I'm no 'orphan' any longer - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

Carinspixels · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

My family has always been small. When my father died in 1994 I was convinsed his entire family was allready dead or on the way to become extincted. My mom and my brother and half brother where the only 'family.

Now my mom and brother are very cose and my half brother well he comes and goes whenever he feels the need, about once in 5 years or something.
So basicly i've always pictured myself as a girl without family.....
Last week I received a 'strange' email from an older woman claiming to be my father's niece. She told me some stories that almost had to be true and she also send me 1 family picture from my father's family.
I made a layout about it and posted it yesterday...

At that moment totally unaware who these family members where, only that they are my father's family. His parents and grandparents, sisters, brothers and such are all in this picture.
So I journaled about it, feeling astranged but also happy I found my 'family'. This morning I received another email from another woman. She is my full niece, only 15 years older, a daugther from my father's sister and she could tell me way more....
My grandparents are in the 3th row counting down to up, all the way to the right, my grandmother in the corner, my grandfather next to her.
My father is the boy on the totally left side bottom, and I allready suspected that cause my brother looks so much like him. My great grandparents are the ones behind the big circle thing....it was their 60th anniversairy. My grandparents both died, my grandmother last year.....
It's so weird that I have family all of a sudden. and allthough my childhood was a terrible 1, because of my father's alcoholic abuse I'm trying to be open minded about my niece and great niece. My full niece actually gave my phone number to my aunt, my father's sister and she will call me 1 of these days, to talk to me about how my father was as a child. I feel so happy, but also very weird to have so much family all of a sudden!

edit: I just wanted to share this with somebody that might care, cause my mom is totally not happy with me that i'm trying to discover more on my dad's family.

Tracey R (Haley64) · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

Carin, you're right and we do care! HUGS That is really great news, I know my whole family but I was still thrilled to be able to glimpse into the past lives of my relatives and get to know a little more about them!
I supposedly had a cousin that "we" shouldn't talk to...? Years and years went by, I grew up, move and ran into her. We talked and talked about the past and were both amazed at how we were lied to about the situation and to this day we are above the past and together we have a wonderful future getting to know each other. Our communications have also helped to bring other family members closer again too!!
So there is power, enlightenment in communication and I wish you all the best and most of all have fun!

lavendar · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

((HUGS)) Carin! Your layout is beautiful! I hope you may find healing and love in your quest to find your family. Sometimes it helps to know about the past in order to understand ourselves and our family dynamics. I know it has helped me understand some things in my family. Hang in there and hug your sweet children!

Carole · #4 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

Quote:

my mom is totally not happy with me that i'm trying to discover more on my dad's family

Sorry to hear that your mother doesn't approve. But they are your family and I'm glad you're getting to know them. My dad's family has always been very close and played a big part in my life. I can't imagine not knowing anything about them.

DawnMarch · #5 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

What a fascinating story, and I'm glad you've discovered some of your family. I know that I have more family out there -- my grandmother was divorced from her first husband (my biological grandfather) and he came from a big family, but I don't know any of them.

ldtarbox · #6 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

Wow Carin! That is amazing that you have a big family all of a sudden! Stuff happens in families sometimes, and it can be hard to recover from. But, the mistakes of some shouldn't keep everybody else from loving each other and supporting each other. That's what families are all about, after all!

acheese89 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

How exciting Carin! Don't worry, your mom will come around. And if she doesn't, don't let it stop you. You deserve to find out as much as you can. I hope you get to meet your new found family members very soon! Can't wait to see more family layouts as well.

ang · #8 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008

I am so happy you have found some family Carin. You can only do what you feel is best for yourself. Hope all works out well and hope your mom will understand.