our first home

Leading up to marriage, I dreaded the thought of living in LA. The few years commuting to work at UCLA in congested traffic with angry drivers didn't help ease the thought at all. Growing up in the South Bay and having attended picture-perfect UC Irvine for four years, I definitely wasn't looking forward to the culture shock that was bound to happen after living in LA.

Fast forward nine months, I'm sitting on our dining table writing this post before my night class at 5:45pm, staring out into the loud, busy streets outside our Westwood apartment. And for some strange reason, I feel completely at home. 

I hadn't realized how much the city of LA has grown on me and how I've started to enjoy it's lifestyle, thrill and even its congested streets. The other day, Matt and I discussed our plans for the future- residency options, where we would possibly move to, my future school & career, etc. and it dawned on me that it's already been nearly a year since we've lived here. And it saddened me to think we only have a year left.
Yes, I've had many complaints about our apartment. The walls are thin, the kitchen appliances are used and fragile, the annoying sounds of crying children outside our bedroom would hinder my sleep, etc. But more than anything, I've come to appreciate these imperfections. I've learned (still learning) not to dwell in having a nice home with trendy decor; instead, to appreciate the moments spent in it. I feel strangely thankful for the mothers in our complex who tend to their crying babies and wake up early in the morning to meet with other mothers and their babies at the playground outside. And most of all, I feel grateful to God for providing this small first home for me and Matt. I'm reminded of God's faithfulness and provision in my life and how despite my unfaithfulness, complaining and ungratefulness, He still pursues me, provides for me, and draws me back to Him.
I hope years later, wherever God call us, I would approach new changes and challenges with a willing heart that submits to Christ's authority. That it wouldn't be my rampage of emotions that dictate my joy but that instead, I would trust God and give thanks in all circumstances to our Lord and Savior who loves us.

random shenanigans! cooookiez

baebailey and me <3

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  1 Thessalonians 5:16

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm73:26

hello bailey

Two weeks ago, Matt & I adopted our very own 10 month old poodle/terrier/schnauzer mix and we couldn't love her more already! We had thought about having a dog together for a while now, especially since the passing of both our previous dogs. And although we live in a small 2 bedroom apartment, our new pup is fitting in quite nicely. We had gone to the Chino Hills shelter with my good, dog-crazy friend Michelle not knowing we'd take home a dog that day. We had looked at many different cats, pups, and senior citizens; but for some reason Bailey stuck out to us. When we got the chance to play with her in the Meet&Greet room, she was calm yet playful, friendly and very affectionate. She definitely had our attention and seeing how popular the shelter was and how quickly dogs were taken home, we decided then and there that she would be part of our family. Right afterwards, we took her next door to the hospital Michelle works at to get her annual check-up and vaccines. She was in great in condition and ready to be brought home!
Matt& I spent the next 2 hours at Petsmart. Yup, we've quickly become those CRAZY parents.

hello Bailey!

@Petsmart

meeting Auntie meg right after <3

Bailey facts:
1) She isn't afraid of heights and she's got a mad deer leap:

2. Bailey loves meeting other dogs! We take her to the dog park across the street and let her wrestle with the dogs she meets. The other day she started barking at a humongous Great Dane. She definitely has 'small dog syndrome.' Haha

3. Bailey likes me better. :)

Till next time! Toodles!

winin' & dinin'

Hello! I was telling Matt earlier this week that ever since we got married, it's been harder to journal or blog consistently now that I always have someone near me who I could share my inner musings, thoughts, and stories with. Haha. But now that he's off break and back in school zone, I have more time on my hands and I hope to write more consistently.
This past weekend, we spent the weekend up in Calistoga, Napa and San Fran with my family. It was a much needed getaway and I'm grateful for my dad for planning our itinerary to make this trip so eventful. Although we were greeted by grey clouds and misty fog, we were surrounded by ethereal foliage, vineyards, delicious farm-to-table food and grape juice the whole weekend. :) We visited multiple vineyards, went wine tasting, ate delicious foods, bread, and cheese, and lounged by the spa bar that was infused with mineral water from below Earth's surface. It was nice to be together again under the same roof, and I realized how much I miss my whole family and us physically being together.
Since our weekend Napa trip, Matt and I both caught a cold and today we spent all day indoors catching up on rest. We spent the day sleeping in, preparing meals, watching Disney Channel (a movie called the Descendants where the Disney villain's children become good...excellent movie.), and doing three loads of laundry. Although uneventful, I enjoy being cooped up in our home, having no agenda except to spend time with my hubby... that stay-in-bed-until-you-really-have-to-pee kind of feeling.

yep... married life at its finest. at least our living room smelled like laundry..

Being sick always reminds me how weak and incapable I am. No matter how strong I appear to be or how accomplished I feel, it's when I'm in a frail, lowly state that I quickly acknowledge how desperately I need to rely on and how much I am in need of Christ.
On a similar note, God has been revealing to me that I really can't do anything by my own power. To be more specific, in the past few months, there have been many accounts in which I've tried hard to 'serve' my husband but was left feeling inadequate, discouraged and sad. December was a crazy month for the both of us. Matt had seven finals to study for and the week after were his long-awaited board exams. Seeing my husband under so much mental distress and pressure, I quickly resorted to 'serving' him by my own strength: preparing hot meals, making sure his work space was neatly organized, being his chauffeur to and from his test centers so he didn't have to take the bus, and occasional massages since he was glued to his seat most of the day. These are all great things, and  I'm sure my mom would have been proud... Matt felt so thankful and much to our delight, he ended up doing well on his exams and passed the boards (YAY!).
But in all honesty, I wasn't serving my husband joyfully... in fact, it felt like a task and I often grew weary and tired. On days I didn't receive the kind of praise I wanted to for the 'good work' I thought I had put in, I grew discouraged and retreated to my pity partying. (I need to stop doing that. Haha) After talking with Matt and few older women at church weeks later, I realized the most crucial part that was missing was prayer. I lacked quiet time and devotion to communing with God. Never once in those weeks did I really sit down and pray for my husband. I neglected to ask God for internal strength that I would love and serve my husband joyfully. I had forgotten that what my and Matt's heart needed most is God- to know him and trust him and love him and obey him. It made so much sense why I grew exhausted. I learned to devote time each day to pray for myself and for Matt that Christ would intervene in our weakness so we could better love and serve each other the way Christ loved and served.
take home lesson: The best wife, friend, daughter, sister that I can be is one who devotes time to pray for him/her.
       "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

Snap shots from our trip:

our first night in SF @ Intercontinental Mark Hopkins. So pooped after 7 hours of driving.

wine tasting at Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga!

Castello di Amorosa~ our new home

so beautiful! 

<3 <3