Ancestry DNA Shocker

When my mom's brother contacted me because our DNA match has us closely related, I had no idea how blindsiding all this was for him.

He is 60 years old and found out through Ancestry DNA last week that who he thought was his dad his whole life, isn't his father. His mom passed away years ago, who he thought was his dad passed away as well. His whole identity shattered as he learns who is biological father is (my grandfather) and he never even knew of him.

I feel sorry for the guy.

He has to sort out regarding his own identity and if his brother is really his brother or his 1/2, not that that matters. I'm sure he is questioning everything and he and my mom and aunt have been in a lot of conversations trying to fill in the pieces for him.

Asking my mom what she thinks of him in general (how odd it must be for her, too), she said that when she heard his voice for the first time it took her breath away. He sounds just like her dad. My grandfather has been gone for 40+ years.

What an Easter he must have had with family. Does he say something or not? Does he look at each one and wonder who knew and if they are really related.

This would all be tough if you were a kid. I cannot imagine living my whole life knowing my identity, then have it be a lie at 60 years old.

Happy Easter 2019

We are a family of faith and our foundation in firm in what Easter is. It is absolutely about Jesus.

We also have fun in the magic of Christmas as well as Easter baskets and chocolates. In tradition, I made my chocolates and prepared baskets for my adult daughters and my granddaughter, with Sofia's Easter gifts in a Pool Splashing Fun theme. 

There were cookies and dried apricots dipped in chocolate ... 

Crunch cups and haystacks ...

... and Easter bunnies. This year was different. I usually do one large solid bunny for each of their baskets, but I believe both my daughters claim these large bunnies, so this year I did four small ones. Now the guys get one, too. For Sofia, I did a cute little chick that looks like the penguin on her water vest. 

There are always three crosses in their baskets strategically displayed. 

Her little pail had fruit chews, stickers, little lamb chocolates in each egg, and her solid chocolate chick. She is a joy to watch as she opened and tasted, one thing after another and took her time opening each egg.

Easter dinner is always delicious with a table filled with homemade dishes and desserts, the day spent with our family all together, conversations and laughter.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Best Friends

All I wanted to do was slip away from work for a couple of hours, feel the sunshine and hold love in my arms. She is worth every moment. 

Even at my age I cannot sleep for two nights before Christmas. I'm always up way too early and enjoy month long preparation.

Can you imagine my excitement for another grand baby arriving next month?!

Best friends. 

A Resemblance

When my brother messaged me that my mom found a photo of my grandfather when he was young and I have his eyes and hair, well, you can only imagine the crazy joke photo I was waiting for him to send. He is my brother after all.

But then, I opened the photo and I was caught off guard. 

My grandfather was from Wales and came to the United States when he was a teenager. He passed away when I was young and I don't know a lot about him other than he was a hard worker and a great salesman. 

When I hear someone talk with a thick English accent, it's familiar and I instantly think of him. 

I've never even seen a younger photo of him, until yesterday. 

Zooming in, I recognized our eyes. Add 10" and I bet our hair would look alike as well. 

I also see my brother in him. My brothers coloring is just different from my own with lighter hair and hazel eyes. My grandfather was the shortest of four brothers at 6'4", which is where my little brother gets his height at 6'8". 

It's amazing how you can see pieces parts of yourself in from grandparents. 

An Unexpected Email

About a year ago our family did Ancestry DNA as a Christmas gift from my brother.

This morning I received an email through Ancestry DNA from a man saying we are related and share more DNA than his actual cousins. Our results close, he shared a bit of info and asked if anything was familiar to me.

I recognized his name, George, named after my Grandfather. My mom knew she had a 1/2 brother, George, but didn't know any details or where he is. 

A complete stranger, yet my uncle. I replied back validating the info he knew. Thanks to the internet I was pleased to learn he is a business professional in the medical field in Miami.

Life is like a box of chocolates ... 

It's all so odd.

There is another I've noticed Ancestry DNA has me closely connected to, but that is going to be for another time. Some of my family has uniting to do before I can reach out and say hello.

1111

And to think nine years ago I wondered if I would have enough to say to create this blog.

[She laughs]

The Drum Roll Please ...

It was a normal day that caught me completely off guard. Hopping on a nationwide (150 locations) sales call when the Congratulations! PowerPoint popped up on the webinar congratulating the sales people that are 100% over budget.

It's been months since I've joined this conference call and I'm so glad I did. Scanning over who the winners are, the first category was outings and there were nine locations that have exceeded their budget.

Then ...

     ... there was one other category, Events, and only one winner ...

me.

It took me a moment to comprehend that out of 150 locations, I am the only one who has exceeded my budget numbers. Winner winner, chicken dinner! Well, in this case it's a gift card.

Because I wasn't given the heads up at all, I reached out and asked if these was by region or nationally and when I learned I was the first sales person to be over 100% budget for the entire company, I took my snapshots of this conversation and of the PP slide and text a handful of people.

It's only April and I think my colleagues are tired of my prattling off analytics. I watch my numbers, okay slightly obsess, over my numbers every day. It's the gauge that I over perform and well, I'm sure I'd get tired of hearing it if it was another doing it and my productivity wasn't even close.

When we were in Orlando and when our regional pointed out to me the winner of the 2018 sales award that she would be a great person for me to talk to, I probably, perhaps said something on the lines of, "I've already beat my budget and that award is mine next year." Laughingly saying that in fun humor, but I mean it. 

If I have no one to compete with, I will compete with myself and can make a competition out of anything. It stimulates my mind and a great outlet for energy.

This is not at all the time to relax, because I do not know how far the other locations are behind me. Instead, I am going to turn it up a couple notches and take it to a level nobody expects this year, simply because I believe I can.

Fresh Air Blessings

It's exhilarating opening windows after a long, cold winter. Welcome, fresh air! To feel a comfortable breeze inside is refreshing and my wind chime is singing. I'm anxious to buy plants to grace my balcony, but it's still too soon. Our nights are still too cold, but I am ready. 

Windows open, the parks full of people happy to be outside, and being able to sit outside on my balcony with a cup of coffee feels amazing! And as all the northerners are breaking out their summer clothes, I have a jump start on my tan, thanks to two warm destination vacations in the last couple of weeks. 

Event season is about to begin booming. The last several months have been of significant internal transition and building my event schedule. The management company increased my revenue goal again (I beat the first one by the end of February), which could have been annoying that they increased it again, but I claimed I'd beat their added $60K in two weeks and I did it in one. I'm closing in on my 2020 revenue goal quickly.  

My new banquet chairs have been approved, which is a game changer, and with our new General Manager, a friend of mine that began with us less than two weeks ago whom I adore, is my equal when it comes to hard work ethics and success. Iron sharpens iron and we have great work chemistry and respect. 

Following Dave Ramsey's Debt-free Living and Financial Peace recommendations have put me in an excellent position, now the commissions on my hard work and effort will start rolling in. 

Some seasons in life you take cover and some seasons blessings just fall. I am in a season of blessings and I recognize it. I thought for certain I'd be writing an ugly check to the IRS, my accountant informed me yesterday I have a pleasant refund coming. Going into work today because they didn't have anyone to cover the grill, I forgot how fun it is to have a wallet fat with tips. I even gave the cook 1/2 my tips to be kind, because I know he needs it.

Many things seem to be falling in my favor and I am grateful. I like living modestly, it becomes a habit just as living seeking sensationalism becomes habitual. I can tell ya, there is much more appreciation for simple things when you live modestly. 

Seeking sensationalism is a temporary high and always leaves a bucket of holes needing more. You can see it in them, lost in busyness, chasing the wind. What are you searching for? Why are you not content? King Solomon's words echo in my mind. 

I smile because I am grateful exactly where I am. 

Do I Stay or Do I Go

Just as I have settled in my groove as an empty nester, coming into my perfectly clean, quiet and highly organized luxury apartment filled with so many new things, and located only two miles from where I work, the letter came.

Do I want to renew my lease for another year, go month by month, or am I moving out?

Wow, did this last year go by in a blink!

I still walk through my apartment door every day, loving and appreciating this very comfortable transition. Loving the still brand new, I think of summer quickly approaching, the fabulous pool that I can relax by at a moments notice with an amazing new tiki bar they finished the end of last summer, the new bonfire pit, the clubhouse and fun amenities that are mine, and neighbors that are so familiar.

I think of my job that is taking off like wildfire, a new grand baby arriving within two months and Brooke's wedding in five months.

Shall I stay another year, buy a condo or home?

Loving options, I will keep all options open.