Can you see me now?

It has been two years since we moved here to the Gulf Coast. I often wonder what we will think about years from now when we think about the move here and what prompted us to make such a drastic life change. What benefits will we see in the future? What outcome will the future bring because we dared to venture into the unknown and take a chance on an opportunity placed so perfectly in front of us. Until then I guess we can wonder and try to speculate, but for now I would have to say that with two years behind us, the move has been a positive one and we've been able to reap all the benefits of being residents here in the South. One benefit in particular is Arnold's job at Chevron. A benefit that one would say would have the most overall lasting effect on our entire family. The one benefit I would guess that would mean the most to our success here and determine our overall feelings about the change. It was the one thing I hoped didn't get overlooked as we scrambled to get the children adjusted and our new lives formed. If Arnold found that this area wasn't what he expected the "big move" could've surely been all in vain. But to our excitement this new work environment has been the best thing for Arnold's future with the company. Something that has turned out to be beneficial for all of us. Recently, Arnold participated in an unprecidented expansion of the FCC at the Chevron Refinery in Pascagoula, Missisippi. Part of the process was overseeing the arrival, assembly, and take down of a 300 ft crane that assisted with the two month project.

Happily every after...

I absolutely love this pictures of my sister - Mibi, her husband - Lee, and my older brother - Scott at Turtle Bay Hilton in Kahuku, Hawaii right before her wedding reception began at the hotel. Mibi and Lee celebrated their second anniversary last November.

The Year of the Pig...

As luck would have it... some where deep here in the south there are a group of authentic Korean families who celebrate their heritage and hold on to the traditional values they learned before moving to the United States and making a home for themselves here in America. How fun it has been for us to be able to spend time with these families and give our children that same exposure to a unique culture and the many traditions they hold onto. For Chinese New Year, which fell on February 18th this year, we were invited to the home of a University of South Alabama Professor. He and his wife and their young son moved to Mobile years ago and travel back and forth to Korea. We prepared all the traditional food dishes for the holiday and ate on the floor like they do in Korea (and how we use to when Arnold and I were living as missionaries). Who knew that out here in the middle of Mobile there would be a group of people that would welcome us into their home and remind us of who we are and where we came from?

Valentine's Dinner for three?

Valentine's day fell on a school night this year and with Arnold at work we decided to have a sit down formal dinner at home and resist the urge to fight the crowds downtown for a place to celebrate. The kids had fun setting the table with everything from multiple sets of silverware to lighting the candlesticks. We grilled Rib Eye Steaks and had baked potatoes. We even found a left over bottle of sparkling grape juice from New Year's. During the dinner we had to remind Jessica from time to time which "fork" she should use, but overall it was a fun experience! Fun enough that the kids want to make it a Valentine's day tradition and do it again next year! As long as (Lisa says) they get to dress up for the picture I insisted on taking of them! I guess that's one detail we forgot to add! Oh well! What's a nice dinner if you can't be comfortable and barefoot?