Family is so important.  My brother and I were adopted when we were 3 and 4.  As infants, we were sent to our Aunt & Uncles farm along with our other sister, Joanne, and left there.

Our Aunt and Uncle had three children, we made six; an unexpected addition.   The heartbreaking decision was to give my brother and I up for adoption with the condition we would be adopted together. Our sister Joanne, the oldest, stayed with our Aunt and Uncle.

When we were in our early thirties, we found out the location of our sister, Joanne, whom we had never known and the fact that there were eight more siblings we had never met.  We all had the same mother but the oldest siblings and  youngest sister had different fathers.

With the passing of years some of our siblings are no longer with us including our sister Joanne. Being blessed with the opportunity to travel, we are now able to connect with our remaining siblings and even cousins.

Florida

In March 0f 2016, we were able to visit our sister Donna and her husband Chuck.

They have two airplanes and live in an Air Park, something I had never heard of.  Everyone in this park owns an airplane and the runway in right in the center with houses on both sides.

 

We had a great time visiting.  We did not get a ride in the planes but plan on it next time we visit.

Orlando, FL

After visiting my sister,  we went to Orlando, FL.  We met my daughter Tammy, her husband Guy and my twin granddaughters, Kate & Meg  there.  We stayed in an RV park and they stayed in a hotel.

We visited the Aquarium in Clearwater, FL.  The twins love to visit places that have to do with animals.  The aquarium was on the top of their list of things to see.

The twins really enjoyed our time together.  We get together at least once a year.

Phillips, WI

Our sister Judy and her husband Howie live in Phillips, WI. Judy was the youngest of the first seven kids,  She became the  driving force that helped to find all the siblings, as most were split up by adoptions and foster homes.

It was great to see our sister Judy.  She wanted to show us some sites around Phillips, WI.  Our first stop was the Wisconsin Concrete Park.  Amazing statues were built with rocks, cement and broken glass.

This Iwo Jima statue was one of my favorites.  What artistry.

It was an enjoyable time and if you ever get to Phillips, WI go check out the Concrete Park.

Judy told us they had little to pick from for showing us places but she found this really cool park, Big Falls County Park in Price County, WI.

As we walked through the woods the sound of rushing water became louder and louder.  The walking path was beautiful.

Then we arrived at the rushing waters edge.

Ten Pin, I and LoneStar enjoyed this hike and the beauty of nature.

Wouldn’t mind going back there again sometime.

MINNESOTA

In August of 2016 we went  Kandiyohi County Park #2, Lake Lillian, MN for a family reunion with LoneStar’s family.

As I said earlier we got to meet some cousins we never knew.  Before the reunion, we met Jeanne & Nancy.  Their grandfather was our uncle.  That probably makes them 2nd or 3rd cousins.  I could never figure that cousin thing out.   It was great to meet them.

Some of LoneStars  relatives were camping there also.  So we were able to hang around campfires and catch up on 16 years of family.

LoneStars niece Kim and her husband Ron  took us out on their boat for fishing and relaxation.  Ten Pin fished the whole time.  We actually caught enough fish for supper.

As you can see the lake was nice and calm.  More of the family enjoyed the water in the distant boat.  It was a very pleasurable day.

Before the reunion we were able to go visit Elaine’s (R) home, LoneStar’s oldest sister along with Karen (L).

The reunion happened on Saturday, August 6, 2016.

It was about 16 years since the last reunion.  Hopefully now we will be able to make this visit more frequent.

WESTON, WI  October, 2016

With the meeting of another cousin, Mavis, who lived in Weston, WI, we were able to visit the farm where we were dropped off at as infants.

 

Notice the build date, ‘1898’

Before all the family was brought together, I had a repetitive dream.  It was of an older lady in white standing on a side porch.  This dream kept repeating itself for years when I was in my early teens.  I had no idea what it meant but that dream was etched into my mind and I never forgot it.

In 2014, we had a small reunion with three of our sisters and our brother.  Judy brought us a book with photos of our birth parents and other pictures of family.  As I paged through it at the reunion, I turned the page,  and my mouth fell open and tears filled my eyes.    Before me was a photo of my dream!  Yes, the porch, the woman in white. Although she was sitting there holding me, it was her.   The photo shows my Grandmother, Amalia, holding me as an infant.  This photo taken right before we were given up for adoption.  I have been told by my cousins that Amalia love us deeply and it broke her heart to give us up.

The porch in no longer there  but here’s that proof that some dreams are reality.  The photos were scanned from the original taken sometime in 1951.

I am not sure of my exact age here but I was under one year.

It really is an unbelievable story, but true it is.  Me and my Grandma relaxing in a rocking chair.   I will see her in heaven and I can’t wait to give her a hug.

 

 

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Albee’s Little Sand Resort II – Albee Compound is owned by my daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Dave Albee, though no longer ran as a resort. From 1968 to 1993, Dave’s family ran it as Albee’s Little Sand Resort. In 1993, they sold it to a nice couple who enjoyed many summers at the lake. For years, Angela and Dave visited and stayed there, memories of childhood always flooding Dave’s mind as he had a special bond with Little Sand Lake and always hoped one day to own a piece of it. That day did come and in February 2016, they closed on two cabins on Little Sand Lake. They look forward to many seasons at the lake.  

300 foot of lakeshore to enjoy.

In April, 2016, we brought our Bass Tracker boat up to the kids cabin on Little Sand Lake.

Fishing success

Sunning on the deck of the boat

The lake front Dave and Angela had become overrun with reeds. With plans to build a dock these reeds had to be removed.

The reeds were removed by hand, looked like a big job but we all had fun doing it.

The new dock, with plans to extend it farther out

The canoe is ready, there’s a clear path to open water, how inviting.

What is a cabin on the lake without a bonfire.

Sometimes an early fire can warm you in the crisp early spring days.

At night, nothing beats the warmth of the fire, the crackling of the wood, and the bonfire scent that fills the air.

Now that is relaxation!

And when the day was over and we were tired from swimming, fishing the fabulous sunsets would bring closure  to the great times at the Albee Little Sand Lake Resort II.

Zorbaz Restuarant

The boat comes in real handy it you want to grab a meal at Zorbaz.  From the cabin to Zorbaz, it a short boat ride.

The staff, food and beverages all get a top rating from us.  We have several great meals  and we will definitely revisit  when we are back in MN.

 

 

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