THIS is Love…

“And this is love…” – R0mans 5:8

I am thankful for the unconditional love the Father extends to me. I am glad it is not based on merit or else He would have never for one second considered stretching it out to me! He loves the unlovely… He loves the broken… He loves sinners, deeply & sacrificially. I hope that I can one day love others a fraction of the way that He loves me!

Valentine’s Day breakfast – homemade biscuits!

Well, one might ask, “What does an Asian Valentine’s Day look like?” It begins with heart-shaped homemade biscuits for breakfast of course! (It’s the little things, remember)

We had planned to have a little Valentine’s party with friends but one of them had to cancel because of work. It didn’t stop us – we took the party to them! We delivered homemade sugar cookies, bags of candy & attached what my dear friend Natalie calls the world’s worst flower: pink carnations. (Her sister is an exceptional florist & in middle school she always gave me a hard time about my love for carnations and warned that if I ever had them at my wedding she would be furious! Don’t worry Nat, my taste in flowers have been quite refined since 8th grade homecoming. Hydrangeas and orchids have beat out carnations now.)

Valentine’s – complete with carnations

sugar cookies

Utilizing google translator again, we to equipped ourselves with enough language to write our friends notes. I have realized how acts of love can transcend so many barriers. I may not be able to speak words of Love yet, but we can demonstrate Love.

the remains of our Valentines ceasar salad

After language class Beck and I treated ourselves to a western dinner at the bakery where we study. We shared a Caesar salad, mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers as we discussed what an ideal Valentine’s venue & dinner would be like in America – ha! While my palatte was dreaming up some goat cheese infused delicacy Beck was wishing for “chicken fingers and fries.” Her wish was granted (asian style).

we found “Urban Cookhouse”-like mac n cheese! Valentine’s treat

Yesterday we were surprised with our first piece of mail – a 28 pound package from home! Woohoo! Thanks Mom & Dad! Check out the goods crammed in this box…

Dad sure knows how to pack a box.

Great friends at The Ranch got me a new wide-margin ESV – so thankful!

these are a few of my faaaavorite things: ESV, Shoes, Real Simple, Reese Cups, chapstick – whoop! Thanks Mom & Dad

We love to get mail – let me know if you want our address – even a short note is exciting to get in the mail! (28 pound packages are only expected from the parentals – no worries)

Funny moments of this week:

We got schooled in badminton by a 60 year old grandpa… (As my friend Mary Beth would say, “Badminton is for the birdies!”) He was courteous enough to give me a personal lesson after he beat me. Thanks Gramps!