"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Family Reunion


I will be taking some time off here from blogging, reading, and probably emails. I'm not sure yet about that, I'm going to try it depends on time.

Here's the scoop:

My dad had three sisters and one brother. I met his brother once or twice, but never his sisters. His sisters had children and once in awhile, when he'd send my mom and I to Indiana to visit my mother's family, we would also visit his mother, my other beloved grandmother. Now once in awhile there would be some cousins over and I'd get to play with them.

They were my cousins. I'd only see one or two cousins about one hour every two years! So basically while I knew and loved my grandmother, I never knew my aunts, uncles, or cousins. I never knew why and I wish I had asked him before he died, but I didn't. I just never thought about it. It never occurred to me - can you believe it? I assumed it was normal.

My mom had a brother and sister. Her brother never married, her sister had two children. One lives in Indiana who I will visit when I'm there and one lives in California who I never see. Other than that - my immediate family - that's it. I've always felt kind of alone without a large family. I love people and I would love to have more relatives. Guess I would love a connection.

About two years ago maybe three, my sister started doing a family tree - our dad's side of course - we have the same dad different mothers. (She did a great job by the way.)

I had one phone number that linked me to my past - a cousin - she wrote me once - and we started sending each other cards for the holidays. My sis in California and I talked about it so I called Carolyn. I found out that she was on facebook. She sounded just like my grandmother! Looked like her too. Then my sis got involved and it all started to take shape.

Well one cousin - led to another cousin - that led to at least 100 cousins. 100 plus cousins that I didn't know I had or who they were or where they were. So to make a long story short - they're having a reunion for us. My sister is flying in from California and I'm driving to Indiana for a FAMILY REUNION! Funny thing is each of my dad sisters had big families of there own - so big that they lost being in touch with the two other sisters families. Everyone kind of spread out. So this reunion is really going to be a reunion for everyone! It took about a year to plan and find someone connected to each sister. All the original siblings are gone - this is all first cousins and so forth.

I'm going to meet family I never knew I had. I'm 58 - is that weird?

So I'm not going to post - read posts - maybe not even email (I'm not sure yet, I'll try). So I hope you'll understand. I want to concentrate on the moment with all my brain cells firing! I want to experience everything as it may be a chance of a life time for me. I want to be available and keep my time open. I want to see if they know anything about my dad. You know kind of pick their brains. And I get to see my sis again!!!

I'll be back on July 29th - my last break for awhile.

This is something I've waited for a life time for. If I had thought this was possible a year ago - I would have said no. Now I have 100 cousins - never doubt what God can do - we put our own limits on him - he doesn't have limits.

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“We must always have old memories and young hopes.Arsène Houssaye (1815-1896); writer, novelist, poet

62 comments:

Southhamsdarling said...

Wonderful news about your family reunion my friend. It will be just lovely, meeting up with all those cousins!! It must have taken an awful lot of planning to get everyone together at a specific time. I hope you have a truly magical time. You are quite right - this is important. Forget about the blogging until you return. Of course we all understand. We will miss your funny posts and miss you, but some things just have to take priority over our blogging life. Enjoy - have safe travels and we will look forward to hearing all about it on your return. Hugs.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

How exciting! I hope you have a wonderful trip and meet MANY new friends and family. I can't wait to hear all about it when you return. Happy and safe travels :-)

Dogmom Diva said...

Sandie, have a wonderful time, your blog and email will be here when you get back..and I will mail your package close to when you return!

hugs
Barb

Anonymous said...

That will be fun!...I will miss you!
But so happy for you!
Exciting times ahead for you my friend!
~JO
LazyonLoblolly

BECKY said...

That's really great, Sandie! Take a break from blogging....(I did!) and have a wonderful time.

Thanks again for my lovely gift! It was such fun meeting you and Linda (a la carte!) I'll certainly post about it later on my blog. Right now I have much to catch up on...that doesn't even include the computer!! :)

Cheri said...

A well deserved break...have fun. Get to know your extended family and don't worry about us...we'll still be here when you get back.

MadSnapper said...

3rd attempt to comment, it keeps throwing me out. 100 is a lot, i have about 60 on both sides of the family. enjoy your family, forget the computer, you should leave it home. take a vacation from it, i would just go without it. see you when you get back

TexWisGirl said...

this is awesome! first, getting to spend time with your sister is primo! then add to that a huge mix of folks you're all related to - what a blast! just sign off and go have fun. don't worry about any of us in your 'normal' everyday life. enjoy this new family for all it's worth! nutjobs included! :)

Betty said...

I'm envious...have a wonderful time and take lots of pictures!

Sometimes families are strange. It's always bothered me that my grandfather didn't have much to do with his family after he married my grandmother. I'll always remember that his poor brother was dead in his apartment in NYC for a couple of days before a friend became concerned and called the police. I don't think my grandfather had spoken to him in the year since their sister died and poor Uncle Frank had lived with her. He died right around the anniversary of her death. He had no children, so my grandfather and mother were his only living relatives. That was 1967 and I still remember how sad it was going to the funeral home.

I wonder if today families stay in touch better with E-mail and all? Perhaps some of the strange situations in the past won't be as easily repeated.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

How exciting for you.I'm sure you all have such a great deal of catching up to do, many, many years worth of family gossip in fact. Safe journey.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sandie I know you are so excited! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back. Enjoy every moment! You know I found a bio-Dad, 2 1/2 brothers and a stepmom in my 50's....God continues to bless us if we let him...you have!
hugs,
Linda

Jeanie said...

What a wonderful turn of events for you. Have a wonderful time and we will look forward to hearing about it when you get back.

Sush said...

How exciting! I can't wait to hear all about your marvelous reunion! Life is too wonderful to stifle with a computer...we'll all be here ready and waiting to hear your lovely story.

Have fun and make some wonderful memories!

Hugs~

Patti said...

Oh, Sandie, I'm SO excited for you. This goes exactly along with the post I did for today...the search for my roots. I'm doing genealogical research, and I've met up with a 5th generation. I'm looking forward to meeting up with more.

Although you don't know all these relatives, they are part of you, really. You share the same blood...way back at some point. I think getting to know them is an incredible gift.

I will look forward to hearing all about it when you return.

Love,
Patti

Melanie said...

So happy for you, Sandie!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL time! Looking forward to hearing all about it. :)

Bev said...

Oh how exciting for you! It will be a wonderful time! We'll be away around the same time. Have a wonderful time making great memories!!

Unknown said...

sooooo wonderful. have fun hugging and makin up for 58 yrs of not knowing your family! God bless all of you!

Tanna said...

WOW! that is an amazing story, Sandie!! I cannot WAIT to hear about your experience. I am most excited for you! Be safe and savor every moment. We'll be waiting with baited breath (where the heck did that old saying come from anyway?). blessings ~ tanna

Sally said...

Wonderful, wonderful! Have an awesome time, Sandie!! :)

Doris Sturm said...

Since this is something you always wanted, it's a prayer answered!

Have a wonderful time and take your tape recorder - can't wait to see photos and hear all about it!

Love you lots,
Doris (and the Gizzy)

Susan said...

These days are going to be VERY special to you, Sandie...memory making moments. Don't worry about e-mails, posts, or anything except getting to know that great big family of yours!

We'll all be here when you get back, waiting for news of happy times. Susan

Whosyergurl said...

Sandie, HOW WONDERFUL for you! All that family? And you are coming to INDIANA? How wonderful! ;-)
xo, Cheryl

Betsy Banks Adams said...

HI Sandie, Wow--that is SUPER. I'm so happy for you. I don't have much family left --but through my blogging, I have met some long-lost cousins... We haven't gotten together yet--but I hope we will someday.

Have a great trip.
Hugs,
Betsy

Knitty said...

How nice!

I think you and I are related but haven't found the common link yet.

I guess that would be the Missing Link, not to be confused with Yeti or Big Foot (although I do have big feet and my hair can look very messy early in the morning....)

Sharon said...

I'm so happy for you, Sandie. What a fun thing to be part of.

Journeyin' Lady... said...

What an opportunity-100 relatives in one place! Have a wonderful time absorbing the family histories and personalities. Will look forward to hearing about it later!

Kim said...

Wow, this sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Have a great trip meeting all those relatives.
We will all be waiting to hear about it.
Kim

DaCraftyLady said...

I think that is wonderful... meeting family after all these years is really terrific...about 8 years ago I did a family cookbook, so I looked up all my mom's and dad's siblings and cousins and tried to get a recipe and photo of them. I put together this looseleaf cookbook with each families photo and recipe and a little "blip" about who they were and then sent a copy to each person in the cookbook. Everyone loved it.. and I got to talk to and rekindle relationships with so many members of my family I hadn't connected with in years...I am sure you will truly in enjoy the venture...your online friends will be waiting to hear all about it... have a great time!! Debb

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Take the time and enjoy meeting your family!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandie,
That sounds absolutely lovey! Hope you will have a great time - getting to know your family. It's a very important happening - am so exited for you! Enjoy your self and I'm sure it will be great for you!
Have a safe travel!
Huggies.

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is really, really exciting!!! You HAVE to take time off and just concentrate on it!! BUT don't forget your camera!! I hope you have a complete blast and also get some answers. Is anyone going with you? I will miss you!

Belle said...

How wonderful! Have a great time at the reunion. It is an amazing thing to find you have a large family like that. See you when you return. :)

Sweet Tea said...

That is totally BIG!!
Enjoy it, revel in it,
And totally be in the moment to take it all in.
Take lots of photos and share some with us when you're back in Bloggyland again.
Such a happy occasion for you!!!
(I hope your test results were good)

Ann said...

concentrate on family and meeting up with all those relatives. Enjoy yourself and we'll be here when you get back. Of course we'll be expecting pictures and stories :)

Chris Graham said...

What an adventure! I am looking forward to you posting stories, pictures,nuggets, and blessings. Have a safe trip dear lady.

Thena said...

That is so awesome. I have dabbled in some genealogy but not as much as I would like. It can be very time consuming. But in your case it sounds to be very rewarding. Have a blast and can't wait to read all about it.

Pat MacKenzie said...

How exciting for you - meeting all those cousins after all this time. Be sure to take lots of pictures. lloyd's father never made an effort to introduce his children to his side of the family. Now, through one of my daughters, there's open dialogs now among Lloyd and his cousins on his dad's family, letters exchanged, history explained, pictures shared, and facebook 'friends' made. Families are great. Enjoy your reunion, and don't worry about us - we'll be here when you get back, waiting to hear all your news.

Mevely317 said...

Wow ... that is so exciting! I can only imagine how your insides are hopping up and down :)))
Looking forward to hearing about your good times.

Holly said...

I can't wait to hear how it all goes. You, my friend, now have a huge family. I know they will all love you to pieces!

Angela said...

Enjoy your time with your new found family Sandie! Stay away from the computer! hehehe I hope you have a great time girl! You deserve it!

Hugs,
Angela

Michaele said...

We will be with you in spirit. You are doing the right thing to be "fully there". An awesome experience that we will be waiting to hear about.

BeautifulDees said...

Have a lovely time. I miss your comment's friend. Come by sometime.
Love,Debbie

ocmist said...

This is really great news! I am so happy for you. My Mom's family was this way on her father's side, so I know I HAVE relatives from when he remarried, but would have no idea how to contact them. I sure hope you have a wonderful time, and get a lot of your questions answered. No one here will have a problem other than missing your posts. None of us would begrudge a friend the time for something like this! I pray God Blesses your time and your trip there and back! Hugs from Grammy and wiggle butts from the corgis! :)

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

This is so fabulous. Have a wonderful time, I am so glad you get to meet them all, it will be a very special time. I am sure you will see many resemblances. So happy for you.
Love Crystal.

Retired Knitter said...

My family is not so large, but I had a similar experience as you know from my blog.

Absolutely, focus on this moment! It is important. See you when you return.

Sue @ Not the Good Scissors! said...

Oh my. That is something. You are going to have a whirlwind experience. Take lots of pictures! It is going to be fun!
Hugs, Sue
P.S. Don't you just love FB. It is such a great way to stay connected and to re-connect for that matter.

The Boston Lady said...

Sandie, have the most wonderful time. This is something that is definitely worth the wait. How exciting. Ann

Sharon said...

Sandie - This is the MOST amazing news! I am so excited for you! It sounds like a wonderful time - and all the preparing and planning that it took to make it happen, well that was a miracle in itself!

I'll miss you so very much - but have your best time. Enjoy meeting all the people that you *belong* to. Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

I miss you already...

Starry Dawn said...

Good Morning, sweet Sandie!!

Wonderful News you have got in your life!! A Family Reunion is just superb news for you, Sandie!!
Have an awesome time with your dear family, and enjoy yourself as much as you can!! Stay in touch with your family after this family reunion, for a lifetime. It will certainly be a MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU, DEAR SANDIE.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with us!! You've got so many followers in your amazing blog, Sandie. We all read your lovely posts with joy. We'll be waiting for you when you are ready to come back after your break. I usually take breaks very often, since I am involved with many things at the same time. I only post My Monthly Newsletters, whenever I find the right time to do it. God bless you, Sandie, and all those you love!!
(((Have a Happy Family Reunion, Sandie, sweetheart!!)))
Blessings and Love in Christ,
Poet Starry Dawn.

Anonymous said...

Have FUN Sandie!

Much love!

Love Of Quilts said...

Enjoy your time with family. Trish

BECKY said...

Hi Sandie. What an awesome story! And I'm so glad you are getting to meet so many cousins!! I believe family is so important, and I regret the questions I never asked, too...But who knew at the time? Especially when we were young kids. I hope it's everything you hoped it would be and more. But remember, even if it isn't, it was still a wonderful thing to do.
Hugs!

BECKY said...

P.S. Love the quote!

JeanMac said...

Wonderful is all I can say - have a great time.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

WOW! That is awesome, Kiddo! I can't even imagine having that many relatives!!! You are going to have a ball...:)JP

Debbie said...

How wonderful!!! I am just getting back from a vacation too. I wasn't even meeting with family, and I had to step away from the computer just to fit it all in. I would hate you to miss a moment of your wonderful get together!

I will look forward to your report all about it. (I don't really know many cousins either so I get where you're coming from.)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I'm thrilled for you Sandie....I know how much this means considering everything you went through. Take gentle care and enjoy every minute.

Jenny Woolf said...

HOpe the meeting is what you want it to be!

KaLynn ("MiMi") said...

My grandfather did not speak to his parents. So I don't know them and I don't live close to anyone on that side of the family. It would be great to be invited to that side of the Smith family reunion! So I can understand!

Granny Annie said...

I predict that you will have the time of your life! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Sweet Tea said...

Stopping by to see if you're "home" yet.
Missing you, Friend, but hope you're having a wonderful time away!

Shanda said...

That is so exciting. I hope you're having a great time and really build strong relationships.