My name is Dawn Martell. My father is a Kreifels and my mother a Brophy. My boyfriend, and one day fiance and then husband is a Bevans.

About April of 2003 I decided to do some family tree research for my son Troy, and this ended up coinciding with a Brophy family reunion. This side of the family had not gotten together in years and years, so it was a very special event. I took on the project of getting as much information as I could find to present at the reunion, and set up a website that is now no longer in existence. I had also planned on getting a family book together, but due to many things, this did not happen. I do hope to help with the next family reunion, however, and maybe things will go differently with all I'd like to do.

September 1, 2003 I posted a note in a forum looking for information on the Kreifels' family, as I had never met my father and knew virtually nothing about him. September 7th I received an e-mail stating that my day might be made, as he thought that he had all the information I'd want. This proved to be true, as not only did I find my lineage all the way back to 1700's Prussia, but I had the means to contact him. With the surprising help from my mom, I contacted my aunt to pass the message on that I was looking for my dad.

September 11th I came home to see what I thought may be my father's number on the caller ID, but I waited until the weekend was over, and called him on the 16th. We talked a little, and then set up the 20th to meet for the first time. Just 1 day over a week before my 26th birthday. I have 2 half sisters and a half brother, none of which knew I existed. I got to meet my sisters on the 21st, and they had only found out about me the night before! Since then I have met my brother, of course, as well as nearly the whole family.

I went into this pretty much expecting it to be an "Oh, nice to meet you, have a great life... oh, and maybe keep in touch." type of thing, but instead I gained an entire family. A family that wants me, which I never dared to hope for, yet here it is... and I simply couldn't be happier with how it's turned out.

So, this is my new website, so that I include not only my mom's side, but now my dad's as well. It is now my whole family which can be included. And eventually more of the family I help make and bring into the world. Enjoy!

-Dawn