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

Fish Cake Furniture

Life comes at you fast. Many people say that, even those funny commercials that make you say that you're glad you're not that person. Well, it's true the older you get, kind of. I think it's actually the faster you get, physically and mentally, then the faster life comes at you. When you're younger, life just seems a little slower. There are no responsibilities and you just live because your parents tell you to. When you're old, your responsibilities are limited to your physical and mental condition, and you live because you want to. I'm in the middle right now. I live because I want to and because people tell me to. So life is coming at me at the speed of light. I hear a foreign language everyday and I can only understand a few words here and there. But it's just the same as when I was in America. I just chose to understand a few words here and there. You can't hide from life or run away from it. You have to live it because you want to or because you have to for the sake of another. And the people you have to live your life for don't even know it. They're either too young to understand or they can't see what you're doing. The greatest way to live your life is to live for another without them knowing. Brandy and I love Chloe so much that we work hard everyday to give her a good life. A life that we feel is good and the best thing we can provide. I love Brandy so much that I work really hard to provide for her and be the best husband I know how to be. But do I tell them this every moment I get? Do I say that I work my whole life for their well-being? No. That is selfish and prideful. I do it out of love and love does not boast. I am beginning to see we should do the same with every aspect of our life. I talk about how many classes I teach and the hours I put into my work everyday because it feels good to get a little empathy from others around you. But, I have found that doing this doesn't fill any part of my heart with joy or give me extra energy to finish the day. This seems to only make me weaker because I reflect on how hard I have worked that day. The thought of being exhausted enters my mind and my body crumbles. So forgive me for talking about my schedule like it's a big burden on me that I have to carry because I am providing for my family. This is not true. I love what I do and I would do it even without knowing I had to provide. My yolk is heavy but my burden is light, and I know Jesus is there when I need him to help me carry the load.
Brandy had a wonderful B-day here in Korea. We had cake, candles, and the Birthday song. They don't mass produce cakes so they're all fancy little ones like this. I like the massed produced ones myself, so I had a couple pieces and left the rest for the women. I'm doing great with my classes now. In my kids' class we are beginning the book, which makes the class so much easier. Also I have instated a behavior plan which the kids are actually following and I haven't had to punish anyone yet. The mothers have stepped in too to make sure the students know their place. I always like my adult classes, beginner's and advanced, and I am always happy to teach those. My bible study is starting to unravel and show the true character's of the people in my class. It seems that I got a few of everything: new Christian's, old Christian's, struggling Christian's, sound Christian's, and then there's me. They're homework for next week is to bring a question to class. Any question about the bible, Jesus, or Christianity in general will do. So I will be forwarding these questions to all of you who have the right backgrounds for a good answer; you know who you are. Chloe is really breaking out of her shell recently and it's really great. She doesn't completely shy away from adults and she seems to get along with kids of any age. She's still the boss of whatever happens, of course. Her and Brandy attend my kids' class and Chloe's in charge of the kids, even though they're 3 to 5 years older than her. So everything's going well here and remember to live your life, instead of chasing them papers.

Chloe Take 2

This is the anticipated sequel to her first movie. This one is title "The Train Station" and has a trailer along with it to hype up the main movie. Chloe spent hours and minutes working on this video so I hope you enjoy it. On a more serious note, be praying for us because we're going to definitely need it. First, Carol's flying in on
Friday and it's a long flight, pray for safety. Brandy and I start classes next Monday, pray for wisdom and energy. Chloe's feeling better but we don't want a stomach flu to sweep through our house, especially with a guest coming, pray for health. Lastly, I feel overwhelmed with all of the things coming my way I feel like I'm being stretched thin, pray for strength and understanding. The English service we attended on Sunday was great. They are Nazarene which believes the things we believe but they celebrate some other stuff like Lent. Since we're only going there once a month, Lent will be over by the time we go back. We took a taxi to the University the church is held and took a train for the ride back and it was a lot cheaper. But, we waited almost an hour for the train so next time we know what time to leave the church so we won't have to wait that long again. We did however get some good video clips which I'm sure you've seen by now. It wasn't that cold so we didn't freeze while we waited around. We actually had a fun time running around and talking, something we seem to not have time for. Brandy is very excited about Carol coming because that means they get to get the baby room ready. How exciting! I feel overwhelmed with emotions when I think about the next little girl in my life. With Chloe, it was a feeling of confusion and chaos. I didn't know how to take care of a child, let alone their whole life. Chloe was a blessing to me and Brandy and you can't take that away, I'm sorry next little girl. But the feelings I feel with this little girl are only love. I know how this time, which is different than when Brandy was carrying Chloe. I know what to expect and I can't wait for it to happen again. I can now see how the grandparents feel with Chloe, except I only had to wait two years compared to your 23 years.
I heard that you guys got snow in Georgia. That's crazy! I heard it was a blizzard of snow. That's just typical. Once we move to the other side of the world just to get some snow, it snows even more where we moved from. I believe that we sent you that snow, and you're welcome. Thanks for everything you's guys and talk to you later. By the way, if you want the local number that you can call from any phone you have and contact us on our computer with no international calling fees, just e-mail me or Brandy and we can give it to you.

Cell Phones and Independence

We finally got our cell phones! Everyone knows that already but I just wanted to say that again because we're so excited about them, especially Brandy. The church wants us to see something about Korea every Thursday this month so we went to Independence Hall this past Thursday for about an hour and a half. We got a guide who speaks English, even though I didn't want one because most things are written in English and I've already been here so I wanted to be the guide for Brandy. But Evangelist Yu insisted on a guide, who happened to not know so much English and the tour was probably one of the most boring experiences that Brandy has had since we've been here. She mostly dealt with an exhausted Chloe or talked about how hungry her and Yu's wife were. I, on the other hand, was very interested in what the guide was saying even though she would ask me many times what the English word was that she wanted to say; so it was more of a joint English tour guide. We help her with English and she helps us with the history. Anyways, the museum is government sponsored so it's about $2 to go there but it's huge! There are six museums, each with their own part of history. We only had time to go to 2 museums because the ladies were hungry and the kids were tired. We then went to a restaurant that served bibimbop. The restaurants work like this: the restaurant owner finds a food they are good at, then that's all they fix. So most restaurants have a short menu because they only serve one main dish and some small side dishes that taste delicious. Although Brandy and I weren't too impressed with the bibimbop, but I think it's because we're not impressed with rice, vegetables, mushrooms, and that's it. Brandy's first taste of Korea in a Korean restaurant and it was so bland. But, we had fun with Evangelist Yu and his wife. We then ventured to E-Mart and got Brandy a table, dishes, and a lot of other things that I had to dig deep into my pocket to pay out. You should have seen how happy she was when I let her buy the dishes she wanted though(1950's yellow, green, 7 red on all of the dishes. I'll try to put pics next time). I also bought the furniture for the apartment that we needed and it should arrive today. Brandy is ecstatic about all of that arriving today. She even slept in this morning so she would have enough energy to tell the movers where everything should go and finally arrange the house the way she wants it. Of course when I get home I expect the movers didn't put it "in the right spot" and I'll have to arrange it the way she wants it this month. Next month Carol can rearrange it for March. Now all we need for this month is lamps and that should do it. We will buy more stuff next month, but for now, she's happy (Brandy that is). One interesting note before I go; Pastor Kim said it's not custom for children as young as Chloe to have their own room. He'll be really surprised when we put the baby in her own room after a few months. :-)