7 Years

We are so blessed to have been married for

7 YEARS!!!

We've been through ups and downs, but we've been joyfully side-by-side since June 21, 2003. That day was such a joyful and blessed "door way" into our life together. We have such sweet memories of the wedding and reception... from the heights of anticipation, to my (Stephanie's) nervousness that lead to trying to put the ring on Andy's right hand :) during the ceremony, to the overwhelming gladness of having (most) everyone that we love and that love us surrounding us in support of our union.

God has been and will continue to be our foundation. It is wonderful knowing that we can display our marriage relationship and happiness in one another to children. Even though we're not perfect, they get to see us work it out daily and rely on the Lord for everything. It is adorable how Annaliese loves to have us kiss each other after we both kiss her... she'll push our heads together and we know that she knows that we love each other.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner out with Annaliese and my parents to celebrate at one of our favorite restaurants in Fresno, Campagnia.

To Andy: It is with rich joy that I recall the past 7 years that God has been knitting our hearts closer and closer together in marriage and it is with great honor that I look forward to journeying through this next crazy chapter of our lives together. With the Lord on our side and our 7 year foundation beneath us, I know we will be a great team.

I love you, my man. Thank you for loving me.

Ode to Ji Hae

Our Korean host daughter has gone home to visit her family and will be moving to Texas after she returns in 5 weeks. (Isn't she beautiful!?! Andy took her senior pictures and they turned out amazingly!) We will miss her so much and will continue to love and pray for her as God molds her into a lovely and Christ-seeking young woman.

Just as Andy wrapped up his last year of teaching (for a total of 5 full time years at Immanuel High School), Ji Hae graduated and we had a fun party to celebrate her accomplishment and wish her well as she moves to Texas for junior college.

We're so proud of her and Ji Hae will always have special place in our hearts and in our family. Annaliese misses her terribly and asks for her by name as well as "calls" her on her various toy phones. We love you "Ji Ji!"

...and now USC!

Just as we had been settling into the idea of living in Syracuse, NY, for the next for years for Andy's medical school, we were given a new opportunity! While teaching on Wednesday afternoon, Andy picked up a call from the Dean of USC's Keck School of Medicine. He was so giddy and happy in front his Biology students and even called me on speaker phone immediately to tell me the good news. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed almost to the point of tears (as I was picking up car from the mechanic). It was rather unexpected, although we had hoped that the Lord would open that door.

We're now changing gears and working on undoing some of the details that we had planned for NY and starting to plan for the move to Los Angeles in late July now (instead of late June). I imagine life in So Cal to be quite out of our comfort zone, but I am reassured that God will provide for all of our family's needs. Please join me in praying that all the details would work out, especially our first item of business... where to live! Hopefully we'll get to go down right after Memorial Day to check things out.

Go Trojans!!!!

Annaliese & Ellyann

These two little munchkins are great little friends... and have grown up and changed a lot since last summer!

Little BROTHER!

Last Friday, I had my first ultrasound of this little one at 19 weeks and it was amazing to get a peak inside at what God is knitting together in my womb! And after a long wait at the office and at the end of the exam, we found out we're having a little boy! We are both so excited to have a son (but I think especially Andy)!

Chocolate Lover (just like her Mama)

Our Visit with the 5 Dauphins (+1 in the oven)

I wish I had the gift of words and writing like my dear friend Nikki Dauphin (as well as my husband), but I don't. Hence, most of my posts are pictures with captions. I know I've used the phrase on my blog before, that words fail me. Well, I suppose it is not their fault. I just can't fully describe the unique and lovely friendship that we share with the Dauphins.

The kind of friendship I'm talking about is something you've either experienced or you haven't. I pray that you have or that you will. I'm talking about when there is not only deep underlying love and commitment to one another, but also to God first and foremost and then to uplifting each other through our lives on earth, as well as just true enjoyment of each other. Beside the uncommon friendship that Nikki and I share, amazingly, our husbands Steve and Andy also experience the same kind of deep friendship. Truthfully, it makes me feel choked up, just typing about it. I know that God has used each of us in each other's lives at various times to sharpen, encourage and enjoy life together. And I know that even though the physical distance between our families will drastically increase in a couple of months, I know that our friendships with the Dauphins will become only more close-knit over the coming years.

We were so blessed that they carted their 3 boys (Isaac, 4 1/2 years old; Caleb, 3; Josh, 1 1/2) to visit us here at our home in Dinuba for the weekend a couple of weeks ago. They sacrificially packed up and made the drive from Watsonville (over 3 hours) after Steve had taught high school all week and Nikki was closing in on her 32nd week of her 4th pregnancy. We had a fantastic time playing with the kids, eating, walking/biking to the park, chatting and just soaking it all up.

Our little Annaliese is just 7 weeks younger than Josh (above) and we hereby publicly announce their betrothal! :0) At 1 1/2 years old, they weren't too into each other yet, but it will come in time! Although I didn't get a pic of the two together, Nikki did and posted it on her blog. I can see it now, in their wedding slide show! Ha ha!

Dauphin Family, we love you and thank you so much for being our sweet friends. We're so glad that all 5 of you came to see us. Know that you are so tenderly cherished in our hearts. We plan on seeing you once more this summer and meeting Baby Girl Dauphin before we leave!