Our View

This is what our 3 story apartment looks like and yes, that is Emmaline standing in the doorway terrified of the snow. I never knew snow could be scary, but apparently it is to her. Poor girl, that is the only spot she will stand while she watches Isaac and Molly play when we're outside.

This is the view from our front window.

This is the view from Isaac's window looking out the back. . . . and yes that is a grave you see. Apparently we were told that they used to bury the dead sitting up. They don't do it anymore, but as you drive around, especially in the country you see these little mounds every once in a while. For some strange reason it hasn't really creeped any of us out, but it still is really crazy to say we have someone buried behind us.

Can You Figure It Out?

My Korean Washing / Drying Machine

I push some buttons and FOUR hours later it is done. Aaron said he talked to someone that has a translation who will get us one, but until then. . . . . it is anyone's guess!

Christmas in Korea

Santa Came!

Aaron made our yummy Christmas dinner.

Bedtime On Christmas Eve

This will definitely be a Christmas to remember. We didn't have much, but it still turned out wonderful. We were together and that meant more to me than anything. The kids all got on their Christmas pj's and we began our Christmas Eve traditions. Aaron read from the scriptures of Christ's birth, we sang Christmas songs and then watched a short video about the nativity. We then tucked Isaac and Molly in with Emmaline following behind us. She then crawled in with Molly on a little blow up mattress and tucked herself under the blanket. It was quiet for a few minutes until little giggles started happening and we had to pull her out and put her in the porta-crib. Even though it didn't last long with them being all tucked in together, it was still dang cute.
After an hour had past on Christmas morning, Isaac realized that there wasn't a gift from Santa to Aaron and me.
"Where is your gift from Santa Dad?" Isaac asked.
I already got my gift Isaac. I wanted us all to be together for Christmas and have some place to live. "Said Aaron.
Isaac looked at me and said, "What about you Mom?"
"I wanted the same thing as Dad did." I said.
He looked really perplexed, but then walked away smiling and continued building Lego's from Santa. This season has been pretty crazy. We still are amazed that we are here and that we are together. We are so grateful for that "gift" that was given to us.

Molly's expression explains exactly how she feels about her baby sister being tucked in with her.I still can't believe I was able to get a picture of this.

It is about bedtime! YIPPEE!

"CHEESE"

Make Do With What You Have

We were able to have 1,000lbs of stuff that the air force was going to ship on a plane of things we would need right away, but it still has not arrived and will not for a couple more weeks. There has been a sweet family here that has really helped us out. They have already fed us twice and lent us several things while we wait for our stuff to arrive.
In that shipment I put in a little Christmas tree and a couple other Christmas decorations and every time I pass by a little Christmas tree I am tempted to buy one, but I have resisted. Luckily Isaac brought this little nativity set in his suitcase and he set it up this morning in our apartment. It is humble, but sweet to have something that reminds us of this time. We told the kids to find their biggest socks to use for stockings tomorrow on Christmas Eve and they didn't seem too excited about that idea, saying, "but our socks are so small". This year is definitely one to remember.

Korean Beds

I am not positive on this, but I think Koreans like to have very firm beds. Both the beds we have slept in so far have been this way. Last night was our first night in a Korean apartment and it is super nice. They provided a bed, sofa, coffee table and a kitchen table and chairs. SO NICE! As for the bed, maybe it will be good for my back, but my neck is a little stiff this morning. The kids slept on blow up mattresses, but this is Molly's reaction to our firm bed.

Who knew snow would be so comforting

Well, we have been here for a week and I am feeling the daze of being so tired is finally lifting. The kids have stopped waking up at 3am and wanting to eat, my headaches are gone and Aaron is in the thick of trying to get everything processed (if you are in the Air Force, you will understand). For the first week we stayed in a hotel in downtown Osan and loved being there. There was an opening in the base hotel so we moved all our luggage and said goodbye to the kind people in the Korean hotel.
Saturday night I took Molly and Isaac to the base theatre to see The Princess and the Frog(which I absolutely loved) while Aaron took Emmaline back to the hotel to bathe her and put her to bed. When we came out of the theatre, the ground had a thin covering of snow and I wanted to cry with excitement. The kids took my hands and jumped up and down asking me to go play in the snow. I put my back pack down and we proceeded to catch snow flakes on our tongue, make snow angels, throw snow balls and just enjoy the winter weather, which we had missed terribly in Arizona.
We have enjoyed it here and know that all will be okay. There are a lot of families here and Isaac and Molly have already made friends. I am going to include part of an email I sent to my family that will tell of a few experiences so far. Anyway, a new chapter in life has begun and I am looking forward to experiencing it.


They are so friendly here. I thought Oklahomans were friendly, but Korean's have them beat. Yesterday we were eating at. . . . . now brace yourselves. . . . McDonald's for lunch. The kids and I were walking downtown Osan looking at all the shops while Aaron had some business to do on the base and we walked right by a McDonald's. The kids were so excited and freezing so we went inside. Luckily we got what we ordered after some difficulty. Aaron explained to me how the money works here, but it was still really crazy when the man said "You pay 10,500." Molly's chicken nuggets were really spicy, but everything else tasted the same. It was comforting. Back to people being so friendly, while we were eating, a Korean man about 40yrs old came in and played peek-a-boo with Emmaline the whole time he was eating. It was so sweet and it kept her quite entertained. Every time we walk back into our hotel lobby the lady at the front desk, who I think owns the hotel, comes running over to us to give the kids a squeeze and she rubs her hands up and down all of their arms to get them warm saying something like "Ah Chwo, Ah Chwo" I give her a hug and tell her thank you while bowing my head. Quite often she will hand the kids some juice (which Molly absolutely loves). It says Sunkist on it, but it tastes a lot different here. The Coke also tastes really different and I don't care for it much. Every time the cleaning lady sees us, she literally runs with her hands up in the air towards us squealing in Korean. It is really quite a sight to see and I have to try hard to not laugh. Amazingly Emmaline just smiles timidly, Molly stands there frozen waiting to be mauled and Isaac gets behind me or the stroller for protection. They have made us feel so welcome and done everything they can to make us feel comfortable.

Saying Goodbye

I can't quite find the right words to describe all the emotions I am feeling, but I wanted to say one last goodbye on U.S. soil. We are in our hotel room in San Diego, everyone is asleep and their quiet breathing is a comfort knowing they are all safe. I look over at the clock on the nightstand and it says 10:45pm Sat. Dec. 12th, yet the clock on our laptop says 3:45pm Sun. Dec. 13th Korean time and it pulls at my heartstrings. Aaron has thought of everything to prepare us for Korea, including the time change on the laptop. He even warned me of this heartache I would feel before we left. I was doing so well and feeling so strong when Linda and her sweet family came from L.A. to spend the day with us, but now as I sit still in the quiet and see my tender children sleep, I feel my weakness come over me and want to cry. I will miss it here. I will miss my family. I will miss speaking freely with strangers in the store, street, you name it, anywhere I can visit with people. . . .it is just my nature. I will miss knowing I can get to Boise quickly if I needed to. I will miss having a yard. I will miss being able to read signs along the road on buildings and whatever else there is to read. I will miss PBS, Disney Channel, and Discovery Channel. I will miss my country and that sense of security in knowing I am home and again I will miss my family more than I can say. Before I sign off I do want to say that I am excited for this new experience and know that I will grow from it. I have always said from the time we joined the Air Force that I hoped we would have the opportunity to live in a foreign country and now it is happening and I really am grateful. I also know that this pain is also normal and is to be expected with any big change in your life. I know God will watch over us and buoy us up when needed and that knowledge means more to me than anything. Farewell my country, family and friends. I love you all.