Doing fine

Video: Maple, The Beginning
We're doing good. I'm excited about coming to America. Can't wait. I'm also bringing Maple back because it doesn't cost anything for her to fly and everyone in America really wants to see her. Whatever! Like that would ever happen! She was just born, are you crazy for even thinking that would happen? You people are crazy! Anyways, here's the first video of Maple out in the this crazy world.

Two Daughters and a Beautfiul Wife

I actually stole that title from a song, but it's also true. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been busy as usual. Well, she finally came. The little 7 lb 15 oz Maple Anne Thixton entered the world here in Korea at 10:30 am, May 22, 2009. I think we're sticking with the Korean time because trying to do the American time would just be confusing. So, it was only a 26 hour labor this time. 11 hours shorter than Chloe, so no complaining here. The Korean hospital isn't as accommodating as the American hospital but they did a good job. In America, there's more nurses, doctors, and machines. Sometimes it can feel cluttered. Sometimes you also need the nurses. The family is supposed to take care of the mother after the birth but the church made me work and Carol had Chloe to take care of. So, a day after having a baby, Brandy is sent home. This is great news for us because it's easier to take care of her at home then to keep taking taxi's back and forth from the hospital. Maple is very pretty, but I think she might lean towards Brandy's side of the family. I guess it makes sense because Chloe resembles my family, it's only fair. Anyway, everyone's healthy and happy. Enjoy the pics and videos that I'll post soon.

Maple Anne

She's so little

She's So Little

Just a video this time. A reminder of how little she was and still is.

I can't get it to work on youtube because of the music, but I can put it on Vuze for those of you who want to download it. I already explained in another post how to do this, so if you have questions, check the earlier posts.

Ansley's pics of us

These are some pics we got from Ansley's wonderful new camera. She was kind enough to share the pictures with us, and the world!

Ansley's Pics of Us

Today's Events

I did my spirit walk today. I do it every two weeks when the sun and the moon align just right to where the stars shine brighter than ever. Also, we need water. So every two weeks I walk to the grocery store to get six 2 liters of water. I also get a few other little items so I don't just carry the water home. I then walk back home which is about 1 mile, I think. The water is very heavy after about 20 feet. The first time I did it I underestimated the weather and I felt like I was in the desert because I was wearing long sleeves and pants. Today I wore pants and short sleeves so I'd be more prepared. Good thing too. It was fairly warm today which made the trek even harder. I then continue to trade arms as I walk home, half of me hoping someone would pick me up and the other half hoping no one would notice me. I call it a spirit walk because by the time I see our home, my arms are exhausted and I pray to God to help me make it the rest of the way. It's probably very similar to the spirit walks they have in Africa and Australia. I call this the Korean Spirit Walk. So when you come visit me I can guide you on this adventurous Spirit Walk. It'll cost you of course. Maybe a 6-pack of water will cover the cost.
Also, to start the morning off, Chloe was in her bedroom playing and decided it was a private party and locked the door. The problem with this is that it wasn't a private party and she didn't know how to make it public again, meaning she couldn't unlock the door. This lock is like a deadbolt, so it's impossible to just card it or pick the lock, because it uses a normal key. So, for half an hour we tried to get the door open ourselves because the pastors were in a meeting and we didn't know who to contact. Chloe couldn't quite figure out how to unlock it, no matter how many different ways we explained it. Then 30 minutes later a worker man came and unlocked the door with a key he had. I don't think Chloe will have a private party again anytime soon. She definitely didn't enjoy this experience, but I think we're all glad we made it.
To end the day, Chloe and I went to the playground. One of our favorite things to do on my day off. Sometimes if we wait on the playground and don't make any noises, the natives will come out to play. We stay quiet under the slides so they can't see us. The natives come out and play and we observe them from a distance so we don't scare them. Well, I think they could smell our American scent and they surrounded us. We didn't have much of a choice except to join in their games. It actually was pretty fun even though we couldn't understand each other because of the language barrier. After playing their games, they disappeared back into the concrete jungle. Chloe and I will continue to visit the playground and we hope to these natives again. I think Chloe had a fun time and I just enjoyed watching.

Story Time

Once upon a time and place and space, there lived a one-armed Cinderella and her Prince Charming. The reason she lost her arm is unknown to us. The two of them lived very happy in the Land of Giants. One day they were on a stroll in the Giant Park and they heard a noise. This noise was strange to them so they went to see what it was. All of a sudden a shadow jumped out and took both of them. The king of the Land of Giants heard this news and quickly sent out his best person for the job of retrieving the two royalties: Chloe. Chloe is the best retriever the land had ever seen. She started her journey looking in the Giant Park. She followed clues that soon led her to the Giant Maze of Fun. She heard a noise but wasn't quick enough for the shadow. When she woke up, she was in the Cage of Plastic. The king heard of the terrible incident and sent his next best thing, ninjas. These ninjas were trained to retrieve anything and everything. They could retrieve people if ordered, but they mostly retrieved lost household items, such as keys, remotes, and loose change. Since their training wasn't in combat, they were quickly captured. Chloe then remembered why she was the best retriever anyone has ever heard of, she could teleport. She then teleported out of Cage of Plastic and climbed the tunnel of darkness. There she found Cinderella and Prince Charming. Good thing it was tea time because the shadow was having tea with his friends. Chloe was happy that she was able to retrieve Cinderella and Prince Charming. Cinderella was so appreciative that she granted Chloe anything she wanted. Chloe wanted to know one thing and one thing only, why was Cinderella missing an arm? Cinderella was about to answer this most awkward question as they walked into the palace when they noticed the king drinking his afternoon tea...with the shadow! To be continued...

All of the pictures:

4-23

And you thought you knew me

Videos: Playground Again
Tattooed Strawberries
Flower in the hair

Right when you think you know somebody, even yourself, you don't. I thought that I knew myself pretty well, but I didn't. I was at my beginner's English class and they usually provide food. Today they had an herb mixed with some dough. I ate it and it tasted okay, just like a lot of food here. Then I found out later that the English name is mug wort. The name by itself just doesn't sound very tasty, but it was okay. I tell people this story and they say it sounds like something Harry Potter would eat. Then they brought out the pizza. They really like their pizza, but I never really like it because it's covered in onions and peppers. So I usually pick out the onions and peppers and then begin. Well, the owner of Mr. Pizza, the place we ordered from, was in my class at that time, so I didn't want to pick at it like usual. I was also really hungry because I had not eaten breakfast and it's hard to turn food down from people who don't speak your language. It's an insult because you can't explain why you don't want it. So I excepted very kindly and prepared for the worst. I did pick out the peppers because they were only sitting on top. The onions are so hard to pick without being messy or noticeable, so I held my breath and ate a piece. With each crunch a sensation of shock came over me like I was being electrocuted as I sat quietly in my chair. Everyone looked at me for approval. I smiled with the "Yeah, it's great because I can actually swallow it with a peace of mind that it won't kill me and that's the only reason I can eat this now" look. They all smiled and as I finished the last agonizing bite, happy with my accomplishment of overcoming one of my greatest fears, they hand with another piece. Have you ever had to walk up a steep hill and you can see the top? You walk up to the top of that hill and you feel a great accomplishment, only to notice that it actually wasn't the top of the hill but it only looked like the top of the hill because there was this tree that poked out and made it look like that top of the hill when in fact it was only half way up the hill. Well, it might not have happened to you but it happened to me with this pizza. I kindly accepted the pizza and stared at it with great determination. I could do this, I just need a little courage and Pepsi. So I got a cup of Pepsi and tried to figure out how much pizza I could take a bite of and how much Pepsi to drink so wouldn't run out before the pizza was gone. I'm pretty good at this because I'm a Math major. But still I calculated everything very precisely because a mistake would be disastrous. Each bite was just another way to torture myself. I kept asking myself why I was putting myself through this. I could have turned down the second piece without a great dishonor. I guess looking back it was a personal triumph to help train my mind to withstand even the worst tortures just in case I was captured by the enemy, whoever that may be. I finally reached the finish line, the crust, after about two bites. I had measured the Pepsi perfectly to where I had one more sip left to wash the taste out of my mouth before eating the best part. The crust is actually really good, and reliable. There are no surprises with a crust because it's just bread. It's safe. So, I felt free and sick after eating my first pizza with onions on it. I think I'm becoming a man now. Next time I'll eat the pizza with onions without crying in a corner afterwards.