Brought to you by AncestryDNA.
Last year a friend shared something on Facebook, something that made me want to jump into my PJs, grab the popcorn and settle in for it to all play out. She did an AncestryDNA test, and discovered a secret daughter of another family member and it was juicy {for me on the outside}, and amazing, and obviously very emotional, and heavy for all of those involved.
Of course, from the sidelines it can seem like the perfect reality TV drama {minus Jerry Springer} but the truth is it’s one heck of a ride, one that will play out for months, and perhaps years, to come.
When people have asked me where I come from, I’ve always said, “Australia” and when they’ve pushed for, “But what’s your ancestry…?” I never had anything for them. My family is so Australian, and I didn’t know beyond that. We’re all sausage sandwiches, run of the mill, totally Australian. I know somewhere down the line we came from England, but I’ve never had any interesting stories to tell, and my grandparents have passed away and I can’t sidle up beside them for an afternoon and pick their brains {oh how I wish I could! Oh how I wish I did!}.
So, after reading my friend’s Facebook story, I bought myself an AncestryDNA test in the lead up to Mother’s Day, and an extra for Hubby too. I wanted to know more about my history, for myself, but also for my kids. I get a bit emo around Mother’s Day, thinking about who I am, where I come from, my family connections, and the future for my little family. And secretly, I was hoping for something juicy to be revealed {my dad has always been a player, and I’ve had a hunch for a while that I have a long lost brother}.
I did the test {i.e. spat into a tube thing and sent it off to the lab} and waited six weeks for the results.
I HAVE CULTURE, baby. I have history. I don’t have a long lost brother {yet! There’s still time!} but I have information and it’s so stinking exciting. I’ve always had a thing for Germany. I can speak the language {a little!}, and I’ve always had a hunch that’s where I descended from. That hunch was right.
I’ve spent hours since I’ve received my test results creating a family tree, connecting with family members I’ve never met {hey *waves* new cousins!} and falling down the rabbit hole that is my history. I’ve learned that I’m more than sausage sandwiches and all things Aussie, I’ve got so much more to explore and a newfound desire to get myself to Europe to discover a little more.
I’ll let you know how I go on the long lost brother front! ????
Your mum’s one of a kind, so show her just how special she really is with AncestryDNA! For only $99 {plus shipping}, she’ll be able to uncover her unique ethnic mix, find distant relatives and discover what she’s really made of this Mother’s Day. Offer ends 11:59pm {AEST} on Sunday, 13 May 2018.
I have two AncestryDNA tests to giveaway to two lucky people. I’ll be giving away one here, and one over on Facebook {click here to enter}. To enter to win an AncestryDNA test, simply leave a comment below answering this question: Why would you like to do an AncestryDNA test?
Open to Australian residents only. Competition closes on June 9th, 2018. One entry per person, per competition {one entry on the blog here, and another allowed on Facebook}.
To celebrate my newfound German ancestry I, of course, made a German cake. It’s a really simple, buttery, delicious pound cake that I suggest you all make, because it’s errything. So good.
