We had a wonderful visit with Esther and Richard, and words cannot express the joy having them here, the blessing that it was for them to share in our day to day lives, how blessed we felt at all the love sent our way through them (they brought 2 checked bags full of stuff for us...thank you all so much!) and then the sorrow at having them leave. Jaelyn cried herself to sleep the first couple of nights, and I cried right along with her. Because words cannot express it all, here are a few photos...
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| Recent family picture in "team uniform" attire! |
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| Me and my baby sister...not such a baby anymore, she gives me tips on how to look beautiful in pictures...tilt your chin down so your eyes look bigger and your face looks smaller, put your hand on your hip like so to make it look like you have thinner arms! |
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| By the Niger River |
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| Rog and his "plumbing guy"...he gets just about everything from this man! |
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| Richard is an artistic genius (and knows how to use Instagram and Picframe amazingly!) He took some great photos |
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| Went to see the giraffes!! Almost looks like they are newlyweds! Funny story...in order for Rich to come (after having started a job just 2 weeks before coming), he had asked for time off for his "honeymoon". Rich and Esther actually got married in Mexico last year, but this was their first major trip together since (so technically, a honeymoon). Well, this came in handy on the flight over, as there was a family that wanted their seats and the airline asked Esther and Rich if they could sit separately during the flight from TO to London...they said they were on their honeymoon, so instead of getting separated, they were bumped up to first class!! Guess that wouldn't work if we were toting around mini-Mira and mini-Rog...too bad! |
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| At the sand dunes! |
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| just a fun picture... |
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| At the Grand Mosque with neighborhood kids |
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| We had a quick visit with Mariama and Ali, but did not take any pictures...this is actually a picture taken on a different day...there are some kids missing in this picture, and one that does not belong to them... |
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| have been having some good rain here in Niamey! This road is just in front of our house...it was like a river! |
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| at the zoo! |
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| does he look like a dinosaur? |
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| Last day of their visit, first day of school for the kids. Jaelyn started grade 3 and Nathan started Kindergarten |
Esther and Rich flew out on August 8 to Paris (they had arrived on July 29th - exactly 1 year to the day of our arrival here!), where they will be for a couple of days before heading back to "the real world". So, for all of you feeling sorry for them - that they spent their honeymoon in the second poorest country in the world - fear not. They are currently enjoying the sites and sounds of the city of lights and love.
Overall, we had a fabulous time. Took things pretty easy, lots of "hanging out" times. Unfortunately, there was some illness scattered throughout the trip too. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our times together. We miss you guys already so much and cannot tell you how much we appreciated your visit! THANK YOU for coming, and again, THANK YOU to all of you that sent cards, toys, stickers, notes, perler beads, books, muffin papers, puddy, clothes, crocs...I could go on but I won't. We thank you all so much for thinking of us and for praying for us. xox.
Wow! You and your sister look so much alike! :) Been thinking about Jaelyn and hoping she had a very good start to Third Grade. I'm sure it was very hard to have her Auntie and Uncle leave on that same day! Please tell her I said, "Hi" and I'm sending along my best wishes for a great Third Grade year full of lots of fun and learning and if you happen to think of it I would be most thankful if you would pass that same message along to Iyla.
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