RR & MY

We Are Getting Married

May 27, 2017

1510 Madison Street, Madison, WI 53711

We Love Each Other

Our Story

所以神所配合的，人不可分开。(马可福音10:9)

Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. (Mark10:9)

Landing on Madison
June 4, 2014

从Rice毕业的MY接受了神给他唯一的job offer，从houston北上抵达麦城开始了新的生活。Graduated from Rice, Ryan accepted the only job offer God granted. After leaving Houston he started his new life at Madison.
Email to Tree
February 25, 2015

只收到一封博士录取通知书的RR仍在祷告中求告等候神，这天她给MCCC的崔牧师发了邮件。 With the only admission to PhD program in hand, Estelle was waiting for God’s answer to her prayer. She wrote an email to Pastor Tree at MCCC that day.
First Time We Met
March 13, 2015

MY和RR理论上见了第一面。RR在参观校园之后，来到MCCC参加团契聚会。MY对这个第一次来教会就“霸占”团契分享时间的姑娘没啥好印象。要问RR对MY的印象嘛，那就是没有印象。 After her campus visit, Estelle joined the fellowship at MCCC church. The newcomer who shared a lot in the group that night impressed Ryan but in a negative manner. As for Ryan’s impression on Estelle-- there was none, at all!
Early Impression
August 24, 2015

RR抵达麦城开始博士学习，并委身在MCCC聚会。RR蛮看不惯一个总是穿拖鞋大摇大摆走进来参加主日聚会的弟兄，奇怪的是，教会从老到少都挺喜欢他。MY觉得新来的姊妹万般高冷，于是敬而远之，奇怪的是，这教会半年的考察期才刚开始，长辈们已经都很喜欢她啦。 Estelle started her PhD study at Madison and committed to MCCC. She always frowned at one man who attended Sunday service in slippers; but surprisingly people like him a lot. Ryan always stayed away from the new sister who seemed aloof and haughty; but she was surprisingly close to the elders.
First Talk in Depth: About Slippers
December 13, 2015

RR凭爱心说诚实话，冒着被友尽的风险，给MY发了微信，讨论穿拖鞋参加聚会是否合宜。MY真诚谦卑的回复让RR有些吃惊，从此也开始努力记住主日出门不穿拖鞋。 Estelle text Ryan, speaking the truth in love, to discuss the appropriateness of wearing slippers for Lord’s day attendance. To her surprise, Ryan responded in a humble manner and since then tried his best to remember changing shoes for church services.
Friendship Grows

自此我们改变了很多对对方的成见。教会的日常服侍、感恩节聚会、芝加哥之旅、圣诞节释经学的退休会、蓓蒂家新年火锅、Cascade滑雪（此处省略1万字）使两人有了更多的交流。我们对教会和服侍有着一致的看法，我们有着惊人相似的性格和价值观，我们分享彼此的信仰见证和成长背景，成为了很好的朋友。 The early stereotypical impression started to change. Moreover, the church services, Thanksgiving gathering, Chicago trip, Bible Exposition Retreat, New Year Hotpot at Bey-Dih’s, and Cascade downhill skiing thawed our communication. We shared so much in common and became good friends.
Prayer at Mendota
December 31, 2015

RR独自去冰雪覆盖的曼多塔湖旁，边走边祷告。为求走完十架窄路，为求一生同行之人，RR向神求三个印证和带领：为彼此了解的机会，为相互爱慕的心，为弟兄的明确与表白的勇气。 Walking along the lakeshore by herself, Estelle prayed for three guidance from God: for the opportunity to know each other better, for mutual attraction in Christ to grow, and for his eventual recognition and courage.
Spiritual Connection at Distance
January 20, 2016

MY回国，意外丢失包括护照在内的所有证件。在美国这头的RR献上无数代祷并安慰提醒MY神的美善。等候神的漫长过程中，我们更深了解了彼此，也一同亲尝神的信实与怜悯。 Ryan went back to China for his vacation and accidentally lost all his documents including the passport. Estelle kept him in her prayers and reminded him that God is good, all the time. Despite the time lag and long distance, we communicated much deeper than ever before and tasted God’s faithfulness and mercy.
100-Page Reading Plan
February 12, 2016

MY如期返回美国，给RR带回了一摞子中文属灵书籍。两人约定了一周一百页的读书计划。 Ryan returned without changing his flight and brought a pile of books to Estelle. We made our reading plan to accomplish 100 pages every week.
In a Relationship
February 29, 2016

在一个关于“包子”的误解下，MY心急火燎地开车跑来RR办公室楼下解释并表白。捂着脸东躲西藏后还是答应了的RR，一问日期，原来是四年一度的2月29日！！！ Ryan rushed to Estelle’s office on Monday at noon to explain his heart after “Baozi” (Chinese steamed bun) incident in which Estelle misunderstood. Ryan’s earnest confession of love touched Estelle before she realized it’s Feb 29th—an anniversary every four years?!!
First Apart
June 18, 2016

去日本开会的RR带着父母回到美国。恋爱后第一次分离一个月之久，饱受相思之苦的MY，第一次有了要“把RR娶回家，她就不会乱跑了”的想法。 RR went back with her parents for a conference in Japan. After suffering lovesickness for one month, a thought entered Ryan’s mind for the first time: I want to marry her so she won’t run about without me.
Exam from Mom
July 4, 2016

从Door County回麦屯的路上，向来很喜欢MY的RR母亲，很严肃地问MY:”为什么你明确RR是神的预备“？MY优秀过关，被批准成为未来的女婿。 On the way back from Door county trip, Estelle’s mom seriously asked Ryan why he was so affirmative that RR was the chosen one for him. Ryan passed this “exam" successfully!
Our First Townhouse
October 3, 2016

一波三折后，在古老的Dane Title Company, 我们穿过泛黄的档案去签了几十页的字，拥有了我们自己的房子。以此纪念叫我们一无挂虑的主，祂定准我们居住的疆界和年限。 In the old Dane Title Company, we signed pages to officially own our first townhouse, in remembrance of our Lord who wants us to be anxious about nothing and determines our times and places.
Love in the Downs
October, 2016

10月阴雨连绵，RR出现轻度抑郁症状，旁人毫不觉察，只有MY抱着常常莫名其妙哭成泪人的RR，知道她何等脆弱。先入住新家的MY一个人默默完成了所有搬家和清洗任务。一个半月后，RR在MY极大的耐心和呵护下终于完全恢复。 This October was rainy and cloudy. Estelle experienced sporadic mild depressive symptoms without others noticing it, except for Ryan. He always held her tight in his arms when she burst into tears for no reason and knowing how fragile she was. He did all the moving and cleaning by himself. One month later, Estelle fully recovered under Ryan’s patient care.
Engagement
February 28, 2017

相爱第365天，我们订下婚约。

After falling in love for 365 days, we are engaged!
Wedding
May 27, 2017

我们要结婚啦！

We are getting married!

We Enjoy Every Moment

Our Footsteps

至于我和我家，我们必定侍奉耶和华。 (约书亚记 24:15下)

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15b)

San Francisco, CA -- Los Angeles, CA

First Trip

2016年3月18日，我们第一次一起旅行，前往加州参加一位弟兄的婚礼。行路的疲惫考验两个人的耐心和应对能力，MY感激RR体贴，RR欣赏MY能干，因此两个人可以放心显露真实的自己。This was our first trip after we started our relationship. The happy yet exhausting roadtrip tested our patience and coping capacity. The gratitude and appreciation we had for each other made us comfortable to be who we are by ourselves.

Sturgeon Bay, WI

Door County

2016年6月30日，独立日长周末假期，MY带着RR和她爸爸妈妈前往密歇根湖旁的Door County，我们很珍惜陪伴父母出游的时光。

We had great long weekend of Independence Day at Door County by Lake Michigan. We cherished the vacation time with our parents.

Houston, TX

Back to Houston

2016年11月24日，RR陪MY回休斯顿参加感恩节聚会，看望他属灵的娘家人，也逛了他曾经生活过的校园。 We spent our Thanksgiving holiday in the church at Houston where Ryan got baptized. We visited Rice Campus and downtown where Ryan lived for almost 2 years.

Portage, WI

Cascade Skiing

RR送给MY两张季票作为他的生日礼物，并成为他滑雪的小伙伴。MY驾驭单板，RR学习双板。2016年12月19日在零下20度的山上我们第一次上了长绿道。次年3月4日，在RR的鼓励下，我们上了黑道。Estelle gave Ryan two skiing season passes as his birthday present, and became his snow buddy. Ryan is a boarder and Estelle is a skier. We made to longest lane with “Green Circle” on Dec 19, 2016. After handling “Blue Square”, with the encouragement of Estelle, we made to “Black Diamond”on March 4 the next year.