end of the year goodness!

So Christmas was really good. But it was also just one day, and was just like most other Christmases. This year, one day can't compare to a season of pretty sweet blessings. I'm gonna try to give the highlights!

First we have a bunch of silly pictures with me and my beautiful, lovely roommate Erin on her birthday. Living with her has probably been the greatest blessing of the semester! I love you Erin!

I also love Alyssa's frequent visits to our room :D

ISF had its annual square dance party! I was so glad to join! (I also went to the Ns square dance party too, which was also fun, but I have no pictures)
Natsuko came with me to stay at my parent's house for Thanksgiving weekend, and her birthday! Natsuko, I love you!
Also over Thanksgiving weekend, a whole bunch of ISF-ers came to Phoenix to eat together and Sezchuan (sp? sorry!) Palace! We got to join them.
My whole women's Bible study went to see Denai's dance concert together! I love all of you!
We did our annual CESL trip to Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone. Here's my favorite picture from the trip. Lung's such a nice guy...
(praise the Lord, we got past the border security check placed right outside Tombstone with a van-full of id-less internationals!!)

Another CESL closing ceremony. Really I hate these closing ceremonies...they're always my last chance to see so many people. Oh well. Hopefully someday my life won't be full of so many goodbyes. Here's just a couple of pictures.

Clara and Joe (my co-worker?! weird!)
goodbye :(

As soon as our finals were done, Michelle, Ross, and I rushed down to ASU to visit Susan and her family (including Kev who had already gone up) before she leaves for California! She gave us a tour of the Sun Devil campus.
And where else to eat but Toh Zan? (the only authentic Japanese food in Phoenix). oishikatta!
aww! I love you Susan! and Michelle!
After the night in Phoenix, we rushed back to Tucson so I could usher for the graduations at Centennial Hall! I loved being there for my graduating friends! First was Pick Chung, who double majored with honors! Impressive!
ISF held a graduation party for him and Makiko. That party was really fun, and he, Makiko, and Amanda (the girls are leaving! ;_;) all gave some good speeches.

The next commencement was Ariel's! This was a big week for her! :)
This isn't a good picture, but if you look carefully you can see Meaghan sitting 4th from the left in the back row. She got to sit on the stage for being an Eller college outstanding senior!
yay seniors!

Next is a whole bunch of pictures from the Mullarkey wedding!
It's been such a blessing learning from these two throughout almost my entire time at UofA, seeing them grow as a couple together at school and long distance in Japan for two summers (Ryan was on my Japan team in 2006, and Ariel went the next year in 2007). The ceremony was beautiful celebration of the Lord bringing together two people who have truly desired to honor the Lord and each other from the very beginning of their relationship.
When I was driving back to Phoenix on the I-10 (always a spiritual experience for me), I listened to my freshman year mix CD. On it was a song Ariel sang often that year and shared with everyone, For My Love by Bethany Dillon. It made me so happy to listen to the words again, look back, and see that Ryan has been and will be the man Ariel was singing for. He has fought well for her love. :)

The voice talents of Danny and Andy were once again featured in the ceremony
Katie, Sydney, me, and Sarah at the wedding
Ariel and Lydia dancing. Both are so beautiful
Me and the bride. :)
Their wedding was also a SIJ reunion! Look at all the people at their wedding who are forever members of the Tokyo BEST club!
Me, Ashley, Ross, and Yasushi! I haven't seen Yasushi since I was in Japan 2 years ago!
Back with Joanna!
yay Joni!
I met Sae, finally!
Ryan and Ariel's first dance as husband and wife!
A picture just won't do, so here's a video of them dancing!.. but what makes this video even more fun is Jo's commentary! XD

Ryan and Ariel's first dance, and memories from Christy Randl on Vimeo.


She's referring to back in 06 when she and Ryan were teaching all of the Tokyo BEST students how to swing dance.
ah memories! (read the whole story here)

It was a fun night for everyone. Here's some pretty fun pictures of all of us dancing.
(oo I met Saaya too!)

oh there's Mary!
soon to be married as well! this picture is so fun

Goodbye Mr. and Mrs Mullarkey!(for some much more professional pictures of the wedding, check out the ones Michelle took on Krista's blog [with more on Facebook, so I hear])

Katie let me stay at her place until the wedding! We had a lot of fun together, including coloring our own Aladdin posters! (notice how random my picture is! When did they go riding on a horse?)
My first day back home, my mom, sister, and I made Christmas cookies and candy!


I don't have any Christmas pictures, but the highlights include the time with my family, getting my car fixed as a present (no more duct tape on the taillights!), my grandma not being stressed out over Christmas dinner, my sister winning the Apples to Apples game I bought for the white elephant game, and playing it with my mom's friends that stayed at our house.

Finally, after Christmas I had another wedding, Melissa and Corey! Melissa looks so beautiful and happy in this picture.
Congratulations!

I don't have many more pictures from this wedding, but this one was also like a big reunion. I got to see so many of my old friends from East Valley Bible Church back in high school!

So on the whole this semeseter and year ended great. Bring on the new year!

...starting with 2 more weddings!