Ok…this is CRAZY! Awesome!

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by lisabongean

So about two weeks ago I received a message from a young women on FB Messenger..she was contacting me because we had both entered our DNA on 23&Me…we were related…it was saying we were first cousins…and we were trying to figure out how…so long story short her Mom was adopted and when they looked at her DNA we came up as Half Sisters…she is 4 years older than me…Her adopted parents told her, her mother was very young…So my Father must have fathered a child he did not know existed before he met my mother.

We had been texting for about two weeks…she was in Alabama where her husband was working but they actually live near Wausau WI..about 1 and a half hour from me.  She came home this week for the summer so we met today…

I haven’t been able to concentrate very well since I found out…I wanted to know so many things…I did not want to actually voice talk to her until we could meet in person……but here is just a little background about my family…I have 4 brothers…raised three sons and now I have two adorable grandsons…so a real Sister??? How can that be!  But when your DNA matches 24.5%..there is no argument and when she sent me her picture as a younger women…I could not believe it…here we are at the same age…30ishIMG_3129

so I cannot tell you what today felt like when I met her…I cannot imagine what it was like to grow up wondering where you came from…she told me I was the first person she has ever talked to that she was related to besides her own daughter…

IMG_5551I have long been “envious” of those who have sisters…and have made “my own” sisters in my life and they are great ones…but to find out after all this time that I have a FOR REAL one!  It’s pretty shocking…but so wonderful all at the same time…

We had a great day and look forward to more…OH..I almost forgot…Her name…is Lisa  she said her adopted mother changed it to Lisa.

Thanks for listening my friends…and if you are looking for someone who is lost out there…I hope you find them or someone….who maybe can fill some void.

Our first selfie…IMG_7669

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lisabongean

I live on a lake in beautiful Butte Des Morts, WI. I have three sons: Lance (forever 29), Luke 33, Jake 32, and two grand-babies, Little Man and O-Bug. I've been married to the love of my life Nick, since 1998 when we started our crazy adventure together! I am a quilter, rugger, and gardener. I also love to cook when I get the chance. Thanks for visiting and supporting Primitive Gathering Quilt Shop where I try to bring you the best Moda fabrics and wool projects anywhere!

141 thoughts on “Ok…this is CRAZY! Awesome!”

  2. Wow! I’ve always longed for a sister, too, and like you, in the absence of any biological sisters, I’ve made my own. (My Mom would have been exhausted if they’d been biological, because they span 20 years younger to nearly 20 years older then me 😊.) Congratulations! What a genuinely wonderful discovery — and forget the DNA… the pictures tell the story. I hope this turns out to be a beautiful connection for both of you.

  4. To be honest, I dont usually leave comments..no reason..😅😅
    But after reading your story, I had to comment.
    I’m so happy for you two Lisas.
    You really do look alike.
    Have a wonderful time and make a lot of new beautiful memories!
    Shes so lucky to find you as a sister! 💓💓🎀🎀

  5. Congratulations to both you. Sisters are definitely fun to have. I know I have 4. Enjoy your new families and share your memories.

    1. What a wonderful blessing! Congrats to you both on connecting with your new sister!!!!

  7. Wow! That is wonderful. What a great and special surprise. You are truly blessed. God does work in mysterious ways. I’m thrilled for both of you.

  10. That is wonderfully CRAZY!!!  Congratulations to you both.  I, too, have always wanted a sister.  Maybe someday………💗

    Sent from AOL Mobile Ma

  11. Congratulations to you both! You’re both adorable 😍 Sweetest story about your growing family, many, many blessings to you all!

  15. More Than AWESOME! Thanks so much for sharing your over-the-top heartwarming story…so many connections..I’m a believer of higher powers…met you in Irvine last year at Flying Geese Guild workshop…wish you all the best!

    Diane Gross

    On Thu, Jun 6, 2019 at 7:54 PM Lisa Bongean’s Web Blog wrote:

    > lisabongean posted: “So about two weeks ago I received a message from a > young women on FB Messenger..she was contacting me because we had both > entered our DNA on 23&Me…we were related…it was saying we were first > cousins…and we were trying to figure out how…so long” >

  17. Congratulations, Lisa! How wonderful for you both. You look so much alike. And for her name to also be Lisa-amazing! Time to make lots of new memories. God bless you! Pam

  20. Lisa thank you for sharing. It is surprising to me how many you see on the news that have found siblings. I am glad you have a sister after growing up with brothers & sons! Also cool that she lives close to you!

  21. WOW! This happened to me on April 24. Submitted my DNA to Ancestry 3 years ago and found a half sister and 3 half brothers in April – 96.3% match. We girls were put up for adoption, our mother kept her boys. Have met our youngest brother and have plans to meet my sister this summer. Sadly our mother passed 6 years ago, however my sister had met her.

  24. I’m thrilled for you. I know how you feel I have 3 brothers & only 2 sons. I always wanted a sister too. One question you didn’t tell us… Does she quilt? 🙂

  27. Wow is really all!!! You two are adorable—and both named Lisa….awesome! What a blessing for both of you! ❤️❤️❤️

  35. Congratulations! My dad was adopted, and I’ve always had that “wall” when doing health histories, etc. Whenever I get the questions on the survey about race, I have the strong urge to check ALL the boxes! I honestly don’t know, so it’s not like anyone else can say, either – it made me realize those questions are pretty useless. It should ask what heritage do you identify with instead of asking to check the box on a single race, if they have to ask. I’ve not done one of the DNA tests, but maybe one day… Dad died years ago before the tests were available, so we can’t go back and get his.

  37. How wonderful! Enjoy each other and make tons of memories! Does she sew??Quilt???

  39. I LOVE this! This is such a fantastic and wonderful story. I am so happy for the both of you!

  40. My heart is swelled with the love and excitement I know you must have felt. A wonderful story with a great ending.

  42. Wow! This is the best and most joyful thing I’ve heard in a long time. What a blessing to you and your sister Lisa and your families. Now you have to get her quilting!

  44. adding more congratulations to you both. May the coming years continue to bring you both as much happiness as you feel today.

  46. What a beautiful discovery! I wish you both many, many years of shared “sister” love! ♥️♥️

  50. That’s amazing! How wonderful! I guess the Spirit World wanted you to meet, you have been given a gift from that World!
    Janet UK

  51. Holy Cow you two could have been twins when you were younger!! My daughters father is adopted and now my daughter has a beautiful baby girl and mentioned to me the other day that she would like to know the other half of her history…she said it felt important now that she has a daughter… Think those would make an excellent gift.

  54. Congratulations to both of you. May you love and enjoy each other’s company for many years to come. So do you have more nieces/nephews now, also? I am wondering if she quilts? is a rugger? gardens? likes to cook?

  55. My heart!!! So happy for you, and your love and acceptance is bottomless.
    Enjoy your new journey into sisterhood!

  56. Oh my goodness, this is wonderful for you. I bet you will have her making wool flowers!

  57. Is your birth parents, especially your father, still around? Maybe he did not want this known or he did not know about this. Maybe we have gone too far with all this kind of testing.

    1. I sure he did not know…the first thing my mothers said is if Dad knew about her he would have taken care/responsibility of her… so we will never know. Things are different today then back then…

  58. Such a nice story. It’s wonderful that your new sister lives reasonably close to you. I imagine that the two of you spent time comparing your likes & dislikes. When & if possible you’ll need to continue the story.

  59. This is such a wonderful story! And Lisa and Lisa… how amazing!

    One thing you left out … are wool and quilting in her DNA too???!!!

    Enjoy the sisterhood!

  60. On my goodness! I am so happy for you both! I am adopted and have been looking into doing this. I too, have only a daughter, and an adopted.brother.and have always longed for a sister. Do continue to share your new found experiences, how exciting!

  61. That post is worth a comment. How crazy good and awesome is it you have a sister?! And to live so near each other, to top it off. Now you can meet the rest of her family, too! That will be a day you will never forget.

  62. How wonderful! Enjoy these moments. Karen J

    Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

  63. Congratulations Lisa what a wonderful thing!! I love my sister and you will have such a great relationship now with yours. Amazing story!

  64. How great is that! Does she share your love of quilting by any chance? And a bonus she lives close enough for plenty of visits.

  67. I share your excitement….I found a half sister when my father died 6 years ago. Grew up with two brothers. Elated to have her in my life. But sure wish I had found her much much earlier. Unfortunately, we aren’t as close logistically as you two are.

  68. That is just absolutely wonderful! I am so happy for you both! I found my dad after years of searching! No DA TEST years ago! Enjoy each other! Sharon c

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  70. What a blessing, a gift, Lisa~Lisa!!! ♥️♥️
    Congratulations to you both

  75. Enjoy the journey, Lisa. When did your sister start quilting 😍? The world 🌎 is full of mysteries. Hugs 🤗

  76. Lisa, Lisa, how wonderful for you both! I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling. Now you need one of those signs that says, “I’m laughing because you’re my sister, and there’s nothing you can do about it” (LOL)

  79. So very happy for you!!!!!!! Enjoy every moment together and beginning to know each other!!!!! May you find much happiness in being a part of each other’s lives!!!!!!!

  81. Oh my gosh, what an amazing story and the photos tell it all !! What a beautiful blessing in your life. I too, have no sister…..3 brothers and 3 sons. My chosen sister passed away in 2016 of ovarian cancer and I miss her terribly. I have a cousin that I am close to and we do alot together; but it just isn’t the same. A sister who even shares the same name….WOW !! Enjoy getting to know her and the adventures ahead.

  84. I think this is just wonderful, Lisa. You never really know what is around the next corner in life. God bless you ,your sister and the families involved.

  85. Thank you for sharing your story! How wonderful. Enjoy being a sister. Such a happy surprise. Does she stitch? If not I bet she just found a new hobby too.

  86. Ahhhh Lisa. Tgat is so exciting for the both of you. Enjoy this gift and the wonderful journey ahead. Couldn’t be happier for you

  88. What an amazing story. I’m jealous, I want a sister!! Such exciting news for you. Enjoy the bond of sisterhood.

  89. These real life stories about our families are better than any we can make up! Thank you for sharing this.

  90. Oh wow! Congratulations on finding your long lost sister. They do say that you may find surprises when you do a DNA test. I haven’t found any surprises on mine. Yet.

  92. I too have done Ancestry and have found cousins, uncles, even my grandfather whom I never knew. Ancestry is amazing! I was sent actual pictures of an uncle I never knew and they were sent to me by the ex-wife of a cousin I hadn’t seen in many years (he gave her the ok to send me the pics). I am so happy for you Lisa. That is a cool story!

  94. Goosebumps…it’s so wonderful that you found each other and can now fully enjoy your whole family… together!

  95. I have a friend who now lives in Bakersfield, CA, who adopted a baby girl 37 years ago from Korea, when she was living elsewhere in Calif. She knew the baby was 1/2 Korean and 1/2 American. The daughter took the 23 & me test about 1.5 years ago and she discovered her father lived only a few miles away from her in Bakersfield!! They were on the local TV news etc and she has met many of her American relatives – it was mind blowing!

  96. OH! MY! GOSH!!! How simply wonderful!!! I’m so happy for you two!!! Wonderful and amazing at the same time!!!! Congratulations!!!!

  101. Well I am very happy for both of you. If that happened to me I would keel over. I already have three brothers and three sisters so not sure I could handle another one! Funny to see Wausau mentioned. I have been there quite a few times as my grandparents had a farm out in the countryside and Wausau was the closest ‘big city’.

  102. This is so wonderful – Congratulations! And thanks for sharing. Your story gave me goose bumps!

  103. I am so happy for you!! I can’t wait to here more about your visit. Signed, “your sister from another mister”

  104. I have read your post several times today and my heart ❤️ Is so happy for you! Cherish every moment. I am blessed to have 3 sisters and girlfriends that are like sisters. Thank you for sharing with us! Many blessings to you!

  106. How amazing!! Our great and awesome God certainly had a wonderful surprise in store for you when he brought the two of you together! I am so happy and thrilled for you and your family. I have longed for a sister all my 81 years but haven’t found a sister yet, except for my wonderful girlfriend sisters! May God Bless both of you sisters!

  108. A life changing time for both of you.
    Happiness and many blessings on this wonderful family discovery. God is good!

  110. You have generously shared so much of yourself and your life story with us! Congratulations on such an exciting new chapter! As one of my closest friends says, “You can’t script life!” All the best to each of you!

  112. This happened to my kids: they found out they have a half sister none of us knew about, not even their father, who is deceased. Amazing stories coming from these DNA results.

  113. So, SO cool! I am thrilled for you, Lisa–both Lisas, for that matter. 🙂
    My best friend adopted a baby girl and then went on to have 4 boys. That little girl always wanted a sister. Through DNA testing she found her biological family, and discovered that she has 5 half sisters! Isn’t it amazing what they can do these days with a tube full of spit? 🙂

  115. Oh dear, you are making me rethink a decision I made. I was contacted through Ancestry by a sister. My birth mother had given up three children (two girls and a boy) after each was born. The sister contacted me but I had no desire to meet her. I had met my birth mother and well, it didn’t go well. Because of that experience I decided not to met the sister, now rethinking.

    So happy for you though.

  116. I love your beautiful open heart, Lisa! This could be a difficult thing, and you made it a wonderful beginning. God is good all the time, isn’t He, and surprises us with gifts we never thought of!

  117. Totally awesome Lisa wishing you all the best with your new sister!!!!!

    On Thu, Jun 6, 2019 at 8:52 PM Lisa Bongean’s Web Blog wrote:

    > lisabongean posted: “So about two weeks ago I received a message from a > young women on FB Messenger..she was contacting me because we had both > entered our DNA on 23&Me…we were related…it was saying we were first > cousins…and we were trying to figure out how…so long” >

  118. OMG Lisa! This is an amazing story. Thanks for sharing. How lucky are you both….and how lucky is she to find she has such an amazing and talented sister!! I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures. Wishing you both every happiness!!

  119. What a wonderful story, Lisa! Heartwarming! Thanks for being you and sharing – may you and Lisa have a joyful relationship in yeas to come.

  120. How wonderful!! So happy that you have found a sister!!! I love such happy stories: smiling from ear to ear!!!

  121. Happy for you Lisa! I would love to have a sister! A quilt sister even, lol. Here’s to a new chapter in your journey of life, enjoy with your new sister!

  123. Congratulations. I can see the resemblance. You both are so luck to have found each other.

    Lynn
    ________________________________

  125. This is really wonderful. Be thoughtful, kin, understanding and tolerant. For those of us who have known our sisters for our entire lives, it is easy to be together (or not). We know all the good and all the bad. You don’t. This happened to a friend and it has been a wonderful, challenging and surprising experience. Having a sister is the best! I am happy you have one.

  127. Lisa, this is incredibly awesome! I’m sure you have been experiencing all kinds of emotions, with questions, too. Praying this will be a positive and a forever blessing in your life!

  128. At church recently a member shared her story as an adopted child. She was adopted and raised by wonderful parents. When she eventually met the birth mother and 1/2 sisters & 1/2 brothers, it was apparent immediately that she had the better life growing up. Be cautious as you explore the new relationship. No doubting you are sisters by those photos.

  129. I have a similar story! Earlier this year I found two half brothers on Ancestry.com! My dad was a busy boy!

  132. I wonder if the DNA testing sites collaborate with each other’s data bases when folks submit their DNA and start looking for family to love and to love them back? Just wondering.
    Lisas it is evident through your eyes and your smiles you can make a go of the rest of your lives if you desire! Live long and live well!

  133. I’m going through the same DNA experience. I was an only child for 74 years, and after taking the DNA test, I found out I’m 1 of 8. I haven’t met any of them yet, but I’ve been in contact with 2 sisters. I’m not sure the others are as accepting as they could be, but I respect that. I’m not responsible for the circumstances of my birth, I would like to know them, but if they don’t feel the need to know me, I’ll just continue to live my life.

  134. WOW! Those photos taken at an earlier age are overly strong resemblances. Current photos, I just don’t know. With todays technology, I would proceed cautiously. I wish you the best.

  137. How exciting, Lisa! I wish you all the best as you explore this new relationship.

  138. Lisa, I have been working on my family ancestry and found some surprises also, but yours is just the very best! I’m so proud for you to have found your sister! I actually teared up just reading the story! I wish you the best!

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