We are still on vacation and enjoying every minute of it. As I speak, we are having a sweet mountain rain here in Red River, NM.... and it smells sooo good. I haven't been visiting blogs thru this relaxing time for Mr. Sweet and myself...but, I'll catch up when we are back home.
This magnificent zoo is in Colorado Springs, Colorado and one of the best zoos
I've ever been to.
About 3 days before we left for our Colorado and New Mexico trip,
a cousin that I'd not seen since he was 5 and I was 10 years old, emailed
me from his HILL COUNTRY home (all the way out to West Texas where I live)
and said
"We are leaving Monday for a Colorado vacation."
I said, "HEY....so are we !!"
He said, " Where are ya'll going in Colorado?"
I said, "Colorado Springs....will be there Wednesday."
He said, " SO ARE WE..!!"
I said, "SAY WHAAAT ?"
Sooo, we met, went to the ZOO, spent about 5 hours together.
We are 1st cousins....his mama was my daddy's sister.
Divorce between my mom and dad caused a loss of family for me, on my dad's side.
There's not a doubt in my mind that GOD was ready for me to get acquainted with my sweet and funny cousin, HOWARD WAYNE.
The odds of him planning on a vacation at the same place and same time as WE were
are huge.
For whatever reason GOD had...I am thankful and grateful...
♥
Howard Wayne and I will stay in touch forever now that we've "met" again.
(back in my childhood, everyone was called by their first and middle names..
he was Howard Wayne, his sis, Norma Joyce and I was Betty Jean...) hahhaa..how funny .
I always love the magnificent giraffes ....
I got up pretty CLOSE and PERSONAL
but that one I am standing under is just a FABULOUS FAUX....:)
After the zoo, we were starving so we headed to a great place for FOOD...
Howard Wayne didn't even know I was snapping as he ate.
..hahhaa.."..GOTCHA !!"
That's his pretty wife, JOYCE.
We had such a great time.
We just returned from Boulder/Denver! I sure would have liked for our paths to cross too:) Enjoy your trip dear friend, BIG HUGS!
ReplyDeleteGotta love those serendipity moments . . .
ReplyDeleteGreat meet up Betty Jean . . .
That's so neat BJ! When you reconnect with your people it's a great feeling, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI am so much a believer in Divine intervention. How wonderful that you got to see a cousin you hadn't seen for such a long time!
ReplyDeleteSo great about you and Howard Wayne being able to spend some time together and getting caught up! God is good! Enjoy your vacation the dust will still be there when you get home! :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a good time was had by all, those giraffes are awesome, so tall wow...thanks for sharin your pic
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful story! I'm leaving wearing a grin.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful happenstance!! Its great you two could reunite, and at such a beautiful spot!
ReplyDeletewow! perfect timing and perfect reconnect!
ReplyDeleteYou know what they say about the Lord working in mysterious ways. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteBalisha
How nice to meet up with your cousin while on vacation.. It was perfect timing..The zoo sounds nice, love the giraffes..Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteohmygosh...I LOVE how New Mexico smells...pinon and sage...heavenly!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to reconnect, and visit that zoo you were talking about it. It's a shame Joy the elephant passed away before she got to the zoo.
ReplyDeleteLife's good sometimes especially when it works out like this :)
ReplyDeleteWren x
Mornin' BJ,
ReplyDeleteHow much fun is your life that you meet long-lost family on vacation? I envy you! Thanks for playing today.
Happy Blue Monday!
God does work in mysterious ways, and how fabulous is it that you could meet up with a long lost cousin because you were vacationing in the same area. I'm glad he contacted you and lost time can be made up.
ReplyDeleteThe newest word in my vocabulary over the last couple of years is "sassy" thanks to you - I use it quite often to describe hair and clothing styles and think I shock a few fellow Canadian friends because it's a word we seldom use "eh?". LOL
I didn't know I could have a sassy day too - love it!
Enjoy the rest of your trip BJ.
God is good. So glad you and your cousin got to meet up after so many years. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. When you start back home have a safe trip. Have a blessed day. Madeline
ReplyDeleteWe just love the zoo! Any zoo! I think my girls and I should just find one that allows camping and stay. LOL
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Have a great relaxing time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet blessing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet story bj ... so happy that you got to meet up with a long-lost cousin. Would love to hear the 'end of the story' as how he found you after all these years. So glad you are having such a good time. Take care and be safe on the way back home.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Well that was no accident as you already know. How neat! I love how He works too.
ReplyDeletexo Danielle
What a sweet story of the goodness of our God! So glad you were "guided" back together for this sweet reunion!
ReplyDeleteI adore the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As a kid and young adult we visited a lot! My sister was in love with a little ape named Louie who contracted a terribly illness and passed away. She was a mess. That was years ago. But they do have one of the greatest zoos around. Gosh you have me thinking I need to get together with my daughter and we need to take our little sweet grand boy there. I love your phamily reunion. Oh my goodness, God is good and had a plan for the two of you! What fun to meet your cousin after all the years have passed by! Such a great story! Come back to Colorado anytime. Give me a shout and we can go to the Denver Zoo. They have the Rain Forest and you can see all the critters there too. My middle daughter is obsessed with the penguins and we have to force her to leave! LOL! She is 26! Last time we visited my grandson was bored and told the guard she put a penguin in her purse! He chuckled. They have ankle bracelets because, believe it or not, someone did steal one at one time. Lord have mercy who steals wildlife!? We also love, love, love the Great Apes. Rebekah, the middle, has such a connection with zoo animals. Once she was at the window viewing a new ape baby! He came over looked her straight in the eye and put his hand on the window. She did likewise and they gazed at each other until his mother came over and took him away! Goodness your vacation was fun! Next time give me a holler and I will catch up with you! Hugs, Anne
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great when things turn out like that! Glad you got reacquainted and caught up with visiting!
ReplyDeleteSweet story, wonderfull fotos Greeting from Belgium,Tomorrow it is National Day in Belgium
ReplyDeletehttp://louisette.eklablog.com
How wonderful to meet up with your cousin & his wife.
ReplyDeleteWhen my mom was doing our genealogy she located a cousin we didn't know about.
We did get to meet, but have lost touch since then.
I love giraffe's