He's on his WAY!!!

I feel like things are coming together for the wedding...however one slightly important aspect of the day still needs to come into place.

COME HOME JOEY!!!

In just about an hour he gets on the plane, and then I won't get to talk to him again until I SEE HIM IN PERSON!!! Tomorrow evening can't come quick enough!!

Celebrating with Family!!

Both my mom and dad's sides of the family came together at my Grandma & Grandpa Eby's place today!! There were so many people...if Joe were home already he would have been thoroughly confused with who is on who's side, married to who, kids of who...even I was confused!!

But it sure was a wonderful time! All decorated with Chinese decorations, incredible cheesecakes, and a whole lot of laughs and well-wishes! It was fun!
Thanks you guys!! You are making this such a special and memorable experience!!

Here is a pic with the Eby-side girl cousins! (we missed you, Justine!)
Sharla, me, Debra, Pam, & Chelle

A peek at some of the guests visiting in the living room (the guys hung out downstairs)

Haha, me with my beautiful Grandma Eby, and heart-stealer Grandpa Eby.
Dad, standing behind me, trying to make me look Chinese. ;)

Cameras always capture such awkward moments. bleh. Hopefully my wedding dress will compensate for the strange facial expressions that are sure to come out of me that day!! :P

Aunt Joyce, Chelle, Danny, & me...just veggin on the couch...

Wishing we could take Grandpa home with us.

Hard to believe that the wedding is only 13 days away!!! WHOO HOO!!

Beautiful Bridal Showers...

Hey!!! Wow, Chelle & Debi...you did an absolutely INCREDIBLE job of the shower last night.

The black & red theme was soooo classy, the poolside affair with the tiki torches lighting the evening & the standards floating through the air, along with the little white lights and cuuute patio furniture made me feel like I was being pampered at a high-class resort. The friends that you invited from the many places I've lived over the years made the evening like a reunion of all my favorite people all in one spot (well, not ALL my favorite. ;) and the red boa you threw around my neck upon my arrival made me feel like the guest of honor.

I just can't stop looking at these pics...it was such a classy, well thought-out evening that left me feeling pampered and sooo loved. I love you guys!!!! Thank you!!!

I wish the rest of you could have been there, but I know that distance is a factor. ;) You were thought of, though, and very missed!!!

What a great kick-off to our day coming up in 3 weeks from today!!!! Can't wait!!! :D

Nica

Thank you, Linda Morton, for sharing your beautiful home with us!!! Incredible memories were made in your back yard. THANK YOU!!! :D

How Shanghai Noodles are made

It is so much fun to have RSVPs starting to come in!!

Plans for the wedding are going well, and Joe and I have fun discussing details every day, and preparing for our future together!!

Some of you have asked me what Shanghai Noodles are! My chef and "big brother" who will be doing the meal for us found this video clip on YouTube. It made me laugh b/c I see people in Shanghai making noodles like this all the time! Out on the street, in restaurants...it's so cool!

So, to get a peek into how Shanghai Noodles are made, check this out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTfC5tDlOqo

49 days... :D

J&N

I got our wedding invitation in the mail today!!!

I've always loved getting wedding invitations in the mail, but I've never grabbed it and opened it up so fast as I did today.
Veroinca Eby & Joseph Martin
was so clearly printed on the front of it. (I love seeing our names together!!)

I can't stop looking at the invitation!! I'm finally holding it in my hands--the invitation for Joey's and my wedding!!) and somehow it now seems like all of the planning and brainstorming that we've been doing is really going to happen!!

July 11th!! Wow!! Mark your calendars!!! :D

Trip to Kunming

Last weekend I (Joe) went to Kunming in Southwest China to visit Maria who was there on church trip as part of their trip to Thailand, Laos, and China.

We visited Green Lake Park in Kunming



Some ethnic minorities (or people dressed like ethnic minorities) dancing in the park



Maria and I at the park



The downtown shopping area in Kunming



After church on Sunday we enjoyed some Lanzhou noodles at the park with some members of Maria's team.



Then when we enjoyed some iced mochas at a nice coffee shop.



It was a great trip (but a little short), I enjoyed getting to catch up with Maria and hearing all about her adventures traveling around Asia.

7 Month engagement anniversary!!

Today, April 27th, 2009 marks the 7th month of our engagement!! (September 27th, 2008)

Joe is so good at remembering dates, anniversaries, count-downs...way better than me!
I was so surprised to have a bouquet of roses delivered to my door!!!


And of course we had to go out to celebrate.

These photos are actually taken of our 6th month engagement celebration.
I have now returned home and just hung up with Joe from a Skype call. Yes, we're back to that again. We can't wait until anniversaries can be celebrated together again. That's way better.