Year Four of Tying the Knot

How is it already mid August!! More than half the year has just slipped away... Gone, gone, gone. Time is such a scary thing. But, I do think we've made some accomplishments throughout the year. Please send a round of applause to David. Husband dearest is DONE with year THREE of medical school and took his second boards exams and just started his LAST YEAR as a medical student. Can you believe it? Wish us, especially him good luck this year as he will be interviewing across the nation for residency. Our unknown future scares me. I'm always the gal that sticks to what she's familiar with--same restaurant, same order, same man (jk), and etc. Change frightens me. But the uncertainty of it also excites me just so. Especially since it's with David.

We just celebrated our FOUR year anniversary. Four years seem short and long- hard to believe we've been married for that long.. But, I simply cannot imagine my life without David now. When I try and think of my past-- good and bad, it takes me awhile to think of one before him.

Marriage, it certainly isn't easy. There are times when I have to remind myself my husband has emotions too. He's such a rockstar. My apple to my pie, the straw to my berry. He truly is the happy to my ending. Here's to many many happy years ahead of us.

End of Summer

Woah, summer of 2015 really came to an end. And husband started year THREE at UTSW. It still feels like summer here in Dallas - shorts, skirts, and 90 degree weather. I'm so jealous when I see the obvious wardrobe changes happening in the entire country when I'm still pulling on my skirts and sandals. Fall, hurry along por favor~

Out of all the seasons, Fall makes me super nostalgic of Utah.. All the magic happened during Fall semester- pretended to study the most, first kiss, homecoming dance, football, hiked the Y.. Anyhow, I was missing Utah so much I went and bought a ton of candles that have that fall scent- pumpkin, buttercream (?), salted caramel.. Yeah, husband was not happy with all the money I spent. I told him it reminded me of Utah and these candles made me less sad.. 

This weekend, I pulled myself away from Nextflix, my book, and my box of Lindt chocolates and let husband dearest take me to downtown Dallas for the firt time. Did I mention this is year three in the big D? There was a cool even going on in the Arts District. I secretly think husband took me since they had a Korean food truck (kimchi tacos and kimch fries guys!!) and a bunch of Korean performances going on at the Crow Museum because of Chuseok (Lunar Thanksgiving). Isn't he just so thoughtful? As if I hadn't gotten enough of Korea this year...

I was thinking "downtown, outside, in this heat? Amongst the hordes of people?" Surprisingly, we had a blast. I savor the precious moments we have together. I was complaining how hot I was and begged for a cupcake (cupcake, the cure to heatstrokes). When he handed me my blueberry lemon cupcake, I fell in love with him all over again. Putting my needs AND wants first.. I guess I'd better be a little nicer to him.

Anyhow, I'm determined to get out of my comfort zone and explore more. What are some fun things to do around Dallas? After all, we might be moving away in less than two years...... Gotta enjoy the big D while it lasts..

Three Down, Forever To Go..

Blogging has been the last thing on my mind but if I don't document it somewhere, I won't have anything to look back on to remind me of this special day. While David and I were busy chewing through our food and enjoying each other's company (during our anniversary dinner) I tried to think of what we did last year.  My mind went blank. What did we do? ... When I asked my Chinese man, he also was clueless. Age is finally catching up..... Fearing I'll soon forget these precious memories I share with my dear husband, here is my attempt at another cheesy post about us. Bear with me.

You and I

He took me to my favorite restaurant in Dallas! 

Say what? THREE smoking years with this babe. It seems like only yesterday when we were both trying to woo each other while trying to finish up our last year of college. Can't believe it's year three as being Mrs. Eng. I've spent almost half a decade with this man..

Marriage is never easy. Sometimes I think an additional year comes with additional trials... I'm learning that these trials are necessary for a stronger relationship between not only husband and wife but also with God.  Keep throwing these learning curves at us... Together, we can overcome anything..

David and I try to balance our marriage with medical school (rotations for David) and my full time job. Plus the chores and errands that comes along with marriage. Toss in Diana's emotions that comes in waves. We also can't forget about Diana's nagging either...  But, luckily, we have David's patience and logic that balances out Diana. David and Diana always belong in the same sentence, don't they?

The past few months have been overwhelming for me. I was in my motherland for work. I've been tested in every possible way. Teaching has always been my calling, it's in my blood. I'm in love with my job. Yet,  I've never been given so much responsibility, never felt so incompetent, insecure.  I understand that it's a learning curve. And throughout my trip, I've fallen numerous times. There were times I just refused to get up,  dust away the past and move on... Even though he was continents away, whenever I fell, he was there to catch me and prevent me from giving up. 

My love

I'm such a flawed person. Imperfect in every imaginable way. But he loves me as I am. I hope the years I've spent with him have helped soften up my difficult personality. I hope some of the selfishness I came with has been replaced with his selflessness.  He gives me faith. Together, we hope. 

Marriage: 

"4 cups of love

3 cups of forgiveness

2 cups of loyalty

1 cup of friendship

5 spoons of hope

2 spoons of tenderness

4 quartz of faith

1 barrel of laughter.."

Here's to another year that will be filled with joy, laughter, trials, tears, anger, disappointment.  But dearest husband, I'm glad it's you by my side. I will continue to enjoy our never-ending story. 

Pre-Dating Memories

As I sit down at the table/desk and get ready to wind down, I take a look at David who is sitting across from me. Like always, he is staring at his computer, studying for his upcoming test. He looks more anxious than usual. Med school has aged him a teensy bit. Because his wife has been binging on Gilmore Girls non-stop (thank you Netflix), he has earphones to drown the sound. He sounds out weird medical words that I cannot comprehend from time to time.  Oh med school, stop changing him so... Then in hits me. Tomorrow, the 22nd of October will be the three year mark of when we first started dating-- officially DTRed and became boyfriend and girlfriend.

When it all began.. Yellow Stone

Weather in Dallas has finally begun to tone down and it actually feels more like fall. I brought out some of my body lotions. Can a certain hint of smell make you so nostalgic? For me, a whiff of Victoria Secret's Amber Romance and I'm instantly taken back to Fall semester of 2011 at BYU. I'm smiling now, as I think back to the days before boyfriend and girlfriend.

These were some of my journal entires right before we started dating. As you can tell, I was an emotional rollercoaster.

09-17-2011

"David Eng, who would've thought? Ready to ruin a good friendship again? I wish I could control my feelings towards him. What are the chances. I feel as if we do have somthing. There IS something between us and we know but we both refuse to admit because we're afraid to ruin our friendship. But, can a boy and a girl REALLY remain as "just friends?" It will either be more than friends, or the friendship will come to an end. We do have something... right? Or, will this be another stupid crush?"

09-20-2011
"I'm not talking to David until he talks to me first. Jerk."

09-26-2011
"David makes me want to become a better person. I guess I do like him (at least today I do), so I will just go with it."

10-11-2011
"Invited David over for dinner. OMG!!! Am I going to get heartbroken? Or, will this all be worth it? He makes me want to become a better person."


10-12-2011
"Father in Heaven, why can't I just meet the right guy without having to play games, waste time, and break my heart? Why are you doing this to me?"

10-14-2011
"PLEASE MAKE A MOVE DAVID ENG!"


10-19-2011
"David makes me happy. So happy. I know I need to be honest and stop guarding my feelings by telling him to date other girls. I just need to be honest and stop talking opposite! Why do I suck at expressing my true feelings? Better yet, why can't he read between the lines??!! Men are so dumb! When I tell you to date someone, I want you to say, "no! I want to date you!" ERGGG

10-21-2011
"David and I have been ... progressing. A lot, I guess? We had dinner and of course, talked about dating. It was awkward at first since it was just us two but we gave each other back massages then he accidently asked if I thought "we" could date. As in friends. .. "Do you think we, I mean friends can date?" After a movie at his cousin's, we went over to his place. Then, he finally made the move. FINALLY! We decided to talk tomorrow. I'm scared... But it feels right."

10-22-2011 
"David and I decided to officially start dating. I'm excited for David and Diana and our future."

For those of you who don't know our story, click here.

Us, on 10-29-11 Church Halloween Party

Us, in Vegas. Side note- we went to Vegas for Thanksgiving (a month after we started dating), we fought every single day during this trip.. We'll have to go back to recreate memories.

Oh my, how the tables have  turned. I am still excited for David and Diana and our future. Three years. Holy cow!!

Thanks for reading a few random scratches of my thoughts. Tonight, I am grateful for a lot of things my Heavenly Father gave me. But mostly, for the past that David and I shared.

Learning how to become more dependent, away from Utah, my family and friends, has been a battle.
I still fight off challenges each day. But, there is one person that is in it with me. And, I'm really glad it is that Chinese dude sitting right across from me. Somethings never change.

One Year Old Bucket List

During my flight back to Texas, I decided to declutter my "Evernote" app when I saw our list we created in a spur of the moment a year ago. Once I read through it, I couldn't help laughing. Were we on something? You decide.

Despite how silly and unrealistic our list may be, my heart was  full of gratitude. Grateful that my eternal companion is David Eng. And grateful for that long journey ahead of us

This list needs some serious revision... We will have an updated list in a year. But, for the meantime, can you guess whose is whose?

 DD's BUCKET LIST

David and Diana, will face their future together, forever. 

1. Visit China- The Great Wall and the one palace the last empress (Dowager?) built.
2. Go skinny-dipping.
3. Effiel Tower. 
4. Knit a baby blanket for all of our (future children).
5. Visit Sea World and get spalshed by Free Willy in the very front seat.
6. Purchase something from Tiffany & CO
7. Visit the Empire State Building. Day before, we must watch James and the Giant Peach. And when we walk into the building, we will blast on Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind."
8. Travel to every continent
9. Visit Cancun. Stay in the same hotel as we did on our honeymoon. Without kids. Give them to Grace for a week.
10. Purchase every book written by Pearl S. Buck. They must be published by the same company and must be the same size. And all must be paperback. Same with books by Louisa May Alcott.
11. Visit a bakery and taste all different flavors of cupcakes.
12. In twenty years, invite all our friends from the Asian Ward and cook Korean food.
13. Pig out on $100.00 steak!
14. Swim at a nude beach in Espaina (Spain).
15. Go on a Safari.
16. Visit London bridge and film our own version of "If Only."
17. Go to Austrailia. Snorkel in a coral reef and find Nemo. Capture him and raise him in a bowl. Then, feed him to a kangaroo. 
18. Play with a panda bear.
19. Go to HP Land and get "drunk" from butterbeer.
20. Plant a garden that will produce all of our green veggies. Oh, and sunflowers!
21. Learn how to ski.
22. Both would like to publish a book. David, a fantasay novel. Diana, TBD.
23. Meet Joseph Gordon Leavitt. Then, run away with him. 
24. Learn Korean.
25. Learn Chinese. Chinese, as in some of the few characters.
26. Visit Bali
27. Visit a third world country. David will provide medical service, and Diana will teach the youngsters.
28. Learn how to ride a horse.
29. Figure out who was a more influential writer, Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky.
30. Go to the Amazon rainforest. 

D&D's Trip to Korea: Seoul

A visit to Korea just wouldn't be complete if we skipped the capitol city, Seoul, right? So, we jumped on the bus and stepped into the busy streets of Seoul. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Seoul. The city is overflowing with too many streets, shops, and people. But, once again, this trip is not about me. It's all about David. So, off we went.

We first made our way to the royal palaces starting with Kyeongbok palace (경복궁). It was the home to the royal family during the Chosun era starting from 1395. Unfortunately, it burned down during the Korea-Japanese war in 1592. It became the home to the royals again in 1865 ish. It has some wears and tears and some ruins that happened during the Japanese occupation, but has gone under extensive reconstruction. After enduring hundreds of years of history, it stands so beautifully, right in the middle of the busy streets of Seoul.

 The yellow ribbons tied around in the city are to remember the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy. The people continue to mourn and pray...

The first day we arrived in Seoul was also the day Korea would face Belgium in the World Cup series. Cities were busy in preparation for the match.

"Red Devils" waiting in the strees of Gangnam to unite as a country and cheer for the Korean team!

The second day, we met up with my cousin Hyemin and walked about the streets of Insadong, a small area that still tries to preserve oriental traditions. It's a great place to pick up traditional Korean souvenirs.

 After Insadong, David and I went to another royal palace, Changdok palace (창덕궁). When Kyeongbok was ruined in the fire, the royals moved to Changdok palace (so I believe). Changdok palace is known for their ponds and gardens. We were also told that lots of K-dramas are filmed in this area.

Since we were on a tight schedule, we immediately left for Namsan tower. I've always wanted to take my boyfriend to the tower and "lock our love" on the tower as many couples do in Korea. I am so lucky I was able to go with my husband and fulfill my lifelong wish. David, as usual, was so eager to fulfill another cheesy. girly, romantic wish and was very willing! 

 Kim Soo Hyun, the love of my life... 

 The view of Seoul from Namsan tower.

With the love of my life, Kim Soo Hyun David Eng!

After Namsan tower, my grand uncle and grand aunt (whom we stayed with) and cousin  treated us out to ... pig feet! At 10PM. I love Korea

The last day, we decided to shop till we dropped. And literally, we did. We went to Hongdae ( a busy area in Seoul that is usually full with shops that are targeted towards college students). We were too busy shopping, this is the only picture we took during the last day of our trip to Seoul. David's first time eating street food, which he enjoyed very much. We crawled back into my parents house at 2AM. (Did I mention my curfew was 9PM until I left for college?)

We are back in Gwangju and now have very little time left before we are back to reality. We are both dreading to see the end of our trip. Why can't vacations be any longer?

P.S., I notice I'm wearing the same two dresses in every blog post since our trip. I promise I have more clothes. But, I guess a little more shopping wouldn't hurt as well. DAVID!!