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Wednesday
Jan212009

My Big, Wonderful Family

Several of you have been curious about my moms—Mom Heather and Mom Pat—and you’ve asked how my family tree actually lays out. So I thought I’d explain it a little. (Warning: There are a lot of photos in this blog, and it didn't work to create a collage, so you'll have to do some scrolling. . . . )

My dad married Mom Heather in 1960.

They had four children; I was the oldest. After me came Kurt, Leslie, and Vonna. (Kurt and I are the kids in this picture.)

When I was five years old, Mom Heather and Dad got divorced. Then Dad married Mom Pat.

They had three boys: Mark, Chad, and Cody. (They only had Mark when we took this picture.)

 

Mom Heather was going through a difficult time, and so we lived with Dad and Mom Pat, who pretty much raised us. Mom Pat has always been a mother to me, and I’ve learned much from her. When I got a little older, I reconnected with Mom Heather (who had married Paul, who is shown in this photo), and we formed a real bond. I discovered that I inherited much from her.

Out of respect and love, I call both of these wonderful women “Mom” because they deserve the title and all it represents in so many ways.

Dad has since married two more women—not at the same time, of course! He married Jo in 1985; they later divorced.

Then he married Justine, his current wife. 

I admire and respect these women as well, but I was grown and married with children when they entered our lives, and so it seems very natural to just address them by their first names.

As an aside, Megan, our oldest daughter, is not my biological daughter. Although I love her, she is Sterling’s daughter from his first marriage. Growing up, she mostly visited us on the weekends and holidays, and she has never called me “Mom.” I understand and respect that as well.

Now, I’m not an advocate of divorce. I think it creates very challenging situations for everyone involved. However, I am proud of the way our family has dealt with this situation and the acceptance and love we have all learned to show. We truly do all feel like we’re one big, happy (most of the time) family. When appropriate, we’ve even all gathered together for certain events, and that’s quite the experience!

I've also included photos of each of my siblings, starting with me, and our spouses, just in case you were interested.

Shelli and Sterling

Kurt and Joni 

Leslie and Danny

Vonna and Sean

Mark and Monique

Chad and Eliz

Cody and Shelley

So, that’s my family tree in a nutshell. I’m so grateful for my family—all of them, every branch, twig, and leaf. I wouldn’t be who I am today or where I am today without them!

 

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Reader Comments (57)

Hi Shelli
Thank you so much for for sharing the story of your family tree. Thank you for sharing your families pictures with us. I love large families, it can be messy but with lots and lots of love and hugs
Gwynne
January 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterGwynne
I just love your smile...When I was looking at the family pictures I now see who you got it from...Thnak you so much for showing us these,
January 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterFaith Longman
I just stumbled upon your blog and I LOVE it! Love all the personal info, the photos and the warm sharing... I've always looked at the catalog photo with interest, wondering about the stories behind the faces, and you've just brought it all to life. Thank you so much and I will definitely be saving it to my favorites!
January 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commentergrace
What a nice family! Didn't your mom Heather pass away a year or so ago? I thought I'd read that somewhere. But maybe I am wrong. Can you clear this up? Thanks. Love your blog!!
January 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterHolly
Thanks for the very personal insight to your family,. You have some great photos and you and Sterling look great together and very much in love!

Cazx
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCaroline Counsell
Wow, it is amazing.
It looks like your are the rock of your family. Keep it up!
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLila E
Loved hearing about your family! I thought we were the only ones that talked about our family as And Then...And Then...And Then...Now it ends as "And Then we're all one happy family".
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTisha
Love seeing your wonderful big family. It is a blessing that you all get along so well, as many blended families are at each others throats so often.

How many, if any of your siblings/in-laws work for SU?
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJoy Willinger
Thanks for sharing that post. Fun, fun to see your family tree. Some time it would be fun to know if any of the family works for SU! and if so, what they do. I would like to know this about your children, as well. It seems I once heard that you have an aunt that was 1 of the first demos. It would be so nice to know more details on how it all got started. Thanks for everything you share & do for everyone.
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSHH
Divorce IS hard, but sometimes people can make a happy family after it. I'm glad yours has. I love how big and happy and loving you all are.
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLouise
Shelli,
Thank you so much for sharing this information with all of us. And the pictures are fantastic. I'm glad you didn't collage them. You are very lucky to have had both of these amazing moms in your life. And I know you're an amazing mom too! Take care, and God bless!!!

Hugs!
Kelly
January 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKelly
Hi Shelli,
My friend forwarded this to me and thought I'd be interested in the family tree. JoAnne Baker tried to explain it to me in a letter, but I wasn't sure which mom was your biological. Pat is the one I'm cousins with. If you mention me to Pat as Aunt Ivy's granddaughter Michelle Peace Wilkinson or talk to your grandma JoAnne, they'll be able to tell you how we are related.
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMichelle Peace Wilkinson
This is a very cool post! I love all the pictures-thank you for sharing!
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterPeg Ireland
Hi, Love your blog! It's so inspirational to me! I'm curious if StampinUP sends people to CHA for ideas on what's going on in the market or to show our product. Not sure how that works with home based businesses. Would love to hear about how our company stays up with the current trends. Thanks and love your blog again!
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKaty Young
It's weird how Vonna and Mom Pat look like each other, and they aren't even related!

Divorce is SO hard, but itsn't it amazing how you were able to use that very difficult situation in your life as a kid to help in any struggles or challenges that may come into YOUR marriage and be successful and faithful.
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterDebi Hadley
Hi Shelli,So nice to learn about your family.However I have a random question for you.Why did you stop having the card directions in the back of the catalog? I really took advantage of that information. I liked to be able to check the colors and product you used so I could make something similar. I'm Very disappointed not to have that in my catalog this time.I hope future catalogs have this information for not so creative people like me.
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterClair
Thank you for sharing your family with us. My parents were married for almost 60 years when I lost my dad, and 18 months later my mom. Our family is spread world wide. My only brother is in New Zealand, and I have a son in Perth Western Australia. I would give anything to have one of those big, home filled, warm weekends with all of our extended family there.Your spirit shines as you talk about your family. May God continue to Bless you in all you do. PS..Hope your dad is doing well.
January 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterRoseanne Knowles
Wow Shelli,Good for you for keeping up all the family connections.What a lot of names to remember!!LOL
I sure noticed you look a lot like your Dad and have his wonderful smile.
Thanks for sharing all the wonderful photos!
Jennifer R. Calgary Ab
January 25, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJennifer Reynard
Thanks for posting your family tree. It was great to know that maybe my family has a future with divorce. I keep praying for my girls who have a hard time with daddy and mommy being divorce.

It is not easy being a single mom.

I always enjoy looking at your pictures. you have a beautiful family. It is great to know that family is so important because now a days everyone is so busy. Family is so important.

Kassey
January 25, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKassey
Thanks so much for explaining. You truly have a wonderful family when everyone can get along. God has blessed you.
January 26, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterNeppie
Shelli,

So enjoyed seeing your siblings and putting it all together! My DH was married before, but only for a short time. I am glad he was divorecd as I would not have met and married him and had our 13yr old son, Connor. Everything happens for a reason, and we all grow more with the trials that are presented to us.
January 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJoan Hajek
I enjoyed reading your family tree. I've always prayed as a young girl for a bigger family. Little did I know that it was going to be through divorce, that I would have my huge family. My husband's parents are divorced and remarried as well as mine. I often say I don't have a family tree, I have a family staircase because of all of the steps! Over the years, we have become a close knit family.
Thanks agian for sharing your family tree with us!
In Christ,
Kelly Wells
January 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKelly Wells
Hi Shelli,
What a BEAUTIFUL family!!! You are all so blessed to have each other. I too come from a divorced family and am NOT an advocate of it. Family is very important to me and I feel the love that you have for yours. Thank You for sharing. Brandy Cox
January 28, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBrandy Cox
Oh, my HECK! What a great family tree! I love it! My husband and I have "created" a yours, mine, and ours blend, like your Dad. It's fascinating to read this....I guess I assumed that you had a more traditional (for lack of a better word) upbringing....one Mom, one Dad, couple 'a brothers & sisters....you know. I agree with you on so many levels here. While I don't advocate for divorce, and I don't "brag" about having been divorced myself, I certainly do try to create a positive environment for our children, who are mostly grown, with families of their own, now. It is possible to have harmony in a blended ("hybrid" - I love that term) family, but it takes effort and love on everyone's part. I'm glad that you are so accepting of the many facets of this kind of a family tree. My "tree" is more like a family "bush"....lots of little branches, but very decorative! Thank you for sharing this part of your story and the great photos. PS LONG LIVE FARAH FAWCETT AND THE BEEHIVE!!
January 30, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterGaraleen Parks
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderfully interleaved family. I often look, with envy, at the family portraits in the IBC and see "the perfect" family. Well, it's nice to know that you are just like the rest of us ... part of a blended family. I know that no family is perfect, but sometimes it's nice to be reassured that we all have our challenges. It's how you handle them that set us apart. TFS.

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