Our first FOCCUS couple

Cody & Angela

FOCCUS certified 

First session was with father Ian

Session 2-3 with us.

May God bless their marriage with love and children.

Banh Mi opla. Best in America!

Teo Sandwiches for Banh Mi opla & cafe sua da.  Waffles crisps for the kiddos.  The banh mi is even better than I remembered!  Cali rocks.

No picture.  Scarfed it down.  Here's the cafe.

My new favorite salad!

Must share!  I made Houston's Ahi Tuna Salad.  It was super easy and delicious!!!

http://makingitwithdanielle.com/2013/07/10/houstons-sashimi-tuna-salad/

because i knew you, i have been changed... for good

I am quite content in meeting people, becoming close over some time, and then parting; leaving only a memory.  To some, that may seem fickle, but to me, I am satisfied in knowing that I have made or am making the most of my relationships when I do get to spend time with my friends.  I am happy to know that the friendship, however long or brief, or deep or passing, it was, that friendship changed me for good, and I hopefully, have made a positive impact, no matter how little, in my friend’s life.  To remember brings a warm nostalgia to me.  

Random

Don't explain yourself.  Your friends don't care and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

If you love someone, you care about their feelings and how they perceive you.  

If you're throwing a party, you are going to take your guests into consideration as you plan for food, drink, and music.  A wedding is a big party, so...

Wedding Notes

I wanted to jot down some wedding reflections.

Memorize your vows- This was one of our favorite parts of our wedding day.  Every wedding after ours seems more grand or better planned- except that we have always felt proud of ourselves and just happy that we memorized our vows. We got feedback that that was many of our guests favorite part also.  

Now, after so many weddings, I feel that the vows are the most significant part of the wedding day.  Couples spend so much time planning around other details... It's more heartfelt, you'll be able to relive your vows for each other at every wedding, you'll be able to recite it romantically for years to come.  

If you're offering the moms a bouquet, include your grandmother.  We failed to do this...

Remember to serve cake/tea to your parents at the cake cutting ceremony.  MC should note it.

Provide a picture list to the photographer.  I helped planned a wedding once where I assumed he knew to take a picture w the brides immediate family, not the case.

You probably shouldn't move a guest who's already seated unless its the last time you'll move them- and for good reason.  I've seen lots of offense in this area.

Make sure the bride/groom's family has an assigned & reserved table.

Why do pp feel obligated to invite pp they don't like?  Sigh.

Let the people you love and care about know that you appreciate them and that you will be counting on them for help, thank them in advance... So that when you do ask for help, they'll already be mentally prepared to go out of their way for you during this special time of your life.

It takes a village to raise a child.

It takes a village to raise a child.

I used to think this meant that when your child is misbehaving with another adult, let the two of them handle it.  It'll show the child that they are accountable to everyone.  But sometimes the adult doesn't want to have to handle your kid.  Still I worried that if I intervened, it would undermine the adult's authority.

Then I decided to address every serious misbehavior.

Now I think, "It takes a village to raise a child."
Means that I should teach my own kids.  If someone else teaches them, humbly accept their assistance.  Then reinforce it again later with your child.  This shows them that everyone should be respected.