Day 95: Pictures and a Birthday!
So, as you were clued into yesterday: it’s Amelia’s second birthday! We didn’t really know where we’d be staying or what we’d be up to until just this week, so we didn’t make any plans. We’re hoping to make plans to celebrate as a family next week, but more on that later. So, when we arrived at our host’s house yesterday and they asked how old Amelia was, I casually mentioned she was turning two tomorrow…and they pulled together some amazing blessings for our sweet girl’s birthday!
This morning was the regular mom and kids at the splash park. We had a great time, though it was super hot (109F or so again today), though the moms did get to park in the shade. Levi made a great friend in the sand and Amelia loved putting her head under one of the splash park features.
Amelia was exhausted since she decided to rise early on her birthday and fell asleep on the way home…and proceeded to sleep for the next three hours! Ah well, that’s what I would do on MY birthday… We hung around the house here for the rest of the afternoon. After Amelia woke, we celebrated with cupcakes and ice cream and Amelia opened her present from our sweet hosts: a new baby and a stroller! Every house we’ve visited that has a baby doll stroller she has clung to it and pushed it around and we were talking yesterday about we definitely needed to get her one once we were settled…how awesome that she was blessed this way!
Then we went for a dip in their pool, but not long after a dust storm began to roll in so we rushed back inside. The dust storm was only brief, but that was enough pool for everyone anyway. The kids played well until dinner, and are now all in bed. Whew!
And now, for some pictures from our last week (just click the first picture to see them all in detail!)…and then a question, because we are stuck!
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- Daddy’s borrowed ride for a day in Durango…and a few extra accessories, but only for the picture, of course!
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- So, there was a tarantula in the driveway next door in Durango, CO…this is the only picture I got of it. I did not realize Amelia was attempting to step on it (it was already dead and the ants were starting in)…but there are its legs!
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- Levi was given this tiny skateboard by neighbors of our hosts in Durango…and he loves it. We are in a trouble now…
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- One of our presentations in CO – watching the MAF Africa video.
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- How to encourage people to come to your missions presentation!
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- Another way of encouragement – local coffee!
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- The view from the hot springs in Ouray, CO.
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- Happy kids at the hot springs!
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- Amelia loved the warm water!
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- Levi helped his little sister swim…for a few moments, anyway.
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- Daddy and the kiddos watching the cool thing to do. (We also have video evidence that Daddy did it!!)
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- Every playground should have this view…
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- A bit of the four-wheeling adventure up the mountain…the rest of the pictures just don’t do it justice…
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- That tiny white spot? Snow or some sort of glacier. Now we realized just how high up we were…yet it was still warm!
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- Matthew at the falls in the mountains of southern CO – these falls are pictured on the Coors logo…
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- Family picture in the mountains!
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- The cool plaque at the four corners cost money to see…but taking a picture of this sign was free…so there you go.
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- Family photo at the Grand Canyon…
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- Elk-like-creature! Our first real wildlife on this whole road trip!
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- Daddy daughter photo op! That’s Amelia’s camera smile, by the way…
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- Levi at the Canyon!
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- Rainbow in the Canyon!
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- Rainbow!
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- A different rainbow!
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- Levi loves to help his sister on the big kid swings…he picks her up, pushes her, and helps her down!
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- It’s a bit blurry, but yes, Matthew is wearing an eye patch…at the birthday girl’s request, of course.
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- Yum!
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- The spoon is for the ice cream, but who would tell her that??
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- Tossing the paper like a pro!
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- New baby!!!
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- Classic Dad’s job post-presents…unpackaging the toys!
Question: What we WANT to do for Amelia’s birthday…and as a family who wants to soak up bits and pieces of our home culture before transporting ourselves to a new culture for four years at a time…is to go to Disneyland. We will be there next Wednesday, our day set aside for it, but are looking for a way to do it on a missionary’s budget. If anyone has any advice, recommendations, offers, or anything else that might help more than the internet, please let us know! You can email us at mlind@maf.org.
The Lind Family 
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