Well, I have been planning this trip for a few months. This trip is.....emotional on many levels. The original reason for this trip sprouted from a desire to get some extra, long overdue time with one of my fathers. You see, I have three dads.....That is a VERY long story. So, for now I will keep this part of my adventure exclusive to the father that helped create me. I have known OF my father since I was 8 years old. However, our paths were not meant to cross until I was 28. So, I have only been lucky enough to know him personally for a little more than 9 years. This is a piece of my story that I am totally at peace with. I know that life is meant to be an adventure.
A few months ago his wife (one of my stepmothers) called to give me some unpleasant news. My father's well being has taken an unexpected turn. There may be a point in the nearer future, that my father's memory may really suffer. Given that I have only spent about.....2 weeks with him. total.....in my whole life......I was crushed to get this news, to say the least. We live several states apart, so in my heart I knew a trip had to happen.
Now, here is where the story gets even more interesting, exciting, crazy, and blessed......Are you ready???
While I was awaiting my departure date, organizing the schedule around a boat project, homeschool, a fishing schedule, five kids, and all that goes with this wild life, AND preparing myself to fly (I HATE FLYING)......Ready?? Right smack in the middle of it all: I got a new sister!! For real! A new little sister!
Now, I mean little sister, but not in the sense of an actual newborn baby sister. This little sister is 23. She was out there in the world, wondering who her family is. She was out there feeling the call to find us, and that is EXACTLY what she did!
Have I Iost you yet?
My family tree, well....it doesn't necessarily look like your typical image of a tree....
So, here I sit, waiting to board the plane. I am leaving my beautiful babies at home with daddy, to hold down the fort. I am boarding a plane, which is high on the list of my least-favorite-things-to-do! I am heading south to warmer weather, two of my parents, my Grandmother and my Papaw, southern comfort food, my brother and his beautiful family, cousins, and......for the first time ever in my life not one, but two sisters will be at my destination airport. That's right! My new little sister will be meeting me at the airport, with our other sister.
Together we will get four of my father's children in the same room, for the first time, EVER. For the first time EVER my new little sister gets to meet the family she had been searching for.
This trip is emotional like I said. I can't make this stuff up. How lucky am I to own this story and all the other wild pieces that go with it? Life is short. Try to enjoy the ride!
Blessings to you.
Thanks for reading,
Island Momma