Sometimes in life, something happens that either causes you to step back and exclaim "Wow!" or you stand there stunned, smile peacefully, and know that this is a God thing.
In the last two months, I have experienced two unbelievable happenings, that I know without a doubt were orchestrated by God and not just coincidence. The odds of these two encounters happening are extremely rare.
First, my son began dating this precious girl. I've discovered that the more I'm around her the more I like her. She has spent time at our house, gone with us places and eaten out with us. I've enjoyed getting to know her and realize we have a lot in common. Her mom seems to have a love in common with me as well.
One day, my son was telling us somethings that he had learned about his girlfriend. He explained that she had a strong dislike for Louisiana. I told my son that I wasn't a big fan of the state, but I loved the northern part, because of the tall pine trees and the rolling hills. It also, happened to be where my Mom's sister and her family lived. I spent many a weekend or holiday on their ranch when I was growing up.
Brandyn told me that the northern part of Louisiana was exactly the part of the state that she didn't like. I asked why and he explained that her father would drag her from cemetery to museums, to other places, that involved the Civil War. It seems that her father is a Civil War buff.
The next night, we ate dinner with Brandyn and his girlfriend. We were chatting, when I asked her what part of northern Louisiana, her father lived in. She told me he lived in the Monroe area. I then told her I had family in the Choudrant/Ruston area. I heard her take in a sharp breath and then she told me her step mom was from Choudrant. I told her, because that is such a small town, that my family probably knew her step mother. I asked her what her name was and she told me Susan King. Then it was my turn to take in a sharp breath, because my cousin's last name was King. She then explained that Susan had lost her husband and later married her dad. I asked her several specific questions, but she couldn't tell me any of the answers. The whole time, Brandyn, was telling me, "Mom, stop it, this is just weird!!!"
My brain is working over time at this point. I was trying to think back to whether my cousin Kenny had died. Does this woman have a daughter named Rachel, who is red headed? Is my cousin Caroline still alive? So many questions, but no answers.
A week later, I met Susan during prom pictures, but had been forbidden by Brandyn and his girlfriend from asking her questions. I took pictures on that day, which had Susan in some of them. I have shown those pictures to my brother, who met Susan many years ago, but he wasn't 100% sure that it was her.
Maybe, one day, I'll get to ask Susan questions or talk with Brandy's girlfriend's mother, to find out about my cousins in Choudrant. By the way, I have sent cards, to my cousin Caroline, over the years and have never received an answer or had the cards returned.
The second situation happened yesterday. I was checking email, when I noticed that there was a possible new customer for my Mary Kay website. I found this odd, since I am not at the level where my website would be given out to unknown people. I read the email that went with it and then sat there stunned.
It was from a woman in New Hampshire telling me that she had been trying to contact me by phone, but had been unable to reach me. She explained that she had two pictures, of whom she thought were my grandparents Calvin and Grace Root. That caught my interest, but I was skeptical.
She went on to explain that she was a genealogy buff and had promised her uncle that she would find part of his family to give the pictures to. She told me she had done some research through obituaries and ran across my sister-in-law, Cindy's name. Now in my mind, I'm thinking, how did you put my maiden name and my married name to my sister-in-law, by marriage?
I kept reading... She explained that her Aunt Kapsy, was her mother's sister and she had passed away in 2005. She explained that her Uncle Charles Root, was still living and had sent her some of her Aunt's things. These two pictures were among her belongings.
I wrote her back and asked how she knew Cindy and told her that Calvin and Grace were my grandparents. I then googled her name and address to see if she was on the up and up. Sure enough what she had told me was there on the internet, but there were things that she told me, that I already knew, that weren't listed on the internet. I decided to take the chance and send her my address.
This morning, she wrote me back and emailed me scanned photos of my grandparents. She then told me she was putting the real photos in the mail to me. We talked back and fort a couple of more times about Kapsy and Charles, who were my dad's 1st cousins. She then sent me Charles' address and his sister Doris' address. It occurred to me that they are probably the only 1st cousins still alive.
Looking back over these couple of events, that only God could have orchestrated, I found myself wondering, why does God want me to find these cousins? I don't know, but I do plan to contact them with the hopes they will answer me back.
Our God is an amazing God!!!
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