Lydia's Journey to America: 2010-05-30

Photos: Sunday School Donation Box

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"Orange and orange"

Note: Hugging her little Tigger soft toy, Lydia is wearing one of her favorite dresses in preparation for going to church. (Frank Poon and Wee Kao gave this colorful orange dress to Lydia.)

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BGMC donation box

Note: BGMC stands for Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge. "Boys and girls are challenged to help our missionaries, challenged to sacrificially give to missions, challenged to reach the lost, and challenged to keep their hearts open to the call to the work of full-time missions. The money raised through BGMC is used to provide our missionaries with the supplies they need to reach people around the world. BGMC equips kids to know, to care, to pray, to give, and to reach the lost. BGMC Motto: Challenging Kids to Reach the World" (source: http://bgmc.ag.org/faq/)

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Lydia hoists the BGMC donation box that contains a number of coins that her dad and mom have given to her over the years, and she will give this to her Sunday school teacher today.

Note: "BGMC Mission Statement:
BGMC has a two-fold purpose:
To reach the children of the world
To create a heart of compassion in children.

BGMC exists to serve the church in preparing children for their fullest participation in world evangelization. As a children’s missions education agency of the Assemblies of God, BGMC is committed to beginning the process of missions awareness, missions concern, and missions stewardship in each young life and to introducing children at the earliest possible age to Christ’s Great Commission." (source: Ibid.)

Note: All of these pictures were taken on March 21, 2010 in the upper landing area of our home.

Photos: First Wedding Party for Lydia

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Lydia and SiowFong are standing on the spiral staircase at the hotel.

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Areej Alfawaz (the bride) and Joseph Costello III (the groom) are walking down the aisle after the justice of the peace pronounced them "man and wife".

Note: Areej, a woman of Saudi Arabian descent, is the sister of one of our neighbors.

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Mom and Lydia

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Lydia and dad

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Lydia is sitting on a marble wall.

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Father and daughter dance

Note: All of these pictures were taken on March 20, 2010 at the Fairmount Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington.

Photos: House, March 20, 2010

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Lydia is walking in the front yard.

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Guest bedroom window

Note: These six Jeld Wen vinyl windows (five picture windows and one casement window) comprise the most beautiful arrangement of windows in the home.

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Red, white, and blue plumbing

The red PEX pipes are for hot water; the white is the gas-powered, Navien tankless water heater; and the blue PEX pipes are for cold water.

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Frontal view of the home

Note: SiowFong took all of these pictures on March 20, 2010 at the site of our future home.

Photos: Disney Character 4

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Lydia observes as Mickey Mouse signs her autograph book.

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Lydia and Goofy

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Two ladies: Lydia and Minnie Mouse

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Lydia and Goofy

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SiowFong, Chef Mickey Mouse, and Lydia

Note: All of these pictures were taken at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photos: Disney Character 3

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Sitting on Tigger's lap, Lydia is watching Tigger as he signs her autograph book.

March 13, 2010

Note: One of the first things that SiowFong did after we checked into the hotel at Disney World was to buy an autograph book at the hotel's gift shop, and this wise decision helped us during our entire stay at the theme park as we encountered Disney characters for these signature and picture sessions every day.

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Lydia and Winnie the Pooh

Note: Lydia's first character dining experience was dinner with Winnie the Pooh and his friends who live in the Hundred Acre Woods.

March 13, 2010

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Lydia and Piglet

Note: As the children and their families enjoy the meal, the Disney characters and their guides walk through the restaurant to greet the guests at every table, to sign autograph books, and to have their pictures taken.

March 13, 2010

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While Eeyore signs the autograph book, Lydia hugs him.

March 13, 2010

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Attired in a sombrero, Donald Duck poses with Lydia for this picture.

Note: All of these pictures were taken at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photos: Disney Character 2

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Holding the autograph book that Minnie Mouse just signed, Lydia is posing alongside Minnie for this picture.

March 14, 2010

Note: Common reasons for queues at Disney World include waiting for ride as well as waiting for autographs and photos with the renowned Disney characters. We were fortunate that the line to see Minnie Mouse was short today as it was lunch time.

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Sleeping Beauty and Lydia

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Snow White and Lydia

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Ariel and Lydia

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Lydia hugs Daisy Duck.

March 18, 2010

Note: All of these pictures were taken at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photos: Disney Character 1

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Lydia and Prince Charming

March 14, 2010

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Lydia and Lady Germaine, Cinderella's stepmother

March 14, 2010

Note: May Li, one of Lydia's friends, let Lydia borrow her tiara for the trip to Disney World.

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Two princesses: Lydia and Cinderella

March 14, 2010

Note: Meals with the various Disney characters are extremely popular with the visitors to Disney World. To be guaranteed a reservation, these events must be booked months in advance.

Lydia and Anastasia, one of Cinderella's stepsisters

March 14, 2010

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Lydia and Drusilla, the other stepsister of Cinderella

March 14, 2010

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Lydia and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother

March 17, 2010

Note: All of these pictures were taken at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photos: Disney 5

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Floral float

Note: SpectroMagic is the name given to the half-hour long parade of floats that is held twice each night at Disney World. During the presentation of the floral floats, the music that accompanies that parade includes "On This Magic Night", "When You Wish Upon a Star", and "Once Upon a Dream".

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Lydia and her dad

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Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse

Note: "Celebrate Today!" is this year's theme for Disney World.

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Aladdin

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Woody and Jessie

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Carousel Float in the SpectoMagic Parade

Note: All of these pictures were taken at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photos: Disney 4

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The Slavic countries

Note: This display is one of many on the boat tour called "It's a Small World" that shows the many different cultures throughout the world. Lydia thoroughly enjoyed this ride, so we returned on another day to reexperience it.

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Mickey Mouse x 3

Note: Scattered throughout Disney World are kiosks full of souvenirs including these plush toys. were

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Mickey Mouse in sunglasses

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Disney World has a museum that displays paintings of the various Disney characters.

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Mickey Mouse French toast

Note: One of the highlights of our time at the theme park was going to the meals with Disney characters. We found these special French toast at breakfast with Mickey Mouse.