For my faithful xanga friends...here is the latest in my life:

July 21, 2006 was the day that my childhood friend, Faith Sabel, got married to Josh Bianchi. I took a weekend off from VOICE (where I was team leader and English teacher at a summer conference for Taiwanese high school / college students) to stand as Faith’s maid of honor at her wedding in Cape Cod. Little did I know how that wedding would change my life…

I was paired up with best man Joel Bianchi, third born of the legendary Bianchi brothers that I had been hearing about since my elementary school days when their cousin and I were classmates. As we talked at the reception I found myself surprised at how comfortable I was with him. This is not typical...it usually takes me a while to warm up to people. As I pondered the day’s events, I ventured to think there was a connection with Joel that I’ve never felt with anyone else before…but quickly dismissed it as a fleeting infatuation.

The Sabels hosted a brunch the next morning, and I found myself hoping for more time to talk with him. It wasn’t until I was on my way out, though, that we saw each other. He later told me that he had been planning to ask for my number…but the opportunity never presented itself. As time went by, I resigned myself to the fact that he was never going to call. I tried to put Joel Bianchi out of my mind, but I don’t think I ever really succeeded…God used that time, though, to help me find my worth and contentment in Him.

Eleven months after the wedding, I got an email from Joel asking about teaching English in China. We ended up keeping in touch over the summer (I even got to see him once), and with each conversation I found my respect and admiration for him increasing. I kept my parents in the loop, and they were fine with us being friends. In September, though, I felt like I was getting closer to Joel than my parents would’ve been happy with. I tried to explain our unique family situation to him…said we needed to keep our friendship “casual”, and gave him my dad’s email address in case he ever wanted to contact him. (Poor Joel…)

After that, our communication was casual, sporadic…I didn’t know what he was thinking. Come to find out, he emailed my dad in mid-October. This was followed by six months of intense emailing between the two of them…each email from Dad containing a list of questions for Joel to answer. During the week of Thanksgiving, my dad asked Joel to stop contacting me through any means, so that we could both focus on God. This was hard to take…I felt like I was being treated like an ignorant teenager. But whether or not it was human error (I know my dad was doing what he thought was best for me) or could’ve been handled in a better way, God used it for good in our lives. My faith in God was tested and strengthened, my relationship with my parents improved, I received clear leading from God about Joel...and now, every form of contact seems like a gift. After three months of not communicating, my Dad lifted the embargo. He also booked Joel a ticket to Taiwan during spring break so he could come and meet the family.

Joel arrived in Taiwan April 21. The following morning after family devotions, my parents sat us down and made our courtship official. I wasn’t sure how things would be…seeing as we had only “really” seen each other on two occasions…but there was nothing to worry about. It was an amazing week…an incredible start to a very exciting relationship.

Now Joel is back in NYC where he teaches robotics at a high school in Harlem. I am eagerly anticipating the next time I get to see him.

I’m awed at what God has done and look forward to what He has in store. If we were to pick a “theme verse” for our relationship so far, it would be Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” However God leads in the future, we know this promise is true. May He be glorified!