Christmas in Korea Part 10

.......REAL Christmas Eve Dinner.......

While we were in Korea, my parents had a few things come up that were very unexpected and took them away for a while. So on Christmas Eve my mom and I were having a hard time feeling like it was Christmas Eve. We were so rushed with everything that we decided to just postpone Christmas by a day :). So we had dinner on Christmas (which we deemed to be our Christmas Eve) with a bunch of Mom & Dad's missionaries.

We had, Elder Randolph, Elder Kim, Elder Innis, Elder Rhee Sok, Sister Rhee, Sister Rhee, Sister Brady, and Sister Graham over for dinner. Sister Rhee (the first one)'s dad passed away very unexpectedly on Dec 23, and my parents were able to take her up to Taejeon to meet up with her two siblings who are serving there, and then take them home to Seoul to their Mom. It was a heartbreaking experience for my parents, and when she came back (with her friend Sister Rhee who is from their home ward and a former missionary of my dad's haha-it's confusing), my parents invited her to stay at the Mission Home for a couple of days. During that time I came to love Sister Rhee SO much!

Funny story about Sister Rhee- when she first got to the mission home- she was obviously very sad. She had just returned from her father's funeral. Porter crawled right over to her and put his arms up. She picked him up and he just laid there with his head in her lap! He let her just talk to him and stroke his little head. Those of you who know Porter know that would NEVER happen- he can't sit still! But he did for Sister Rhee. Since he was born he has been our "Little Healer." He always knows when people are sad and has a way of comforting them. Anyway- the funny part... so I guess while he was laying his head on her lap he "tooted." Both Sister Rhee's cracked up laughing and said, "Boom Boom Porter" (which is their way of saying he farted). Well then I hear, "Oh Porter!!! Oh Porter!!!" Dustin and I hurried into the living room, and Porter had pooped all over my parents couch and Sister Rhee's arm!!! He still had BAD diarrhea from being sick- and it went everywhere!!!

I felt awful but Sister Rhee was laughing SO hard! It was pretty funny!!!





Christmas Eve Morning in his Jammies from Grandma Mindy
He was learning to crawl while we were there- look at that determined look!

Porter helping Gram cook by eating crackers...

Playing with Gram



Me & My big boy while Dad was cooking

Dad cutting the turkey, Elder Innis & Elder Randolph were supervising....



Christmas/Christmas Eve dinner!!! The turkey costs $80 US!!! How crazy is that? Apparently it is hard to find a Turkey in Korea so when my mom found it at Costco she didn't care how much it cost, she just bought it :)


Sister Rhee- I love her! She was so incredibly strong and so ready to get back and serve after he dad's passing. Her siblings went right back out to their missions as well- what an incredible family!!

Mom, Porter, Sister Rhee, and Sister Rhee Skyping with my siblings, nieces, and nephews on Christmas Eve (in Utah and Korea since we moved it). We got to watch them open all of their presents from Gram & Bop.


After all the missionaries headed back to their houses, we celebrated our Christmas Eve....


Porter playing with Gram and Bop...

Porter trying to get Bop's attention- he REALLY wanted to open presents.


Porter was SO excited to get his jammies- this is when he first opened them...

He threw them RIGHT up over his head saying, "TOUCHDOWN!!!" (Yes-we taught our son that Touchdown is the same thing as YAY!)
Seriously- look how excited he was!!!! (Little would you know he had already worn-and pooped on- those jammies multiple times. Thanks to his stomach bug...)

Once Porter opened his jammies he REALLY wanted to help Bop open his too!

Bop's Christmas Jammies!! That's what Dustin and I got our parents this year were their Christmas Jammies.... We saw this shirt MONTHS ago and as soon as Dustin saw it he said, "Oh we are getting this for your dad." We always joke that we Gilbert's are allergic to exercise... couldn't pass it up!




First Christmas as a Family of Three!!!

Christmas in Korea Part 8

....Hospital....

Ok so my posts got a little out of order....

While we were in Korea, Porter got REALLY sick! He got some bad virus where he had diarrhea and was throwing up EVERYTHING, and a bad rash! After a few days we decided to take him in to the Hospital.

Dad called a man who he had baptized's daughter (confusing?). She lives in the area, so she knew the best places to take him, so she called and scheduled an appointment at a children's hospital that was pretty close to my parent's house! We hurried and took him over there.

It's crazy there- you check in and then when a nurse comes to get you- they weigh and measure the child in the lobby. But not only that, once they come get the baby, they carry him the rest of the time you are there! It's crazy....

Anyway, when we got back to wait to see the doctor (The doctor stays in one room and the kids go in to see her) Porter met a new friend :) This cute little Korean kid was such a chunk! He put Porter to shame (which takes SKILL). Anyway, they were too cute!

Christmas in Korea Part 9

....Christmas Eve Morning/Baptism....

We were lucky enough while we were in Busan to be able to go to a baptism. This is a branch that my dad and the Branch President have a LOT of respect for each other. They hadn't had Elders in this area for a long time, and when my dad told the Branch President they would be getting Elders, he was SO grateful! He is such a good man and was so nice to Dustin and I!

The lady that was baptized was so sweet! And her little girl was adorable!!! I downloaded a couple of "kids games" on my dad's iPhone so that her mom could really listed to what was being said at her baptism. She honestly was adorable! Then she played out in the hall with Porter- it was SO precious!

Porter watching Mom & I get ready for the day!

All dressed in his Christmas attire (totally left his pants at home so we had to improvise....) for the baptism!

Seriously- everywhere we went he was so spoiled! All the little Korean ladies LOVED him! As soon as we would walk in to a meeting they would hurry and grab him, and they'd take care of him the whole meeting! It rocked!

Porter made LOTS of friends :) This is the lady who was baptized and her precious little girl.

Dad translating for Mom... too sweet!


This is Dad and Mom each teaching at the baptism....




Everybody before the baptism.

Sleepy heads- this happened multiple times....

While all three in the back seat (Mom, Dus & Porter) slept, Dad and I kept it real while stuck in weekend traffic in Busan. What would normally take about ten minutes took over an hour... party....

Christmas in Korea Part 7

Daddy & Porter headed to the subway station

.....Nampodong/Gukje.....

Every time my family has gone back to Busan, we always make sure to head down to the "Gukje Jijong"- AKA International Market. It just just this HUGE shopping district full of little stores, people on the streets with their carts to sell their goods, etc. It is my favorite!

Well, little did I know that the Gukje is technically in an area of Busan called Nampodong. Nampodong is legitimately awesome! It's fun because it is super nice shopping- MAC, Mango, Nike,etc. EVERYWHERE. Then you literally step off the main street of the Nampdong shopping district and you are in the Gukje!

Mom, Dad, and I were SO excited to head down there and get shopping! Dustin? Not so much.... Until he got there... then he understood why I hate shopping in America. Shopping in Korea is SO much cooler!

Headed to their first subway ride!

My boys getting all pumped up for their first subway ride....

Dus & I on his first Subway ride...

Porter LOVED the Subway! There were people everywhere, and all the handles to play with! He kept trying to eat them... nasty!

Oh and he loved looking out in the dark and then when we'd pull into a station he would crack up and hit the glass as hard as he could... definitely thought it was the coolest game EVER!

Mom & Dad on the subway- seriously- look how happy they are! They LOVE their mission SO much!!! Mom always says the only way it would be better is if she had a grandchild on her lap!

All bundled up! (Ignore the pink gloves... I didn't have any gloves for him, so I just put my knit ones on him... they went up to his elbows).

Dad on top of the Lotte Mall in Nampodong. I loved this pic with the Korean flag flying.
It was SO cold on top of the building :) JK- my dad told me to put my hood on because I was going to freeze because of the wind- but it really wasn't bad... I just had to take a pic.

Dad took us up on top of the Lotte to the overlook- SO COOL! It is hard to describe how dense and overpopulated Busan is. Everywhere you can see is just stacked with high rise buildings. You could see a 360-degree view of just crowdedness. Behind each mountain you know is just packed too, it's crazy.

That tall building in the background is the "Busan Tower"
On the streets of Nampodong. It was all decorated for Christmas- so cool!

My ears are SUPER sensitive to the cold- so within about 5 minutes of shopping I was in so much pain. So we headed into a little shop to get me ear muffs (they are HUGE in Korea). But I hate ear muffs because you can't hear what's going on around you... So I settled on this hat that covered my ears! By far my fav. purchase of the trip!

On the subway headed home... seriously the child got attention everywhere he went! He LOVED it!
Oh the traditional "Rush Hour" crowded subways. This was before it got too bad. And one point I literally couldn't move because there were so many people.
In the Lotte Mall right by my parents house, they have a Toys R Us. Mom & Dad took Porter and let him pick out any toy he wanted for Christmas... This was on our way home from Nampodong- Porter could NOT figure out the giraffe.

Gram, Bop, & Porter shopping for a Christmas gift for one of their missionaries.

Christmas in Korea Part 6

......BEOMESA........

It is my favorite place in Busan! For those who don't know, it is the most BEAUTIFUL Bhuddist Temple! I absolutely LOVE it! We went there about 6 years ago when we were there, and man did I fall in love! The details on the pagoda's are gorgeous, the views are incredible, it is just amazing! You would never know that this gorgeous, secluded temple is literally 90 seconds away from Downtown Busan!

Dad decided to let his Assistants and Office Elders come along- none of them had ever been there! So Dad, Dustin, Elder Randolph (AP), Elder Kim (AP), Elder Innis, Elder Rhee Sok, and I headed up to Beomesa while Mom and Porter stayed home and took a nap.
Stairs leading to Beomesa- so beautiful!

Dustin on the steps leading into Beomesa..

How beautiful is this stone Pagoda? Oh my heavens- I love it!

This turtle had Korean writing all the way up the marble slab on all four sides. I had never noticed this turtle before when we went, neither had my dad. We assumed it was new?

FYI- during the summer it is SO much prettier! They were doing construction on parts of the temple, and it was all brown and nasty, so you don't get the idea so much... I will have to post photos from when we were there a few years ago!

Dad, Elder Randolph, Ender Rhee Sok, and Elder Innis (Apparently Elder Kim was hiding?) climbing up the first stairs.




I loved these! I hadn't seen these last time we were there either...

Dad walking away from one of the temples. Their temples are set up in individual buildings- so you go inside and worship in one of the pagodas. There are TONS of pagoda's around the temple.


Dustin and I just outside of Beomesa.

Christmas in Korea Part 5

We were so lucky! The Korea Busan Mission Christmas party happened to be happening while we were there! It was so fun! We were able to meet ALL of Mom & Dad's missionaries! It was was so fun to be able to get to know the people behind the names!


My dad was so sweet and had a Korean "Future Missionary" Name Tag made for each one of his grandkids- he gave Porter's to him when he was getting dressed for the Mission Party.
Porter LOVED it! He loved playing with the name tags, and felt pretty freaking cool with his own tag on! Thanks Bop!

Porter and Daddy cuddling while Bop spoke to his missionaries at the conference.
Mom & Me....

Porter was SO excited with all the Missionaries!!! He LOVED all the attention!

Until it was nap time... His stomach bug was REALLY starting to hit at this point- so he became very grouchy, very fast! Poor kid!

Me & my baby boy!
Getting ready to head home...

Elder Innis and Elder Rhee Sok were nice enough to drive us back to the Mission Home so we could get Porter some medicine and lay him down... It ended up taking them almost an HOUR to get back, so they missed watching Kung Fu Panda 2 with the rest of the mission! Such a sacrifice!

Mom, Dad, Dustin, and I all watched Kung Fu Panda the second night we were there to make sure it was "Missionary Appropriate." After much debating, Dad decided it would be a good movie. Before he turned it on, he asked each of his missionaries to focus on the principles of missionary work in the movie. It was crazy to hear all of the different perspectives! I was so impressed with all of the symbolism they found, it definitely made the movie much more enjoyable for me!

A few months ago, my dad had me design some custom Temple Recommend Holders for their missionaries with the Seoul Korea Temple on the front, with their mission theme on the inside. Originally they were not going to be able to be completed until MARCH! But, many miracles happened... seriously... miracles! They were delivered to me at the office 12 hours before we flew out!!! Seriously- such a blessing!!! Anyway, that is what my parents gave their missionaries for Christmas, the Recommend holders as well as some popcorn and Candy for the movie.

While we were there, the missionaries all sang the "EFY Medley" in Korean. My parents sent this to all of the parents, as well as to the Area Presidency for their Christmas Card. Unfortunately I did all of the editing on one of my parent's laptops, so I can't put the video on here. But you can check it out on the mission blog:
http://busankoreamission.blogspot.com/
I apologize that the quality isn't great, but it was SUCH a long video, we had to shorten it in order to upload it.

Anyway, the conference was a HUGE success! It was my first Mission Conference experience, and I am so grateful I was able to be there! It was so fun to see my parents interact with all of their missionaries! They truly love them all so much- it was so fun to watch!!