Friday, October 26, 2007

A great birthday!







What a great day! I was able to spend my 27th birthday here at Victoria Falls. I hiked the farthest distance in eight months today. I was able to go down to the falls and back all on my own. Today was the tour through Chobe National Park. My mom took over a thousand pictures just today. We saw a herd of fifty elephant running down to the river as we sat in a boat watching. It was amazing. I had a really fun birthday dinner tonight. A group of Zambian natives sang happy birthday and we had special order birthday cake. It was a great day. Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Tomorrow I’ll be flying in a helicopter over the falls and I’m super excited. Thanks to you all for the comments…I love reading them. This has been an incredible experience and I can’t believe that we’ll be home Monday. - Levi

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday, Levi! What incredible memories you are making with Gavin, your parents, Trent and the others - one's that I'm sure you'll all think of each year on your birthday. Hope the helicopter ride is fun - do so see you NOT bungee jumping. Take good good care - Love, Tenia and family

Anonymous said...

YOUR PICTURE MAKES MY HEART SING!!!THAT SMILE IS CONTAGIOUS - BRING IT ON HOME!!!
HAPPY, HAPPY DAY LEVI! LOVE, THE GOUGH FAMILY

Anonymous said...

Best photo yet, is the one of smiling you and the birthday cake.
Tears are rolling down my cheeks.
Blessings abound as you were able to hike the falls. There is magic in that voodoo air and you best capture all you can. The elephant stampede is beyond comprehension. We reamin so grateful for this perfect trip - your ability to fully participate and our ability to partake of your bliss. Safe journey to all as you re-enter reality and SLC - Hugs - Carolynn and ALL Westenskows!

Anonymous said...

Hi Levi,
Happy Birthday! We are so glad that you had such a wonderful day. Have a great day tomorrow on your helicopter ride--that should be spectacular! We can't believe how fast the trip had gone by and that you will be home on Monday already. We will miss seeing all of the wonderful pictures every day. We just keep saying our prayers every day for you and they seem to be working. We love you so much! Give your mom, dad and Trent a big hug for us.
Love,
Jan and Carl

Anonymous said...

Levi:

What wonderful pictures! You look fantastic, and so happy. What a great blessing you have had to be able to participate in the trip the way you have. I am so glad you got to hike the falls. Like I said, I LOVE water falls, and I am so jealous. Well, not jealous, but a little envious. The pictures your Mom takes are gorgeous! And I love the one of you and your cake and the one of your family. What a treat! I am so glad your birthday was so special. Not many American's have Zambian's singing for them on their birthday. That is really wonderful. I am so looking forward to seeing you again, and hearing all about your experiences. I can't wait! Give my love to all, and especially you!

Love,
Leanne

Anonymous said...

Happy B-Day! What a great place to be on your 27th. You continue to inspire me! Live it up and I'll see you soon.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Levi! You are looking great, and I'm way proud of you for the long hike. I can only imagine that it felt great to do it. I've loved keeping up with you guys and appreciate very much the opportunity to share in this - even in a very small way. Keep it up.

Love,

Regan

PS - A bit of bad news today for your dad... Michelle King announced she will retire at the end of November. Sorry Ron.

Paul Smith said...

Sounds like a pretty sweet way to spend a birthday! You should have had the little choir sing you some GNR - Maybe a little Paradise City or Patience? Love ya, Brother. Happy Birthday

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Levi!
October birthdays are the best (mine was a couple of weeks ago). I'm a little disappointed that Jeanette didn't arrange a Zambian choir for me. It sounds like you are having an absolutely amazing experience. I've really enjoyed reading this blog over the past couple of weeks. Thanks for sharing with all of us. We continue to pray for you and wish you an amazing rest of your trip and a safe and comfortable journey home.
-Hadley-

Anonymous said...

"Today is your birthday, shout hurray! We're going to sing to you today. One year older and wiser too, happy birthday (clap once) to you!" Primary and my sunbeams have taught me well! Levi, I am so thrilled to hear about your big adventures! Your birthday sounds like a dream! I'm excited to see even more pictures of your trip! Congrats, too, on your hike today! That's so cool and so you!!
Love you! Yvette

Anonymous said...

Levi, your getting old! That is a awsome place to spend your birthday! All the pictures are awsome. Just found out we'll be home for christmas and we are looking forward to seeing you and have you show us all the pictures you took.
Vince and Family

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVI! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU HAD A GOOD DAY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR GREAT ADVENTURE WITH US. AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO ENJOY IT! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MORE PICS. BE SAFE!
STEVE, JO, VAL, SHERRY, ANGIE, &MARIA

Anonymous said...

Levi, as I opened your blog today and saw the picture of you with your special birthday cake, and then with your family, I couldn't hold the tears back. It touched me so! I can just hear the Zambians singing to you. Those people are blessed with a special gift of harmony and rhythm. I have been thinking of you all day today (your B-day) and finally got a chance to check the blog and see that you did, indeed, have a very special birthday. I am so glad. We had a nice surprise today too. Syd came with her 3 cuties to see us. It was so fun to see them all and get hugs. We are all anticipating Monday, when you will be home again. A thousand thanks for having this blog spot! Love to all of you, Reida

Tyler said...

Levi,
Happy Birthday. I think about you on you b'day every year because I know you share it with my sister Jessica. Looks like you have had some amazing adventures. All my best to you and your family. You are always in my prayers.
Tyler Hadfield

Anonymous said...

All the best to you and your amazing family. We are blessed to have wonderful examples of love and strength in our lives. Your reach is far with tremendous impact. Jambo Rafiki,
The Summers Family

Anonymous said...

Levi... I know Carol will send you a general Birthday wish from all the Tuckett's, but please know that we appreciate your friendship and the friendship of the entire Snarr Family. This trip has almost been as good for us as it has been for you! From the bottom of our hearts... Thank You and Happy Birthday!
Mike Tuckett and all the Tuckett's

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday again Levi,
I can't seem to get the time change right, I thought it was yesterday. Loved the birthday cake with the family picture. That says it all. You are the best!!
I know your helicopter ride tomorrow will be great and your mom will get some more awesome pictures.
We love you all.
Tuckett

Analee said...

I was in Primary, too, but I had the CTR 5 class. Yvette's class would be mine next year if we lived in the same ward and if I still had that calling. Now I'm the 2nd counselor in the Young Women. I get to work with the Beehives. I've realized something. YOUNG WOMEN ARE SO STINKING HORMONAL!!!! Anyway, my all time favorite primary birthday song was "This month is such a special one, it's birthday time for you. We'd really like to celebrate this happy day with you. Zippity-hay and heidi-ho there's something we can do. We'll sing a song that we all know...Happy Birthday to you!". Well, thanks to this blog, we were able to celebrate this happy day with you. Even though we are clear across the world from you. Seriously, HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!!! Just when I think your trip can't get any better, you see a herd of elephants! I can only imagine that seeing that was ALMOST as amazing as seeing Snarr Bros enter a 7-11 (or Stop-N-Go). I can't believe your mom only took 1000 pictures. Sheesh! Wasn't there more to see? I hope you love, Love, LOVE your trip over the falls tomorrow, and I'm still praying for a bungee jump for you (just so you know!). I love you and think about you about the same amount of times per day as your mom snaps pictures per day :). I love you all!

Analee

Snarr Family said...

Happy Birthday Levi!!! Wow, that is probably one of the best birthdays I have heard of. I love your pictures on your blog. Our little boy Chance is loving the pictures of the animals. Talk to ya soon.

Snarr Family said...

Sorry, when a post says Snarr family it is from Chaney and Vince. I just realized that you would have no idea who Snarr family is specifically.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what happened to my last comment but let's try this again. Hey Levi, Happy Birthday from your favorite neighbors Jesse, Melind and Owen. We think of you all the time and keep you in our prayers. It's nice to see you out doing what it is you love to do. Most of us live our lives without much meaning and then we meet you and we are inspired. Incredible photos. Owen is getting really big now, if you want to see the lates with our fam you can check us out at http://meandmine.zaadz.com/
Justin doesn't have internet service so he wanted us to tell you hello for him. We'll keep checking out the latest on you and hope you'll keep having trips like this to keep us entertained with.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Levi,

The Drysdales just found out about your blog from the Millers. We wish we would have known all along, but just spent an hour reviewing the whole thing. We love the Snarrs! Always have. Always will. Your strength is an inspiration to us. We may not have seen each other for a while, but we have seriously had you and your parents in our prayers constantly. Safe trip home. Love, Chris and Kriss

Anonymous said...

Levi,

Again,

You are my idol....Happy, happy birthday!!!! You look fabulous and we have loved being by your side through your experiences in the bush and living the life of a prince.

Love you,

The Hill's

Amberly and Jesse Schiffman said...

Happy Birthday Levi!! You look great in your birthday pics!! Can't wait to see ya amigo..tell Ron to give you 27 birthday spanks on my behalf LOL
Love-
Sessy & Ambie

Anonymous said...

Levi - What a great birthday celebration! Add out best wishes to all the others. You all look great! The pictures are fantastic and we enjoy your daily updates. Our prayers continue to be with you. The Wayments

Anonymous said...

Dear Levi,

You look soooooo great!!! The color in your face gets better each day! It is so wonderful to see your great smile!!! Happy Birthday!! All of these pictures are so incredible! Thanks for sharing them with all of us. We can't wait to see you all and so happy that you are doing so well and having such a great time. It warms our hearts. We love you!!!

Love, Carlene and Todd

Anonymous said...

What a spectacular way to spend a birthday. Happy Birthday Levi. Again, thanks for sharing your adventure with us. The photos are priceless.

We love you all,

Sandra from Sandy,
and
Chris from Murray

Anonymous said...

levi sure have enjoyed sharing your notes and pics. happy birthday!!! we were hunting up on skyline last weekend and managed to get stuck in four feet of snow! i wished you could have seen that, i need some snowmobile lessons i guess. come home safe and give our regards to your family and friends. love carl and jeanie

Jessica said...

Happy Birthday Levi!! I thought a lot about you on our day. You are always in my thoughts and prayers, I hope to talk to you soon and to talk to you about S. Africa!

jen e. photography said...

Happy DAY to you! HELLO...you are in AFRICA!! Paxton (my boy) and I have been looking at your pictures and he wondered why the Lion didn't bite your camera off when you took that picture of his FACE! He was so confused! I said, "his mom has the hook up with the best photography stuff."

Wishin' you all the best! LEVI - you have the BEST parents!

thinking of you all,
(ron)from your wannabe "little doll"
jeni earl

Anonymous said...

I am glad the 50 elephants I ordered for your birthday showed up. The pictures are amazing and I love the blog. You all look great.

-Dallin & family

Anonymous said...

Next time send a picture of you in your birthday suit!! :) That is what I would do if I was there! Continuing to miss you all, the kids are loving the pics. I'll talk to you soon!

Big Syd Davis

Brando and Annie said...

Hapy (belated) birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Levi, happy birthday to you!!! That was Bob and I singing to you, you just couldn't hear it! I'll bet ours sounded nothing like those african women. Can you belelive how beautiful they sing? Love you Levi, you look GREAT! Happy birthday!
Love, Bobbie and Bob

abbie said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVI!!! I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY THAN BEING IN AFRICA!!!

Such an amazing place for such an amazing guy.

I'm so happy for you.
I know all of my family would love to see you when you get back!

Love,
abbie

Anonymous said...

Levi:

We just found out about your blog from Bobbie Whitney. We are the Stevens family - Kim Stevens is Bobbie's sister and Grant is her husband. So much for introductions...your blog is fantastic, inspirational, educational and fun! We loved your last entry about your birthday party and the 50 unexpected visitors. We all wish you a very happy birthday and we're so glad you had an amazing trip in Africa. Travel safely!

Grant and Kim Stevens

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday!

Hey birthday buddie. I hope your day was as cool as mine..
October 26 birthday's are totally awesome man!

Love, Zachary Stockman

John Craigle said...

Happy Birthday, buddy. Your mom is gonna have a lot of film to drop off at Costco when she gets back.

Craigle

Anonymous said...

Hey Levi,
Looks like you had a awesome B-day in Africa. I love all your photos.
I hope to see more.
Have a safe trip home with your family. It's sad to leave such a amazing place.
You'll be back just in time for Halloween :-)
Have a awesome and Happy Halloween. Comment you soon.
Lauren-HHR forever

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, and happy days to you. The pictures are gorgeous and you are looking strong. Enjoy! Karen in Denver