In Episode 3 of Stories of Ancestry, “The Family I Found Along the Way,” Dr. Jennifer Blades shares how her search for her maternal grandfather led to unexpected family connections. From finding her cousin Todd to reconnecting with Aunt Toni and building a special bond with cousin Kori, she reflects on the relationships, memories, and losses that shaped her journey.

Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren't the answers we're searching for, but the people we find along the way.

For more than 80 years, the identity of my maternal grandfather has remained a mystery.

In Part Two of The Missing Branch of My Family Tree, I follow the DNA clues, handwritten letters, and family connections that may finally lead me to the man my grandmother called Sam.

After nearly three years of unanswered messages, a phone call connects me with a woman who shares 15.30% of her DNA with my mother. What she reveals introduces a familiar surname, two sisters whose names appear in my grandmother's letters, and the possibility of a family connection I never imagined.

But every discovery seems to raise another question.

As a volunteer Search Angel, I've helped several people find their biological families. Yet somehow, I still can't identify my own grandfather.

This episode is about the hope, frustration, and unexpected connections that come with searching for the missing pieces of your family history.

Will the next DNA match finally provide the answer?

If you haven't listened to Part One, I recommend starting there.

New episodes of Stories of Ancestry are released every Tuesday.

Connect with me:

Email: storiesofancestry@gmail.com

TikTok: @storiesofancestry

Every family has a story. Some are just waiting to be told.

What happens when an entire branch of your family tree is missing?

In the very first episode of Stories of Ancestry, host Dr. Jennifer Blades shares the deeply personal story that sparked her passion for family history and searching for lost relatives.

Growing up, Jennifer knew very little about her mother's side of the family, especially the identity of her maternal grandfather. What began as a search for answers turned into a decades-long journey filled with unexpected discoveries, long-lost relatives, family secrets, and emotional connections.

From the heartbreaking story of a grandmother she never met to a Thanksgiving phone call that reunited family members, Jennifer uncovers pieces of her family's history through old letters, photographs, historical records, and DNA matches.

Along the way, she discovers that sometimes the greatest reward isn't finding the person you're searching for, but finding the family you never knew you had.

And just when the pieces begin coming together, a new name emerges that could change everything.

This is Part 1 of The Missing Branch of My Family Tree.

Join us for Part 2 as the search continues.

Have a family story you'd like to share? Are you searching for a biological relative or hoping to reconnect with a long-lost family member?

Email: storiesofancestry@gmail.com

Follow us on TikTok: @stories.of.ancestry

Every family has a story. Some are just waiting to be told.

Every family has a story. Some are just waiting to be told.

What happens when a DNA match reveals an unexpected relative? When a decades-old family secret finally comes to light? Or when someone discovers a missing piece of their family's history?

Welcome to Stories of Ancestry, a podcast hosted by Dr. Jennifer Blades, an amateur family historian and volunteer Search Angel.

Through real-life family mysteries, unexpected discoveries, long-lost relatives, and emotional reunions, we'll explore the stories that connect us to our past and the people who came before us.

From my own family's unanswered questions to the remarkable experiences of others searching for answers, each episode is an opportunity to uncover something meaningful.

Follow Stories of Ancestry wherever you listen to podcasts, and join me as we discover the stories waiting to be told.