To my dearest Hannah,

For a long time, I thought a long time about what kind of 2-year anniversary I wanted to give you - as well as what gift I would get you. And for a long time, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted this 07/09 to be until I found out I was going to be in Taiwan again. It reminded me the summer of last year and all that has happened in the past year.

It made me really sad to know that we were going to be apart for our two year anniversary, so I found a way for us to be together - no matter the distance. There is a saying we have in Chinese - “有缘千里来相会” - “Separated as we are, thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by destiny”. I made a tiny world for us, where we can always come together - no matter the time, place, location. The memories we had - these past two years - will always have a special place in this small world. I call this world “Field of Flowers”. Because when I think of you, this is what I think about.

A beautiful field of flowers, each flower vibrant - full of color - and unique in their own way. Each flower to me represents a facet of Hannah. Your smile, the way you laugh, your kindness, your silliness, your cute moments, your sad moments. And in the center of this field is a Sakura tree - 桜 “Sakura” derived from 咲, which means to bloom or alternatively, to laugh and smile. In my heart, this is you. This is who you are to me. A field of flowers, a getaway from a life that's otherwise complicated, busy, and stressful. Where I'm able to relax and be myself and love earnestly and wholeheartedly.

Over the past year, I have found myself falling back in love with you again. I found myself loving you more, appreciating you more, and missing you more. It's strange in many ways. People get into relationships, love passionately, live passionately, then burn out - smoldering to ashes. But with each passing day, my love grows for you more and more. I am growing with you every single day - I am knowing you more and more, every single day. And yet again, I am reminded of what love is:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Our love is not that of a fire, but a tree - much like the one here. A strong and firm tree that lasts the test of time. A tree with an unshakeable foundation - roots that run deep into the earth beneath. A tree that grows and changes through the seasons - but never wilts or falters. A tree that withstands the weather and harsh storms in life. A tree that grows steadily with love.

In all this, I could not have asked for a better two years with you.

사랑해요 my dear,

Andrew (高瞻)

Enter the code to proceed:

Submit

Dear Hannah,

Merry Christmas love. As I reflect on this past year, it dawns on me that it's been two and a half years since we started dating. And as I reflect on this, I realize just how much has happened over the past two years - how much we've been through, how much we've learned, and how much we've grown both as individuals and together in our relationship.

I sometimes think about our journey together through college, and think about what kinds of things had to be perfectly right in order for us to end up where we're at now. Not only ending up at the same college, FAB, or being introduced to Central, but even just the tiniest things I realize and look back now had to be just right. From sophomore summer, when we went on a break, it just so happened that my mom and sister were going to travel to Taiwan; if I didn't go I would've spiraled even deeper. You got Forbes and Beeler, being basically the group with first choice to get four singles; if you didn't get Forbes Beeler, we would've been so far apart again - especially during a busy Fall semester. I also remember the day you found out you were interning at Google for this past summer - I was so excited that we'd be together in the bay for the entire summer. If you had ended up in Michigan, things would've been so much harder.

So many things had to be just right; the stars in our life aligned perfectly in so many ways so that we could end up where we are now. I find it poetic that, like how the wise men followed a star to find Jesus, I followed the stars in my life to find myself here and now, as a Christian and with you.

I feel like over the past few months my love for you has only continued to grow, and more than ever I cherish every single moment that I'm able to spend with you. It doesn't matter whether we're just doing work in silence, cooking together, cuddling and watching anime together - anything, I enjoy every minute and every moment spent with you. God led me to someone who not only is amazingly beautiful, but also my best friend. When minutes have gone by, it feels like seconds; when hours go by, it feels like only minutes. When two and a half years have gone by, it feels like I continue to rediscover and learn who you are every single day.

In our journey together, there have been many moments where I felt like I wasn't good enough for you. I looked at you and saw a girl who loved others more than herself, had humility like no other, and forgave as freely as she was forgiven. No matter how much I fell short as a boyfriend sometimes, you were endlessly patient with me, and you painstakingly waited patiently for months, years for me to mature and learn how to love. There were so many moments when you could've given up and walked out on me, yet you chose to stay when you had every reason to not.

Sometimes I can't believe how unbelievably fortunate I am to have you in my life. I can't believe how I ended up with such a cute, amazingly beautiful, adorable, loving, and incredibly kind person by my side. Every day, I find myself amazed at how much joy and warmth you bring into my world. You make everything feel brighter, and there's no one else I'd rather share this journey with. You're the one I want to see myself with after college, the one I want to see myself with years down the line, facing life hand in hand and growing together with every passing day. I cherish the memories we've made and also the countless more memories we will make.

Dear, the greatest gift God sent me is you, and I am so thankful for you every single day. I pray that this Christmas brings you as much joy as you bring to me, and that the year ahead is filled with even more love, growth, and adventures together. I'm beyond grateful for you, and I can't wait to continue this beautiful journey with you by my side.

Merry Christmas, my love.

With all my heart,

Andrew