U.S. Foreign Service Officer headed to Wuhan, China

The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. The work that diplomats do has an impact on the world as they serve at one of any of the more than 270 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions in The Americas, Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.

The duties of a Consular Officer include to provide emergency and non-emergency services to American citizens and protect our borders through the proper adjudication of visas to foreign nationals and passports to American citizens. We adjudicate immigrant and non-immigrant visas, facilitate adoptions, help evacuate Americans, combat fraud, and fight human trafficking. Consular Officers touch people’s lives in important ways, often reassuring families in crisis. They face many situations which require quick thinking under stress and develop and use a wide range of skills, from managing resources and conducting public outreach to assisting Americans in distress.

Wedding ceremony

I just wanted to use this post to share some pictures of the ceremony last week Thursday at Apple Blossom Chapel in Fennville. We had perfect weather and our photographer Nick DeVries took some really great shots. For this post, I only have some pictures from our little point and shoot, but if you want to see the professional ones you can check them out here.

There were 22 people invited to our little ceremony: our parents and grandmas and our brothers and sisters and their families. My brother Ben was the officiating minister, my sister Susie sang and played the guitar and Sean's sisters Jen and Katie did some scripture reading. The participants who stole the show, however, were the ring bearers and flower girls who were my nieces and two of Sean's small cousins.

We arrived at the chapel at about 4:00pm and Susie finished touching up my hair and makeup and helped me into my dress. I was in a little cabin about 100 yards from the chapel and it was fun to peek out and watch everyone arrive. My dad walked me down the very short aisle and after that my brother gave a very personal and touching message and directed the vows.

After the ceremony we stayed for another 45 minutes for some family pictures on the grounds and around the orchard - I don't think I have had to smile so much before in my whole life! When pictures were finished we all drove to the Sandpiper on the lake for dinner. After dinner, Sean and I drove to our suite at City Flatts hotel in downtown Holland. It was so much fun to have a deluxe room for probably the only time in our life. Out of all the wedding festivities, Thursday was my favorite day, hands down. It was so special and non-stressful to spend time with a small group of family for the evening and I'm grateful to all the people who helped it go smoothly.

Read More 2 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

2 comments

Unknown on June 13, 2015 at 3:02 AM

Beautiful family.
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Allyseek on January 23, 2019 at 1:54 AM

Wow! amazing post..
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Wanderlust

In Mandarin: 旅遊癮 (lǚyóu yǐn)

According to my Mandarin teacher, the term 'wanderlust' can best be translated as 'a travel addiction or craving'. In the above translation, 'yǐn' has several meanings such as 'a strong impulse', 'a longing', or 'a desire'.

U.S. Foreign Service Officer headed to Wuhan, China

Wedding ceremony

2 comments