How I did it: I'd never met my father. He denied that I was his when my mother was pregnant, so she had me and raised me with the help of her parents and extended family. All my life I wondered about him: Was he still alive? Why did he not want to be MY father? Did he have other children? Did he ever think about me? I wrote a post on Ancestry.com a year earlier (at age 37), really looking for any siblings that I might have floating around on Earth. I was armed with his full name, his status as an army veteran, and a couple of other details that might help. I created the post and went on with my life, not giving it another thought until...I recieved an email one day while at work stating that the details I had posted sounded like this woman's father, and we should talk. I had to sit down. I immediately responded and instantly we knew there was a connection. We began exchanging photos online, and 1 week later, he called me at work and left me a message that he heard I had been looking for him. I called him back as quickly as I could. We spoke, and I could hear the skepticism in his voice. But I also detected a sense of relief as well. We immediately did DNA tests which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was his daughter, and it's been a fairytale relationship ever since. My mother was understandably heartbroken, but she has learned to live with his presence in my life, as long as it does not involve her in any way. I know I was lucky to have found that I am part of a relatively normal family (granted there are problems, but nothing that doesn't plague the average family). But I have since inherited 2 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers, 5 nieces and nephews, a grandmother and grandfather, an aunt and two cousins, and an incredibly large extended family. This is amazing considering I was raised as an only child with a small but very loving extended family. I am blessed in my past life, as well as in my present life, and know that my future is all the better for it. I now have two parents, and feel complete.

Lessons & tips: Never give up. Don't worry about what anyone else will think of your decision. Only you know how this will help you. Try the Internet free sites before shelling out hundreds of dollars. Have faith and be prepared to find something you may not want to find. Not everyone will find that they will want a relationship with their lost father. Feel blessed regardless of what happens. Everything happens for a reason.

Resources: Ancestry.com

Oct 24, 08:08PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer