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11/3/2024 A Heartwarming Reunion Through Genealogy and DNA– Reuniting a Family Across Time and DistanceRead Now A joyful reunion – a father meets his newly discovered sister for the first time, with the help of Genealogy and DNA Sometimes, our journeys into the past uncover more than names and dates; they bring people together in ways that go beyond generations. Recently, I had the privilege of helping a client, Taylor, bring closure to a family mystery that stretched across continents and decades. Her father, George, born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an American serviceman stationed abroad, had been adopted at the age of five and brought to the United States. He spent a lifetime wondering about his biological roots, especially about the father he never knew. The Initial Reach-Out When Taylor first reached out to me over a year ago, her message was filled with hope but frustrated by the challenges they faced. She shared her father’s background—adopted with no father listed on his birth certificate, the only information available was that his biological mother (after finding her) had shared he was the son of a U.S. serviceman from Illinois. Her father had already initiated DNA testing, and had second-cousin matches, but no close relatives. While Taylor and her father had so few pieces of the puzzle, his desire to know his roots drove them to push forward. A Methodical Search and Discovery After assessing Taylor's information, I felt confident there was a path forward. To deepen the search, we explored her father’s AncestryDNA matches. Using a combination of grouping his DNA matches, creating a family tree for a common ancestral couple, and tracing their descendants, I began piecing together connections through military records, locations, dates, and family history. Through a systematic search—one that involved analyzing both historical records and genetic links—I was able to zero in on Taylor’s paternal line and locate the most likely candidate as her father’s biological father, as well as providing her photo comparisons of him and her father. Within a day, we had identified not only a likely father but also a living child of this man—Taylor's father’s biological sister. Yet, DNA results and facts alone don’t guarantee a reunion. Reaching out to this newfound family member required sensitivity and respect for the complex emotions involved. The First Contact and the Waiting Game When I reached out to this newly discovered sister, her response was understandably cautious. With respect and empathy, I explained the background, how I came to contact her, and what this connection could mean for her. She asked for time to process this life-changing news, and I let her know that there was no pressure for a quick response. An Unexpected Reunion and Heartfelt Gratitude Several months later, I received an email from Taylor. It read, "I just wanted to let you know that my dad’s biological sister did end up contacting him. They connected a few months back and speak pretty regularly. I believe one day they will probably meet in person too. I just wanted to say thanks again for your help and finding closure for my dad!" This was fantastic news. Taylor’s father and his sister had formed a connection—one that went beyond genealogy or even the search itself. They were becoming part of each other's lives, bridging the years and miles that had kept them apart. Just days ago, I received an even happier update: "Hi again! I wanted to share this photo with you. We went out to meet my dad’s biological sister Cheryl in Florida. Thank you again for all of your help. You have made such a big impact on my dad’s life and my long-lost aunt’s life by connecting them. I will forever appreciate it!" Reflecting on the Power of Family Connections Every genealogy journey is unique, but stories like Taylor’s are reminders of the profound impact family connections have on our lives. It was an honor to help this family find the answers they sought, and to witness such a happy outcome. Connecting people to their roots isn’t only about tracing family trees. It’s about bringing families together, offering healing, and sometimes changing lives in unexpected, wonderful ways. Taylor’s father now has a sister in his life, and both he and his daughter, Taylor, have more pieces of their family story than they ever imagined possible. This was more than a happy ending—it was a beginning for a family reconnected across time and place. The Client's Review on Google and Yelp"My father is 70 years old and was adopted at a very young age from Japan. For all of this time, it has been a mystery as to who his father was. Me and my siblings are in our 20s and thought it was finally time to hire a professional and see what we could uncover. Within a very short time of emailing her, Diane responded to us almost immediately and was eager to help. Since we had such limited information, we held our breaths in case there wasn't enough to work with. To our surprise (and delight), Diane found my biological grandfather within the same weekend! She was thorough and informative at every step, keeping us updated and explaining what she was doing. She went above and beyond to help us and it has been eye-opening to know our ancestry after all of this time! We highly recommend Diane and will always be grateful for the work she did for us. 10/10! Thanks for all of your efforts!" -Taylor N Interested in Discovering Your Own Family Story?If you have questions about your family history or are searching for long-lost relatives, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. With professional guidance, uncovering the stories and connections of your family tree can be within reach. Feel free to reach out—each family story is unique, and I’m here to help bring yours to light.
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5/4/2021 Genealogy: Meaningful Connection by Bringing the Past, Present and Future Together :)Read Now  Start your genealogy and learn about your family history to get connected to your past, while seeing the role it has had on your present, and in turn play a role in shaping your future!
Learning about our family history can provide meaningful connections to our ancestors, while bringing us a stronger sense of who we are. It can fill an intrinsic need in each of us to understand who we are and how we fit into this vast world we live in, by bringing the past, present and future together. Connection, and a sense of belonging can be very healing for some. By researching your family history, not only do you find out about your roots and where you came from, but you can also develop a sense of cultural connection and ethnic identity, while also learning about family traditions, and so much more! Bring your past, present and future together, and get started on your family history! Learn more about how genealogy can bring connection and give you a sense of who you are in Emotional Genealogy. P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉  Preserving your family history and providing connection through learning about your ancestors is what genealogy is all about!
Not only can you find your birth parents, connect with long-lost relatives, trace your family medical history, trace your ethnicity, trace inheritances, and more with genealogy, but learning about our family history can provide meaningful connections to our ancestors, while bringing us a stronger sense of who we are. It can fill an intrinsic need in each of us to understand who we are and how we fit into this vast world we live in, by bringing the past, present and future together. Connection, and a sense of belonging can be very therapeutic for some. It's so important to record your family history, if not for you, then at least for future generations, so each successive generation can also have a strong sense of belonging. Learning about the adversities in the generations before us, can help us in our current daily lives, by helping us learn to be more understanding of others, while also teaching us about resiliency. By researching your family history, not only do you find out about your roots and where you came from, but you can also develop a sense of cultural connection and ethnic identity, while also learning about family traditions and medical conditions, and so much more! Our family history is about what makes us who we are! So preserve your family genealogy, culture, traditions, stories, photos, recipes, and anything else you may have for future generations to learn about those that came before, and give them a sense of who they are! My goal is to help as many as I can to preserve their family history for future generations to come! |
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BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! 
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family is dedicated to promoting family history and genealogy, while maintaining commitment to client care and professional service, and adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices put forth by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
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