References from Connected: Finding My Truth
DNA Sites Used in Connected
Ancestry.com
23andMe.com
FamilyTree.com
GEDmatch.com
Research & Archival Sources
Ancestry.com resource records
Canada.archives.com (free search)
British Columbia Genealogical Society – Member
National Genealogical Society – Member
Archives in New Westminster, BC
Archives in Vancouver, BC
Clearwater Main Library, FL
Denver Public Library, CO
New Westminster Library, BC
Safety Harbor Library, FL
Selby Public Library, Sarasota, FL
Vancouver Public Library – Special Collections & Central Branch
Western History & Genealogy Dept., Denver, CO
Hospitals
Manhattan General Hospital – Manhattan, NY
Royal Columbian Hospital – New Westminster, BC
Vancouver General Hospital – Vancouver, BC
Books Cited in Connected
Hidden History of St. Petersburg by Will Michaels
Hope Lives Here by Bob Burrows
Liquor, Lust, and the Law by Aaron Chapman
Mob Rule: Inside the Canadian Mafia by James Dubro
Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family by Dick Kreck
The Traffic in Babies by Karen Balcom
Songs Referenced
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
“I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
“My Way” – Frank Sinatra
Films Mentioned
Father Unknown (2014) – Dir. David Quint
It’s a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
The Godfather
Goodfellas
True Lies (1994)
The Sopranos
Social Media, Podcasts, and Support Groups
Adoption Search Research Connection (ASRC) – https://www.asrconline.org
Missing Pieces – NPE Life Podcast – https://missingpieces.buzzsprout.com
Celia Center Inc. – https://celiacenter.org
DNA Identity Surprise / This NPE Life – https://www.facebook.com/groups/dnaidentitysurprise
DNAngels – https://www.dnangels.org
Family Twist Podcast – https://www.familytwistpodcast.com
Fireside Adoptees – https://www.facebook.com/groups/firesideadoptees
Forum for Late-Discovery Adoptees – https://www.facebook.com/groups/latediscoveryadoptees
InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV) – https://www.facebook.com/groups/Intercountryadopteevoices
MPE Life – https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpelife
National Association of Adoptees and Parents (NAAP) – https://naapunited.org
Nurses for NPEs – https://www.nursesfornpes.com
Reckoning with the Primal Wound – https://www.reckoningwiththeprimalwound.com
Right to Know – https://www.righttoknow.us
Saving Our Sisters – https://savingoursistersadoption.org
Society for Adoption Truth – https://www.societyforadoptiontruth.org
The Gathering Place – https://www.facebook.com/groups/233642325392416
Thriving Adoptees Podcast – https://www.facebook.com/thrivingadoptees
Untangling Our Roots – https://untanglingourroots.org

Search for Stories
As a genealogist, I’ve spent years tracing threads from the past, piecing together lives and legacies. There’s an extraordinary beauty in finding your place in a larger tapestry of history. But what surprised me most was how this work changed my perspective—it made me realize that our personal truths are just as layered and vital as the histories we uncover
Truth in the Mundane
While genealogy offers profound moments of discovery, I’ve learned that truth often reveals itself in unexpected, everyday places. Whether it’s through a heartfelt conversation over coffee or the quiet companionship of my cat as I write, the seemingly small moments have shaped my understanding of connection.
The Journey to Connected
When I sat down to write Connected: Finding My Truth, I wasn’t just telling my story—I was searching for it. The process challenged me to revisit moments I had forgotten.
Finding Connection Everywhere
This blog is my space to explore unexpected connections—through personal stories, creative adventures, and reflections on life’s simple joys (like coffee and cats). I hope these musings inspire you to discover your own truths, wherever they may take you.