Anniversary Babymoon

In honor of our 2 year anniversary and the anticipation of our precious miracle, Ryan and I decided to take a mini vacation, also known to us as a Babymoon-a time to get away, just the two of us, to celebrate our marriage and our time alone before Baby Lee joins our family. We thank God for blessing our marriage and choosing us to be parents! We were grateful for time away from work, school, laundry, cleaning, etc to enjoy each other and God's beautiful creation. We chose Colorado Springs as our destination because we had both been there with our families but never just the two of us. With the Springs just being an hour away, and having many things to do, we enjoyed a Friday evening and all day Saturday. Here are our favorite pictures from the weekend.Before heading out, we opened gifts. Ryan got me an ihome (i have been wanting to use my ipod more often) and this beautiful Willow tree figurine. Can you see she is pregnant like me? Oh I love it! This gift means so much to me because I will always remember being pregnant with our first child when we celebrated our 2nd anniversary. I got Ryan some of his favorite candy and then we went shopping so he could pick out some new clothes/shoes he has been needing for Fall/Winter.
While waiting for our cograil up to Pike's Peak, we walked around Manitou Springs, one of my new favorite mountain towns (Estes Park still being my #1 favorite). It has been our tradition to buy a Christmas ornament when we celebrate our anniversary (last year we got one in Estes Park) so we stopped in at the Christmas store. The weather was perfect but we didn't have enough time to walk all through downtown. It is now on a list of towns we want to visit again.
We enjoyed an hour and fifteen minutes of God's beautiful creation on our way up to Pike's Peak. We sat across from a sweet couple from Venezuela, who were visiting Colorado for the first time. I think we appreciated this gorgeous state even more by seeing CO through their eyes. Ryan let me sit close to the window where I tried to snap pictures to capture the beauty. But in all honesty, most of my pictures ended up being blurry and you might remember that I like taking pictures of people more than things anyway. Most of the Aspens were done changing but I was able to capture at least one.After Pike's Peak we headed to Garden of the Gods. Even though it clouded over, got cooler and even sprinkled a bit we still loved our time there. Another tradition we have is to eat caramel apples every year on our anniversary. Something so unique to being married in my favorite time of year! We found another changing tree on our way out of the park along with the beautiful Cathedral rock.
To finish our weekend, we ate dinner at Joe's Crab Shack in the Springs then headed home. On Sunday, our actual anniversary, we used a gift card given to us a couple months ago and had ice cream at Cold Stone! It was a perfect weekend together and again we thank God for allowing us this opportunity to get away and celebrate His many blessings!

Pictures of our Precious Baby at 22 weeks

We had our monthly doctor appointment last week and are praising God for our perfect miracle growing inside me! We had another ultrasound that we absolutely loved! Our doctor is too busy to perform routine ultrasounds so we go across the street to see Ron. After this particular appointment I have started calling him Uncle Ron. More on that later. I think Uncle Ron really likes us because he spent a lot of time with us and gave us 6 pictures! He showed us so many details of our baby; like the organs, brain, 4 chambers of the heart, arms, legs, face-it was awesome! I always ask lots of questions but try to remember that I am not the only patient he sees. Because we knew that by now the sex of our baby can be determined, we told Uncle Ron in the first minutes of being there that we didn't want to know the sex. We told him to have us look away when it was time to check that area. At the end of our time together, we asked him if he could tell what it was and he said he had a pretty good idea. Smiling from ear to ear, I told him that I thought it was so cool that he knew our secret. Thus I started calling him Uncle Ron. I don't know if we will see him again before our baby comes but I want to introduce our baby to him! It just feels like he is family. After all, he knows our baby now better than we do.

We always go see Dr. Tate after seeing Ron so we headed over there. My appointment was fast and easy. Praise God, all is great with Baby Lee and me! I REALLY like Dr. Tate. She made me laugh this time. She said that Ron didn't take a picture of the determined sex so it is going to be a surprise to her too. She said that she is glad she doesn't know, because she doesn't think she would keep it a secret. I just love that! I am so glad that we have chosen to be surprised. I really wondered if I would go crazy with Uncle Ron knowing and not us, but I am loving it and I think it's fun! It makes the anticipation for our miracle that much more exciting for Ryan and me! We are truly at peace with who God has chosen to bless us as our first child! We can't wait to meet him/her and introduce him/her to each of you and the world! Ryan and I both desire our child (and future children) to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and follow Him with their life! Please join us as we pray for this! We hope each of you will share Jesus with our child-we think it's so important!

Enjoy the new pictures!

10.10.10 celebrating 2 years married to Ryan Jeffery Lee

There have been many times in the past 2 years in my marriage to Ryan that I have stopped all I was doing to thank God for blessing me with this incredible gift! For those of who have known me for a long time, you know how much I desired to be married! Some of you have listened to these hopes and dreams and even dried my tears as I asked our God when my time would be. And in the years before going to China, as I was approaching 25 and 26, you know that I was close to losing hope. Especially after my example of a solid, loving marriage was totally shattered through my parents divorce. And when I followed God's call on my life to China in 2006 I NEVER imagined that He would bring into my life a husband. It was truly the farthest thing from my mind. And as I have heard it said before, "Love finds you when you aren't looking for it." I can testify to the truth of this statement in my life.

I truly believe that Ryan and I have one of the most unique and special love stories! To be honest, I take such joy in sharing it, because it is truly an act of God! Our love story is a testimony to our God and His greatness! Every time I think about it, I fall deeper in love with my Savior! He knew exactly the right time, He knew exactly who I needed and He has blessed me beyond what I could have imagined! He healed my heart in that first year in China more than I have ever experienced, which I believe was to prepare my heart to love Ryan!

And I will never forget that first summer home from China with my Mom and me sitting at the kitchen table, talking about my dating relationship with Ryan and all my fears. And my Mom, who had been hurt more than words can really express, encouraged me to open my heart and allow myself to love Ryan. Her words shocked me and yet I knew she was genuine. God had brought her to a place of healing where she was able to encourage me to love when love had wounded her. I am so grateful that my God is a healer and full of surprises!

I am sure you know our love story but in honor of our 2 year anniversary I wanted to share it again to SHOUT to the world how GOOD our God is! Let the world know that our love story has nothing to do with what we did but all to do with what God did!

Summer 2006 Kansas and Iowa
I left a job I loved at Tabor College to follow God's call on my life to teach English in China.
Ryan had just graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and believed that God was leading him to China for a year of service before transitioning into seminary or a job.
Fall 2006 California and China
Ryan and I met in SoCal in August during training for our year of teaching with English Language Institute of China. We became instant friends because of similar Mid West connections.
God, always at work, placed us in the same city, Nanchang, where we taught at 2 different schools on different teams. Our friendship grew as our 2 teams spent time together since our schools were just 10 minutes apart.February 2007 Thailand
Friendship blossomed to feelings during the Annual Conference in gorgeous Chang Mai. Ryan, in the least words possible (because it was not permitted to date) communicated his feelings with me. I, also in the least words possible, reciprocated his feelings! :)




Spring 2007 China
Drama came to visit this semster as we continued building our friendship without dating. For more on this, ask us in person! It is quite an interesting journey! :)













Summer 2007 Kansas and Iowa
Ryan and I started dating. We visited each other a few times and started investing in relationships with families and friends since we headed back to China after our summer break.





Fall 2007 China
God opened a door for both of us to teach at the same school in Nanchang with our dear friend Kelly Dugger! It was during this semester that God confirmed His will for us to be together forever!














February 2008 Thailand
During our winter break we traveled back to Chang Mai to spend time with our friends who were still with ELIC. To my complete surprise, Ryan asked me to marry him on February 6 at the location where it all began.





Spring 2008 China
Ryan and I planned a wedding mostly from China with lots of help from our family and friends in the states. Our dear friend Jev Forsberg took our engagement pictures and we took pictures in traditional Chinese clothes with our best friends Harry and Denic.
October 10 2008 Kansas
We united our lives and love with Christ as our Head on a beautiful, perfect day surrounded by family and friends. It was the happiest day of my life!








Dearest Ryan: I love our life! These last two years have been better than I ever expected! I am so excited for many more years with you! You are so good at loving me and making me feel so appreciated and celebrated! I thank God for leading us together, we do make a great team! You are an encouragement to me to draw closer to our Savior everyday. I love serving our God and people by your side! I will forever be your biggest cheerleader and supporter! I am so excited to see how God is going to use you and I will follow you wherever God leads! You are going to be an incredible father! I am praying our kids get many of your qualities. I love you very much, Ryan! Happy Anniversary!

October=Pumpkin Lovin

I went to Walmart yesterday to pick up one thing (nail polish) but I had the hardest time getting out of the FALL aisle! I looked at everything at least twice, smelled all the candles, brushed my fingers over the bright orange pumpkins and even picked up a few things (mostly decorations) and carried them around for awhile. At that moment I really wished that money grew on trees because I wanted to buy so many things in celebration of Fall. But thanks to God and the accountability to my wonderful husband, I only left with nail polish. :)

Last night Ryan and I celebrated our favorite month and season by making pumpkin bread and watching You've Got Mail (my friend Kelly and I think this movie classifies as a fall movie). We bought 4 cans of pumpkin because we remembered that last year grocery stores ran out due to the ruined pumpkin crop. There was no way WE were going to be short on pumpkin this season. I love to bake and want to bake a lot of things with pumpkin this season. The recipe we used last night made 3 loaves. We gave 2 away to neighbors and kept one (which we added walnuts in). An incredible aroma filled our home as we cuddled up close on the couch enjoying a sweet love story! Of course we captured all of this on camera!
Happy Fall to you and we hope you will take some time this month to shop in the Fall aisle at your favorite store, bake with pumpkin, savor the smells, share with neighbors and cuddle up close on the couch for a movie!

Welcome Fall, you are my favorite!

Forgive me for not writing for almost a month! September has been CRAZY! Ryan started another semester at Denver Seminary with a Monday night class and classes on Wednesday and Friday mornings. The current plan is for him to finish at Denver Seminary in May and hopefully graduate! We are still trying to decide exactly when he will write his Thesis. I am so very proud of him! In addition to being a full time student, Ryan is still working at Chick fil a as well as a youth pastor for the Denver Chinese Evangelical Free Church. Except for Monday, we have every evening together which we love!

This season is the busiest travel season for me in my job. I traveled to California last week and enjoyed representing Tabor College at college fairs, high school visits and youth groups. But my favorite part is meeting one-on-one with youth pastors, students/parents and alumni. This week I have been representing Tabor at college fairs here in the Denver area. I am so excited about what God is doing in leading high school students to Tabor! My heart sings knowing they will experience Tabor like I did. I know it will be life-changing!

My dear friends Lee and Sara Jo Waldron hosted me in their home during the first part of my trip. It was so fun to meet, hold and kiss Lydia Jane! She is an absolute doll and it was so rewarding for me to watch Sara Jo be an incredible mother to her/ I am so proud of her and soaked up all the advice I could while spending time there! Sara Jo also surprised me with a prenatal massage! What a blessing she is to give me such a wonderful gift!

My trip to CA was cut short this year because Ryan was a groomsmen in a wedding (Congrats Luke and Maggie) the weekend before CA and I sang in a wedding (Congrats Ross and Stacey) the weekend after. Both weddings were beautiful and included many blessings. Unfortunately Ryan was very ill the weekend of his friends wedding so we spent some time in the ER in western KS. But I am happy to say that Ryan felt strong enough to do his groomsmen duty. Ryan was beyond bummed that he missed the bachelor party, it was something he had been looking forward to for a long time. And we both missed the reception, but thank God for the strength he did have to stand up with Luke! One blessing from that weekend was spending a day at the Garden City zoo with his family! Enjoy some of my favorite pics! (can you tell I like pictures of people better than animals?)

The blessing from the wedding I was a part of, was getting to see my mom, sister and brother! I am blessed that with my job at Tabor I get to see my family at least once a month but this weekend in KC was extra fun! Our friends got us a really nice hotel, with a hot tub and pool. Because of my pregnancy I wasn't able to enjoy the hot tub but Joseph enjoyed both of them enough for all of us! Sorry that I don't have any pictures from that weekend. You'll just have to picture with me one of the best parts. So it was very late on Saturday night. Mom and Joseph were sharing the pull out couch and Angela and I were sharing the queen. For some reason, (I really don't even remember what started it all) we got the giggles. But it was Joseph who wouldn't stop. We giggled and laughed way into the night when all of us should have been sleeping. But it didn't matter because we were together and enjoying some of God's greatest gifts; family, love and laughter.

Recap of Summer 2010-in pictures!

Fall is my favorite season! September 1 always marks fall for me. Even though there are still some days that feel like summer, in my world, fall starts in September! This post is a recap of summer 2010 in pictures! Enjoy!

May
Mother's Day: Ryan preached for the first time at our Chinese Church. All the mothers were given roses. The children/youth in our church gave me a rose because they say I am their mother every Sunday! Little did we all know that soon after that God would indeed place a baby in my womb!
William and Chastity Barnett wedding: In mid May we went to Kansas for the wedding of Chastity and William! Congratulations on your new life together!
During that same time in May we visited Joseph in Paola with my dad and sister. Ryan took this picture of my family (minus my mom) while we were bowling.
Memorial Day Weekend: We along with Lucas and Catie Zurcher (Ryan's sister and our brother-in-law) went to Estes Park, CO. Our Chinese church had their annual conference and my awesome husband lead the children's program.
June
We are pregnant!!! After two pregnancy tests we found out that God has chosen us to be parents!
Father's Day: It was this weekend that Ryan and I announced to our families that we were expecting! My mom, sister and I also took Joseph to Oceans of Fun!
July
Lee Family Camping Trip: In mid July, Ryan and I went on a camping trip with Ryan's parents and sister Jenny. We camped around the Estes Park area and hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park.
In late July me and my closest girlfriends from Tabor College celebrated our 30th birthdays together. It was one of the most amazing weekends of my life! These girls mean so much to me and I thank God for leading us all to Tabor and strengthening our friendship through these years!
July 26th: I think I will always remember this date because it was the day we found out I had a cyst on my ovary that my doctor wanted to remove by surgery. These flowers from my boss, Linda Cantwell, were such a bright moment in some dark days.
Heaven Fest: Ryan and I took some youth from our Chinese church to a HOT day full of Christian music!
August
New Camera: we got a Canon Rebel XS and have been having so much fun taking pics!
Pregnant and Baking in the Kitchen: we went to a small dinner party which meant I got to bake!!
Surgery: God protected me and Baby Lee during the surgery to remove the cyst from my body. We received so many prayers, phone calls, emails, visitors, gifts, text messages and facebook messages-all showing us the love of family and friends! Thank you so much!
Youth Room Update: While I was at home recovering on the couch, Ryan helped the youth group at our Chinese Church paint and update their room!
And that, my dear family and friends is our summer in pictures! We are so excited about fall and all that God has in store for us! We love you all!