of prayer and rest in the Lord. Little did I know, my heart would be shaken just a few minutes later when we returned home and just read the news, the social media, the articles, the blogs- everywhere we heard of the typhoon disaster impacts. Just yesterday it reached places in Asia where we know friends and friends families. I don't know how I could think, oh what should we pray about today, because in reality there is just so much we need to talk with the Lord about. So, what do we do and how do we face these times? What are you doing? How are you helping? One thing we'll do is we will pray. We will continue to pray for the world and the brokenness and the darkness. And trust simply by faith. We will long more for Jesus' return and a world with no tears, no sin, no pain, no loss, no typhoons. Join us? Let's ask the Lord how we can pray, how we can bring comfort because we know the true comforter, how we can hope because we know where to put our hope. How we can give and put our treasures in heaven instead of our own accounts/savings/things because we have been given much and we are not in want, how we can care and love for others, because we know what it is like to be cared for in our constant desperate need for a caretaker, our Lord, our Shepherd. Let's pray that we can trust that God is still good, still sovereign, still Shepherd, in the midst of these disasters, loss, hurt, tears, pain. How are you praying? Any ways to help that you can share with us that you're a part of? How are you doing in these times? Are you broken too? Whether we are near or far, the first step is to get closer. To get out of our own little worlds and get bigger. Let's pray and ask the Lord to move. Lord, we are praying for the people of the phillippines, vietnam and china, many of our dear friends families that they too would know that our Lord is still Shepherd of all. Many natural disasters happen often and everytime we stop and think of how we have much and how fortunate we are. Even in the midst of thanksgiving month, let us be thankful. Not just thankful for ourselves and what we have but thankful that You are the true giver. We are praying for peace, protection, for help, restoration and hope. Praying that, still, in the midst of a disastrous deadly tropical cyclone, we can rest in You and still have confidence in Your care  Oh, sovereign Lord, bring peace and restoration, bring people to come to know You and rest in You so that faced with death- they would have no fear. In You Lord, we shall not want, we shall not lack any thing you don't give us. Bring comfort and healing. Help us to be Your hands and Your feet, sharing Your heartbeat. Thank You that You listen to our prayers. We love You Lord and we trust in You. God let Your name, Your glory be known in this world. Let Your love, Your power, Your hand be known. Let us be prayers, givers and goers. Alive for You. Lead us, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Join us to put God's Word in our hearts so we can live our in Truth and Deeds
a true Spirit-filled life with our weekly memory verses.
This week: Psalm 23:1-4

Love, Mrs Chu

Dancing in the streets

NEW-ly-WED life.
James and I, (maybe more me, but him too), live life thinking... oh I should remember this. I should write it down or blog about it. This is fun. Or I want to share that! Or I want to remember to laugh about this again. Or this is crazy... I have to tell someone. (Maybe it's because I have a bad memory or I'm an external processor?) But anyways, WE hope to share life things, simple things, deep things, random things, any things here.

Ha. We also miss you, our friends back home and want to keep in touch and share our lives together. So join us and let's share our lives together. Thanks for keeping in touch. We hope to keep the blog updated and feel like even half the world can't keep us apart! Follow us?

For now, a little glimpse into our date night walk/pre-market run and adventures around our new home for this newlywed season... a little dancing in the streets with the ladies with James capturing the moment...

Love, Mr and Mrs Chu