Prima Ballerina, or Little Gymnast

Addie started gymnastics last week for the first time. We were waiting until she turned three and since she's almost there, she just made it. After watching Tallinn for a few sessions and getting comfortable with the teacher, mostly because the teacher always gave her a stamp, she decided she wanted to do gymnastics, too. Pretty cute! Auntie Alicia gave her her little ballet outfit as a shower gift.

Going Back

So, today I found some sweet pictures I hadn't seen of the kids preparing for Cardiff to come at the airport with their cousin, Bella. I thought I'd share them.

Around the World with the Dear Family in 26 letters

I saw something similar to this in the Land of Nod catalog and decided to customize one for our family. Since I told a few of you about it, I thought I'd post it on our blog. One of the few things in life I've really started and finished and not got burned out in the process :).

I chose cities around the world that either we've been to, want to go to, support a missionary from, have hosted a student from or are our children's names :).

"Mom, Why Did God Make Me Have Diabetes?"

Wow! I'm not sure I could have ever been prepared to answer this heavy question and tonight, as I tucked my sweet eldest son into bed, after being gone from him for a few days, that was the question he popped on me.

Teary-eyed, I answered him that God let him have diabetes, but that he loves him very much and promises to take care of Him. We talked about it for awhile and I asked him how he felt about having diabetes and he said "good". Then, a bit later he asked "When am I not going to have diabetes?" The reality of this answer made me again quite sad and not wanting to explain in detail I answered "unless God makes you better, you'll have it your whole life".

If only I could just flat out face the Lord with those tough questions myself my relationship with Him would be so much more authentic. Tonight was really the first time we've had a heart-to-heart like that and, while the content wasn't fun, the conversation had a new depth and I was honored to listen to Tallinn's deep concerns and be a part of what goes on in his head.

A little later we talked about the new possibility of getting a "diabetes" dog. I asked him if he wanted me to pray about it and he said "No, let's talk about the dog first." I went over the list of responsibilities it would require-cleaning up poop, feeding, exercising, which he agreed to do. Then, he came up with a name--Scooby Doo Adventure :). After we finished talking about it I asked Tal if he wanted to talk about anything else. He said "Let's pray about the dog."

So, we did and God is good and I am thankful for this little honest conversation we had, just the two of us. And, while I know this is just the beginning of many questions to come...I feel like we connected and addressed his four-year-old concerns with hope.

I'll finish this post with Tal's life verse as I feel it so applies to what he is going to face in the future.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

Puddle Jumpers

Okay,
So we took a chance to get away last weekend and ended up resting during the rainy, rainy days. Brian has been promising Tallinn during these few weeks of off and on rain to take him in the puddles to splash. Unfortunately, the puddles usually dry up before they get a chance to go.

This time, they just went for it, even as it sprinkled and Tallinn and Addie had a great time, coming home to some steamy hot chocolate. Plus, it gave Tallinn a chance to wear his new rain boots. I had to share these cute pictures.

At Long Last-Korea Pictures

So, it's been over a month now and I am finally getting to posting some pictures of our trip to get Cardiff. It was just me and a good friend, Debbie Hartford, as we didn't think the kids could handle the 19* Korean weather.

We had a great time and I was an emotional wreck the whole time thinking about this precious gift we were receiving. Honestly, everyday, we are blown away by the goodness of our Lord. What a gift we have been given!

Perspective

PERSPECTIVE
Looking back at the year, there are many things that could label this year “a rough year” for our family…a shattered wrist requiring months of therapy and an inability to hold my children, a failed adoption, the breakdown of all major appliances, including our water heater on top of the load of paying for two adoptions, and most currently, still waiting after 8 months to bring our new son home while dealing with the chicken pox. In all honesty, I have given in to the temptation to have a pity-party and feel like I “deserve” certain things. Even after I had set out to give more to others this year, I have believed the lied that I “needed” new things, different things, better things. In reality, I had lost perspective. How great our God is! How much he has given us and blessed us with! While I stay nestled in our cozy home with warm clothes, sipping hot chocolate, listening to crisp songs playing on freshly installed new speakers, I have lost touch with the heart of God and his heart for those in need. Those who have nothing compared with all I have been given.
And, after a hard day spent Christmas shopping :), the current edition of the Shaohannah’s Hope newsletter caused me to think. How easy it is to lose perspective during this time of year when the world is telling us what we “need” and reminding us what we don’t have. When, as Christians, we have the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ. I pray that this Christmas would be a time when you would find perspective through the gift of our Savior.
Alison

*In typical Dear family fashion, we will not be sending out a Christmas card this year, but here is a fun new picture of the kids.