I finally tracked down my sister from a tip this Aunt gave me to find a Step aunt on my Step fathers side of the family.  I found a no. for Aunt Dorothy but she had recently moved back to OK so had to do some tracking to find her.  She had my sisters unlisted no.  I called my Sister and talked for an hr before telling her who I actually was.  I wanted medical information and was afraid she might hang up on me so pretended to be after genealogy information.  She was very nice and when I finally couldn’t think of anything else to say I told her who I was.  She paused a min. then screamed “OMG I’ve got a sister.  I always wanted a sister.”  Then we talked for another hr and she told me about Mom, about my brother and a ton of other stuff.  The next night we continued the conversation for another 2 hr. Then I called my brother and told him but she had already beat me to it.  That fall I flew to the west coast and met them both and also another brother who lived out there.  Mom & Dad were deceased but I had a brother and sister on Mom’s side and there were 4 boys on Dad’s side but 2 of them were deceased.  Dad was one of 12 kids so had a ton of cousins and nieces and nephews living in OK, TX, CA. and Washington state.  That next summer I hosted a family reunion and had about 72 in attendance and the following year my Dad’s side had their family reunion they have every 2 years and I got to meet about 100 more of my family. I am in constant contact with 3 Aunts on Dad’s side, 2 step Aunts on Mom’s side, and several cousins.  My sister and I are in constant contact by phone and e-mail.  It is almost scary how much we do things alike and think alike and I was 58 the first time I met her. I do keep in touch with my maternal brother.  Also my paternal brothers but not as much as they are hard to contact.  But I have a couple nieces I stay in contact with as they are easier to contact by e-mail. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning this massive family I now have. I like each and every one of them.  I am still in contact with what members of my adopted family I have left.

Search tips:  Once you get names and find out where you were born try to find a parent is sometimes difficult.  But if you have a location or if not check the SSDI on Familysearch.org to see if your parents might be deceased.  Once you have a location try the phone books(not much help anymore as they all charge), try the local papers for obituaries.  This will give you aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings etc., names to help you further your hunt. This is just like working on a big puzzle.  Also don’t forget to try the Catholic, Baptist, or other church organizations because they can sometimes help.  Also Alumni associations if you can find the town where they went to school.  Also register where ever you can but beware.  Do not give all the information you know. Keep some of it to yourself to be sure you have the right person.  Watch out for scammers and anyone who wants to charge you for their services.

I had help searching for which I’ll always be thankful - Meron, Cindy, Sue, the ladies at the Alfalfa county Court Clerk’s office,  OK Adoptions Registry, and all my friends who ask daily what else I had found.  This has been a journey of many ups and downs but well worth it in the end.

If you need help looking contact me.  Maybe I can give you some tips or just help sending you in the correct direction.  I have helped a couple people find their roots- I had help so believe I should pass along what I got.

Good luck in your search