Apr
28
I had been reading Megan’s blog over at Sorta Crunchy for a few months and was so excited to meet her. Can I just say how awesome it is when people are everything you thought they’d be and more? She is such a dear, sweet, creative soul. Not a pretentious bone in her body. Simply beautiful with twinkling eyes and a huge smile. Love her.
Kyle grilled us yummy burgers for dinner, and Megan made homemade guacamole. Yum. And then these apple dumplings (Pioneer Woman’s recipe) that made you want to cry.
Our girls hit it off with her girls right away. (Dacey is four, and Aliza is 20 months.) They laughed and played until they dropped. And it was so nice to curl up on couches in the living room and talk grown-up talk while the girls were fast asleep. I’m telling you–we didn’t go to bed before midnight a single night. We chatted about life and faith and plans for the future. Megan dreams of writing a book (has much of it written actually), and I loved being able to encourage her on the journey.
We were up early the next day for the Oklahoma City Zoo. My blog friend Jenn and her sweet family drove a far way to zoo it with us. Thanks, Jenn! It was so great to meet you!
Zoo #26. Fun sign!
You’ve got to wonder what these guys (girls?) are thinking.
Me & girls, Megan & girls, Wes & Jenn & girls (Ana & Emma).
Thrilled to see us.
This is how we find our way around the zoos.
They found Nemo.
Megan and I with our girlies and a pride of lions.
The ever-delightful red panda.
Meg and Mar.
One of the most beautiful animals I’ve ever seen.
And that does it for the Oklahoma City Zoo. Something fun–our friend, Allen, one of the authors of America’s Best Zoos, sent me a link last night to a thread on zoochat.com where some zoo folks are talking about 52 Zoos in 52 Weeks. Not sure I’ve ever been talked about in a chat room before. This is cool.
Shhh…don’t tell, but I feel like a little bit of an impostor going to all these zoos when there are some Zoo Purists who know 84 million times more stuff about zoos than I do. Kind of like when I go talk to groups of women about Is That All He Thinks About? Who am I to talk to people about s-e-x? Or z-o-o-s? Oh, well! It’s fun!
Happy Tuesday, friends! Fort Worth Zoo tomorrow!
Zoos and Sex – Only our God would put those two things together so beautifully through a fantastic person like you!
Meg and Mar – LOVE IT!!
Thank you, sweet friend, for such kind and gracious words. I can’t say enough times what a sheer delight it was to have y’all in our home. That day, after you guys had headed south to Texas, I asked Kyle what he thought of the visit and he said something along the lines that it totally stinks (and he *might* have said the more crass version of that word) that we found such cool people that we all really clicked with but they have to live hundreds of miles away!
I wish Ohio and Oklahoma were as close geographically as they are in the alphabet. *sob*
Someday again . . . hopefully sooner rather than later.
(get it? sooner? sorry. bad joke)
love the picture of everyone by the water
Have you ever forgotten to take your picture in front of a zoo sign? do you do that first thing when you get there? i think those are my favorites–just cool to see the same people in all different places. you sure yu’re not carmen sandiego?
Great pictures!! I’ve been keeping up but haven’t commented…been checking your blog from my phone and it’s just too hard to comment
:) lazy much?? You’re making me want to take my son to the zoo for the first time soon!! The Ft. Worth Zoo that is…
Marla, what gorgeous pictures! Makes me super excited to get our new camera soon. Just breathtaking. Can’t wait for the Houston update!
Nina has such determination on her face looking at that map. I would follow wherever those two were planning to go.
The Red Panda is beautiful! I hope we get to see one soon.
How wonderful that you were able to connect with and encourage Megan!
Addy went to a Build-A-Bear b-day party for one of her gal pals the other day. She named her bear, “Nina – like your friend’s girl with ‘the hair’”, she said to me. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Love that sleeping gorilla.
Yay — OKC Zoo!
I’ve been reading back over the posts from the second half of your trip, and I love that our dogs made it into the pictures. Ha! I’m sure Reese would be super excited about living in Ohio, if you want me to send her your way! (BC wouldn’t be able to handle the snow in her older age, so she’s got to stay with us in Oklahoma. So sorry!)
Love all of the great pictures and the great stories you are sharing. Thanks SO much!
LOVE Wes’s OU Shirt:)
And I really think you CAN write about anything….:)
Blessings always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
Great pics! Sounds like a fun time! And I bet, after visiting all these zoos, you know more than you think.
Will you be visiting The Wilds as part of your book? Not exactly a zoo, but a wonderful wildlife conservation effort!
Its not so much your vast knowledge of the subjects, but rather your take on it, that has me hooked
Ah, you were but 10 min. from my house. Glad you got to see our zoo!
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