I’ve always felt lucky in life. But, it still amazes me how I found Ting. What were the chances that as a boy from Oregon, I found my kindred spirit in a small city far away in here China? As Ting has said, she didn’t exactly fall in love with me at first sight. And, while I can’t say that after our first evening of playing chess and drinking tea I knew she would one day be my wife, by the time I went to visit her in Xi’an a few months later I was convinced I had encountered something very special and so began my determined efforts to win her over. And now, five years later, I’ve found in Ting a soul whose good heart, kindness, beauty, grace and generosity exceed what I could have ever hoped for in a partner in life. And, as long as I’ve known her, she continues to surprise me, make me laugh and give me joy.

As her friends and family will tell you, Ting is not your average girl. In the nearly five years that we’ve known each other, I too have discovered her uniqueness and exceptionalities and have come to love her for every one of them.

Ting has opened up for me new ways of understanding my place in the world and appreciating life, both its grand wonders and small, simple joys. My love for her has given me the privilege of being responsible for someone other than myself, someone who makes me strive to be a better person, someone whose kindness and generosity have opened my heart, someone whose happiness and troubles, joys and sorrows have become my own. And with Ting’s every smile, each squeeze of my hand, every knowing glance, I feel blessed to have her in my life.

But, beyond these day to day blessings, Ting has bestowed upon me a sense of peace and quiet contentment, knowing that our love for each other is strong, steady, patient, and understanding and one that will continue until we are old.

And, so today, here in front of our friends and family I reaffirm my love for Ting and my commitment to her in good times and bad times, in times of sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for as long as we live.