Gift Registry

We have registered at Target. The best gift we could possibly receive for our wedding is the love and support of our friends and family. We have already been richly blessed to have received an abundance of both love and support and thank you for helping us work through the difficulties of a long distance relationship and visa applications.

Visit our Target gift registry here.

VISA APPROVED!

On Monday, May 14 (Korean time) Sunny had her interview for a Fiance Visa. Following the interview we were informed of the very good news that she had been approved. This is a huge blessing from God and we are thankful for our friends and family who have supported us this past year while we have been appart. Approval for the visa means that we can follow our plan to get married in Korea on July 28 and return to the US in the beginning of August. Please see the post below for details on how you can celebrate our marriage with us here in the States.

Josh

SCHEDULE

You are invited to celebrate with us,

Wedding Ceremony
On the twenty-eighth day of July, 2007
In Jeju Island, South Korea

Atlantan Reception
On the fourth day of August, 2007 at 6:00 PM

at Towne View Baptist Church

1115 Shiloh Rd Nw
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Forsythian Reception
On the fifth day of August, 2005 at 7:00 PM

at First Baptist Church of Forsyth

Engagement Photos

In October I visited Sunny in Korea. While there we took engagement pictures. Korean custom is to take wedding photos using various wedding dresses and outfits prior to getting married. On the day of the marriage the bride wears a different (and even more gorgeous) dress. One large picture is displayed at the door to the wedding area for the guests to see.

Baby Sunny (It's not a wedding picture but I just couldn't resist)

History

The Beginning

Was it just another game night? That was what Josh thought two years ago as he hurried around his apartment in Park Pointe, getting ready for the guests who would arrive at any minute. When the knock sounded Josh casually went to the door to show in the first guests. Standing in the hallway were Jinny and Flora, two au pairs whom Josh had recently met through his roommate Ray. With them was someone new. Josh tried to greet them nonchalantly, but his eyes could not help but linger on the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

As the evening went on more guests arrived and the game night got rolling. Throughout the evening Josh and Sunny casually talked, and had even more opportunities as they were partnered for a game of “B.S.” (I believe that stands for Bible Study).

“So what do you think?” Ray asked as the last of guests filed out. “It went well Josh responded,” avoiding the obvious intent of the question. “Of Sunny, you moron” Ray specified. “Wow, she is super hot, her English is great, and she seems to have a great personality.”

“You are going to marry her” Ray, impetuously speculated. “I’m telling you are definitively going to marry her.” Ray thought for a moment and for clarity added, “If you don’t marry her I’m going to kick you, right where it hurts.”

The next day Josh finally worked up the news to ask Sunny out… well he almost. He needed to start by getting her phone number. So Ray called Jinny to get the number and of course run the idea by her to see if she thought Josh even had a chance. After five minutes of working his nerve up, Josh finally called Sunny. He reached her voicemail and left what he perceived to be one of the most inept messages in the history of answering machines.

They say a watched pot never boils. A watched cell phone is even worse, especially when waiting for a return call to an idiotically bumbling request for a date. Finally, the phone rang. Josh’s heart raced as he answered the phone. To his surprise this beautiful girl actually agreed to join him for dinner the next day.

What happened next might not have been a fairytale but felt like one to Josh and Sunny. Sunny had been an au pair in Atlanta for the last two years. At first, a friendship emerged as Josh and Sunny spent time together. Sunny’s visa was scheduled to expire in six months and she initially avoided diving into a romantic relationship. However, as time went by Cupid’s arrow could not be avoided and the couple began dating and fell in love.

The Engagement & the Visa

The new couple had a wonderful relationship and even looked cute together but had one major problem. Sunny’s visa was about to expire. Sunny decided she would like to continue living here but new from her au pair friends this could be very difficult. Naturally she was both surprised and elated when she received a job offer from Besco, a beauty supply company in Atlanta. She and Josh were even happier when they learned that Sunny had been approved a work permit. This initial approval allowed her to remain in the country and legally work. It was not, however, a visa and did not allow her to renter the country. To get the visa she had to return to Korea ad get approval.

Since the visa situation was solved, at least for now, the relationship continued. On March 21, 2006 Josh brought Sunny back to Tallulah Gorge for a special date. They hiked to the bottom of the gorge and sat down. Josh then game her the present he had been holding in his backpack, right next to another present. Sunny unwrapped it to find a photo book which chronicled memories from the year they had spent with one another. The last picture, however, came as a surprise to Sunny. It was something she had never seen before, a shiny white gold ring with a beautifully shining diamond. As she turned to this final page Josh pulled out the final present and echoed the words printed on the page. “Sunny, I love you, will you marry me?”

They say silence is golden. For Josh it was terrifying. He waited, and waited for a response. After what seemed like an eternity, he repeated the question to his stunned girlfriend. Finally, a smile came across her face as she accepted the ring and threw her arms around him.

The young couple was fully in love and ready for marriage in every way. Except one. Josh had not yet met Sunny’s parents. In order to move forward with the marriage they knew they had to risk Sunny being stuck in Korea. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. In May, 2006 Sunny and Josh visited Korea. Sunny’s family was incredibly nice and gracious as they welcomed this goofy white kid into their family. The United States was somewhat less gracious and they did not immediately approve Sunny’s visa.

So Sunny stayed in Korea, and soon found a job teaching English at a private institute. Josh returned to the U.S. and began a new job at First Baptist Church, Forsyth, Georgia, just north of Macon. The long process to get a visa went on and Sunny is currently planning on receiving a visa in May.

The Wedding

Throughout their engagement it has constantly been difficult to work out details for their marriage because of visa complications. It looks like all of that will come to an end this summer. The couple is planning on formally celebrating their marriage in Jeju Island, South Korea where Sunny’s family live. All friends and family are invited to come to Korea. The wedding will be a fusion of Korean and American style including a beautiful white wedding gown for the ceremony and traditional Korean Hanboks for the bride and groom during the reception.

Since traveling to Korea is impossible for nearly all, the new Gribble family will invite their friends and family to join them in celebrating their marriage in the United States as well. There will be two receptions, one in Atlanta and one in Forsyth. And with this comes the end to the story of Joshua Gribble and Mi Sun “Sunny” Hong.

The Next Chapter

Once married Joshua and Mi Sun Gribble will live in Forsyth, GA and begin their life together.