Thank you so much for looking at our family profile. We are very excited about adopting a child and want you to know how much we appreciate your decision to consider placing your baby with a loving and stable family. We understand that it takes a tremendous amount of courage and unselfishness to make the decision to place your child for adoption, and for that, we will always honor and respect you. We will always be open and honest with your child about how they became a part of our family. And they will always know how thankful we are that you made such a loving choice for your child.

Ryan Athena Job Description Account Manager for Major Healthcare Carrier Guardian ad Litem - Work from Home Full-Time Education Some College Credits, Going Back to Get Business Management Degree Senior in College Majoring in Accounting Favorites Childhood Memory Building Forts, Family Vacations Childhood Memory Picking Berries Family Activity Board Games Family Activity Camping Quality about my Spouse Very Loving Quality about my Spouse Humor Tradition Going on Trips for the Holidays Tradition Family Camping Throughout U.S. Vacation Spot Caribbean Vacation Spot British Virgin Islands Children Ethan-5 years old, Mariah-9 years old, Tierra-5 years old

We both love children. We were unable to have children of our own, and knew adoption was the road we wanted to travel. We have been foster parents for the last 9 years, and had decided to foster because we wanted to care for children with special needs that needed a structured family home.

In September 2002, we started the initial paperwork with the adoption agency. Before we even became "active" with the agency, they contacted us and informed us that there was a beautiful 6 week old little boy waiting for his new mom and dad in Mississippi. We finished the paperwork in 4 days, and before we knew it, we were on a plane to meet our new son, Ethan. Our lives have never been the same since. We always tell Ethan that he was born from our hearts.

Our family has been so wonderful with the addition of Ethan to our family. He brings smiles to our hearts every day. Ethan, as well as our families, are excited about having another baby brother or sister. We will see that our children receive any support and care needed to help them understand their uniqueness whenever it might be necessary.

Although we never got the chance to meet Ethan's birth mom prior to adopting him, we have sent letters and pictures to her to show what a beautiful child he is.

Ethan has truly been a blessing in our lives. Ever since we moved to this part of the state, we have been licensed foster parents. We have had children of all different cultures live with us, so that they could have structure and stability that they were lacking in their lives. Our daughters, Mariah (9 years old) and Tierra (5 years old) came into our lives 3 years ago as foster children. Knowing that they needed a loving home, and didn't deserve to be in constant fear that they would move, we became their legal guardians 6 months after they came to us. They will be with us until they are adults.

Being parents is something that we have wanted for the longest time. We want our children to be accepting of everyone, regardless of their differences. Since we are a "blended" family, our children are aware of both cultures. One of our strengths is that we teach our children about all cultures, and how they may be different than ours. But that we must respect their values. We also teach our children that although they may go through life fighting diversity, if they remain strong and true to themselves, they can get through anything. Our children are very special and unique individuals and we want them to embrace their uniqueness and to experience all that life has to offer them.

New Parents at Ethan’s Adoption Finalization

We have thought about this topic ever since we became parents to Ethan. We feel that our child not only has the love from us, the adoptive parents, but also the love from his birth parents. Although he was not born from us physically, he was born from our hearts. We plan to discuss adoption openly and will provide whatever resources necessary to help him or her through any difficult issues they may be presented with. Your child will know that it was your generous love and unselfishness that gave us this opportunity to share our lives together.

We will make sure your child understands adoption fully. That you had to make a very hard choice to give him/her the best chance at life. That you loved them so much and wanted them to have a family that could provide that. They will understand that to do what was best for them, you sacrificed so much.