fragrant rice

My neighbor friends were watching a new music video this weekend.  As I watched it along side them I loved how very much it captured what is TAIWAN. 

I asked my husband (how fun it is to say that!!) to help me find the video online.  And he did.  As we watched it together he exclaimed several times how very much this video was "Taiwan" too. 

If you are remotely interested in Taiwan, take a look at this two minute music video that shows scenes that are just pure Taiwanese.  Even if you don't know Chinese I think you can still understand the story and enjoy the views of Taiwan shown in the video.

The song is entitled "Fragrant Rice" (稻香) . . . and basically says "if you are feeling like a failure and don't know what to do follow the smell of the rice back to your roots and find your family who will love you and support you no matter what.  Come back home and remember the simplicity of where you came from."

The song is by Jay Chou (周杰倫), a rather well known Taiwanese musician.

perfectionism

Where do I sign up for the official membership card of the "yes, I struggle with perfectionism" club?

Disclaimer: What follows is TOTAL stream of conscious rambling of some thoughts that just need to clear my head.

Ok, so we've had our wedding pictures back for a little while now . . . and since I've not had time yet to do anything "perfectly" with them yet, they sit locked in my private flickr account.  Poor little neglected photos, sitting there are wonderful and everything not able to be seen in all their splendor because I struggle with perfectionism.

Actually, blogging and teaching for six years had helped me a lot to get over the need to be perfect in many ways . . . and yet I've slipped back up in the blogging aspect, so instead of continuing to give into it I am just going to bite the bullet and go for it again.  I can't blog perfectly, so it is either blog imperfectly or not at all.  I've decided I'd rather blog that not blog . . . so imperfect here we come. 

I'm not sure how being married will change the shape and scope of my blogging . . . I know it will but I still am not exactly sure how.  I've got lots of blogging ideas bouncing around in my head.  There are still lots of simply taiwan ideas to get out there; I still wanna blog all about the wedding; I still have lots to post about our time in Texas before (and after) the wedding . . .and then there's just regular life and my adventures in becoming a Taiwanese wife that is really American.

So. . . thanks for your patience in the past few months as I slipped off the blogging train while I fell in love, got engaged and then married.  In the coming months there is going to be some "back blogging" and some "current blogging" and just about everything in between . . . as I struggle to once again allow myself to be an imperfect blogger.

a colorful glimpse

Our official wedding photographer was my childhood friend.  We were best friends from my earliest memories till my family moved away in elementary school.  Then we became pen pals for the longest time till we finally lost touch for awhile.  However, our fathers continued meeting for annual men's fishing trips to New Mexico.  So, a few years back we got back in touch--I think around the time she got married. 

Seeing her awesome photos on flickr, I asked Jess to be our wedding photographer.  She willing agreed.  (For more of her official portfolio, go to JGM photography.)

Having her with me on that day was SO wonderful.  She had this calming, down-to-earth affect about her that was such a great blessing. 

Anywho, she is starting to post a few of our wedding photos online . . . and we are getting excited.

Once we have them all, I want to blog about the entire day step-by-step.  But for now, here is a little peak at what is to come.  We had a very simple but sweet and Christ-centered wedding.  It was casual but respectful, colorful, and fun . . . it was a beautiful day of celebration if I do say so myself. 

The only thing I would have changed about the entire day is I wish our family and friends from Taiwan could have been there to celebrate with us.

 

never been kissed no more

I've now officially been kissed. :)

More photos to come later after we arrive back home in Taiwan.  It was a wonderful wedding, and we had a very fun, relaxing honeymoon.

God is so kind.