the Flowers of Summer ...

Chris' Point of View:

I think the most difficult part about the distance between Natalie and I is not being able to see her everyday to behold our relationship blossoming. The easiest part is that flowers can grow unwatched, and lilied fields have grown all around us.

In August I made the much needed trip to Vancouver. A combination of stressful work conditions and a cloudy mind had blocked out my Chinese-Canadian sunshine.

As soon as I landed, Natalie's laundry list of activities began and we were off down the road. This trip was packed with all sorts of interesting events, notably: Surfing, a trip to an Art Exhibit, a Shakespearian play, and as always, lots of delicious food.

Natalie is really amazing. The way she plans a trip is something to behold. Not a minute unaccounted for, not a event repeated, she has carefully calculated some of the greatest trips I have ever been on.

At the close of the trip I felt refreshed. Spending time with Natalie is one of my greatest rewards in life. I absolutely love her. As I left, Natalie, my beautiful flower was still on my mind. Its a strange feeling to be deeply rooted in the relationship and yet still be knocked off my feet every time I see her smile.

This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
Will prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

- Romeo and Juliet

nat's point of view :


tainted love. *ohohohoh*

♫ once i ran to you. now i run from you.

... haha j/k. =)

the long waited trip for august, has came and passed.
i have planned so many things to do for the both of us in that wk, i didn't think it was a long enough stay for chris; he always say it is too short, even though it was 7 full days.

chris and i went to the beautiful ucluelet and tofino in victoria, it's about a few hours away from vancouver. better yet, to check out the beach where chris and i are getting married next year, and some major surfing action!

after the crasy city traffic, the ferry ride, AND mountains driving/singing session, we were finally there!
after, we went to rent out our surfboards and wetsuits, the much-anticipated drove to long beach in tofino, for some surfing goodness.

we tanned and relaxed on the beach, a lovely sunny day w/ warming breeze and the pacific water was not cold at all, perfect for us newbies for some waves. i have surfed before, and it was great to swim out and flow; i gave chris some tips on how to manage your board and to maintain your body when you're riding the waves. it's a no brainer, chris has no trouble getting the point and hitting the waves like no others. ... an exquisite experience!

after we have gotten clean and sand out of our pants, we drove down to the wickaninnish inn, to visit the site and hotel where we're getting married in may. the beach is amazing, the restaurant is marvellous. we both loved the place, the water, the view; it is completely suited for our purpose to be united and start our life together. =D

later that night, i took chris to a grand seafood dinner. we ordered the seafood platter and some pasta. it was sooo tasty, especially after our 4 hrs of surfing, i forgot to take pictures for documentation. =( as i was drooling over my own plate. ucluelet is a very spiritual town in the summer, so many activities you can do, the locals are pleasantly friendly, it is a highly recommended town to visit.


that night we returned to vancouver, i planned to go see a play by the beach - twelfth night by william shakespeare. it was a great comedy, i loved the old english and adored the live acting. chris showed such enjoyment of the play because the staging was set in the 1920's. oh the fashion!

another surprise i have lined up was to visit chris's most affectionate hobby - anime, comics and video games art; the KRAZY exhibition has set up in the city's art gallery. we made our way to the showing w/ great excitement. chris was like the kid that wants to ride all the rides in the amusement park.

fishy?! not quite, up next was the aquarium! we went to the aquarium for more aqua darlingness. i was able to capture some jellyfishes, but i have forgotten to charge my camera and it was ... not cooperating. booo. not allot of pictures in the fish tanks, but it was another amazing day because we have got to see the belugas and sea otters.

no matter how much time we spent together joined by the hip while we're visiting, it's always not long enough. missing chris is the hardest thing i personally encountered. the feeling of emptiness and blue, sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing through my open ears, exciting and inviting me. ...

words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
they slither while they pass
they slip away
pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
possessing and caressing me

and we all flow on okay.

till there was you ...

nat's point of view :

i think i'll start on one of our blog, just this time. =)

finally, a full circle has reached where it started. our cycle of journeys have not yet end, but it is another great start for something more exciting, frustrating, and loving ahead for chris and i.

today is our 1 year anniversary; a year ago where we decided to be together, where we jumped onto this crasy train ride w/o any safety net. allot of doubts and worries that we came across, have heard a handful of skeptical talks, but we held our heads high and only believed the true meaning of commitment and relationship.

i cannot thank chris enough for what he has believed in me, and in us. his strong confidence in our existence, his conviction that he has me engaged to him (haha!), his affectionate that makes me the happiest girl when i'm w/ him, the list goes endless. ... w/ everyone in the world, i dare not say that i will one day meet them all, but in the chances of meeting my soul mate and dearest best friend, i feel better than driving a Lamborghini gallardo. =D

there were bells on a hill
but i never heard them ringing
no i never heard them at all
till there was you

there were birds in the sky
but i never saw them winging
no i never saw them at all
till there was you

then there was music and wonderful roses
they tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew

there was love all around
but i never heard it singing
no i never heard it at all
till there was you

thank you honey, happy 1 year and many more to come!

Chris' Point of View :

Geez, how do I beat that? Especially with that baby picture.

It's amazing how you don't realize how fast the world is spinning when you are perched up on cloud 9.

The 25th was, in fact, our 1 year anniversary. Its shocking to think how far we have come during this first year together. I think this blog can attest to the growth that we have made during this time.

In Salt Lake, July 24th is 'Pioneer Day'. It marks the day that westward bound mormons settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Their trek was long and arduous. They braved winter storms, and pushed along, praying that they didn't loose their loved ones along the way. To commemorate this day, fireworks are launched screaming into the air, bursting into colors of sparkling light across the sky. It is a day of celebration, a day of remembrance.

While the 25th is our official anniversary, the telephone call that led to our sky high burst of joy and excitement, started late at night on the 24th. I remember hearing the pounding of my heart being drown out by crescendos high in the air. I was unsure and excited as Natalie and I talked about the possibilities and challenges that stood before us.

A year come and gone, I look back and see the storms Natalie and I braved, and the rough terrain we crossed. As the night commemorated success in pioneering western frontiers, for me the fireworks were just as much a celebration of Natalie and I. Natalie is the sparkling light in my northern sky; I am excited to continue our voyage.

a Fire Inside ...

Chris' Point of View:

We started this chronicle of events a little over a month ago. During this time we have attempted to recall all of the great memories that we have made, trip after trip, day after day. As this month [July] marks our 1st anniversary, we have told the tales that have made our relationship strong over the past year. What started as as glimmer on the horizon, has become the sun that brightens our day, and the moon that watches us by night. In a universe of the trivial and mundane, Natalie has become my life's brightest illumination.

In June, the skies were bright as Natalie made the trip to salt lake. We had lots of time to spend with my family, and really enjoy the warmth and relaxation of the summer months. During her trip we had the opportunity to drive up the canyon and roast marshmallows and "hoat doowgs". As my dad and I attempted to start a fire, it seemed hopeless. No matter how much we would dump on the fire, it would slowly burn out. Confused, Natalie and I went down the mountain looking for a solution.

Stopping at a store, we purchased some charcoal to put on the fire, hoping that it would sustain the flames. As we returned to the site, Dad had finally set the logs a blaze and we quickly gathered around its glow.

In life relationships are much like campfires. There are some couples that won't light no matter what you do, there are some that following hard work, will burn long and strong, then there are others that catch fire with just a spark and last a lifetime. I like to think that Natalie and I are the last example.

As I watched the smoke ascend to heaven, the stars quietly listened to crackling embers. ... it was a good night.


nat's point of view :


all rights reserved

a 3rd merry trip back to slc. what a lovely time!
so glad all the snow are gone. =S not a big fan driving in it.

every time i board and fly down to see chris, i have the butterfly feeling in my stomach. i'm not sure what the reason of this is, i guess not being able to see him so often makes me feel that we're on a date every time we meet. =)

we're engaged now and slowly planning our wedding together. the fact that he's so far away and not by my side, have always beaten me to the ground with the blues; i wish to run all our errands together. =\

w/ a surprise to start my trip - chris took me to forever21 and gave me a super awesome shopping spree!!! ahhh, the joy of shopping w/ chris, it's not so much the stuff that i brought that was exciting, it was more spending that quality time that we don't have together doing daily tasks, oh and have him to carry my bags. hahaha.

this time, i brought tons of yummy food to visit as i know kels and luann love those pocky sticks. (who doesn't?!) afterward, we went down to the saltair and checked out the honda civic tour. the head-lining band was panic! at the disco. it was a great show. chris and i always enjoy good tunes and live performances. ... just as we were about to head closer to the stage, we saw these computers where people can enter for a draw; the grand prize was a hybrid car. we thought, why not? so as i was entering all the information, i put the following note as i entered it in -

First Name : natalie
Last Name : van wagoner

for the rest of the night, chris had this huge smirk on his face. =D

chris has planned a very relaxing week for the both of us, since we both had a hectic week in the office, my visit to slc and for him to get away was much needed. we watched movies, made awesome breakfast, had a vegan dinner, made a camp fire up at the canyon + had awesome s'mores w/ natalie-save-all-s'more + fluffy bunny techniques, fantastic bbq, real mexican food, date night etc.

the week went by so quickly that i wish i had a time machine to just freeze the continuum during all the events. i miss having my saturday grocery run w/ chris, i miss having sunday brunch w/ the family, i miss not having chris to come home to making dinner together. ...

it seems my patience is running low. ekkk.

mmmm ... Food ...

Chris' Point of View:

Natalie and I love food. One of our favorite things is to go out to eat, trying new foods and new resturaunts. Its a surprise that we don't roll wherever go. Due to our love of food, my trip to Vancouver in April comprised of lots of eating, and a big surprise.

As I arrived in Vancouver, I considered the magnetic properties of the country, as this was my 3rd trip to Canada in four months. (Its probably not the country, but the gravitaional pull of a certain Chinese girl I know.) At any rate, I was excited to be there and to be reunited with my newly 'Chris'-ened fiancee.

Vancouver is one of the most culturaly diverse places I have ever been. On top of that, their arts, both aesthetic and culinary, are amazing. While driving the streets of this city, the scenery is dotted with influences from all over the globe: restaurants and people, behaviors and cultures. As a result, its easy to select something to eat as your choices are endless and always delicious. So we ate, and ate, and ate, and ate.

Toward the end of the trip, Natalie mentioned a surprise lying in wait, and while I can usually guess these things, I had no idea what was in store. The morning arrived. I got up, put a hat on, and was instructed to bring a change of clothes. I sat in the passenger seat driving toward the destination, anticipation high, awaiting the unveiling of this mysterious activity. As we got closer, Natalie asked that I close my eyes. We exited the car, still with my eyes closed, we walked along downtown sidewalks approaching our destination. I must admit, I was a bit worried, not being able to see anything, that I would talk a mis-step and wander in front of a bakery truck, but put my trust in Natalie as we moved along. We finally arrived, and I found myself in a Spa, readied for a date with an hour long massage. It was fantastic.

It was a great trip. I had an amazing time. It was a trip that I won't soon forget; I am reminded of that tasty food everytime I wake up and look at my stomach in the mirror.

nat's point of view:

ah the smell of april in the air ... *SNEEZE*. a favourable time to take our allergy medication. both chris and i have the hay fever. quite severe if we don't have an extra strength pill. the continuous 'bless you' tag begins w/ a kiss on the nose when chris arrived to vancouver.

the usual itinerary this time, start off w/ yoga. since the last time chris tried it, i've asked him if he's willing to go w/ me again. w/ a challenge smile of his, he said 'let's do it!' ... and he didn't disappoint me. =)

this trip's adventure packed with tons of food and local pursuit. not only w/ our own creation (pineapple chicken pasta!), as well the fabulous food we have in vancouver. so far we have tried, thai food, japanese sushi, japanese fusion, japanese ramen, japanese hot dog, chinese dim sum, chinese congee & rice noodles, korean bbq, vietnamese pho, taiwanese beef noodles, bubble tea, eggs benedict, ice cream, ice cream, and more ice cream. ... yea, quite a bit, and that's only 1/16 of the restaurants that i go to, so many more to try!

i've been thinking to give chris a sweet surprise for this trip, as he has made such an effort to plan the proposal last month. ranking my brain, i wanted to give him the best way to relax and being pampered. ... then it came to me, chris has never been into a spa, or have a professional body message. w/ that said, i booked an appointment w/ my favourite spa place, told chris that we're going to another session of yoga. =D he was truly surprised by the fact, he didn't see it coming. while his eyes were closed, i kept on telling him that i'm going to sell him to the black chinese market for profits. ... ha ha.

the Promise ...

Chris' Point of View:

There was a song released in the 80's by 'When in Rome' called The Promise. As its name implies, it talks about ones promise to make a relationship work, no matter what the cost. The song became particularly important to Natalie and I as we recognized the sacrifices we were having to make and how despite those sacrifices, our dedication and attachment far outweighed any negative consequence.


By the time March arrived, I had already decided that Natalie was the one. She was a puzzle piece that was missing from the box, and it took a chance meeting in Boston to replace it. I had already begun planning a Wedding proposal but had yet to decide on the day for that monumental moment. After a few weeks of planning and working with some of her friends in Vancouver, I decided to make her 23rd birthday one of her most memorable and ask her to marry me. We had planned to keep Natalie preoccupied with a scavenger hunt, with my own appearance as a grand finale.

The day started, and I contacted Natalie to wish her a happy birthday. At this point in the morning, completely unsuspecting, she sounded down, as she had 'nothing to look forward to'. I told her that I wished I could be there and jokingly said, "I tell you what hun, I will meet you in Vancouver tonight and take you to dinner." "Ok" she replied with a chuckle. I then got on the plane and made my way north, over the border. Upon arriving, jitters and all, I exited the airport enroute to keep my date with destiny. Dressed in dressy attire, I received glances and glares from those passing by, wondering what event was the cause, and strangely, why I wasn't wearing a jacket in the cold weather.

I stopped into the lodge at the top of the mountain and looked across the snow-covered slopes, waiting in anticipation. Finally, Natalie arrived, exited the Gondola, and made her way swiftly my way. Upon first glance, Natalie (without her contacts), failed to recognize me and gave me an awkward look. As her vision adjusted, her jaw dropped, shocked at the individual standing in front of her. She ran and wrapped her arms around me. "Punch me!" she exclaimed. Puzzled, I questioned, "Punch me? You mean pinch me right?" "No, no. Punch me." She smiled.

We then went to the restaurant located at the lodge. Next to a window, the cloudy view outside was surpassed by the beauty sitting adjacent to me across the table. My mind was racing, wondering at which moment to ask Natalie to take another step with me up relationship's ladder. In what seemed to be a clear indication of perfect timing, I looked to my left and saw that the previously cloudy city scrape had removed itself, revealing a breathtaking sunset in its absence. Haphazardly, I struggled to get out of my seat and onto my knee. While my brain, having reached critical mass, had shut down, I was able to utter a complete sentence.

"My life changed when I met you, and I will never know true happiness unless you are by my side. Will you marry me?"

Her answer may forever be a mystery to the reader ...

It was an amazing event. One that neither of us will forget. After the event, I thought about that song (The Promise) and the lyrics that were so fitting early in our relationship.

"And if I have to walk the world to make you fall for me, I promise you, I promise you I will ..."

In a very real sense, Natalie and I had walked the world to be together, and as this song had ended, new promises were being made with world travels done side by side.



nat's point of view :

a life changing day, not because i was another year older, but a day that i will always look back and think to myself - how did i get so lucky?

my day started out early, as i switched my shift in the morning, so that i could go on the scavenger hunt that my friends - shelley and renuka, have prepared for me. little did i know, they were secretly working w/ chris, and along helping him w/ a chiefly plan.

vancouver's city traffic is not as bad, but when it comes to rush hours, sometimes people can really swear like a sailor. after work, renuka and i attacked the hunt like a mad cave man. i just wanted to get them all done so i can go home and rest. as i'm not a big fan of 1st gear-stop-1st gear-go, the bumper to bumper speed has gotten on my nerves and i could feel the temper w/in me heating up.

by the time i finished my 2nd last task, and somehow we ended up at the foot of the grouse mountain. confused, i opened my last envelope and it requested me to take the gondola up to the top of the mountain - alone. ... ... ummm? no, thank you. the letter said i've to go up to the mountain top alone, and there's a dinner set waiting for me. w/ no acknowledgement that chris was up there, i refused to take the ride and wish i could do something else for the last task. the fact my friends are so sweet that they had brought me dinner, but the picture of me eating alone on my birthday is just ... unbearable. =S
renuka fought all her might to put me on the gondola; uncomfortable, confused, out of place. i'm not sure what am i going to do up there.

finally, i got to the top of the mountain, headed toward the restaurant - the observatory. i walked toward the glass doors, not near at hand, i saw this person standing at the doorway and was looking straight at my direction. i thought it must be some sort of assigned worker there to wait for their guest to arrive. the closer i got to the doors, the more toyed i felt, oh shell and renuka are going to get it from me when i see them. ... i swung the door open, and there he was, wearing a pink & red stripy tie w/ a salmon colour dress shirt, standing there, smirking at me while my jaw was hanging. ... =)

it honestly is the best birthday i've ever had! everything was such a surprise and i couldn't have it better! ... the dinner was absolutely amazing and we have had the view just to ourselves.

this wonderful unexpected occurrence, knocked me off my feet, the exultant joy w/in is indescribable. i have received alot of lovely presents, and the dearly gift of all, an affectionate fiancé.

you always love me more,
i hear it in your voice,
you're not afraid to tell me,
i guess we're at our best when we're miles away.

i begin to see the picture, it becomes so clear
you always have the biggest heart,
when we're six thousand miles apart.

too much of no sound
uncomfortable silence can be so loud
those three words are never enough
when its long distance love.

you always love me more,
i hear it in your voice,
you're not afraid to tell me,
i guess we're at our best when we're miles away.