following an unknown path

Our wedding was at 6:30 pm in another town about 45 minutes away from my parents' home. 

Since we didn't have a rehearsal the night before, we did a walk though around noon with the family members in the wedding and then met for a lite lunch.  Then the girls left to go get hair and make up done. 

But . . . before I get ahead of myself . . .let's talk about the morning of. 

Lawrance decided to include a tradition from Taiwanese weddings into our wedding day in America.  In Taiwan the bride and groom give a gift of appreciation to their parents.  Since we were not going to do this at the wedding, he decided to invite my parents over to our neighbors' home (where he was staying; they are more than neighbors since we've worshiped together for over ten years). 

Lawrance desired not only to thank my parents for how they raised me and for allowing him to become a part of the family, but he also desired to start off the day focused and centered on Christ.  He wanted to calm his own nerves by worshiping the Lord, reading Scripture, and spending time in prayer.  He wanted to remember the whole purpose of this day was to glorify God.

We met at the neighbors' home at about 9:30 for a great southern breakfast and then a time of worship and prayer.  During this time, Lawrance presented my parents with a gift of appreciation.  And, I also presented the neighbor couple a gift of appreciation. 

Lawrance led this very special time . . . which left all the girls in tears. :)

It was a WONDERFUL way to start off one the most special days in our lives! 

One of the things I fought during wedding planning was stress.  Meaning I made every effort possible to avoid it.  I totally wanted to enjoy the preparation and the day of as much as possible.  Of course there were a few intense moments--but let's just chock those up to little sleep and an uncooperative-for-the-moment computer. :)

In fact, for this self-confessed perfectionist, letting go of so much that I would have wanted "perfect" was both a struggle and a blessing.  My mom was great in her constant encouragement of "no second guessing" and "no, you are not allowed to rethink that."

Some other things that helped the stress factor was that we planned everything in practically one month.  The first month we were engaged I was still in Taiwan . . . I started to look at things online (mostly images of real weddings on flickr and a few blogs about real weddings).  And we did decide place and date that first month, but that was about all.  Oh, yeah, and I choose the gerber daises--the oh so important gerber daisies which set the mood for everything else I decided! :)

The third month, Lawrance was in America, and I wanted to spend lots of time with him, showing him Texas and introducing him to family.  So, of that third month, only the last week was "wedding week."  We did do a few other "wedding" stuff his first day in the States--got the marriage license, fitted the boys for tuxes, and picked out our rings.  But that was it for the next few weeks.

It was that second month back home that mom and I did most of the planning.  So, I count this as a good thing and not as a stressful thing because I couldn't have it in whatever elusive "perfect way" I could envision.  I loved that my choices--due to time and money--were limited.  Instead of how in the world could I make this as beautiful as possible, I was limited to "here is choice one, two, and three; which one do you like best?"  "Two please, but can we do it in pink instead?"  "Yes."  Ahh . . . so nice.

I also didn't have time "to be married to any idea."  There were several times we "cut" stuff simply because to do it in the time we had it would have been stressful . . . and no one but us even knew it was cut.

I wanted our wedding to be simple, joyful, and God-centered.  I wanted it to be uniquely us, but still have traditional elements.  I wanted it to be worshipful and reverent but at the same time a fun celebration.  I know it's a dichotomous combination, but somehow it totally worked and came together beautifully if I do say so myself! :)

And, Lawrance was totally flexible about so much and OH SO VERY supportive.  For example . . . one night as I was picking out songs to use for the wedding, he sat across from me folding tissue pompoms (which he is now an official expert at making).  I, of course, asked him his opinion, he gave it, and then I totally didn't go with his opinion.  I, of course, asked him though "is that ok that we go with the one I want instead?"  To which he very kindly replied, "I know what my job is.  My job is to fold pompoms, be here for you and support any decision you make.  So, yes, that song is great.  Good choice, honey."  And he meant every word; he wasn't being sarcastic. 

day of events and pictures in up coming posts . . . :)

A few months ago . . the weekend before Lawrance came to America, there was a "Smith Family Bridal Shower" where all of my aunts and most of my cousins came to shower me with blessings.  It was the first time in two years that I had seen most of them!! 

My mom and sister did all the decorating . . . and they did a great job.  It was so colorful and fun . . . because, well, they used gerber daisies. 

See how cute? And yes they made those really cute daisy cookies!!

We ate at a local Chinese food place that does the round table, everyone share thing.

Mom made me wear a silly veil for awhile while we played some shower games:

And, the girls blessed me with some cute stuff for our master bathroom, things to use in the kitchen, a great cozy blanket for two, and some beautiful lingerie too.

One last photo . . . of me with mom, Sarah, and Grandmother.  I am blessed.  Oh, so blessed!! :)

Yesterday marked our first month together as a married couple!

Lawrance went to a job interview while I was at work; we both left about the same time.  I beat him home because well my school is closer and, well, my lovely hubby stopped to pick me up some colorful gerber daises! 

What a great guy that new hubby of mine is!  They were totally unexpected! 

If there were only one thing true about my husband it is that he is VERY SWEET!! :) 

Happy one month, honey!  I look forward to each minute I get to spend with you as your wife.

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æ°å€«), a rather well known Taiwanese musician.

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.

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.

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.

I can't thank my mother enough for helping us to have our wedding at an inn that is handling nearly everything for us!!  Our stress has been minimal in regards to wedding planning even though we only had three months to plan our wedding.  And, one of those months we were still in Taiwan and one of those months we were busy spending time with each other, sightseeing, and meeting with family.

Also, our pre-marital counselor (a missionary in Taiwan) gave us a golden piece of advice.  He told Lawrance to give me one specific set time each week to talk about wedding stuff with him, the rest of the time we were to work on continuing to build our relationship and prepare for marriage.  We weren't supposed to discuss wedding stuff 24/7.  It was golden advice.  It was great for me, and, I think, it was good for him too. 

So, I thought I'd share with you just exactly what our current mental states are: 

You'd be amazed (well then again, if you know us IRL, maybe you wouldn't) at how many people have told us how loud our house is going to be--a place of fun and laughter and just sheer joy!!  Of course, we hope we also have done the same thing with the wedding.  We hope it is a fun, fun, time of joy and laughter . . . and an opportunity to glorify God because He is our everything, the reason for all the fun and laughter we share.

Our wedding is in two days . . . here we go!!

"Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!"
(Psalm 126:3 NLT)

An important thing to do while in Texas: ride a horse. 

Some of our friends that we worship with (their two little girls are some of my "little friends" and will be junior bridesmaids in our wedding) own and board horses.  So, we made a deal--let us babysit your kids so yall can go on a date and in return let us ride your horses. 

It was wonderful.  We loved the horse riding and the babysitting too. :)  Lawrance had difficulty getting on the hose, and I had trouble getting off.  Needless to say there was lots of laughter going on all night.

p.s. bug on tongue is plastic.  :)

Every time I've signed my name in the last two or three days I catch myself thinking "is the going to be the last time I sign it like this?"

I cannot believe we are down to the last week.   . . . wow.  just wow.

Today marks ten days till the wedding . . . on one hand it seems so right and on the other it just seems so crazy.  God is good. 

I'm enjoying all the time Lawrance and I've been having with each other and with my family.  I've not let myself think about wedding at all since he got here--besides getting tuxes, rings, and license within the first two days of his arrival.  But, yesterday mom and I went to pick up the dress.  Things are starting to feel more and more final/real . . . and that is good. 

I know the next ten days are going to fly by . . . oh we are going to have FUN!!  I'll fill you all in on all the details once we are back in Taiwan, and I promise (Lord willing) to share lots of photos. :)

Last week we had our first ever annual Parmley family reunion.  There were a total of four generations present ranging in age from 2 months to 76 years. :)

What a special time together as a family.  Thanks for making it happen, Mom!

Lots more photos of all the fun on flickr.

In other news, yesterday marked three weeks till the wedding . . . it's getting close!! Yipee!!

We got our marriage license today!!  We can now officially receive the rites of matrimony. :)

oh yeah . . . by the way, Lawrance is now in Texas!