Mommy Where Did I Come From?/Link Up

Ladies, this isn’t a birds and the bees blog post today. How many of you know where you came from? Do you have a family tree that can trace your ancestors?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with AncestryDNA. As always all opinions are my own!

Here’s a little background on this post:

Lisa is my oldest daughter who was also my college disruption exit in the 70’s. Her father was a basketball player at Wisconsin and I was a cheerleader. I was 20 when I married him and 22 when I left him.  I then went off to become a flight attendant and a single parent. Lisa didn’t have a relationship with her father or his family so we really didn’t know much about her father’s side of her family tree and still don’t know really.

However, that’s only HIS SIDE of the family tree. Everything I’ve ever known about my heritage has come from my parents and grandparents. Dd any of your grandparents keep a bible with births and deaths in it? My Grandma Knox kept a family Bible that was passed down from generation to generation. My Grandpa Wakefield did trace his family tree as part of his work as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Latter-day Saints believe families can be together after this life. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen relationships with all family members, both those who are alive and those who have died. Latter-day Saints believe that the eternal joining of families is possible through sacred sealing ceremonies that take place in temples. These temple rites may also be performed by proxy for those who have died. –Mormon Newsroom

I already know that my ancestors are English, Scottish, and Irish. For Lisa, her father’s side of the family is a mystery.

When I was contacted back in August to do this collaboration with AncestryDNA, I thought it would be more interesting if someone else took the test. I felt I already know enough about where I came from but I really wanted my husband to take the test as a true Italian. (Rumor has it one of his cousins took the test and Greek showed up in the results! ) I was all ready to title my post, “It’s all Greek to Me!” but true to his Italian pride, he declined. He doesn’t use Windex as a universal all in one product!

Lisa was my next best test subject because we don’t know anything about her father’s side of the family. I was told by his mother 40 years ago they had some Native American in them and that they were German.

I was hoping that for Lisa we could fill in the blanks of her ancestry line by taking this test.

What is Ancestry DNA?

AncestryDNA is a cutting edge DNA testing service that utilizes some of the latest autosomal testing technology to revolutionize the way you discover your family history. This service combines advanced DNA science with the world’s largest online family history resource to predict your genetic ethnicity and help you find new family connections. It maps ethnicity going back multiple generations and provides insight into such possibilities as: what region of Europe are my ancestors from, or am I likely to have East Asian heritage? AncestryDNA can also help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of DNA matches.

The Steps 

1. Activate the Kit Online (Safe and Secure)
2. Gather DNA (Spit into the tube with saliva)
3. Shake the tube for at least 5 seconds.
4. Place the tube in the collection bag.
5. Mail your sample.
6. Wait for your test results. (6-8 weeks later)
7. You will receive your results in a secured site

Lisa’s Results

Lisa received her results last week and was very surprised to see her results

Lisa was 51% English, Wales, & Northwestern European which I think came from my family

She was 20% Irish & Scottish again it comes from my family

10% Swedish- this was a surprise

10% German- not a surprise

6% Norwegian- hello where did this come from?

3%  Eastern European & Russian- say what!!

We’re wondering where her dark skin color came but see that there isn’t any Native American in her ancestor’s tree.

Lisa is more than the bloodlines she has inherited.

As all of us learn we need to understand the risks and the positive traits that are passed down from generation to generation.

Lisa did inherit her father’s athletic gift to be a top-tier athlete that opened doors to hundreds of colleges because she had the gift and the work ethic to be the best she can be. She ended up playing college basketball at William & Mary because she was born with an athletic body and natural talent, but we allowed her to be the best she could be.

Athletes are given the gift, but what they do with it is up to them. Being given a gift depends on how it is nurtured and developed.  Our ancestors may be talented and gifted but if the next generation does not have the opportunity to develop and learn their craft or talent, the buck stops here.

Lisa has reinvented herself at 40 as a Lifetime Athletic instructor at over 4 Atlanta locations. She believes that once an athlete always an athlete at any age. She may not be dribbling a basketball but she is making a difference in the lives of women she trains every day. At 40 she is fierce and strong because she inherited an athletes body from her father and the work ethic of her mother. Not bad for a Swedish, Norwegian, Irish, Scottish, and English girl!

Many families pass down from generation to generation stories of the people who came before them. I plan to tell my grandchildren stories of their great-grandparents and grandparents so that they may learn more about where they came from and why family and traditions are so important to me.

 

Come join us in January at the Influencers of Midlife Summit and meet the women of Athleta! Lisa will also be in the house! Athleta will be sharing their latest activewear and how to get up and get moving!

Get Your Tickets Now!

COME AND JOIN NINA AND ME TODAY ON OUR WELLNESS WEDNESDAY LINK UP!

Here’s the 411 on the link up:

Don’t forget to hop over to Nina’s blog to check out what she’s had as a midlife wake up call. Please share your fashion, diet, exercise, healthy living, good mental health, fitness, wellness, and health posts.  If you haven’t done a link up, or want to see the other linkups I participate in click here. #WellnessWednesday

         LINK UP PARTY

Every Wednesday at 7 AM EST through the following Tuesday, Bloggers, and Instagramers will be able to share their favorite HEALTH AND WELLNESS posts by clicking the blue Inlinkz button below. Adding your link will allow you to show off your hard work, make new connections, and gain new followers! Add posts relating to self-care, working out, health, healthy eating, recipes, and fitness. Here’s what to do . . . Join Robin from Hello I’m 50ish and Nina from Sharing A Journey on at least one of their Social Media accounts:

Nina from Sharing A Journey on Bloglovin, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Follow me on Bloglovin, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Be sure to tell your friends about this linkup so they can join in the fun too. The more the merrier! Have fun hopping around all the Blogs and Instagram accounts that have linked up! By linking up you acknowledge that you have rights to the photograph you are using for the thumbnail and that the thumbnail may be used on our group Pinterest board, featured in an outfit or look of the week or month, or a slideshow on other social media.