Well, I planned on figuring out a bunch of cool stats from our Zoo Year to share with y’all tonight.
BUT.
It’s almost 2:00 a.m., and I have a big day ahead of me. I know, what could possibly be bigger than 11 zoos,1 Sea World, 14 states and 6376 miles in 15 days?
Oh, it’s not that big. Just some laundry and a family reunion and a double bridal shower (I’m giving the devotional) and some food shopping and buying shower gifts and trying to stave off the inevitable Zoo Trip After-Crash until at least Sunday afternoon.
Here’s what I’ve got:
# of zoos we’ve been to in the past 51 weeks (not counting the Columbus Zoo we go to all the time): 51
# of hotels we’ve stayed in: 7
# of families we’ve stayed with: 31
# of nights we stayed with those families: 44
# of families we had never met until we showed up on their doorstep: 17
# of families we’d met online, then in person, then stayed at their house: 2
# of families we had met briefly but barely knew: 4
# of families related to us by blood: 4
# of families who were already good friends of ours: 4
# of people who joined at one or more zoos: I have no idea.
# of zoo tickets we paid for: 6
# we got for free: 264
I have a favor to ask. If we stayed in your home or you joined us at a zoo, could you share one of your favorite memories from our experience? I’d love to include some of your thoughts in the book!
Oh, it’s good to be HOME.
I’m really tired and happy to be home just READING about all your travels! I hope you get to sleep in this weekend…
I prayed over your recent travels like crazy. So glad everything went well, no car problems, no sick kids, no HUGE glitches. God has been faithful. Your girlies will NEVER forget this amazing experience. I still can’t believe you guys just DROVE to california. Anyways..
I can’t remember why you and Gabe stayed with us last. Was it for the zoo trip or was it a just because we love each other trip?!? I can’t remember.
MWAH!
It’s good to have you home!!!
Happy to hear all went well in the mega 15 day trip. Also so looking forward to meeting everyone next week
I can’t believe Aug 1 is just about here either!
So thankful you all are home safe and sound.
I’ll have to think about the ‘favorite’ memory…..
Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
I think my favorite memory was seeing how our kids played so well together and enjoyed the bunny and kitten. The story Julie told at our table about forgetting to wear a necessity and running into our pastor made me laugh (and I was embarrased a bit, too). Also, I was thrilled how God brought y’all and Gabe was able to tell me some about Joomla and websites. God’s timing is perfect. REST now….praying for your family!
Love,
Holly
PS I hope you’ll consider our family as friends.
It was a sheer delight to have you and Gabe and the girls in our home. Your girls were so kind and fun and gracious with my girls. My very favorite part of your visit (other than just the sheer joy of having you under our roof) was how you and Gabe stayed up so late talking to Kyle and me. I know the hours on the road must have been wearying – even that early on in your trip – but you two sacrificed sleep so that we might just sit around and visit. It’s been hard for Kyle and I to connect to others in this town. We were thirsting for fellowship and the time you spent with us was what we had been craving. We missed you for weeks after you left.
I have to believe someday, somehow, hopefully THIS side of heaven, we’ll get a chance to indulge in an evening of warm and lively conversation again.
So many hugs, so many kisses to every one of you sweet Tavianos.
Oh so many memories!!!! It was such a blessing to meet you all sweet Ohioains!!
And the kids had so much fun with yer kids.
Good memories of Gabe and Gabe….ours really loved yers
The “bats” we saw or thought we saw….and the kids at night playing on the air mattress are all great memories. And then of course, my hubby posing that lovely pose by the air mattress…I’m still awaiting that picture!!!
We can’t wait to read your books and see you all again!
God is so good to have crossed our paths! Blessings!
It was a joy to meet you and I SO wished we could have had more time to get to know each other.
I hoped you enjoyed the choc covered sunflower seeds and Roys Bar B Que sauce.
I am so excited to give the two girls the books tomorrow when we get to Ft Lee and SO excited to someday give David’s blushing bride her copy. Pray for her to appear soon to him and also for Jamie and Mikes baby to soon be concieved.
And for Dan and his family as he leaves for Iraq. I am keeping your dear friend who just lost her husband in my prayers.I have sat through a similar experiance with a dear close friend about twenty years ago.And then with my younger sister six years ago.It is so hard.Lifting them all tonight.
We are in Lewisville West Virginia tonight.
It has been a great trip thus far.
You all were a delight AND I got in gear and got all the Christmas junk out of there and vacumed! Hooray.See what you did for me?!
Come see us again sometime…we would LOVE it! I’ll take you to the salt museum, the cosmosphere and lots of other fun place!
HUGS!!
Mary Nowlan
I’m e-mailing my comment to you!
Hello,
How did you mangage to get all your zoo passes for free? Maybe you already shared that,but I just found this story and am just starting to read it all.
What a neat idea!