I rediscovered the joy of reading this past year due to pregnancy and a lot of downtime with sleeping baby on my chest. Most of these were just for enjoyment (i.e. fiction) but I read a few books that really challenged my views in regards to faith.

1 // Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple I picked this book up because I read one of her other books in the past and really enjoyed her writing style as well as the story. This one was okay; I didn’t enjoy the storyline as much.

2 // Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity by Gregory Coles The issue of homosexuality didn’t really confront me until my cousin came out to me when I was in my teens. Before that, I always thought of it as a black and white issue growing up with a Baptist upbringing and didn’t think much further of it. Everything is challenged when you come across a close friend or relative who identifies as gay. I had a gay best friend in high school and one in college and two other relatives have come out. I would be lying if I myself didn’t struggle with how this intertwined with my faith. I haven’t read many books on the topic truth be told, I’ve just had conversations… but I think this author does a good job of addressing both sides. It may be a bit bias because of his personal journey but he definitely makes you think of both sides.

3 // Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

4 // Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

5-7 // Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

8 // Learning to Speak God From Scratch by Jonathan Merritt I really resonated with this book when it comes to where I’m at in my walk with God. We haven’t been to church in over a year and I often find myself cringing when people say certain ‘religious’ words. Am I backsliding? No, I wouldn’t say that I am… it’s more like a few steps backwards, a lot of steps further if you know what I mean. Anyway, Merritt goes on to talk about how Christians can and should go through three different phases when it comes to their faith… and how these ‘religious’ words can still be sacred.

9 // Like a Mother by Angela Garbes Written by a local writer, this book talks about pregnancy in a very candid and fun way and I would recommend it for EVERYONE. Pregnant or not, female or male, pro-life/pro-choice, whoever you are… this book educates you on what really happens in a woman’s body and what it’s capable of and what it loses and gains through the miraculous thing that is pregnancy. I think men should really read this.

10-15 // Harry Potter Books 1-6 by J.K. Rowling I’ve been rereading this series and watching the movies as I go along. I don’t think I’ll be able to finish #7 before the end of the year ha!

16 // Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman

D 12/30/17 D 12/30/17

Twelve Books in 2017

Well, I've made this my new years' resolution in the past but have yet to fulfill it... so here goes attempt number two! This year I'd like to try to read at least one book per month. If I can read at least eight, I'll be a happy camper. I'll edit this post as I finish books :)

JANUARY's PICK: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt // I actually picked this book up back in late September when we were at the airport headed to SF for our honeymoon. I didn't get very far at all (a couple pages or so) and restarted it at the new year. It was a pretty ambitious book as it's over 900 pages in paperback but I managed to finish it only a day late! I had seen this book everywhere (bookstores, other peoples' posts and what not) and was curious as to what made it a Pulitzer prize book. It took a while to get into but once I did, I had to finish it. This isn't to say however that though it was good, I didn't quite see what all the hype was about. Although I'm not a book critic by any means ha. It was a good coming-of-age story about loss, finding oneself, life.

FEBRUARY's PICK: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates // This is a book that everyone needs to read. It is pretty short so you can't use that as an excuse. It is convicting and if anything, this book gives a perspective that no one can really put themselves in unless they are black. It really opened my eyes and even though I am a person of color myself, I am lucky to say that I have not experienced nearly as much prejudices and racism as others have. I found myself feeling guilty of 'acting' and 'feeling' white even though in truth I am not.

The forgetting as habit is yet another necessary component of the Dream. They have forgotten the scale of theft that enriched them in slavery... because to remember would tumble them out of the beautiful dream and force them to live down here with us... I am convinced that the Dreamers of today would rather white than free..."

MARCH's PICK: Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible's View of Women by Sarah Bessey // I'll be honest and say that I got through about 60% of this book and despite my best efforts, didn't finish it... the book read too much like a blog post. She had some really great points- some of which I think both men and women need to hear- like the fact that "a man does not need to deny a woman's identity as a beloved and unique warrior in Christ" out of misplaced fear or insecurity or a hunger for power. I also really resonated with what Bessey says in regards to biblical women: we can't label them as wives and mothers because not all women are wives/mothers... the same for men.

What I was hoping from this book was some in-depth study and knowledge and it just felt like she made a lot of good points, without going too much into them.

APRIL's PICK: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck // I read East of Eden awhile ago and remember loving it, so another one of Steinbeck's books went on my 'to read' list. I didn't enjoy this book as much, but appreciated how he wrote this. Every other chapter was a sort of description of the landscape/scenary of what was going on at the time.

AUGUST'S PICK: In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen // A short, but great book. I picked this up while in California visiting a friend who happened to have this in her library.

SEPTEMBER'S PICKS: What's Wrong With Religion? by Skye Jethani // I would highly recommend this book to everyone--even to those who don't consider themselves religious/spiritual. It's a short and easy book to read through and Jethani runs through nine main points to help you consider faith in a different way. I read this with Aaron and we both really resonated with this idea of 'religious activism'. Because we both grew up in pretty conservative Christian households, the idea of serving and being involved in church was heavily ingrained in us and when we realized that Jesus does not focus on our disobedience/obedience but rather our presence, it was like a huge lightbulb that turned on.

OCTOBER'S PICK: Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practicies in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren // A book recommended to me by a friend down in Socal when I saw it in her bookbag. The title was interesting. Overall, a good read and I would recommend it. It talks a lot about slowing down and enjoying the everyday moments and recognizing them as moments in which we can truly thank and praise God for. I really liked her points on how enjoyment takes discernment as well as the lack of patience we all have. We want to have pleasure and to 'relax', but we don't know how because we have not practiced it. It is, in some ways, a lost art.

NOVEMBER'S PICK: White Oleander by Janet Fitch // My sis-in-law lent me this book awhile ago and I needed a good fiction to read for a bit. Another coming-of-age story about a girl and her relationship with her mom. It kept me interested. Has anyone seen the movie?

DECEMBER'S PICK: You & Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis & Lisa Chan // I started this book way back when, when Aaron and I were still engaged and stopped reading it towards the end, when they talk about parenting. It seemed perfect timing to pick it back up and finish it with Baby Girl coming soon! Although my actions prove otherwise (of not finishing the book sooner), I would definitely encourage this book to anyone who is engaged or even married! The tagline of the book is how marriage really isn't about marriage at all--but really our mission as disciples of Christ: making more disciples. I love Francis Chan and his ministry; he's just a solid guy and what he has to say about marriage and parenting is really wise and I hope that I can, as a mom, teach my kids about grace, forgiveneness and the fact that I myself am not perfect and don't know it all.

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Well, there you have it! Nine out of the twelve I was aiming for. I got a Kindle for Christmas this year and am hoping to read more this coming year, but we'll see with a baby ;) My hope with the Kindle is that I'll be able to read in the middle of the night while breastfeeding, but who knows how realistic this is? Before I was pregnant, I never slept well and would wake up several times a night anyhow but we'll see.

Currently I am reading Today Will be Different, a fiction written by Maria Semple a Seattle author. I read Where'd You Go, Bernadette awhile ago and loved it.

Next up on my list:

Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity by Gregory Coles
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our "Correct" Beliefs by Peter Enns // Aaron read this one and I want to follow suit.

Got any book recs? Send 'em my way!

AND 10/27/17 AND 10/27/17

Our Wedding in Photos

Well here it is, the last and final part of our wedding blog series... never before seen photos from our wedding day. I saved the best for last: our wedding photographer. There were only a few photographers I considered- we only inquired with two. When it came down to it, I shared their portfolios with Aaron and he loved Kristen's. Kristen is both a friend and colleague and I knew that would be awesome to have someone I already knew document our day. Plus, have you seen Kristen's work? Like, seriously. Look at her photos and don't just scroll through them quickly either. Notice how she captures the most intimate and small details that speak volumes. We love her style and the emotions that come from her photos. Photos were pretty high at the top of my priority list (surprise, surprise). My advice when it comes to it? Don't skimp. At the end of all the craziness of planning, and once you get back from your honeymoon and settled back into "regular" life, you'll have your photos to look forward to and to keep forever. This is what you'll have to look back on from your wedding- not the latest trend on decor or details. And don't just pick someone who seems to be the most popular or gets the most Instagram likes. Pick someone you actually connect with and get along with. Pick someone who understands your what your wedding day means to you and is able to capture that. Below is only about a quarter of the photos we received back from her. It was so hard to narrow down for this blog post... but I think you all will get the jest. Kristen did above and above what we ever could've imagined and we are forever indebted to her. Thank you for your talent, time and gifts. If you've yet to see her work, what are you waiting for? Check out her portfolio here.

With this post, I wanted to share one of the most special details about our day... the wedding ceremony. Aaron actually wrote the sermon and we shared it with our friend Nate, who was our officiant. This is the original draft we sent to him and we asked Nate to make it his own. I love that it's based on Jesus' first miracle: the wedding at Cana. Fitting right? We prayed and hoped that this would hit home for someone, and even today as I share this, I hope it does the same.

As you view the photos, listen to the song I posted! It was our first dance song and we love the lyrics in it.

If you have been to a wedding before, you have probably noticed that they are full of traditions. Some are traditions you may never even notice, some are very sweet, and then sometimes, some are pretty strange. Have any of you ever seen these rituals that seem to happen at every wedding, and wonder why it is part of the celebration? These things exist for a reason. When they were created, these certain acts had significance, usually pointing to something greater. What can be a little odd is when a couple is finding themselves participating in something that has no meaning for them. But when the meaning behind tradition is understood and agreed upon, that very act can be powerful. An example might be the bouquet toss. In more ancient times, it was believed that a bride was particularly lucky and it was not uncommon to have guests tearing flowers off of the bride’s dress as a way to obtain some of that luck. And the bouquet toss tradition was born, to give a lucky girl the chance to have some luck, and to also keep the guests from bothering the bride and her dress on her wedding day. Hopefully this makes my point easier to understand. The truth is, wedding ceremonies themselves are a tradition.

As this day has approached, I (Aaron) have become aware that I was feeling this sort of way about the entire wedding ceremony. Why are we really doing this? Do we have to do all these little things it seems everyone does? What is the true purpose, God’s purpose, of a wedding celebration, or at the very least, what is most important to us?

Dorothy and I both are convicted that our relationship is not about us. Even though it is tempting to find comfort and happiness in the love we have for each other, we know that that is not the point of our marriage. The purpose of our existence is to honor and glorify God who created us, and therefore our relationship should be also for the same purpose, which has led us to want our wedding day to be one that points to God and makes His name great.

We will now bring our focus to a story in the middle of the Bible. A story of a wedding, one at which Jesus was present.

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them,“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

— John 2:1-11ESV

Aside from the fact that this story is about a wedding, it may be a bit odd to hear this story here today. Most Christian weddings you may attend, you are used to hearing about a different story- maybe the wedding in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time where Adam and Eve were united by the Lord. But if we dig into this story to understand it a little better, the reason why I am sharing it today will become more clear.

At the end of this story, the Bible describes this first of Jesus’ miracles as a sign. This is a clue to help us see that this story has a deeper meaning then it may seem at face value. You could look at this "first sign” as a sort of introduction to what Jesus came to earth to do. This is his opening statement, if you will.

Here we have two young teenagers who have come across an embarrassment—they have run out of wine at this party. In fact, in that time it would have been more than an embarrassment. It would have been shameful for them, and for their families. When Jesus is approached by his mother to help with this situation, his response is a bit odd. He says “My hour is not yet come.” But then he proceeds to help fix this situation and gives the party more wine than they know what to do with. How do we make sense of his response? You see, his mother was asking, “Will you fix this wine situation?” But his response was more of an answer to the question, “Will you save them from their shame?” He knew why he came to Earth. He knew that he was sent to die as a sacrifice for all our sins, but he also knew that the time for that was not at this moment. But he proceeded anyway to rescue them from their temporary peril, pointing forward to how he would rescue mankind from their eternal peril. This wine is a symbol of joy. Jesus did more than just merely save this young couple from their embarrassment, his actions provided wine to keep the party going as long as it needed to go. God sent his son Jesus not only to pay the price we deserve to pay for our sins—death—he came to do this in order that we would have an eternally lasting relationship with him, one full of joy, with no sorrow and no pain and no tears.

At the beginning of the Bible, we see a marriage that is how God intended it to be. Life then is tainted by sin as Adam and Eve disobey and their relationship with the God is severed. God pursued us, all of us, with a selfless, sacrificial payment for our sins through His son Jesus Christ, so that we may be reunited in an eternal marriage someday. This marriage is depicted at the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation and is called "The Wedding Supper of the Lamb".

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

So today is a statement and a celebration. Today, as we make our vows before you and before God, we make them knowing that this day, and our life together to come, is one that points to God to symbolize His pursuit of us, and his marriage to us. And it is a time to celebrate this great Love that God has shown us.