Gin & Zin

Connecting the pieces of the DNA puzzle: How we found the donor.

- Gin

Thank you for reading my story! If you are starting from the beginning or need a refresher, you can read blogs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The Missing Link

A month went by, and during that time my brothers and I collectively took a break from all things related to genealogy and the donor. It was a much needed emotional rest after our disappointment over Richard not being the donor. But at the end of that month, I was itching to get back to our search for answers. I felt that the most important place to get started was on Ancestry.com. I hadn’t spent much time on the site, and I knew that there was a lot more information that we had yet to uncover.

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More Surprises.

- Gin 10 Comments

If you aren’t up to date, or need a refresher, read blogs 1, 2, 3, 4.

Richard responds – in a way

When we received confirmation that our letter had been delivered to Richard, we anxiously awaited his response. We knew that it could take him some time to process his feelings and how connecting with us would impact his family. But he seemed so wonderful – we were certain that he would have an open mind and be willing to answer our questions.

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My Story Continues.

- Gin 9 Comments

 

Hi, everyone. It’s hard to believe that it’s been six months since my last post. So much has happened since then, and I needed time to process everything. There have been many ups and downs in this journey that, at times, seems never ending. New information has left me feeling shocked, numbed, and sometimes depressed. But I’ve also experienced feelings of unimaginable gratitude, happiness, and down right joy. Thank you all for being a part of my story. Sharing with you has been extremely healing and rewarding. If you aren’t up to date, or need a refresher, read blogs 1, 2, and 3.

jaclyn-baxter
Photo Credit: Sacramento Bee

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Life after 23andMe

- Gin 29 Comments

 

This is Part Two of my journey. You can read part one here

 

Adjusting to a new reality

At the time I write this post, it has been three months since I received the results of a DNA test that confirmed my dad is not my biological father. A lot has taken place since then, and I continue to navigate unfamiliar situations and emotions every single day. Some days are filled with joy and blessings I never could have imagined; others are a struggle as I try to figure out how to reconcile my new reality with the past 33 years.

One thing I have come to believe is that the universe revealed my new truth to me at just the right moment, and in fact, has been preparing me for it for a long time. A few years after my dad died, an amazing women came into my life. She put her arms around me and has never let go. She taught me to trust again, and that it is possible to have family without blood to connect us. Because of her, I know what a healthy mother/daughter relationship feels like, and I wholeheartedly consider her my Mama now. She walked me down the aisle at my wedding and witnessed the birth of my daughter and son. My kids know her as Grandma and our family bond is deep, despite the fact that we don’t share DNA. I have also spent the last 10 years working with an amazing family whose children are all adopted. They are a normal, loving, rambunctious family, and the fact that the kids and parents aren’t biologically related has no effect on their love for each other. Read more

Raising a multiracial child, by Linda

- Zin

My name is Linda…I’m a mom, partner, and all around pain in the ass to many. I love being inspired to be creative and analytical, which makes me particularly restless sometimes. I’m a nonprofit educational research and evaluation consultant because I like making sense of things and telling stories through data. Read more

Meet Adriana~ Mom, Business Owner, Gardener, and Soap Maker

- Zin
Meet Adriana~
I am a fun mom of two beautiful children, wife and a business owner in Placerville.  Since childhood I have been a very creative person I loved creating art, jewelry and anything with color as a kid.  During my teenage years I studied music and opera, attended Walnut Hill Arts School & Berklee College of music studying performance and music therapy.  At 21 I purchased a 40 foot school bus, gutted it, built a home and took to the highway travel the United States and settled in Arizona on an organic farm where my love for gardening really began.  I traveled and I’ve lived all over the country including Hawaii.  At 26,  I met my future husband at Bonnaroo music festival we hardly talked for about two years and finally decided, hey let’s try and make something work.

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Meet Kristen~ on Homeschooling

- Zin

Meet Kristen~

Hi! My name is Kristen. I am a stay at home, homeschooling mama to three wonderful children. I have a degree in psychology but find my time is better spent raising these kiddos and focusing on their education. My husband is my safe place and without his unwavering encouragement I would be nothing. I long for a farmhouse where my children can run free with our chickens, goats, and pet pig.

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Domestic Blonde- DIY mama

- Zin

My name is Kelly. I am a 34-year- old multi-tasker AKA mom of two wild babes, named Kade (4) and Tegan (1 ½). My husband and I have been married almost 6 years and live near San Diego where my he is a firefighter for SDFD. I am not originally from San Diego, but I do consider myself a native since I have lived here 13 years now!  Read more

23andMe: Painful Truths and a New Beginning.

- Gin 29 Comments

This is Part 3 of my journey. You can find Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

Meeting each of my brothers was literally a childhood dream come true. Being an only child can be a lonely existence, and of course I never expected to find siblings at this age. Both brothers have held my hand throughout this process, guiding me through the unknown. The more I get to know them, the more excited I am to belong to this unconventional family.

No matter when or how someone finds out they were conceived via donor, there are questions and significant emotions to wade through. Loren has known for as long as he can remember that he was donor conceived. Tim found out at 13 and I found out at 33. When we discovered that we had a sister, we knew that her experience could be similar to our stories, or something else entirely. Read more

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