While we didn't do anything particularly exciting for New Year's, it was better than last year in that I didn't have food poisoning. We ate tamales, listened to fireworks (felt almost like being back in China for a moment, where fireworks go off nightly), and then reminisced about 2013.
2013 was a big year for us.
In January, we returned to China after our first visit together to the U.S.
We finished our apartment (which was a huge undertaking).
(our master bedroom)
In April, we got legally married.
(our wedding certificate)
We took our fun wedding portraits. 
We planned our wedding celebration, and got to have the wedding with my family coming to China for the first time.
We got Hali, our Golden Retriever.
(Hali with Xiao Bai, another stray dog we feed sometimes, and Oscar, another dog in the background...at one point our house was fullll of dogs)
We saved 5 newborn puppies from the side of the road where they had been abandoned. 4 of them didn't make it, but the 1 who did was so worth it. He is precious.
(blurry picture, but this is "puppy", our little survivor)
(enjoying a walk on the beach in Sanya)
I gained several new work experiences.
(one of these new work experiences was modeling for an online shop...here I am getting hair extensions put in....ridiculous, haha)
We enjoyed cooking classes with friends!
(our Thanksgiving cooking class event...with Rachel, my dear friend and chef extraordinaire)
We decided to try getting pregnant, fully expecting it would take us a while...to our surprise...it didn't.
We came back to the U.S., rather unexpectedly due to a series of events, and thus got to be here when my father unexpectedly had to undergo a quintuple bypass.
All in all, it's been a year full of challenges and surprises, but God has been good to us, and we are thankful. 2014 will be a year to remember as well, and we are looking forward to our newest adventure, parenthood.
