The 2000s

I know, I know...the third post in less than a week. :) What can I say? Christmas and the end of a year are always very reflective times for me. And what more so at the end of the decade.

I started January 1, 2000, as a college student. I lived with three other girls who I'm blessed to still be friends with today. Little did I know then the adventure God would have for me. Later that year I went to Europe for the first time -- on Summer Project with Campus Crusade. Hands down one of the best experiences of my life. I've since been on two other trips to Europe as well as a vacation to the Caribbean and Hawaii. I would have never dreamed all of that 10 years ago.

I also would not have predicted my current career. Or the fact my husband is Chinese and I disliked Chinese food until I met him. Or that I live in a large metro area. An area that gets snow. I used to hate snow, but the dumping we got this past weekend didn't seem to mind me much.

I've learned not to tell God that I won't do something. God has made me eat my words so much in the past 10 years, but they have been good times. God has changed and opened my heart. After that summer project I had a heart for Eastern Europeans. Now I feel a kinship with Asians when I meet them. Like I'm part Asian because my husband is Asian.

I've lost some loved ones this decade. But gained a husband, parents in-law, two sister-in-laws, a brother-in law, and a niece. I know those loved ones who passed on would have loved these new loved ones, too.

I don't know what the next 10 years holds. Lord-willing children for us and more nieces and nephews. Lord-willing health for our families. And Lord-willing more adventure with God. I could not have imagined this life 10 years ago. But it is so good. God is so good.

Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel

It's Christmas morning and, frankly, I'm (Allison) in a bad mood. My manageable cold that appeared 9 days ago has morphed into something that makes me feel miserable. My husband is sick as well, so we missed Christmas Eve service, which we both were so disappointed to miss. I haven't even finished wrapping presents because, well, I don't even have the energy to do so. What compounds this misery is that I also was sick at Thanksgiving. Both times I served or am serving as host. God's also revealing some other disappointment that's played into my attitude as of late.

So I went to God about it, realizing this should be a joyous day for all believers like me -- God sent his son in the form of a baby -- this son who would later die for my sins. So how do I reconcile my desire to be joyful at this religious holiday with my expectations for the day itself -- like health and good time with family?

The good news about today is that Emmanuel -- this God with us -- is coming back. We are not left here to illness and frustration and unmet desire. If your Christmas doesn't look like you wanted it to remember that when Jesus does come back there will be no more disappointment, frustration or let downs. This is temporary. And when we celebrate Jesus in heaven -- wow -- that will be one party that won't compare to anything on Earth. So today I'm singing, "Oh come, oh come Emmanuel."

Christmas Thoughts

Frankly, I'm not sure if anyone will read this post. But here's to all of you who have patiently waited -- or have Google Reader.

As I (Allison) was driving home this afternoon -- watching the precipitation change from snow to sleet to rain to freezing rain -- I thought about how meaningful this Christmas season has been to me. Maybe it's because we now live in a neighborhood that's all decorated for Christmas. Or maybe it's because we've hosted family already and will host more in the coming days.

But I think the main reason this Christmas season has been more meaningful to me is because I've been reflecting on how much Jesus is worthy of all our worship. Not only is this baby in a manger our friend, even our Savior to those who have surrendered our lives to Him, but He is the Son of God -- worthy of all our praise. Our pastor has been speaking on Revelation lately and I've personally been studying Isaiah, which have increased my sense of awe and reverence for Jesus.

It makes me think about my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night." I get chills every time I sing the line, "Fall on your knees...oh hear the angels voices."

I pray this Christmas would be a meaningful one for you -- that you would be in awe and wonder at the birth of this King -- predicted for centuries -- this Jesus who came to die and who will come again. Oh come, oh come Emmanuel.

U2

I'm not sure if anyone reads this blog anymore as Abe and I have been silent for a few months. Abe suggested that I blog my thoughts on my first experience of a U2 concert, which happened last night at Soldier Field in Chicago.



You see my husband went to the Vertigo tour stop at the United Center before we met. For me, however, I never thought I would ever have the chance to see U2 in concert:
--Until this point, I've never lived in a town large enough to host U2.
--The tickets are always sold out.
--The tickets are always wickedly expensive.

My husband found a way to gain access to a pre-sale of tickets, and when he asked what I thought, I jumped at the chance. And I was not disappointed -- the stage alone was a sight to see.




I went thinking everyone would be singing every lyric, hands in the air, dancing to U2. That was the case, for the most part, but I did see some people there who didn't seem that into it. Maybe they take seeing U2 in concert for granted, but I don't. What else in the world is there to get you up moving and dancing? Bono is right in front of you people!

With listening to so much U2 lately (I've got it playing in our car and my iPod lately), it's amazing to me the lasting power, the unifying nature of these songs. To hear 70,000 people singing along to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" more than 20 years after it was released was amazing -- especially in light of the words to the song. At times it felt like I was in a massive church service when we were singing "Amazing Grace" (although I didn't hear many around me singing along). I'm not sure if there's another band during my lifetime that has the lasting power of U2...that strikes such a chord in the hearts of their audience.


Did I mention the stage was awesome? At the end this giant disco ball spun at the top of the spindle -- illuminating the entire stadium. Lights beamed straight into the sky. An amazing stage for an amazing band that captures the hearts of fans like no other.

Home Sweet Home

Sorry it's taken so long to write. Abe and I are getting settled in our new home. It's definitely been an adjustment, but there are so many benefits to our new place of residence:

--Able to have a choice in which bathroom to use.
--Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. Need I say more?
--Friendly neighbors.
--A kitchen that makes me want to cook.
--The room to seat all four chairs at a dining room table.
--Dishwasher. Washer. Dryer.
--No more street parking.

Abe and I have also had new experiences in this house, such as learning how to prepare a brand new mower for the first time. Since we were obvious new homeowners with the big owners' manual in our hands, some compassionate neighbors stopped by to offer their assistance. It's odd how quickly we moved from urban multi-unit dwellers to being Mr. and Mrs. Lawn & Garden. (I just got distracted by a dog yapping at a bunny in our yard -- oh suburban life.)

I think we've adjusted well. We're certainly sleeping better. No more earplugs!

Moving

In just a few days, Abe and I are leaving apartment living behind and moving to our first single-family home. While we are very excited, we also recognize this is a big transition for our lives. Abe has spent five years in this apartment. This is the only place I have ever known of his. This is where we got engaged and where I moved into when we got married. There are some things we will miss about our lives here:
--Our church and small groups
--Walks along Lake Michigan
--Being so close to the city, good ethnic restaurants, and Abe's parents

Yet we think of the many benefits of our new home:
--Our own -- no renting anymore!
--A quiet neighborhood
--Twice the space
--Shorter commute
--A dishwasher (never underestimate the value of a dishwasher)
--Great outdoor space
--Being able to have the space to fully unpack as many of our wedding presents are still packed even though we've been married for two years.

Even though we're still in the same metropolitan area, in some senses it feels as though we are moving to a different city. So we say goodbye to this chapter with much gratitude, as we await our new adventures in suburb life.

A Zoo Wedding

Allison here...blogging about the wedding I attended last night of our friends Nick and Zoe. They both like to do life in their own style, so I knew going into the wedding that it would be done in true Nick and Zoe fashion. For starters, the wedding took place at the Brookfield Zoo. May I say that is an awesome location for a wedding. I had never been there before, but the grounds are gorgeous -- like a botanical gardens. The zoo guests were taken a back by all the people dressed up for a wedding and, yes, we did hear a dinosaur roar every 2 minutes during the ceremony, but it was awesome.



The wedding was held in a pavilion outdoors and the bride looked beautiful. Most of the music was on CD from a group called the Vitamin String Quartet -- basically orchestral versions of rock songs. Part of the ceremony was to the song "We're Going to Be Friends," a White Stripes song I recognized from "Napoleon Dynamite." I nearly cried at the bridal processional song -- "The First Day of My Life" by the BrightEyes, but performed by the bride's sister and groom's father. Two songs I'm totally going to download.


After the ceremony, all the guests boarded a tram for a private tour of the zoo which ended at the swamp pavilion, where cocktails were served. It's kind of weird to eat food (especially an appetizer with meat) in front of a live alligator.



Then we were herded (fitting word for a zoo) back into the tram to the reception at the Discovery Center. The reception was amazing with great food and lots of good dancing. One of my friends is pregnant and it was fun to watch her get her pregnant groove on. Another of my friends is a choreographer -- best dancer on the floor hands down!

I've known Zoe through my small group at my church here in Chicago. It's been so cool to see her journey of faith and her relationship with her now husband progress. She looked so beautiful and so happy -- I was so blessed to be there.

At the same time, this is one of the last events I'll see this great group of friends I have been a part of for the past two years. So, I thought I would share pictures of these people who have been such a great part of my life.




I hope that we can still come in and hang out now that we're moving to the suburbs, but we're moving too far to attend our same church, so we'll have to find a different small group to attend. I'm so thankful for these ladies who have experienced highs and lows with me during the past two years. I will definitely miss them.

Getting Our Money's Worth

Since we're in the home-buying process right now, Abe and I are definitely trying to keep as much money in our pockets as we can. I thought I would share some of the ways we've been getting our money's worth lately:

1.) Free Parking (called "Pulling an Abe"): Say you want to get your hair cut and work out, but you don't want to pay to park. Take advantage of the one-hour free parking in our local garage. But these two activities will take more than an hour -- what to do? Just simply exit the garage, drive around the block, re-enter the garage and, voila, another free hour of parking. It's a savings of $2, but still. It's a savings none the less.

2.) Abe got his hair cut super short yesterday (read: he won't need a haircut for a while) and he went to a national chain that had a sale on haircuts. Holla!

3.) We got a great deal on seats for today's Bulls/Celtics playoff game. Little did we know that we would get our money's worth. The Bulls gave us an exciting game that went into two overtimes. Thankfully, the Bulls won. I also think that the Bulls provide a really fun event for their fans during timeouts and between quarters. My favorite was the "Swinging Seniors" -- a group of 60+ somethings who got their groove on to the latest hip hop music. That alone was worth the price of admission. We also have coupons for free food as a result of the game.

I know these are very small victories in light of the dollars that will be flowing from our pockets with purchasing a home, but I relish these victories and pray that we are being wise with what we have been given.

Dichotomy

As Abe and I (Allie) were driving to Easter services at our church last Sunday, I took a look out the window and realized what a beautiful day it was to take a picture of the Chicago skyline. Yet a slight turn of my head brought me to a different sight as we neared our church. Some of the most notorious housing projects in the nation are literally a block away. Our church is in an area that's being redeveloped, which means some of the housing projects are now vacant lots, some are empty buildings, and some still house residents.

As we got out of our car, we realized we parked in front of a homeless man's camp. The man told us not to worry, that he would be the security guard for our car. This man without wealth was sitting with a million dollar view of some of the world's most famous and expensive buildings.

I've noticed that the difference between the "haves" and the "have nots" is more pronounced in Chicago. Designer clothes and cars co-exist with homeless camps and immigrants trying to survive.

I don't pretend to have the answers to Chicago's problems. But this is what I do know: I don't want to be blind to the needs around me. I don't want to be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that I am better than someone else because I have a roof over my head. And, I don't want to be so caught up in my life that I see the shiny towers and miss the desperate people.

House Hunters

Since some friends of ours have blogged about their home selling experience, we thought it was time to blog about our home buying experience. We've had several interesting experiences just looking at homes -- we almost lost a homeowner's cat, had an issue with one house's toilet, and seen some personal sides of homeowners who left their underwear out for us to see. Awesome.

We actually did find one house we loved. It is gorgeous -- hardwood floors, granite countertops...So we made an offer. To make a long story short, the owners made it clear they were not willing to negotiate. Abe and I were insulted by the counteroffers. We could have tried to press further, berate them into selling us the house, or even ponied up and paid the asking price. But we knew that was not what God was calling us to do. We knew we had to walk away. This was not the house for us. I (Allie) am so proud of Abe for how he's handled all of this. It's been cool to see how God has brought us to agreement on how to handle things.

On another note, tomorrow is Easter. I know I'm far from perfect and, to be honest, most of my life is about me. Thankfully, this holiday and this life are not about what I have done, but what God has done. I am so often unfaithful to God, but he is always faithful to me.

Learning to Surrender

Hi -- it's me, Allison. While I was driving to church on Lake Shore Drive tonight (as referenced in Abe's post below), I had an idea for a blog post based on a recent conversation with an old friend. I was telling her how God was teaching me even more to surrender my life to Him. I can get so caught up in my life that I miss the fact that much of my life as it stands now was not how I had planned my life to be. Last night I was sitting with Abe at our favorite Chinese restaurant when I had to just laugh at my life at this stage:

--I was at my *favorite* Chinese restaurant. Says a lot for someone who didn't eat Chinese until I met Abe.
--This was my second Asian meal in a row and I was OK with it (we called out for Thai on Friday night).
--My husband is of a culture that not only is different than mine but one I had no interest in until I met him.
--I can speak some Chinese and can, based on circumstances, interpret what my in-laws say to each other even though I can't understand most of their words when they speak Chinese instead of English. Waiters always look at me funny.
--I live in the third largest city in America. I am not a city girl.
--My church is in the shadow of the John Hancock Building and the Sears Tower.
--My occupation is not what I thought I would do post-college.
--My job allows me to travel to cities such as New York and LA on occasion. My only true business trip in my first job was to a city named Dumas. Say it out loud and get a laugh.

This is my life. It's not perfect. It's totally not what I thought life would turn out for me, but it's so much better. While I have dreams for the future, God is teaching me that I am really not as in control of my life as I think I am. I'm learning to surrender, to jump in and let God direct the flow of my life. Not just for the highs, but also for the lows, of which I have experienced recently. I think if I grasp this concept, I'll be much more at peace and content with life.

We're back! Well, sort of....

Greetings all!

This is Abe blogging. Allison and I will have to apologize for not blogging sooner, but we've gotten pretty dang busy with work over the past few months. Right now, I (Abe) am actually recovering from the stomach flu, while Allison is at church. I really wanted to go today, but obviously God had different plans for me today.

Being sick is not fun--as a matter of fact, I really hate being sick. I am usually pretty active between work/school/other stuff, so it stinks when I get sick. I sleep a lot, watch a lot of tv, drink a lot, play my Xbox 360 more than my wife would like, and probably become more needier than I should be. The good news is that I am feeling better than even 24 hours ago.

Let's see. What is going on with me? I am about halfway through my MBA program at Loyola. I just started a Managerial Economics class last week--I can already tell that I will learn a lot from this class. As for Allison, she is busy preparing for annual meeting with her employer. We're also going to be house-hunting in the NW suburbs of Chicago in the near future, so we'll see where God leads us. Beyond that, my sister and brother-in-law will be coming into town next weekend, so we're excited about that! They are expecting their first child in the summer, so it may be the last time we see them before the baby is born.

In any case, we have become more enamored with facebook as of late, so feel free to look us up on Facebook. Have a good one y'all!