Mr. Phamtastic

Khang,

You drive me absolutely crazy. And what’s funny is I drive you even crazier. You’re the only person I know who dislikes making a big deal out of their birthday, so naturally, I like to make up for it.

I know I tell you all the time, but here’s another time for the people in the back, you are the best husband.

Thank youuu for helping me with all my endless projects (and toughing out our disagreements that usually come along!), for immediately calling me out when I’m not being my best and keeping me grounded, for feeding me when I forget, so that the unlucky ones don’t feel my wrath (usually you!), and most of all, for inspiring me to live life like the greatest adventure it is.

I love you, Mr. Phamtastic.

Thank you for being so wonderfully you.

not just on your birthday, but everyday!

Truly yours,

Mrs. Phamtastic

Khangology: Third Edition

Khang to me: You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this ability.

Wait… am I ordinary?


When you see a child, that’s love.


I can’t wait to go back to the wilderness. *Howls


Me: You just kissed my eyeball?!

Khang: I don’t discriminate your body parts.


*Part of his speech at his brother’s wedding

Someone once told me that a successful marriage is similar to a triangle. At the bottom, you have the husband (Tuan) in one corner and at the other, you have the wife (Maria). You both are working towards the center to the top, which represents Christ. And as you grow closer in God you also grow closer to together.


Khang (Serious): Happy anniversary my love.

Me (Super confused): Ummm, it’s not our anniversary today. 

Khang (Still serious): Everyday is a celebration of our love. 


You can also read his first edition and second edition

Warmly,

Jules

Khangology: Second edition

*Walking into church*

Me: Where’s your wedding ring?!

Khang: I get to be your mistress today.


Google, how do you cut men’s hair?

*30 minutes before he cuts his co-worker’s hair*


Do I have RBF (Resting b*tch face)?! *Looks in mirror* Damn, I do.


It has a bad bacteria in there…hmm what is it called again… cauliflower?


Khang: $70 for a yoga mat?!

Me: Well they plant a tree with every purchase.

Khang: What?! Give me $70 and I’ll plant a freaking forest.


You left and ate without me this morning. Eating is the most precious thing we do together!


Back in the glory days when I played football…I was third string running back…


*Singing in the shower*

UNBREAK MY HEART, SAY YOU LOVE ME AGAIN…

You can read the first edition here. Scroll down to the very bottom.

Warmly,

Jules

 

One year! Yay!

So Khang and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary last week in Austin, TX!

Taken with my Nexus camera phone.

Y’all, it’s been awhile since we celebrated a “first-anything” so I was very excited during the days leading up to June 25.

We decided to write a letter to each other every year on our anniversaries.

Not only will it be wonderful to read the letters down the road, but I also picture our grandchildren reading them.

And well that’s something worth cherishing.

I won’t blog my letter, but I’ll express my feelings on our marriage this past year.

Fair warning, extremely mushy-gushy reading ahead.

One year.

People asked me countless times,

“How’s married life?”

“Any surprises about Khang you didn’t know about before?”

12 years in and I’m still learning new things about Khang and I expect that to never change.

Marriage has (so far) been sweet bliss.

Everytime I think about my love for him, I marvel about how much it has grown since Day One of “puppy love”.

I’ve wondered if my love will ever stop growing because I love him so so much.

And in those moments couldn’t imagine to ever love him more.

When I was writing my letter to Khang,

I realized it’s his love that forces my love to widen and grow.

His love has and will never stop growing.

It constantly forces my heart to shift and expand to hold all the love he has for me.

And it’s the most amazingly beautiful thing to look forward to the rest of our lives together.

Now don’t get me wrong, we had our trials this past year and still continue to.

However we’ve learned by now that with all the challenges bring more strength between us.

And it sounds crazy, but I get excited when we get into a disagreement because it’s another opportunity for us to understand each other on a deeper level.

I vowed my life to this man forever, so of course I’m going to put all my effort and love into it.

Which leads me to the “most surprising” thing about Khang post-marriage.

To be honest, I kinda always thought I put more effort into our relationship than Khang.

I didn’t hold it against him or anything, but I took pride in myself that I was responsible for the majority of the happy balance in our relationship.

Because I thought I was the one who sacrificed more, compromised more, understood more…

I was wrong.

I can’t explain exactly when I realize this or what made me see it, but one day it came to me and I saw it all at once.

I saw all the effort and care Khang provided and wondered in awe at his kindness and love for me, our marriage, and our life.

He puts so much of himself into us.

And I was oblivious to it.

I felt so dumb and self-absorbed to have never noticed how much work he truly puts into our relationship.

Maybe it was being married that finally made me see it.

But gosh I feel so blessed to have the best husband in the world for me.

Okay, I’ll stop.

Here are some photos I took of Khang at our AirBnB in Austin.

He didn’t really want me to because he’s not “good” yet, but me being me wanted to document our life during this time.

He’s been at the strings for a good month now and I enjoy watching him enjoy himself.

Taken, of course, with Hans.

Hope you guys have start noticing the difference between digital and film now.

Portra 800 rated at 200.

He may or may not still be playing the guitar next year, but I’ll only look back on these photos and hear the lovely and not-so-lovely sounds in my head of the misplayed and on-key notes he tried so hard to play.

Thanks for reading and following along

with me,

Jules.

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Beach camping in Grayton

Khang has been working his video magic and has officially made his first guest appearance on WithJules today!

Pictures are great for memories, but gosh, so is video and it just takes it to a different level.

Here’s his video of us camping with our friends in Grayton last month.

Please watch in highest quality-preferably in 4K.

Enjoy!

So we started camping at Grayton State Beach Park about 5 years ago and have been trying to go back every year since.

The camping grounds are only a 8-10 minute bike ride to Seaside, which is THE cutest little beach town.

We love it so much. 

And we kinda got our buddies into it too. 

Our group went back this past April and it felt so good to be back.

I love exploring town on bikes, dancing and story-telling around the campfire, and falling asleep underneath the stars. 

I made reservations more than 6 months in advance and highly recommend sites #14, 16, and 18 since they have private access to Western Lake.

Or choosing sites #15 or 17 for direct pathways to the bathrooms.

We own all the camping gear needed so it only cost the 7 of us a total of $60 to rent the campsite for two nights. There are even electric outlets and hot showers. 

If that still seems too rough for you, then we met this sweet couple celebrating their anniversary with Fancy Camps and y’all, their set-up was the absolute cutest!

Complete with a queen size mattress, AC unit, and even twinkle lights hanging on their tent for a wonderful glamping experience.

We like to rent bikes since it’s easier to get to places. Parking sucks at Seaside. Big Fish delivers and picks up your bikes right at your campsite.

Thanks for reading and following along 

with us,

Jules+Khang.

PS. Special shout-out to our awesome friends, Francis+Tran, Augustine+Haley, Cecilia+Ramsey, and Brian+Ashley, who got us a badass drone as our wedding gift. 

We hope to share more videos in the future! 

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