SEVENTEEN ~ my sister TINA died 10 years ago today ~ sad day

TINA and I enjoying life at Rice Lake - 1985

Christina Marie 1956 - 2009

Today's post will be dedicated to my kid sister Tina. It is the 10th anniversary of her death, a date I wish wasn't such a bitter sweet reminder of What was. From as young as I can remember, it was "Tina and I" When our parents split there were Group homes, many moves to a new neighborhood and new schools. The times we lived with mom had a lot of unsupervised time while mom worked. When dad got custody of us, the result was another parent who worked Many hours to make ends meet. We were left with a step-mom who was Not a caring, compassionate person. Our lives were controlled by a new strictness and became difficult as we got older. The upside was it made Tina and I closer because thru All our life changes, we had each other.

Itty, bitty, teenie, weenie, tiny, little sister Tina

Our maternal side of the family is plagued by colon / bowel cancer. There's a  history of dying too young, even if treated at an early age. It was the fate of my sister. She left this earth before she could accomplish everything she wanted. 

BUT I want to stress, Tina lived every moment like it was her last. Tina was always the "Life of the Party"  Her impeccable fashion sense was inherited from our mom. Tina was Always the BEST dressed, perfect hair and the most color co-ordinated person I ever met. It was a gift I never had. I marvel how she found lipstick, nail color and hair color to match for every occasion.

My sister married young, had 3 children in quick concession and then separated. No matter what was going on, she tried to make sure her children ate well, dressed well and enjoyed the finer things in life. Tina enjoyed playing games. Card games, board games, sheckers and chess. Tina also liked Bowling, playing her violin, sketching and singing...but she LOVED to go Shopping and to the Casino!!!  Tina was in her glory spending time with friends, and family.

She is still with us in Spirit

Tina was fortunate enough to have 5 grandchildren before she passed. Tina enjoyed a close relationship with our father and she also had a sweet significant life partner. I hope she can see that I have finally found our brother Steve and we now have some pretty wonderful first cousins on our mom's side. I hope my sister Tina can feel the Love that we all have for her. And most of all, the joy we have in the memories of our short time together You are missed sister!

SIXTEEN ~ Wonderful to find my Jennings cousins!

Meeting my JENNINGS cousins for the FIRST TIME!!!

The Journey is worth the effort

Not sure I can explain the extent of frustration during the search. Fortunate for me it  resulted in one of the most meaningful meetings of my life.

I had continued writing and searching on ANCESTRY.CA, MY HERITAGE, and any other site I could find. I also was getting valuable help from a few members of my Private "Facebook" page "Searching for Lenora Jennings". One gentleman Tom BURK was able to track down a cousin whom I had written to many times. She had moved a few years earlier and wasn't receiving my messages. I had hit a brick wall.

But thankfully Tom found my cousin Anne, I was elated to speak with her and her mother....who had actually met my mom a few times back in the 70's! After another month of searching for mom I was feeling a bit defeated and decided to search on "Ancestry.ca" for information on one of her brothers....BINGO, I found another couple of cousins!!! It was like playing a game of Domino, bit by bit cousins were falling into place.  All in all I found 5 cousins and 3 of their children and --- drum roll pleaze "Aunt Doreen" who once was married to my Uncle! AMAZING!!!!

BURNING UP THE PHONE LINES

What the heck do you call a feeling of Instant Kinship with people you have never met? Kizmit? Whatever it's called, it feels Wonderful! I never knew I had any cousins and then I find an entire Jennings tribe, it is more than I could have ever imagined. So then began the many phone calls, texting and picking their brain for any memories of my mother. I found out the cousins were too young to remember a lot about my mom.I was sad to learn that there mother had died just a few months before I found them. Aunt Joyce was the person who enjoyed Genealogy and researched the family history. If anyone had any information on my mother, it would have been her. I am sorry that my aunt and her oldest daughter passed away before I had a chance to know them.

I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET MY CLAN

I really wanted to meet my Jennings cousins....and I felt blessed that they wanted to meet me as well. I was on Pins and Needles just waiting for a time where everyone could get together. It took a few months but a date is arranged. Booked my flight to the United States. The biggest preparation was going thru all my notes. I wanted to make sure I had all my documents and most of all all my Questions ready for them. I am READY....LET'S GO!!!!