Wow.

Let's just say, Joanna Schupbach is the best woman in the whole wide world. And I can't believe I have the honor and privilege in marrying this woman. There are many reasons why I love Joanna, but I want to highlight one of them. Thoughtful. Yep, she is the most thoughtful person I know. This past Saturday, she surprised me with an early birthday party and an Angels game. I had no clue! Apparently, she started planning this whole ordeal for me since March with mass emailing. How did I not know about this? Needless to say, I can confidently say that not only did I feel loved, but I also am loved by this wonderful woman. Thanks Joanna. You're the best and I love you.

Here's the group in their element. Classic.

Thanks again for a great birthday!

The Engagement Story

Hi, everyone! This is Joanna. Thanks for coming to Mikey's blog. I wrote this post so it's from my perspective. I hope you enjoy!

The Engagement Story:

Cast of Characters....

Groom to be: Michael S Wang Bride to be and Oblivious of What's About to Take Place at this Point of the Picture:

Joanna Kay Schupbach

Roommate Conspirator #1: Miss Katie Lovas

Roommate Conspirator #2 and Fashion Expert: Miss Kristine Maschhoff


Here's the long version of our story with as many details as I (Joanna) can remember....
Friday, April 10th, 2009 started off rough. I had a staff bible study (ETAWG or Extended Time Alone with God) at 11 and didn't wake up until 10:40. I had no time to get ready, gather my thoughts or do anything but get out of bed.
Despite the lack of a shower, the nasty t-shirt and jeans I was wearing (pretty sure i wrote a to-do list with do laundry asap on it that day. ew, it had been awhile) I had a good quiet time with the Lord. I read in Esther about repentence and I wrote this in my journal,
Repentance is not your punishment. It's your glorious right of daughtership. Your invitation to restoration. (from Beth Moore's Esther study)

Overall, it was an average day.
My two roommates, Katie, Kristine and I had made plans to do a "roommate lunch" that day. And so I was planning on just leaving my lowly state as it was except Kristine said, "I think you need to dress up because Literati Cafe is kind of nice."
Sometimes I wonder if my lack of fashion sense gets to Kristine but this was the first time she had vocalized her opinion... I was however a wreck and so i thought nothing of it. But since I was lazy, I told her, "You pick out my outfit cause you seem to know would be good." I was being a little stubborn about this. But I got dressed up and out the door. :)
The two roomies and I enjoyed a fabulous lunch and afterwards we decided to have some coffee. It was at that moment that Kristine started pulling a thick manilla envelope out of her package saying, "What is this? What is this? Who put this here?"
Now, I have to interrupt and tell you that getting engaged was a hope/thought I was trying desperately not to "go there". On Wednesday I thought I saw Kristine sneaking around our neighborhood and I had gotten my hopes up that Mikey was going to propose on Wednesday but nothing came of it. So I was a little weary of getting my hopes up so I was trying to remain as neutral as possible about all of this.
Kristine kept trying to give the package to me to open but I refused cause I felt weird about the whole thing.
Then I thought, "Okay, one of us has to and she seems adament that I do it."
So I took the package and started crying.
I said, "What's going on? What's happening? Is this Mikey? Is he here?"
"No, he's not here. Just read it." Kristine said.
Inside the manilla envelope was two cards and two journals.
The first card said, "You're always wondering what I'm thinking, so here's your chance."
So I started reading the journals which were paper clipped to specific pages.
The journals were the journey of Mikey's feelings and thoughts of meeting me, dating me, and trying to work through "what is love?" and "do I love Joanna?"
After those two journals I read the 2nd card which said, "Now go home because there is a package waiting for you."
Also, during this time my Dad called and asked if I read an email of his about a book he had sold. I was so surprised that he called me and a fear came into my heart that "ohmygosh? Did Mikey ask my Dad?" but I quieted that thought with, "No, if this is really happening, then Mikey called my Dad."
On the way home Kristine and Katie made me guess what I thought the package was... but I didn't want to say what I was really hoping/thinking. So I just said something silly. It was nerve-wrecking to wonder what Mikey was up to. I was also feeling silly for how ugly I looked and how I really wanted to shower!
When I opened up the apartment door, I saw rose petals leading into my room. On the bed there was two more journals and another card. There was also a RED ROSE which was the first time Mikey had given me a RED rose (the sign of love). The 1st card said to sit on my comfy couch and read while listening to music. Mikey had set up his ipod with speakers so that I could listen to my favorite music while reading his journey of our relationship.
I cried at one point specifically while reading... it was the part where Mikey realized that he loved me. Just seeing those words on the page were like the best feeling ever. I was freaking out. :)
After those two journals, the 2nd card said, "There is another package in your favorite color waiting for you but you have to climb some flights of stairs to get to it."
So I headed up to my roof.
In the corner of the roof was a little blue ring box.
I opened up the box and....
inside was $10 and a note explaining that I had won a snowboarding bet Mikey and I had. The note continued, "But we'll have plenty of time to go snowboarding in the future. What I want you to do now is look down towards the street cause there is someone you will see.... right... now."
While I was looking down, he came up behind me and said, "Well, I'm not down there. I'm right here."
Then he expressed his feelings for me and told me how much I meant to him. He said, "I have three questions for you.
1. Do you want what's supposed to be in the blue ring box?"
and I said, "uh, yes!!"
Then Mikey said, "I want to tell you for the first time that I love you."
And I just smiled (cause I was so nervous)
And he continued, "My second question is...."
gets down on one knee
and i start crying
"will you marry me?"
and I said, "ohmygosh! ohmygosh! ohmygosh! yes! yes! yes!"
And I started laughing (cause I'm nervous) and crying (cause I'm so happy) simulatenously.
Mikey said, "Now I haven't forgotten my third question. And that is... may i replace your promise ring with this ring!"
and with that, he pulled out the ring box and the real ring!!

And then we kissed for the first time ever in our relationship!!

So that's it. That's the story. :)
We're thinking a September 2009 wedding in Illinois.
Check back here for more details as plans get formalized. We'd appreciate any prayers you have for this time and for our marriage. :) We're thrilled to be engaged and to be living life together as husband and wife. I can't wait to be Mrs. Michael Wang. woo hoo!!

Vote!

Sam and Tivian introduced me to Wired.com as they submitted a photo into their online contest. They're doing a "Fall" contest. I submitted a photo and it would be great if ya'll can vote for mine.

http://www.wired.com/culture/art/news/2008/09/submissions_fall

Check it out. There are some other good photos as well.
Thanks and enjoy!

Another good hymn.

Oh the Deep, Deep Love

Verse 1
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Chorus
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Verse 2
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne

Verse 3
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end


Oh the Deep, Deep Love by Sovereign Grace Music


Download it.

Trust

You would think that trusting God would get easier as you get older because of your life experiences. Yet I find that is not the case. Trusting God seems to be a life-long lesson and maybe God intends it that way. It's hard to trust God for the unknown, future fundraising, future career, and the list goes on. Yet time and time again, God reminds me to remember how He is faithful. For example, He has provided my financial support for 3 years, and so what makes me think He won't provide for the future financial needs?

I guess I'm not far off like the Israelites, who witnessed and experienced God's provision and freedom by crossing the Red Sea, but as they were in the desert for 40 years, they forgot to remember and trust their faithful God.

Trusting God = A lesson that never gets old.

Election Day Thoughts

I was sitting at "The Nugget," which is CSULB's Pub and Grill, among young anxious students. I could see on their faces screaming the question, "Who's going to be the next president?" There was even a countdown for the electoral votes of CA, WA, and OR. I could hear the chanting: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... Then there was the new electoral votes for Obama and McCain.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

I've never heard so much excitement in my life for a new president. Congratulations Obama for your victory.

BUT

What I found really interesting to me were people's excitement for Obama as President. People were calling and texting others to tell the "good" news. "YES WE CAN" chants were started. When Obama gave his acceptance speech, it was interesting for me to see people's faces and expressions. People were tearing, cheering, celebrating. They had facial expressions of hope, new change, and new life. It's almost as if Obama was their new hero or should I say their new Savior?

As I was walking home, I wondered what it would be like if Jesus was up there on the podium? Would there be as much cheering for Him as Barack Obama or even less? Or better yet, even more? When will Jesus receive the applause and accolade He rightfully deserves? I know one day it will come. I just wished it was sooner.

7 Weird Facts About Me

Apparently, I've been tagged by my girlfriend Joanna. Here are 7 weird facts about me.

1. I can't sleep with loud ticking clocks in the room. If there is one, then I'll either take it to another room or I'll take the battery out of the clock. Loud ticking clocks are my nemesis.

2. Toliet paper has to flow over, not under. If I see toliet paper flowing under, then I have to change it or else it'll bug me.

3. Dolls freak me out. I can't imagine someone having dolls. They're so creepy. Their eyes never blink and they have this fixed smile. And if I stare at it, I feel like it's going to come alive walking like a zombie towards me. I mean no offense to girls who loved playing with dolls, but I'm so glad I played with Legos.

4. I've had braces twice and my teeth/jaws/oral cavity are still messed up. Plus I've had a wisdom teeth infection that hospitalized me for 5 days. My oral cavity history isn't so hot.

5. I love maps. I don't know why, but maps are so cool. It's interesting to look at and there's so much detail. Maybe that's why I'm good with directions.

6. I won $1715 at a poker tournament. I'm not good enough for the World Series of Poker though.

7. I can't stand PLS, also known as "Parking Lot Syndrome." It pretty much drags the leaving process. After hanging out, a group of people will form somewhat of a circle in the parking lot to say their goodbyes. But the goodbyes turn into another 10 minute conversation of what we're doing over the weekend, talk about the latest movie, and so forth. Then when we're about to finally say our goodbyes this time, somehow it turns into another 10 minute conversation. I say, don't PLS and hang out some other time!