Issue 6

JESS & AARON Issue 6 / July 2019

Purpose Hello! The purpose of this magazine is to let you know what we have been up to and to share about how God has been working in our lives.

Enjoy the photos and stories, and we hope to see you soon!

Contents 1

Lee Update

3

Things We Learned

5

Aaron’s Happenings

7

Jess’ Happenings

9

Linus Nile Lee

11

2 Timothy 4:21

13

Linus’ Firsts

14

Linus’ Name

15

Linus’ Homecoming Story

17

Family and Friends

19

Goals for Next Year

Age Daily outfit

Song on repeat

Show of the year Favorite purchase Place to study Favorite restaurant tried Addicted to Favorite drink

1

Aaron

Jess

Linus

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29

2 months

Blue button up, flower tee, black pants, brown shoes, mauve hat

Sleeveless shirt, black leggings, sandals

Burt’s Bees onesie, mittens, diaper

Honne Crying Over You

Macklemore ft.

Skylar Grey Glorious

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens Right Here, Right Now

Gravity Falls

Charmed (remake)

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Warby Parker glasses

Glowforge

Pacifier

Our kitchen island

Bopomofo

-

Shabu Lin

Hot Spicy Dip

-

SweetHoney Dessert

Hulu

White noise

Brown sugar black milk tea

Green milk tea

Enfamil formula

2

THINGS WE LEARNED Aaron learned that Jess 1. Wants to go out even with a baby 2. Has a creative drive even with a baby 3. Loves to keep our house clean even with a baby

Jess learned that Aaron 1. Likes to review his Sunday School lessons ASAP 2. Likes to drink juice before he sleeps 3. Makes time to exercise even with a baby

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4

Aaron’s Happenings The most frequently asked question I get is how it feels to be a father. I feel thankful to God, I feel the need to trust Him, and I feel the responsibility to teach my son about Him. I was hit with a spark of creativity after Linus came into our life. I was able to finish a new EP from my band, Earth to Jupiter. I became addicted to acquiring books from Christian publishers and writing reviews. And I am currently working on recording some original worship songs.

I continue to work as a Registered Nurse Clinical Analyst.

I continue to serve at church as a Sunday School teacher, social media officer, and music leader. In my spare time, I enjoy writing a weekly column for The Sola Network, producing podcasts, and publishing on my blog.

6

Jess’ Happenings This past year has been filled with God’s blessings. He has continuously shown his faithfulness to me and has taught me patience.

Towards the end of 2018 I was creatively stuck. I felt like I needed to do something especially since Snociety was over.

I had several opportunities to do event planning and styling and found that to be a fun hobby where I can combine my joy in design, administration, and crafting. I’m currently figuring out where I stand as a graphic designer and a production artist. I have many projects that I hope will come into fruition this coming year.

Becoming an instant mom has felt so natural. There was a reason why God had us wait 3 years to become parents.

And when we became parents, it felt like the perfect time.

It still feels surreal that God chose me to be Linus’ mom.

I continue to work at my 2 part-time jobs, leading the boba ministry at our church, serving as the 4th grade Sunday School teacher, and will finish this year as a high school counselor.

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Linus Nile Lee

9

Birthday

April 26, 2019 at 10:44 am

Birthplace

Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles

Weight

6 lbs. 14 oz.

Height

21 in.

Ethnicity

Hispanic

10

Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

2 Timothy 4:21

FIRST OUTING

FIRST SELFIE

FIRST CAR RIDE

13

FIRST NAP WITH DAD

FIRST NAP WITH MOM

LNL We chose to call him Linus because Aaron

Moses was born during this time and his

wanted a name that is in the Bible and

mother hid him for 3 months before she

Jess wanted an uncommon name.

could no longer hide him from Pharaoh’s

We chose his middle name Nile after the Nile River. In Exodus 1, Pharaoh decreed that all newborn males must be killed in fear that they would overrule him.

wrath. In Exodus 2, Moses was put in a basket and placed in the Nile River. It so happened that Pharaoh’s daughter and her attendants would be the ones to find Moses and adopt him.

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15

Linus’ Homecoming On March 29 we received a call from our adoption agency that a birthmom saw our portfolio and wanted to meet us.

We met the birthmom two weeks later at a Subway restaurant and talked about our likes, dislikes, home life, career goals, the birthdad, and why she wanted to choose adoption. It was a casual but very meaningful conversation for us. After the meeting she decided to choose us as her baby’s adoptive parents.

On April 26 we planned a staycation at Disneyland, but that morning we got a text that the birthmom gave birth.

We were in shock because we thought she would be due a week later. Several hours later we met our baby boy and his birthmom at Centinela Hospital in LA. We bonded with Linus and stayed at the hospital for two nights. We have been introducing him to our family and friends and he has been loved, accepted, and adored ever since.

It was in God’s perfect timing that we had our bags packed for an overnight stay, that he sent Linus to us on April 26, and that our nursery was already set up. We have been waiting for his arrival and we are glad to have him home.

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17

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Last Year’s Goals (July 2018 - July 2019)

Jess • Stay organized • Play piano • Make art

Aaron • Learn to play Mahjong • Learn to cook • Make art

Goals for Next Year Jess • Make instead of buy things for Linus • Vacuum more • Create more

Aaron • Grow in my speaking and teaching • Record original worship music • Create a physical product

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CREDITS Lifestyle photos by Alison and Edwin jessandaaron.tumblr.com since July 5, 2013