Below are the links to my DNA / Adoption story. There are 3 parts. Enjoy!
Part 1 - http://azheninger.blogspot.com/2016/03/malachi-46.html
Part 2 - http://azheninger.blogspot.com/2016/03/dna-miracle-part-2.html
Part 3 -http://azheninger.blogspot.com/2016/03/dna-miracle-part-3.html
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Gilbert LDS Temple Drone Video
My first Temple drone video. Enjoy. They can only get better as I practice!
Friday, August 5, 2016
Owls
A family of owls lives around our neighborhood park someplace. We haven't yet identified their nesting place, but it seems like in the morning and early evening you can nearly always spot one or a few hanging out at the park or behind the Seminary building. We've even seen them atop the light poles and swooping over the yard a few times. They are so fun to watch and to photograph. They just sit there and allow you to get up close and take photos of them. They are gray horned owls. We've seen at most 5 on occasion. Lately it's a good day when you can find 3. Usually there is only one that can be spotted in their favorite pine tree. I've enjoyed taking pictures of them and have a few below.
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| Big Daddy - The largest, darkest, and biggest ear tufts |
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Monday, July 4, 2016
Drone
This spring I decided to expand my photography hobby. After watching some videos of people flying drones, I decided I needed one and found a great deal. Now I own one and really have a blast flying it and taking video and pictures. Below are a few samples of pictures over the neighborhood and some videos I made of some swim parties and July 4th at the Park.
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| Our Home |
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| The best street in Gilbert |
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| Flying over the church. Wasn't sure I could fly it that far, but it made it! |
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| Pool |
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| A beautiful Arizona sunset |
Monday, March 14, 2016
DNA Miracle - Part 1
DNA Miracle - Part 1
Malachi 4:6
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
I think we don't know the true meaning of that scripture. However, we are fortunate to live in the day that it is all being fulfilled. When I used to think of that scripture, I figured it was only about Temple genealogy work. Get as many names as possible and do Temple work for them. That was it. Well, here's the rest of the story...
I am adopted. I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Mother's Day, May 13, 1962 at the LDS Hospital (which has since been torn down), delivered by Dr. Harlan Smith, a good friend of my Dad's brother, Maurice Heninger, a Radiologist at the same hospital. Knowing my parents wanted children, yet couldn't have any, my Uncle Maurice helped out and arranged through Dr. Smith for a baby that was available, due to the difficult circumstances of the birth mother. I had known very little about her, only that she was a divorced woman who had previously had children and was not in a position to raise another. That was it. I didn't know her name or anything about her. I had tried for many years at various times to try and see if it was possible to locate who she was, but always seemed to hit a dead end. Private investigators, hospital or attorney records, asking my Mom, etc. Nothing was of any help or gave me any leads. So...I quit looking. I am very happy and blessed to be a part of a wonderful adopted family, with parents who truly love me and a fantastic adopted sister. I have a great life and had everything I ever needed to succeed in the world, and most of all blessed with a Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not knowing my birth mother was a missing piece in my life's puzzle, but I knew I would see her one day and I could wait for that glorious reunion.
In April, 2015, my wife RaLyn worked at the Gilbert Temple a few days a week. One day she came home and told me that a lady at the Temple had told her about DNA testing that was available online for a nominal fee that could tell a person where they were from biologically. I looked up the test on Ancestry.com and decided it would be fun to know where my biological ancestors are from and would give me more of a sense of closure towards my biological family unknowns. So, I paid for the test, received a small test tube, sent it back and waited. In a few months, I received the results in the form of a small map.
Malachi 4:6
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
I think we don't know the true meaning of that scripture. However, we are fortunate to live in the day that it is all being fulfilled. When I used to think of that scripture, I figured it was only about Temple genealogy work. Get as many names as possible and do Temple work for them. That was it. Well, here's the rest of the story...
I am adopted. I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Mother's Day, May 13, 1962 at the LDS Hospital (which has since been torn down), delivered by Dr. Harlan Smith, a good friend of my Dad's brother, Maurice Heninger, a Radiologist at the same hospital. Knowing my parents wanted children, yet couldn't have any, my Uncle Maurice helped out and arranged through Dr. Smith for a baby that was available, due to the difficult circumstances of the birth mother. I had known very little about her, only that she was a divorced woman who had previously had children and was not in a position to raise another. That was it. I didn't know her name or anything about her. I had tried for many years at various times to try and see if it was possible to locate who she was, but always seemed to hit a dead end. Private investigators, hospital or attorney records, asking my Mom, etc. Nothing was of any help or gave me any leads. So...I quit looking. I am very happy and blessed to be a part of a wonderful adopted family, with parents who truly love me and a fantastic adopted sister. I have a great life and had everything I ever needed to succeed in the world, and most of all blessed with a Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not knowing my birth mother was a missing piece in my life's puzzle, but I knew I would see her one day and I could wait for that glorious reunion.
In April, 2015, my wife RaLyn worked at the Gilbert Temple a few days a week. One day she came home and told me that a lady at the Temple had told her about DNA testing that was available online for a nominal fee that could tell a person where they were from biologically. I looked up the test on Ancestry.com and decided it would be fun to know where my biological ancestors are from and would give me more of a sense of closure towards my biological family unknowns. So, I paid for the test, received a small test tube, sent it back and waited. In a few months, I received the results in the form of a small map.
It was fun to actually know that I’m mostly Irish and British. That was what I thought was the end of that experience, However, in mid December, 2015, I realized that I had a bunch of personal messages on Ancestry.com. I hadn’t logged in for a long time, so I didn’t realize there were people sending messages regarding possible DNA match relations, such as 4th - 8th cousins, etc. Distant relatives, based on my DNA and theirs matching to some degree get identified by the site and you are allowed to message them via the Ancestry.com system. I responded to several that I was adopted and wasn’t aware of my biological family, so I couldn’t help them with genealogy or explain my relationship to them. One note was dated August 17, 2015 and was from a lady named Joyce. Below is her note to me.
“Through the Ancestry DNA it was posted that you may be a 1st cousin to me. Although I do not recognize your last name in my tree. So I thought if you are interested and would begin to post your family tree maybe I could see where we are related. My father's last name is Neitzel and my mother's maiden name is Ward.
Thanks, Joyce :-)”
Well, I figured I’d respond to her, since the results mentioned that we were “Possible range: Close family - 1st cousins" Confidence: Extremely High.” Here is my response to her on December 21, 2015.
“That is very interesting. I'm adopted, so I have no idea who my maternal family is or where they originated from.”
On January 1, 2016, Joyce replied back to me the following:
“Thank you for responding to my message. According to the DNA results it states: "Possible range: Close family - 1st cousins" Confidence: Extremely High. If you are interested, we can try and figure out where we connect, even though you were adopted. I was born and raised in Idaho. My mother's family [Ward] history comes mostly from North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Germany. My fathers family [Neitzel] came from Connecticut, Prussia and Denmark.
Let me know if you would like to pursue this and I will try to help you. I understand that since you were adopted you may not desire to find your natural family. If that's the case I will respect your privacy.
Possible cousins, Joyce :-)”
It sounded to me like Joyce may really be related and could possibly look into any of her relatives who adopted a baby in 1962 in Idaho Falls. This was good news and I was getting a little cautiously optimistic. I responded to her that same day with the following:
“Joyce: Thanks so much for responding. I would love your help. I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on May 13, 1962. I have no idea who my birth parents are. My name is via my adopted family and there is not even any birth parent information on my Birth Certificate. It's all changed to my adopted family. I am LDS and lived my first 5 years in Wisconsin, then grew up in Provo, Utah. I now live in Arizona and have been here for the past 28 years. I have really wanted to locate my birth family. If there is any way you can help, please let me know what I can do. About all I've ever learned is that I was born at the LDS Hospital (which is now gone) in Idaho Falls, to a divorced mother. I heard that she had already raised a family, got divorced, then had me and put me up for adoption. The OB/GYN who delivered me was a friend of my adopted Dad's brother, who was a Radiologist at the same hospital back in 1962. I have no other information. Look forward to your help. My email is mattheninger@###.com. Thanks!”
Sunday morning, January 3, 2016, I was in bed reading my email on my iPad when I came across the following email from Joyce.
“Dear Matt,
Thank you for responding again and for giving me all of your birth information. As I lay awake early this morning... a vision of passed events came clearly into my mind and a strong impression pressed upon my heart. I hurriedly got on my computer and found your message. I know who you are.....I cried! The information that you have given me matches exactly. You are my brother!!
When I was 12 years old my mother had a child out of wedlock, a boy. She had been divorced for many years and thought she had found someone who loved her. But when he found out she was pregnant he wanted nothing to do with her. Already having 5 children and living on welfare she had no other choice than to give the child up for adoption. We lived in Idaho Falls on Lava Street when you were born. I was the only girl with 4 brothers. Two older and two younger. We are all active LDS. I am currently living in Spanish Fork, Utah. My oldest brother, Jim, lives in Shelley, Idaho, Dennis is in Midlothian, Texas, Jerry and David still live in Idaho Falls. Our parents are both deceased. Mom died in October 1992 of a massive stroke. She was only 70 years old. She often wondered about you. You lived in Provo at the same time I was living in Orem. If I had only known then!
Can't wait to learn more about you!! Joyce :-)”
Holy cow! I freaked out. I immediately read this to RaLyn and then ran downstairs where I could type faster on my computer to respond to Joyce. Here is what I wrote:
“Dear Joyce:
This is unbelievable!!! I have to talk to you. I have wanted to meet my birth family for sooooo long! I have tried to search online, talked to private investigators, called the hospitals in Idaho Falls, talked to my Uncle who was able to place me with his brother for adoption via his friend, an OB/GYN who I believe delivered me, etc. It's been a dead end every time. Nothing worked. I took the DNA test on Ancestry.com simply to see where my ancestors were from in Europe. I had no idea it would lead to me finding you. This is unreal. I'm in total shock. Would you be willing to talk with me via FaceTime or Skype sometime today? Please let me know. Also, I would love a picture of your/my mother. Please send me one. What is your last name and the name of your mother? I hope you respond soon. I'm overwhelmed.
Thanks,
Matt
P.S. My blog is online at http://azheninger.blogspot.com/ Feel free to take a look. There are tons of pictures and history of my family from the past 8 or so years. My cell number is 480-619-XXXX. I was thinking about this and I bet the DNA match came across as "cousins" because we have different fathers. Otherwise, I bet it would have been an even closer match!”
I hoped it wouldn't be too long until Joyce responded, and I was right. She replied soon after with the following note:
Dear Matt,
The Spirit works in amazing ways. I have told my oldest brother Jim about you and he wants to connect with you too. We both have access to Face Time and Skype. What time is does your church start? Mine starts at 1 PM, Jim's starts at 11 AM. Maybe we could connect this evening. Would that work for you? Our mother's name is Lucile Mildred Ward, she was born on 6 June 1922 and raised in Blackfoot, Idaho. There are pictures of her on Ancestry and Family Search, but I can send some other ones to you.
I need to go now, but will re-connect with you later in the day!
Your sister, Joyce Neitzel Burgener :-)
As I read Joyce's note, I thought to myself...ARE YOU KIDDING!? I have to wait all day long until we are able to talk to each other??? I've been waiting for 53 years and I need to talk NOW! Oh well, I could wait. I had to. In the mean time, during the day I was able to check out pictures of my Mom online. I was thrilled that I look like her. She's beautiful! I'm handsome! Thanks for the good looks Mom! Hahahahahahahaha.
As I read Joyce's note, I thought to myself...ARE YOU KIDDING!? I have to wait all day long until we are able to talk to each other??? I've been waiting for 53 years and I need to talk NOW! Oh well, I could wait. I had to. In the mean time, during the day I was able to check out pictures of my Mom online. I was thrilled that I look like her. She's beautiful! I'm handsome! Thanks for the good looks Mom! Hahahahahahahaha.
Pictures of Mom that were online and sent by Joyce the first day.
Lucile Mildred Ward
Side by side of Mom and me (when I was 2). It's all in the eyes.
I was bouncing off the walls!!!!!
End Part 1
End Part 1
Sunday, March 13, 2016
DNA Miracle - Part 2
DNA Miracle - Part 2
On Sunday evening, January 3, 2016, I had the opportunity to meet my sister Joyce, via a FaceTime call. (side note: Apple products rule the World!!!) RaLyn and I chatted with Joyce and her husband Mark for about an hour and a half. As we chatted, I found out that Joyce attended high school in Idaho Falls and was born in 1949, so I asked if she knew any of my Heninger cousins from Uncle Maurice's family. Mark got out a year book and sure enough, there was Launa Heninger, a year ahead of Joyce in school. This was the beginning of finding out just how small the world is and how much our families crossed paths over the years and never knew it. I plan to share some of those in Part 3 of my story. As I mentioned earlier, the doctor who delivered me was Dr. Harlan David Smith. I had found this out in 2001 when I wrote a letter to Uncle Maurice (Dad's brother) asking what he recalled or could share about my adoption. Uncle Maurice said that the adoption was handled in confidence and he and Dr. Smith never talked much about it or shared any details. However, when I mentioned Dr. Smith's name to Joyce, she recognized him. He was associated with their family when they were kids and was her doctor up until she was 18 years old. We had a wonderful conversation with Joyce. I could feel her love as if she was standing right next to me. She is wonderful and I'm forever grateful for her reaching out to me regarding the DNA test match and figuring out we are siblings.
My mother had me when she was 40 years old and passed away of a massive stroke at age 70, in 1992. She had been married three times. Her first husband is the father of Joyce and her 4 brothers. They divorced in 1960. My Mom met a man who worked at the local gas station, became pregnant with me, then he disappeared. Due to already having 5 young children and in a tough financial situation, my Mom gave me up for adoption. Mom's second husband, they married in 1963, was a lot older than she and the marriage didn't last long. Mom's third husband was Lynn Reiman, who was previously married with 8 kids, divorced, then met my Mom and was sealed to her in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1966. They were happily married until she died in 1992. Lynn was a Temple Sealer in the Idaho Falls Temple. I also learned that my Mom was a cosmetologist, a seamstress, and a very organized, very proper person. I can see that in her photos over the years. Always dressed to the nines! Joyce told me about her family, her brothers and answered various questions I had regarding every one's health history, which was good news!
Monday evening, January 4th, I decided to tell my kids about everything. We asked them all to come over for a special Family Home Evening and didn't tell them what was happening. After everyone was here, we sat in the family room and I basically retold the story from Part 1 on the previous post. It was a very emotional evening. My kids all know how badly I have wanted to know of my biological Mother. Even my kids have had that same desire to know their biological grandma and where she was from, what she was like and who they may resemble. My Mom had blue eyes, which now explains where Holly came from! Holly is also a cosmetologist. Mom was 5' 3". She had 8 siblings and was raised in Blackfoot, Idaho on a farm. Her parents are John Ward and Clara Sommercorn. We showed the kids all the pictures I had received from Joyce and Jim over the past two days. It was one of the funnest family gatherings we have ever had. The pictures continued to roll in from my siblings, mostly Joyce and Jim. I will post a few here.
Later that same evening, Jim and I had arranged to chat on FaceTime. He called as the kids were leaving and again we spent about an hour getting to know each other, similar to how Joyce and I had the day previous. Jim is a very calm and loving man. No wonder he has been a Bishop twice and served in a Stake Presidency for nine years. He's currently serving as a Transient Bishop in Idaho. It was incredible to know I have brothers. Jim is the oldest. He was born in 1947. My new siblings are all older than me, of course, by a long ways. So, I'm now the little brother and also the oldest brother/sibling in two families. It can make one's head spin, but it's also very fulfilling. I loved
getting to know Jim. I could feel his love and he expressed several times how grateful they are to have found me and that over the past few months he has wondered what happened to the brother of theirs that was adopted and how could they find him. I think we were all being prepared for this!
Tuesday, January 5th was "Inform Heidi Day". Heidi, my sister, is also adopted. We come from different parents and from different parts of the country. I was elated when Heidi heard the story and was excited about it. I was not sure how she would take it. I love her no less than I ever have and this doesn't change a thing. I know she feels the same.
Well, now it's Wednesday, January 6th and I need to tell my Dad. I held him off until last because I really had to think through how this might go with him. I didn't want to disappoint him. I didn't want him to feel any different towards me, because I certainly feel no different towards him, my mom or Heidi. I just decided I had to tell him and I didn't want him hearing from anyone other than me. So...I picked up the phone and called him on FaceTime. I started off telling him of the DNA test I had taken and how it had lead to me discovering my biological ancestry and where I was from in Europe. Before I told him where, he said, "Let me guess". Well, OK, guess away, not sure why he wanted to do that, but he said, and I quote, "Since your birth Mom's last name was Neitzel, I bet you're from Germany." WHAT?!?!? I stopped him right there and asked how in the world he knew that name and why he never told me that before. I still hadn't told him the rest of the story and how I found Joyce, etc. Dad mentioned that he had always known her name and that he had it on my original birth certificate in a file downstairs. I asked him why he had never told me. His response was that I didn't want to know and he had asked me a while ago if I had wanted to know and I told him, no. I then asked, how long ago? How old was I when you asked me that? "About 10 years old", he responded. Well, what kid would want to know that at that age. Nevertheless, I told him that I had asked Mom when I was older and she insisted that she knew nothing. Dad said that wasn't true, Mom knew. He went looking for the document downstairs and returned saying he couldn't find it and perhaps Mom had taken it. Well, I finished the story with Dad and he was very pleased and excited for me. Thank goodness! I had done the right thing. He really wants to meet Joyce and the other brothers one day. I told him for sure, but let me meet them first.
Now that my close family was all personally informed. I felt relieved at the support I had received and how excited everyone was for me. I decided I could now tell other close friends and relatives the news. With my kids, Dad and sister all in the know, word started spreading and I called several people and told them the news. Others, I visited with in person. If I didn't tell you, I'm sorry, but I was a little overwhelmed by all of this and couldn't think straight for over a week. My head was spinning every day and night. It was by far the most exciting week of my life.
Eventually, on January 25, 2016 I decided it was time to post a little tidbit of this on social medial, so I posted a photo of me and my Mom. That lead to more story telling and many other people finding out about my miracle discovery. Over the course of the next little while, I discovered so many connections to my birth family. I will discuss those in my Part 3 post. On February 8, 2016, a Monday evening, we were in Utah to attend Holly's graduation from cosmetology school that week. That night, we had dinner and got to meet part of my family, Joyce, Jerry and Jim! There were others there as well, but let me tell you that the reunion was glorious! I can't get enough hugs from Joyce. I'll talk about that and more in my next post. Thanks for reading!
End Part 2.
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| Joyce Neitzel Burgener |
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| Dennis, Jim, Jerry, Joyce, David, Mom May 1963 |
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| Clara Sommercorn and John Logan Ward Wedding Day 1911 - My Grandparents |
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| Mom (far left) and her parents and siblings (one brother is missing) |
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| James Ward Neitzel |
getting to know Jim. I could feel his love and he expressed several times how grateful they are to have found me and that over the past few months he has wondered what happened to the brother of theirs that was adopted and how could they find him. I think we were all being prepared for this!
Tuesday, January 5th was "Inform Heidi Day". Heidi, my sister, is also adopted. We come from different parents and from different parts of the country. I was elated when Heidi heard the story and was excited about it. I was not sure how she would take it. I love her no less than I ever have and this doesn't change a thing. I know she feels the same.
Well, now it's Wednesday, January 6th and I need to tell my Dad. I held him off until last because I really had to think through how this might go with him. I didn't want to disappoint him. I didn't want him to feel any different towards me, because I certainly feel no different towards him, my mom or Heidi. I just decided I had to tell him and I didn't want him hearing from anyone other than me. So...I picked up the phone and called him on FaceTime. I started off telling him of the DNA test I had taken and how it had lead to me discovering my biological ancestry and where I was from in Europe. Before I told him where, he said, "Let me guess". Well, OK, guess away, not sure why he wanted to do that, but he said, and I quote, "Since your birth Mom's last name was Neitzel, I bet you're from Germany." WHAT?!?!? I stopped him right there and asked how in the world he knew that name and why he never told me that before. I still hadn't told him the rest of the story and how I found Joyce, etc. Dad mentioned that he had always known her name and that he had it on my original birth certificate in a file downstairs. I asked him why he had never told me. His response was that I didn't want to know and he had asked me a while ago if I had wanted to know and I told him, no. I then asked, how long ago? How old was I when you asked me that? "About 10 years old", he responded. Well, what kid would want to know that at that age. Nevertheless, I told him that I had asked Mom when I was older and she insisted that she knew nothing. Dad said that wasn't true, Mom knew. He went looking for the document downstairs and returned saying he couldn't find it and perhaps Mom had taken it. Well, I finished the story with Dad and he was very pleased and excited for me. Thank goodness! I had done the right thing. He really wants to meet Joyce and the other brothers one day. I told him for sure, but let me meet them first.
Now that my close family was all personally informed. I felt relieved at the support I had received and how excited everyone was for me. I decided I could now tell other close friends and relatives the news. With my kids, Dad and sister all in the know, word started spreading and I called several people and told them the news. Others, I visited with in person. If I didn't tell you, I'm sorry, but I was a little overwhelmed by all of this and couldn't think straight for over a week. My head was spinning every day and night. It was by far the most exciting week of my life.
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| Instagram Post from Jan. 25, 2016 |
End Part 2.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
DNA Miracle - Part 3
DNA Miracle - Part 3
I also had the opportunity to meet the youngest sibling, David Neitzel, born in 1958, and some of his family via a FaceTime chat on Monday, January 25, 2016. David had sent me two letters, one telling me about himself and the other about his family members. He mentioned that he was having a Family Home Evening on Monday and inviting his kids over to tell them about his newly found little brother. David is 4 years older than me. He asked me to call, but I texted and asked if anyone had an iPhone so we could FaceTime and I could see everyone rather than just hear their voices. After a while, David texted me back and gave me his son Curtis' number. When Curtis answered the call, I was staring at the face of a massively bearded bald guy! He cracks me up. I wasn't quite expecting that! Well, we had a great conversation with David, Curtis and a few others in the family. It was great to meet them and to finally see their faces. Since my cousin David Heninger and his buddy Woody Smith, who I've known since I was a kid, were also about the same as age David, I asked if he knew of them. David said, "you mean the Dentist and the guy who owns some car dealerships here in Idaho Falls?" Bingo, that's them! Wow, small world again.
The day, Monday, February 8, 2016, had finally arrived for me to meet Joyce. Originally, RaLyn, Holly, Lexi and I were having dinner in Orem with Joyce and her husband, Mark. That was the plan, but in late January, Joyce emailed me and told me Jim and his daughter Janea would also be able to make it. Jim was coming down from Idaho and Janae works for the LDS Church in SLC. Awesome! The more siblings the better! This was fantastic, but it even got more exciting the day of the dinner when I got a text from Joyce, an hour before, informing me that Jerry, his wife Carol, their son Jacob and his wife Heather, their two kids, and Jim's wife Claudia were also coming. They showed up and Joyce was unaware they were coming. SURPRISE! Do I panic or act cool? Joyce assured me that things would be great, so I looked forward to the 15 of us meeting each other. I just texted Joyce back and said, "Make sure I sit by you!". She replied, "Absolutely :)" All was well.
In we walked to the restaurant. Joyce had secured a private room. I could see them, so we walked over and into the room. There they were! My siblings. Hugs, handshakes and greetings all around! The best of all...hugging Joyce for the first time. How could a person love another person so much after never knowing them for nearly 54 years of life. Well, blood is blood. I could feel it. It felt overwhelming to meet everyone. I wanted the moment to last forever. Will this be what it's like when I meet my birth Mom for the first time? I think it will be even more glorious. To me, Joyce is also a piece of my Mom. I can feel my mother through her. It was such a nice evening. I hardly touched my meal. I had no appetite. All I wanted to do was bask in the moment, talk and be together. I can hardly even recall what we talked about, but it was more the feeling of being together that made it so fulfilling. We introduced everyone, then ate and talked more.
After a while, Joyce pulled out some interesting things of my Mom's, like handkerchiefs, jewelry, a glass jewelry heart box, certificates, etc. We heard stories about the items, then passed them around. Joyce had arranged several of the items for me to have and take home. How sweet of her. I have a small piece of my Mother now. Jim also had some Temple names from the Ward family line. He gave us some so we could do the Temple work for them. How awesome! Doing Temple work for actual blood relatives! This is a first. What an honor.
After about two hours, we took some pictures of all of us, and got up to depart. The time flew. I wasn't ready for the night to end. I wanted more. Oh well. What about the hands?! I quickly got Joyce and Jim to hold out their hands. Do my hands look like yours, I wondered? Other siblings have similar features, what were ours? We all have the same mother, but they do have a different father than me, but our hands nearly matched, at least Joyce's and mine! I guess I have girl hands!
We spent about another hour in the parking lot, exchanging Idaho potatoes that Jim had brought with boxes of citrus we had brought from our backyard trees. (The potatoes were fresh and delicious as can be by the way.) It was time to depart. It was pretty cold outside in the parking lot. I didn't like leaving. I don't know when I'll see them again. It's good that at least Joyce lives in Utah Valley, so I can probably see her whenever I'm in town. It will be good to get to know everyone better over time. I also hope soon to meet my other two brothers, Dennis and David. Dennis is in Texas and David also lives in Idaho Falls. So, that was the first meeting and I'd call it a huge success and a wonderful blessing from heaven. Now, on to some other interesting pieces of the rest of the story...
End Part 3
I also had the opportunity to meet the youngest sibling, David Neitzel, born in 1958, and some of his family via a FaceTime chat on Monday, January 25, 2016. David had sent me two letters, one telling me about himself and the other about his family members. He mentioned that he was having a Family Home Evening on Monday and inviting his kids over to tell them about his newly found little brother. David is 4 years older than me. He asked me to call, but I texted and asked if anyone had an iPhone so we could FaceTime and I could see everyone rather than just hear their voices. After a while, David texted me back and gave me his son Curtis' number. When Curtis answered the call, I was staring at the face of a massively bearded bald guy! He cracks me up. I wasn't quite expecting that! Well, we had a great conversation with David, Curtis and a few others in the family. It was great to meet them and to finally see their faces. Since my cousin David Heninger and his buddy Woody Smith, who I've known since I was a kid, were also about the same as age David, I asked if he knew of them. David said, "you mean the Dentist and the guy who owns some car dealerships here in Idaho Falls?" Bingo, that's them! Wow, small world again.
The day, Monday, February 8, 2016, had finally arrived for me to meet Joyce. Originally, RaLyn, Holly, Lexi and I were having dinner in Orem with Joyce and her husband, Mark. That was the plan, but in late January, Joyce emailed me and told me Jim and his daughter Janea would also be able to make it. Jim was coming down from Idaho and Janae works for the LDS Church in SLC. Awesome! The more siblings the better! This was fantastic, but it even got more exciting the day of the dinner when I got a text from Joyce, an hour before, informing me that Jerry, his wife Carol, their son Jacob and his wife Heather, their two kids, and Jim's wife Claudia were also coming. They showed up and Joyce was unaware they were coming. SURPRISE! Do I panic or act cool? Joyce assured me that things would be great, so I looked forward to the 15 of us meeting each other. I just texted Joyce back and said, "Make sure I sit by you!". She replied, "Absolutely :)" All was well.
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| Mark snapped this picture of me walking into the room for the first time. |
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| Joyce showing Mom's locket |
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| Jim, Matt, Joyce I have hands like Joyce - girl hands! |
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| Jim, Matt, RaLyn, Joyce, Jerry, Lexi, Holly |
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| Meeting Joyce for the first time hug and saying good-bye hug. |
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| Looking at Mom's items |
Throughout the past two months, as we've gotten to know each other and as I've told the story to friends and relatives, the small world we live in has become ever apparent. I never knew of my birth family until Joyce and I discovered each other. I knew nothing, had never met any of them, however, these facts came to light to show we were never very far away from each other:
Joyce attended high school with some of my Heninger cousins. Launa Heninger was just one year ahead of her at Idaho Falls High School.
Jim attended high school with Karen Radford (Heninger), my cousin Wayne's future wife. Jim was one year older than Karen.
Joyce attended high school with some of my Heninger cousins. Launa Heninger was just one year ahead of her at Idaho Falls High School.
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| Launa Heninger (Nelson) : Joyce Neitzel (Burgener) Yearbook Pictures |
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| Jim Neitzel : Karen Radford (Heninger) Yearbook Pictures |
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| Lava Street Home |
Joyce lived in Orem when I lived in Provo.
My cousin David Heninger and his wife Kathy are in a Ward in Idaho Falls that up until two years ago included the home my family lived in on Lava Street when I was born. Kathy was the Relief Society President in the Ward and has been in that exact home.
Curtis, David Neitzel's son, was once a patient at my cousin David Heninger's dental practice.
When I received the two email letters from David Neitzel, telling me about his family and where he lived, RaLyn noticed that it was by the Idaho Falls Temple. Well, our friends Chuck and Linda Johnson, who used to be in our Ward in Gilbert, moved to that area. So one evening we called Linda. I told her basically the story from Part 1, then asked her if she had ever heard of a David Neitzel. She was blown away when I told her he was my brother and said, "Of course, he used to be our Bishop and lives just around the corner from us!" She knows their family well and looked forward to talking to them at Church the following week and making the connection.
Joyce sent me a copy of my Mom's Patriarchal Blessing. The first thing I noticed was the name of the Patriarch, Delbert V. Groberg. Holy cow, he's Uncle Maurice's brother-in-law! They are both married to sisters, my Aunt Vera Holbrook and her sister Jennie Holbrook. Also, the typist listed was Barbara Groberg, who lived next to Uncle Maurice and is his niece. Barbara is married to Richard Groberg. Other siblings in that family include Elder John Groberg (an Emeritis General Authority Seventy) a sister named Gloria, and several others. Joyce knows Gloria! My Dad knows all of the family and Aunt Vera tried to line up my Dad with one of Groberg siblings named Mary Jane and one of the other sisters when he was younger and single. The world is getting smaller and smaller.
When I received the two email letters from David Neitzel, telling me about his family and where he lived, RaLyn noticed that it was by the Idaho Falls Temple. Well, our friends Chuck and Linda Johnson, who used to be in our Ward in Gilbert, moved to that area. So one evening we called Linda. I told her basically the story from Part 1, then asked her if she had ever heard of a David Neitzel. She was blown away when I told her he was my brother and said, "Of course, he used to be our Bishop and lives just around the corner from us!" She knows their family well and looked forward to talking to them at Church the following week and making the connection.
Joyce sent me a copy of my Mom's Patriarchal Blessing. The first thing I noticed was the name of the Patriarch, Delbert V. Groberg. Holy cow, he's Uncle Maurice's brother-in-law! They are both married to sisters, my Aunt Vera Holbrook and her sister Jennie Holbrook. Also, the typist listed was Barbara Groberg, who lived next to Uncle Maurice and is his niece. Barbara is married to Richard Groberg. Other siblings in that family include Elder John Groberg (an Emeritis General Authority Seventy) a sister named Gloria, and several others. Joyce knows Gloria! My Dad knows all of the family and Aunt Vera tried to line up my Dad with one of Groberg siblings named Mary Jane and one of the other sisters when he was younger and single. The world is getting smaller and smaller.
I know there are more, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. This is the main reason it is so important to document these events. I've had fun capturing the past two months of finding my birth family in these three blog posts and hope you've enjoyed reading about it. I'll update more as time passes and more events take place. For now, I thank the Lord for this miracle in my life and look forward to meeting my Mother in the future.
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| In mid-July 2016, my siblings had my name added to my Mom's grave monument marker! |
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Holly's Graduation from Aveda
For the past year and a half, Holly has been living in Provo, working and attending Aveda for a year. She graduated after completing her 1,600 hours and also passed her Utah State Board Exams on the first try! We are so proud of her and this great accomplishment. It was fun being there for her graduation ceremony and we look forward to watching her develop her hair skills over future years.
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