Happy birthday, Abe!

Happy 31st birthday Abe! We celebrated with excessive self indulgence. We skipped our scheduled outing and instead lay by the pool and beach for most of the day. When we’d had our fill of lounging, we got massages (and I got an additional facial). From there we headed straight to the best restaurant on the resort, where we ordered a five course meal, after which we retired to our rooms and ordered brownies for room service. I feel like I can only have one day like this a year if I still desire to call myself a Christian.

Everything we’ve prayed for in terms of Abe’s big deal happened today. It was the best birthday present of all. Thanks, Mom, for your prayers! I know they helped.

We also got to Skype with the girls! It was so fun to see their beautiful faces. That might have been the highlight of my day.

Also, I am sick today. Darn. But it was so good otherwise, I don’t feel like I can complain much. Tomorrow we are snorkeling with sea turtles and in underground caves. It is very uncharacteristic behavior for me to be so adventurous, but I don’t want to let our little group down.

I also took lots of pictures, so here they are:

I walked to breakfast this morning with my camera and snapped pictures en route. It's very pretty here.
I walked to breakfast this morning with my camera and snapped pictures en route. It’s very pretty here.

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There are lots of these haciendas on the resort. They all look the same, so I took a picture of this one, even though it's not ours.
There are lots of these haciendas on the resort. They all look the same, so I took a picture of this one, even though it’s not ours.

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Approaching the beach. We spent the morning at the infinity pool, but right behind us was an equally beautiful pool.
Approaching the beach. We spent the morning at the infinity pool, but right behind us was an equally beautiful pool. I think there are four or five beautiful pools here, not counting the “lakes” and hot tubs that are hidden in miniature jungle alcoves everywhere.
The birthday boy at breakfast.
The birthday boy at breakfast. He was, as you can see, very restrained when it came to putting food on his plate.
The view from breakfast.
The view from breakfast.
Abe was intent on photographing this seagull above my head. I was sure it would poop on me. Thank goodness I was wrong.
Abe was intent on photographing this seagull above my head. I was sure it would poop on me. Thank goodness I was wrong.
By the pool.
By the pool.
With my room service brownie.
With my room service brownie.