Todd & Heather

Hi, we've been married for over 6 years and trying to conceive for most of that time! We know we were meant to be parents, we just never expected to take this route. We've become excited about adopting as we learn more and hear more beautiful stories of the miracle of adoption. We're blown away by your amazing courage and complete selflessness. Thank you for even considering giving us the greatest gift any human being could ever give another human being! Preferred Gender: Either

Todd Heather Job Description Engineering Technician Preschool Teacher Education Associate's Degree in Architectural Engineering Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education Favorites Dessert Mom's Apple Pie Dessert Chocolate Anything! Leisure Activity Watching College Football Leisure Activity Playing/Cuddling with Our Cat Sport to Watch Drag Racing Sport to Watch Nephews/Niece Play Theirs Tradition Cooking Breakfast on the Weekends Tradition Summer Vacations Type of Music 70's & Classic Rock Type of Music Country & 80's Children None

(By Todd) My dad was my hero. I remember feeling like nothing could ever hurt me when we were together. I see dads out playing with their kids now, and I admire that special bond between fathers and their children. I've watched many of my younger cousins grow up and been so proud of them, especially Teddy, the Green Beret. He's learned 3 languages and completed 4 tours in Iraq! I'm bursting at the seams with pride for him, not only because of his accomplishments, but because of his perseverance, character, and drive to follow his dreams! I can only imagine how proud his dad must be! I'd like to be somebody's dad, safety net, cheering section, and rock!

(By Heather) When my sister and her husband had their firstborn, I moved 300 miles to be with them! They've shared their daughter, as well as their 2 sons, with me for all these years! When my niece played house, she'd say "I'll be the mommy, you be the daddy, who'll be the Heather?" I love being so close. I love that I've been with them through drop-off and pick-up from school, bath time, school and church programs, slumber parties, visiting Santa, planning birthday parties, traveling, illnesses, emergency room visits, potty-training, and everything in between! As much as all my nieces, nephews, and students mean to me, I want a child of my own to call me mommy and to love and be loved by for a lifetime!

Todd has over 50 first cousins, two have adopted and one has placed a child for adoption. The cousin that placed was reunited with her daughter a few years back! It was such a beautiful reunion. The young woman now married with 3 children of her own found her birth mother and they've since formed very special and unique bonds. It's so cool how the birth mother's younger children (that she had after finding and marrying her husband a few years later) look so much like her first daughter. The young woman is blessed with two families that love her very much and always have and she knows it!

Years after that birth mother placed her daughter, her brother and his wife tried and tried to conceive. They ended up adopting a son and a few years later, a daughter. We often forget that the two of them are adopted; they're just part of the family. It's really true that adoption is always part of who they are, but it doesn't define them.

Five years ago, a cousin on the other side of Todd's family adopted! This little boy is the life of every party and looks just like his adopted dad. We believe his adoption was meant to be.

Heather's dad was also adopted by his stepfather. We have co-workers and friends who've happily adopted wonderful children. Heather had a close friend place a child. And Heather has had several adopted children in her class. Adoption is all around us and it is a beautiful thing. Adoption is a leap of faith. We have faith that we will have a family of our own and it will be exactly what God has planned for us all along. We don't understand all the who's, why's, how's, and what if's, but God does and we just have to trust that we'll land right where we're supposed to be!

Harley Sleeping with His Favorite Toy

Our cat, Harley, is our baby. He is our first run at adoption. We'll never forget the day we met him. We both felt drawn to get a new cat that day. He seemed to choose us. We wanted a female orange tabby kitten, but we couldn't ignore this male one climbing the cage, meowing, and literally reaching for us! Heather held him and when Todd saw them together he knew this was our new pet! Todd held him, heard the loud purring/motor sound and instantly named him Harley! We filled out the shelter paperwork and waited to be approved. Then we had to actually leave him there for another 5 days in case anyone claimed him. We picked him up from the vet because we couldn't take him home until he'd been neutered. The waiting was heart-wrenching but worth it. He is a furry little bundle of joy (and mischief!) He's a bit spoiled with his play nest in the living room, huge tree branch in the basement, 2 scratching posts, 2 kitty basket beds, automatic feeder and waterer, and toys all over the house! But he's so awesome! He entertains us daily with his fetching and catching. He even plays hide-and-seek with us, no kidding! And he's really good with kids. He lets them carry him (all 14 pounds of him) all over the house. He likes to be wherever we are and we like that, too!