I love to tell people that I have the perfect marriage... and watch their response.

By saying that I have the "perfect" marriage, I am saying that it is delightfully imperfect, full of ups and downs, giggles and grins, tears and shared sorrow, sometimes anger, sometimes overwhelming joy, but always absolutely perfect.

My husband and I met one year ago this week. It's strange to say that we're now working on our fifth month and we only met a year ago, but let me tell you the story...

After high school, I did what we all do and went to college. Loved it. I fell in love with studying all over again and realized that my passion for history could be transformed into something greater. I earned my Bachelors of Science and went on to earn my Masters in History. It was a delightful process; a process I would love to repeat, actually!

Now a holder of a masters' diploma, I decided that I'd fulfill my life-long dream and go to China. I taught at North Eastern University in Dalian, China for one year, came back to the States for a year, then returned for another year of teaching. It was a dream. Travel, food, friends, the best of everything. I loved my life.

But, after the second year, I knew I was done (as you see from prior posts in this blog). I began working at Accelerated Christian Education as a writer. That lasted for two and a half long years. When God moved me to Clearwater Christian College, I was incredibly grateful.

And here I am.

Rob also went to college right after high school for Web Design, but with a passion for video. He is now a professor at International Academy of Design-Tampa and enjoys his video projects on the side. He is an outstanding videographer and creates amazing images. I'm so proud of him.

He and I met on a chance... rather, we met by God's perfect leading!

During the last two weeks of the school year (2010), my department was in charge of college video promotions. I was the go-to girl for contacts and talent. Our videographer was a graduate and was assisted by his [adorable, witty, handsome!] professor friend from IADT... my Rob.

Rob came to my office, winked at me, and I was gone. End of story!

Not *quite* the end, but after the second date, we both individually told our parents that this was it. And the rest is history!

We were married in December and have loved every minute of blending our two individual lives. It's been a journey of orderly randomosity, to be quite honest.

...but that's why I love it.

Alright. It's time. Time to once again embark upon the great adventure of blogging.

As a newlywed, I am finding it hard to find time to sit down and accomplish the little things that I used to do, but I am publicly committing to somehow creating the extra time.

I have a story. I want to tell it.

So, readers, I'll try and write more for me, do more for you, to create windows in this world for a few random moments.

Here is a little slice of some of my photography projects as of late:

I couldn't say it any better than this video. A dear friend of mine took my photographs from the trip and created this heart-wrenching clip.

After watching this short "photo-documentary," I don't think anyone could question why I love the Chinese people.

Enjoy.

http://gallery.me.com/erichall7#100365

Never, in my wildest imagination, did I believe that I would feel a longing to be back in Florida. I've come home... and it feels right. Let me back up a few weeks...

We left for China on a dark, humid Florida morning, leaving campus around 5:30 Tuesday, May 9. After many hours, countless and sundry movies, beginnings of random tv programs, half-listened to songs, and plates upon plates of airplane food, we touched down in Shanghai, China. A few tense moments later, the captain announced that the local health authorities were boarding the plane to check temperatures and make sure no one was running a fever. We all started really praying at that point. Being in the back of the plane, there were hundreds of people to go through before the little men in the white hazmat suits would even reach our team. Needless to say, we got through the check and deplaned to get our luggage, re-check our baggage, and run to the last plane - the plane that would take us back to my personal Bethel, Beijing.

After arriving in Beijing about 32 hours after we left Clearwater, we were bushed and ready for a good night's sleep. I took off my shoes, climbed into the (rather hard) Chinese bed, and started my first dream being back in my second homeland of China.

What followed was three days of Great Wall, Forbidden City, Olympic villages, pearls, Starbucks, and American food. The team easily acclimated to Chinese time (exactly twelve hours ahead of Florida time) and was ready to get into the work that we flew across the world to do. After our quick Beijing trip, we boarded a plane for Kunming, then took a 4 (well, it turned into 6) hour bus ride to the University we would work in for the next two weeks. It was a beautiful drive through the countryside, up around the mountains, and down through the stunning valleys of South Central China.

Once we arrived on campus, we were literally stunned at our living arrangements. They were pristine! No squatty potties for us! We were pleasantly surprised and overwhelmingly grateful at how our Father had prepared this way for us. We checked into our rooms, met our host family, and had our first real Chinese meal. It was delicious.

We quickly settled into life on campus; with English lessons in the mornings, trips to town in the afternoon, and studies at night, we had little time to do much else. Our penpals were overjoyed to meet us, after corresponding with team members for almost 4 months, we were all ready to spend some quality time together.

A trip to the Rice Paddies of Yuan Yuang was a highlight of our time in Southern China. We got to walk on the rice fields, contemplate the awesome power of our Creator, and see a part of remote China seldom photographed by foreigners. Our overnight trip to the fields opened my eyes, not only to the need of China, but also to the reality of a field 'ready to harvest.' We had a short study that first night on Love and what it means to us. It was a huge blessing to lead a study that was literally cross-cultural, as our five Chinese girl friends joined us.

Alas, I will leave you here. This can only be part one of an amazing saga of Chinese wonderment... I shall update more soon...

I'm still not comprehending that I will be leaving for China in less than four weeks. It seems so unreal, so foreign, so "dreamy."

I remember watching this movie years ago, thinking that a certain quote defined the draw I feel to China. In the movie, the main character said, "England is my country, but Paris is my home." I felt an immediate kindship with this character. For me, "America is my country, China is my home."

I'm still lacking about half of my support, but a wonderful gift from an old pastor of $500 has put me at the half-way mark. God is good; He will provide.

For all of you that are praying, please continue to pray in the finances and the preparation of hearts in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Ever wonder what it’s like to make a difference? To actually change someone’s thinking, to teach them a new skill, to open their eyes to a new concept, to touch a heart? To completely, truly, awesomely, amazingly CHANGE their present and effect their future?

I have found that it is a very addicting feeling.

One of my Chinese friends, Joy, has continued to correspond with me over the years that I’ve been gone from China. I met her in I-55, the most amazing coffee shop in Dalian – I’d almost go so far as to say that it is the best coffee shop in all of China. It was started by a man from Philly and feels like you’ve just crossed the international date line and stepped into preppy, hometown America. I loved that place… almost too much, actually! Joy (who was called Smile at that time) was a waitress and barista.

One of the special things about I-55 was that all employees were taught English through special English corners, using special “textbooks.” Joy came to know my Father through her English lessons… and became my special Chinese sister. If I'm ever down or discouraged, just the thought of my Chinese Joy is an encouragement. She is one of the most precious people I've ever met - and she truly loves to learn, grow, and pursue excellence. I count her as one of my dearest, most precious friends... and I love her as my sister.

She keeps in touch with me via Facebook, telling me all about how she is learning to grow, singing in a choir, and living each day as a gift. I love to think that I was a small part of her journey—a small “difference” in her life.

I want to do that again. Actually, I can’t WAIT to do that again! Working in China, touching lives, holding hands of those in need, and walking beside my team members changing futures.

I literally can’t wait.

To make a difference in this world, albeit small and seemingly insignificant, is a desire that has burned in the heart of good, decent, and moral people throughout the span of time.

To touch a life with a message of hope has been a driving force in "humanitarian" conquests for ages.

To make a difference in this world for my Father, to love the unlovely, to hug the orphan, to comfort the weary, and to share my Hope are overwhelming desires of my heart.

These desires will be fulfilled because of His promise.

May 12-31 will be a time of such fulfillment. Together with a team of faculty, staff, and students from Clearwater Christian College, I will be a part of a dream come true. We plan to spend three weeks working in colleges, schools, and orphanages with students and Chinese nationals in China.

Would you help? Would you support? All it takes is a simple click. Below or to the right. That's it.