Summer Loving

Hello, there! It’s been a while since I’ve written here, so I thought I’d give a little update.

U.S. Travels

Charles and I went to the U.S. for the summer, and we enjoyed seeing family and friends. We spent most of our time in upstate New York at my parents’ home. During that time, we celebrated my sister’s wedding which was a complete joy. The highlights were reconnecting with extended family and good friends, being together with both of my sisters for an extended time, seeing my sisters’ former foster daughter again (she was the flower girl), spending time with my best friend (during the wedding and the week after), and celebrating the beginning of a God-centered marriage between my sister and her husband. Continue reading “Summer Loving”

Our Beautiful Day

We began with a “first look” for Charles and me at the flowering Butterfly Garden in Liverpool, followed by a thoughtful ceremony at a gorgeous old church in Syracuse, and then a roaring good time of laughter, dancing, and sweet conversation at our reception. Friends and family from across the country drove, flew, and took trains to join us for our special day; Chucky, the family doll and running joke, made several appearances (dressed in her wedding finery, of course); and the Syracuse rain held off just long enough for pictures outside. I saw my mom and dad dance in public for the first time in my life, my flower girl stole the show with her incredible cuteness and personality, and my dad quoted The Princess Bride wedding scene in his message. Our loving families supported us in every way possible, from helping with the rehearsal dinner to making the beautiful decorations and phenomenal (and delicious!) wedding cake. We were surrounded by loved ones, including our dear bridal party of best friends and family. We couldn’t have asked for more. The day was perfect and memorable, full of joy and blessings. Here are some of the photos that capture our very beautiful day. Continue reading “Our Beautiful Day”

Post-Wedding Update

Charles and I have been married for almost two weeks, and we’re having a blast. We spent our honeymoon in NY state, and since then we’ve traveled to Virginia for my grandmother’s 90th birthday party (and Charles’ 31st birthday on the same day!), and now we’re in South Carolina spending time with Charles’ parents. We’ve been busy busy busy, and it won’t be stopping any … Continue reading Post-Wedding Update

{Segue} One Week!

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A festive red envelope from a friend in Taiwan. Red envelopes are used when gifting money for special occasions.

One week from tomorrow, I will become the Pretzel Lord–ahem–Mrs. Prezalor. I’m not even married yet, but I’ve already heard the nicknames on repeat–from my middle school students (I tell them that Charles is the “Pretzel Lord,” and I’m the “Pretzel Lady”) and from friends: “That sounds like ‘Praise the Lord!'” It seems like whatever my last name (Hatcher=Hatch or Hatchling), there are always nicknames readily available. That’s okay with me.

Continue reading “{Segue} One Week!”

An American Wedding with a Touch of Taiwan

 Why Taiwan?

Taiwan is a part of me. It’s where I lived as a young child, and it’s the place to which I returned as an adult. Soon, it will be my first home with Charles as we begin our married life together. I love the culture, the art, the beauty, the language, the food, the people–I love Taiwan! 

Because of our connection with this beautiful country, Charles and I want to bring a bit of Taiwan into our wedding. So far, we’ve decided on two touches of Taiwan that we’ll definitely incorporate: fans for the bridesmaids and umbrellas for the table centerpieces at the reception. Here’s a sneak peek of what we’ve chosen:

Continue reading “An American Wedding with a Touch of Taiwan”