American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency
 Hello! We are Mark and Leigh. We are so glad you are considering the adoption process and that you are reading our profile! In our household, your child will find a loving, fun-filled and supportive place where they can learn and grow toward the person that God intends them to be. We are excited about beginning this new journey and we hope that your child will be a part of it.  |
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We have three values that we hope to instill in this child. Our first priority is faith. Church is a large part of our lives wherever we go. Leigh has been a Sunday School music teacher, taught confirmation classes and always enjoys helping with Vacation Bible School. Mark has taught elementary Sunday School as well as confirmation and adult Bible study and enjoys doing the readings during our Sunday service. We think that being an active part of our church is a very important part of our faith, but we also nurture our faith with daily devotions and prayer.
Our next value is family. We both came from loving and supportive families that we remain close to and want this child to have that same environment in which to grow. We plan to set up a weekly family game night and to always have at least one meal a day as a family. A close knit family is vital to a healthy childhood.
The final value that we hold dear is education. Leigh has been a public school teacher and Mark is a future teacher. We know that a love of learning is a priceless treasure that we can nurture and encourage in this child. Both of us try to learn something new every day, even if we are not in school! The three values of faith, family, and education have guided our lives together, and we hope that we can pass them along to this child.
As part of our family, this child will have ample opportunity to learn about their special cultural heritage. Initially, we plan to provide this child with age-appropriate cultural activities, like games and toys, and on our weekly library trip we will encourage this child to learn more about their cultural background through reading. As part of a military community, this child will always have a chance to participate in activities with others of diverse cultural backgrounds, like soccer, t-ball, or scouts. As this child gets older, we will help them to find clubs, diverse peer groups, and other members of the community so that they can explore more of their unique cultural heritage with the support of the community as well as us.
We are excited about adoption and want this child to be proud that they came to us through this process and have two sets of families that love them dearly. Each year, we will not only have a birthday party for this child, but also a small adoption party with the family. We will have this child draw a picture or write a letter to you, their birth mother, as a part of the adoption day celebration. From a very early age, we will read this child books explaining adoption and what it means to them. As they grow, we will initiate discussions to facilitate their understanding and help them process their feelings. We do not want this adoption to be hidden or a source of shame, but something that is celebrated.
