What a Year

We were just reflecting on the awesomeness of 2007. Since we got engaged 30 minutes into 2007, we knew it would be a crazy year. It's been more fun than we could have imagined. So, we thought we'd share some of our most memorable quotes of 2007:

"Wow, someone my size!"
--Abe's dad while hugging Allison's grandmother at our wedding rehearsal.

"Sit down. Sit down."
--Our mechanic when we came to pay for repairs.

"How is Mr. Abe Lincoln?"
--Our Russian mechanic to Allison in reference to Abe.

"We have an appointment to go sumo wrestling, so I'll call you tomorrow."
--Abe to Allie on the night before the wedding reheasal. Sumo wrestling (in the big puffy suits) was a part of his bachelor party.

"I am not lucky. I am a winner."
--Abe's mom while playing Uno at Christmas.

"Miami bags never make it."
--An airline employee when we filed our claim for lost baggage when returning from our honeymoon. The bags showed up a day later.

"After you've had 9 kids..."
--Rev. Rich Case in our wedding sermon. Allison's knees buckled when she heard this. It's noticable on our wedding video.

And finally...
"We now pronounce you man and wife"
--Rev. Rich Case at our wedding

We've loved having you a part of our lives in 2007. May God bless this new year.

So long, So

So Taguchi, one of my favorite members of the St. Louis Cardinals, and my car's namesake, has signed a deal with the San Diego Padres. I was so (pardon the pun!) disappointed. Of last year's Cardinals, three of my favorite players are gone. I secretly think Abe is coordinating this so that I will transfer my affections to his beloved (and now our hometown Cubbies.) It's kind of sad since we don't get many Cards games up this way and I won't really have the opportunity to get to know this new team. So long, So...you're taking a piece of my love for the Cardinals away.

Our First Christmas

Hi everyone...It's Allison here and our Christmastime with our families is over. We had a great time with some hilarious moments, like when Abe's mom (whose native tongues are Chinese, Vietnamese and French) tried to speak Swahili using the phrase book we got Abe's sister and brother-in-law for their upcoming trip to Kenya.

Even though we were dating last Christmas, we weren't able to spend the holiday with both sets of our families. It's really fun for both of us to be included in two families with are both so wildly different. Sometimes being with Abe's family felt surreal. I would never have thought I would be drinking aloe vera juice at a Thai restaurant talking about the Chinese words Abe has taught me. Abe has always told me that life with him would be an adventure, and it definitely has proven to be.

My favorite moment of the weekend was playing Uno with his family. Uno is a game I played at Christmases growing up with my mom, cousins, grandma and great aunt, who used to say "You-know" instead of "Uno." Abe's family is incredibly welcoming, but I sometimes feel somewhat out of place with them since I'm not used to the cultural differences yet. But playing Uno made me feel very much at home. We had a lot of funny moments, too.

After spending time with Abe's family and eating all sorts of unhealthy Asian food, we both were glad to visit my family and have a typical American Christmas. My brother and his girlfriend flew in on Christmas Day, which was awesome.

Abe and I drove back to Chicago last night since he had to work today. It was dark and we both realized this was the same time in the evening we typically left each other's home to drive back to our own home when we were dating. We both looked at each other and said how thankful we are to be married and to share one home together. And we're both enjoying the diversity in that home which is reflected in our leftovers in our fridge -- Thai food from our meal with his family and leftover cake from our wedding that my parents' defrosted; Vietnamese sausage from his parents and ham from Christmas with my family.

How cool that we are now a part of two very distinct families that bless us in such different ways. And, both of us bonded with our respective mothers-in-law through some funny moments: I bonded with his mom when she found out I knew how to say the Cantonese word for "fart," while Abe bonded with my mom when he needed some instructional help on how to properly wrap my presents. Anyway, we are feeling very blessed this Christmas to have so many people who love us so much.

Christmastime in the City

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's Allison here writing Christmas greetings. Abe and I have had a fun time with his family this weekend. The picture above is us with the Christmas tree at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. We went down there last night to see the Christmas lights and windows at Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's) on State Street. We also have had some of the most unhealthy Chinese food thanks to dim sum (like a Chinese version of tapas) and dinner at our family's favorite restuarant in Chinatown. Once again, my husband ate one of his favorite dishes at dim sum, jellyfish, although it was pointed out to me that jellyfish has a similar consistency with Thai pad siew, which is also Abe's favorite (and mine as well).

Anyway, I've been more aware this year of just how odd it is that our culture celebrates the coming of our Savior even though they don't fully buy into the Savior's death, resurrection and, well, everything that makes him our savior (including our need to be saved). I was at a store shopping and heard a Christmas song with words about Christ and wondered how crazy it is since it's not like they would play "Amazing Grace" or a song by David Crowder any other time of the year.

Yet, while it seems the whole earth is proclaiming His name, this year, I've also heard some versions of songs meant to revere Christ that make me cringe. A local store used "Joy to the World" to promote a carpet sale. The jingle went something like this, "Joy to the world...installation is free...if you buy your floor today." Hello! You are likening a carpet sale to "Joy to the World the Lord has come"?

Anyway, it just encourages me to make sure my heart is connected to the awesome wonder that God would send his Son to Earth to rescue us -- and to do so in the most humble way possible. May you seek God and be found by Him this Christmas.

Life in the city...

It's been about four months since I (Allison) have moved to Chicago. I have to say it hasn't been the easiest of adjustments. I went from a town of 100,000 to an area of a few million people. And, with it I've changed my marital status, place of living, job, church, and the list could go on and on... My poor husband has had to adjust not only to me but to me adjusting to him and the city he's lived in for nearly his entire life.

I don't feel like I'm a Chicagoan yet. I'm sure Abe could tell you how I drive way more conservatively to be called one. But every so often, like the sun that peeks out from the clouds on winter days, I am able to put my frustrations aside and embrace the difference. I love the diversity in ethnicities. And feeling like our diversity is accepted. I love the options for restaurants from nearly every cuisine on the globe. I love that we can go to Chinese festivals on a whim and order our food in Chinese at restaurants where no one speaks English.

So I'm trying to focus on the positive while I'm frustrated this city is so large that it's tough for us to feel connected to our church that's 30 minutes away, especially since our jobs are another 45-60 minutes in another direction. I get frustrated that housing is so expensive that we have to live a very frugal life just to afford a modest house someday. And I don't know if I'll ever fully get used to the crazy drivers who leave no room for error.

But every so often I catch myself acting like a local. Like yelling at the drivers in front of me who act as though they have to be in the iPass (tollway transponder) lane even though they can use the iPass in a regular tollbooth. I find myself rooting for the (gasp!) Cubs. And, I no longer have to put an appointment on my calendar at work each evening to remind myself to check traffic before I leave my desk.

So here I am. Not quite still a downstater. Not quite a Chicagoan. And, not quite sure if I want to be a stereotypical Chicagoan. But we're here and, Lord willing, we'll be here a while. So this Christmas, I'm hoping that I'll feel at home here in this new city and maybe, just maybe, blend in with the locals.

Jim-Jim is going where?????

Uh-oh....straight from ESPN.com. There is going to be at least one unhappy person in Champaign if this is true (and you know who you are):

SAN DIEGO -- Hours after talks broke off with Mike Cameron, the San Diego Padres agreed in principle to acquire center fielder Jim Edmonds and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer.

The deal was waiting approval from the commissioner's office because it will involve around $1 million going from the Cardinals to the Padres, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.

The Cardinals will get minor league third baseman David Freese.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak declined comment to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Friday night, but sources close to the situation said Edmonds agreed to the move without compensation for waiving his no-trade clause.


The paper said that leading Cardinals prospect Colby Rasmus is expected to be given the opportunity next spring to vie for Edmond's vacated center-field slot.

Edmonds, 37, was slowed by injuries last season but the eight-time Gold Glove winner recently pronounced himself fit.

The trade comes after the Padres were spurned by three outfielders in less than a week.

Cameron's agent broke off negotiations for a deal to bring back the center fielder on Friday. Left fielder Milton Bradley on Sunday accepted a one-year deal from the Texas Rangers worth approximately $5 million. The Padres had offered $4 million.

The Post-Dispatch reported that Mozeliak and Padres general Kevin Towers intensified talks Friday afternoon after the Cameron talks collapsed.

The Padres also lost out in the bidding for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

What Really Matters

So I (Allison) have been thinking of blogging for a while, but I haven't had the time to sit down and do it. Now I'm here and I'm confident of what I'm going to write.

I first thought about telling you of my discovery of Guitar Hero, one of the most awesome games ever. Then I discovered peppermint hot chocolate at Starbucks and thought that was worthy of a blog post. Or I could blog about my most recent annoyances like the Great Soy Sauce Flood of 2007, which happened in my refrigerator last weekend. But a letter in today's mail showed me what's really worth writing about.

You see Abe and I decided to sponsor a child from World Vision after our honeymoon in the impoverished Dominican Republic. We sponsor Jaifri, a 10-year-old Dominican boy who lives in a community ravaged by AIDS. So far, we've received a picture of him (he's so adorable!), and sent him a card and a Christmas/Birthday package. Yet tonight was the first time we heard from him.

We received a letter in the mail from Jaifri's mom. She asked about our family and talked about her son, sharing that he enjoys eating mango and playing ball. But it was this that got me, "We thank for the support you will give to the boy, family and community. Thank you."

It struck me what it's like for Jaifri's mom, Orquidea. She lives in an area worthy of help from a ministry to the poor and needy. She has seen the devastation of AIDS in her own community. Yet what can she do for her son? I can't imagine being a mother, wanting so much for my child and be unable to do much about it. I find hope in knowing that our measly $35/month is caring for this child and providing for him in ways his parents could only dream of.

So, in this Christmas season, I challenge you. I hope that you join the ranks of us who are using part of our Christmas list to make charitable donations in the names of our loved ones. Because, truly, what do we need? Maybe the gift of Christmas is realizing you already have your gift -- finding joy in what you already have. And maybe it's giving hope to a family in need so far away.