Though she won't be counted as a Bradt, Brott, Bunker, Detling or Roblee, I'd like to announce an addition to our family: Isabel Alejandra Ruiz, b. at 2:18 a.m. Tuesday, August 24, 2004, here in Medford, Oregon. Isabel is the child (our third grandchild) of Myra Contreras, my wife Manuela's youngest daughter, and her boyfriend Javier Antonio Ruiz. For those who doubt that families do connect, I can safely dispute them with these facts. Our six-year-old granddaughter (who's not directly related to me but who calls me Dad every single day) had just as much fun playing with my grandson (who's not related to her) shortly after his birth last April as she did holding her cousin Isabel for hours on end since Isabel's birth Tuesday. Way to go, Angel! She even kept her aunt Myra from holding her own daughter--at least until the baby got hungry! Isabel and Myra came home today after a two-day stay in Rogue Valley Medical Center; both are doing just great, and Isabel has now assumed her proper place as the youngest drama queen in la familia Detling. Doug

Congratuations Doug! Your sentiments, and experiences, about family match mine as well. My birthfather died when I was a baby -- I was adopted by my stepfather, and feel no less his child than than my 3 younger sibs who are actually his birthchildren. As for genealogy, I research with equal enthusiasm my mother's line, my birthfather's and my "adoptive" father's. I belong to a genealogy list for my genealogy software. The members, even so often, in discussing how to handle various step and adoptive relationships in the software, veer into what is legitimate family and what is not. This annoys me. I hold a master's degree in family studies. I remember long, fervent discussion about the definition of family. In the end, we concluded that family is who you consider to be family - period. That is - family is as family does! This feeling is partly why I don't feel threatened by possible DNA results that would indicate, for example, that my grandfather Rublee, isn't really a Rublee, due to a secret adoption, a marital or non-marital indescretion, or whatever, somewhere down the line. That finding would not interrupt my sense of belonging. Yes, it would require a re-balancing of my thoughts - but it would affect my relationship to my own family one iota. Enjoy your babies! You are very fortunate to have your little ones close by! Cindy -----Original Message----- From: doug.detling@greencity.org [mailto:doug.detling@greencity.org] Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 12:14 AM To: ROBLEE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: New Addition to the Family Lines Though she won't be counted as a Bradt, Brott, Bunker, Detling or Roblee, I'd like to announce an addition to our family: Isabel Alejandra Ruiz, b. at 2:18 a.m. Tuesday, August 24, 2004, here in Medford, Oregon. Isabel is the child (our third grandchild) of Myra Contreras, my wife Manuela's youngest daughter, and her boyfriend Javier Antonio Ruiz. For those who doubt that families do connect, I can safely dispute them with these facts. Our six-year-old granddaughter (who's not directly related to me but who calls me Dad every single day) had just as much fun playing with my grandson (who's not related to her) shortly after his birth last April as she did holding her cousin Isabel for hours on end since Isabel's birth Tuesday. Way to go, Angel! She even kept her aunt Myra from holding her own daughter--at least until the baby got hungry! Isabel and Myra came home today after a two-day stay in Rogue Valley Medical Center; both are doing just great, and Isabel has now assumed her proper place as the youngest drama queen in la familia Detling. Doug ==== ROBLEE Mailing List ==== If you're a ROBLEE, you might be related to a BRADT/BROTT. Find out on the BRADT-L or BROTT-L lists at RootsWeb. Send "subscribe" message to [listname]-L-request@rootsweb.com