Mrs_Hoffer wrote: »

@seilidhe I always love seeing pictures! Thanks! I take it you've had some recent rainfall in your desert area!? Lol. I'm so glad that you were able to get family photos - they mean so much! I grew up as an USAF brat and our family travelled all over the globe during my dad's time in the USAF. His family was all from the New Orleans area, and my mother's family is all out west - SD, WY, NE. I can remember visiting my cousins a FEW times as a child, but my parents divorced when I was a senior in HS and we NEVER visited again during my teen years, or as an adult. So facebook has been a wonderful tool for me as well! They even have a Roberts Family Facebook Group that I've been able to join and invite my brother and sister into. I've been able to connect with family members that I don't even know! In 2018 (1 year after my mother passed away) I went to her family reunion in NE for the first time ever. Her siblings cried when I introduced myself - they had no idea who I was!!! I plan to continue going back to the biennial reunion - but of course it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID.

We got a really good storm this past weekend. I believe it actually started Thursday night, well, maybe earlier, but the good stuff started Thursday. I heard we got more rain the past four days than we did in all of 2020 and I believe it. It came down hard at times, but it was near constant for Friday, Saturday and a good portion of yesterday morning. I loved every minute of it. Probably because I don't get to see it often.

I was adopted. It's never been a secret. Last year, in February, I think, I got matched to a first cousin on 23andMe. She and her sister, in turn, put me in touch with a man they decided was probably my half-brother. He is (we had a DNA test done at a lab here to verify it) and it turns out I have a total of 4 half brothers and 2 half sisters that are known of. Between us we have 5 different mothers. Apparently, my biological father was a bit of a horndog. Two of my half-brothers live here in town, one of the half sisters lives in CA, and the rest are in Oklahoma. Since I barely got to meet one of my half-bros before COVID hit, I'm hoping that now that things are (hopefully) improving, that I'll be able to get to know him better. (He's only 8 months older than I am... Sigh... horndog). However, all that being said, while they are my family by blood, the pictures from my sister (who was also adopted and knows all of her immediately biological family) are of the families of my heart: Our parents - the ones who loved us, raised us, taught us, celebrated with us, and pretty much helped to shape us into what we are - and their siblings and cousins. And, although I'm looking forward to getting to know the paternal side of my biological relatives, I am most happy about reconnecting with the cousins that have always been there, if somewhat distanced. (Funny, small world note about this: My ex-sister-in-law invited my daughters over to go through some jewelry from their grandma who passed back in 2008. While we were there, I was telling my SIL and her hubby about the 23andMe thing. I mentioned my two local brothers' first names and my former BIL asked about a last name. I looked him a moment, then remembered he'd gone to the same high school my brothers had attended. Turns out it was more than just that casual relationship. My half brothers had been best friends with my BIL and his brother from the time they were in elementary school. And, in fact, all of us were at the wedding when Sharon and Mike got married. How crazy is that!?!?!?)

Not today. Travel day

February 10/3
March 12/3
April 10/3
May 8/3
June 6/3

3x yes

6/3

Mrs_Hoffer wrote: »

@seilidhe I thoroughly enjoyed reading your story. What a small world!!! Thanks for sharing!

@SModa61 I hope you had a wonderful celebration with your daughter and family/friends! You certainly don't look old enough to have a 30 year old daughter!

@mrs_hoffer so sweet of you. And DD is my youngest. Son is 34. it was a very messy but totally worth it!

Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? no
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? yes

• Walk: 4.0 mi

Passes used: 4/3
Apple rings closed: 25/31

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

JUL 25 - Fast day
T ✅ | C ✅ | E ✅ [4:00 h walk]