John and Jiming's Wedding

Dear Friends:

 

Time flies -- one year has passed.  One day while John and I were looking at the wedding pictures, we could still recall how beautiful it was and how each one of you helped us to put it together so nicely at the end.  One year has passed, forgive us that we were not able to get together with you more often.  We fell into a trap of "being busy" and couldn't figure out "for what" specifically.  It took us a while to get used to each other's schedules and little habits.  Nevertheless, if you want us to summarize our first year in one word, it must be "terrific."  It was overwhelming at times, but still, "teriffic."  It gives us a glimpse of our future when we have kids.

 

Now, let us not be short on thanking every one of you.  (Pastor Lee, Winnie, Yapei, Dustin, Glenn, Rita, Karl, I-Ling, Ruth, Chris, Damian, Allen, Lily Lau, Paul, Harvey, Fanny, Lily Lee Chen, Mei-ling, Mei-lan)

 

First, for our pastor, thank you, Pastor Lee for having prepared such a good sermon at the wedding, and thank you for your support during our immigration interview!

 

Now, everyone in our wedding party:

 

Winnie Yu: Thank you for being such a good maid of honor!  Without you, I wouldn't be able to figure out the Bridal steps during procession!  Thank you for talking with me and listening to me during difficult times and for always making your home available!

 

Yapei Chao: I remembered "smile, smile, smile."  As I looked at the pictures, I was smiling during the procession but still couldn't hold tears when I was making the vows!  It was so sweet to have you as maid of honor.  I miss all the laughter we shared before you moved to Texas.  John still regrets that he didn't have enough time with David and the kids.

 

Dustin Laurence:  John definitely had mixed feelings on the wedding night about your "ill-filled" jokes!  But how can he forget about the past 13 years' torture as well?  Well, he should still thank you for telling the sock story when I first visited you -- after all, it made me love John even more!  (Thank you for the pregnancy books you lent us, too -- they are helpful!)

 

Glenn Bach: We visited you and dear Niña as "girlfriend and boyfriend" and one day after that, we became engaged.  Anything to do with your hospitality?  Thank you for opening doors to us at your home, and thank you for having me there when I need to drive home with John.

 

Rita Lee: Thank you for doing such a good job as a flower girl.  You looked very beautiful during the wedding!  Give thanks to your mother, too, that she made such pretty ribbon bows for you!

 

Karl Bach: "Pizza!" You made us laugh, and thank you for giving me the tissue paper after I cried -- it was really helpful!  I also liked to read the "bug" book with you, you really made my day!

 

Our friends who helped us during the wedding:

 

I-Ling Tang:  Thank you for being such a good Emcee!  We all laughed!  Thank you for taking down the flowers on the arch and coordinating with the others.  Also, John learned a lot from the conversation with you about "being Dad"!

 

Ruth Ong: You are my big sister!  Often not said, your actions speak volumes.  What a gift you gave us!  The hand embroidery is so precious and now is hanging in the center of our home for us to cherish.  The numerous practices of my wedding song and the job of a receptionist did not tire you, but brought out the joy you have in your heart for helping us!  We love you!

 

Chris Jeng: Your true friendship was a phone call to me "if you want to stay at my home, just call me, and I can connect the phone service for you, too, if you want."  Later, I met John, and then I found a job.  But at that moment, it was so critical for me to have a place to stay if I sold the house!  You are also gentle and quiet, preparing the guest book for our wedding and watching over the wedding gifts.  The roast peanuts you brought for us at Thanksgiving party were so tasty!

 

Allen Lee: Thank you for accepting our last-minute request for you to be our musician!  You spent so much time with Lily to go through the music!  Thank Nancy also, for supporting you on this.  Now, as there is a picture of evidence, you and Nancy were a part of the car decorating team?!  Congratulations on your wedding with Nancy!

 

Damian Wyman:  You not only ushered, but also contributed to the filling of balloons.  It took John a while to pop them all!  Thank you for your gentle smile that always brings joy to others!  Thank you especially for supporting Winnie to be my maid of honor!

 

Lily Lau: We have prayed together during the "Sister Retreat" and supported each other afterwards.  The friendship we established during that time was so precious.  Thank you for being our musician.  Thank you for spending time arranging the music -- it turned out great!  We love you. (John loves to talk with James.)

 

Paul Gor: Thank you for taking the video for us and especially being patient with me while editing it!  It was a great gift you gave us for the remembrance of our commitment to each other.  We shared that with our family and friends faraway who couldn't be there.  Thank you for being a good friend, Paul!

 

Harvey Branman: Though you are the photographer we barely knew before the wedding, you certainly became part of the wedding.  Thank you for taking all the beautiful photos in Descanso Garden and during the wedding.  We have a wonderful wedding album that will last us a lifetime.

 

Our friends who helped us before the wedding:

 

Fanny Leung: What a bridal shower!  Thank you for organizing that!  Thank you also for enormous amount of encouragement when I lost my job and was depressed.  It really helped me through.  Thank you also for your help during the title transfer and everything associated with the house!

 

Lily Lee Chen: When I was taken in to have lunch with your family and was introduced to everyone for the job hunting, I knew I met someone special.  From meeting at John Chiang's open house to being a younger sister (xiao mei) of you, your caring heart and compassion were evident throughout.  Thank you for hosting dinner for my parents and later for your time and advice for The Visual Voice.

 

Mei-ling Huang: Thank you for your special support during my job-hunting days.  Thank you for the Hymn book and the "Purpose Driven Life" book.  Thank you for your prayers and your continuous support after our wedding, especially for the time talking to us, praying for us and mentoring us with Marshall.  Thank you for all the delicious dinners you prepared.  Your quiet spirit and wisdom is always with us.

 

Mei-lan Hsiao: Whenever I was in distress, you lifted me up with your prayers.  Whenever I was confused about relationships, you reminded me of what was important to God.  Thank you for your faith that I would find the right person in God's timing.  John is just perfect for me!  Thank you for that little article you passed to me one time -- I still have it, and interpreted it for John, too!

 

Thank you, our friends, for your support in the past year and your continuous friendship!  We know we are blessed by God to have you and do not take your friendship for granted.  You are in our prayers, and we want to get together with you more often this year!

 

Yours,

Jiming and John