Thank you for taking the time to get to know us through our profile. We are ready to shower a child with hugs, kisses, and unconditional love, and we would be humbled and honored if you chose us to parent your child. We would be forever grateful to you for the wonderful gift you've given us… and for making us a family.

Russell Chrissy Job Description Assistant Professor for a Liberal Arts College (Summers/Holidays Off) Assistant Professor at a Private College (Summers/Holidays Off) Education Bachelor of Science in Biology, Master of Science in Biology & Ph.D in Biology Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science & Master of Science in Biology Favorites Disney Movie The Incredibles Disney Movie Fantasia Dream Vacation Dog Sledding in Northern Maine Dream Vacation Exploring Antarctica Form of Exercise Martial Arts Form of Exercise Sea Kayaking Restaurant Saleems Lebanese Food Restaurant House of India Family Activity Exploring the Botanical Gardens or Zoo Family Activity Exploring the Botanical Gardens or Zoo Children None

We are both college teachers, and education is very important to us. Your child would have the very best educational opportunities possible. We intend to be extremely careful when choosing schools for a child in our family. We believe that every child learns in unique ways. Every child has individual likes, dislikes, strengths and challenges that need to be accounted for when it comes to education. We believe that education works best when teachers really believe in their students and their abilities. We believe that teachers should see endless possibilities in their students, not limitations. We are big fans of the concept of a one-on-one, individualized, hand-crafted education. Thankfully, there are some wonderful schools in our community that are available to us. We are financially able to send your child to supportive schools with small student-to-teacher ratios. We would also provide support for your child to go to college and beyond.

We want to encourage education in all different forms, from classroom activities to sports practice to things like art or music lessons. Learning even happens during play time with friends and family! Thanks to our flexible work schedules, we'd love to use our summer vacations to learn as we travel. For example, we would like to read about the Revolutionary War, and then visit important historical sites to learn more. We believe that almost everything is a learning opportunity!

We have several close friends and family members who have formed their families through adoption. We have seen first-hand what an amazing gift of love adoption really is. In 2003, Russell's brother and his wife adopted three children - an older brother and a younger set of twins. They are fabulous kids and we've enjoyed watching them become an instant family.

We know families who have traveled halfway around the world to adopt a child as well as families who adopted children who were born right here in our state. We have also had the opportunity to meet other families in our region who have formed adoption support groups and play groups for their children. From these families, we've seen so many examples of positive and open ways to communicate with children about adoption. Your child would be welcomed into a community that understands and supports how adoption forms families. Your child would grow up knowing lots of other children who joined their families through adoption, so he or she would never feel different or alone.

We plan to be proactive and supportive in discussing adoption in our family. As your child grows, we will answer any questions he or she had about adoption. We will stress the fact that you love him/her very much and want only the best for his/her life. We will explain that it was your generous and selfless gift that brought us together as a family, and that you care about him or her very much.

Hanging Out in the Backyard with Deva

We both grew up with dogs, and knew that dogs would be an important part of our lives together as a family. Our dog, Deva, is an integral part of our family. She has been with us for nearly 13 years. She joined our family right before we got married. She was a rambunctious puppy but has mellowed into a big couch-potato dog as she's gotten older. She has a silly, goofy, sometimes mischievous streak to her personality. She has always had a soft spot for small children. When our nephew was very young, he used to climb on her back like a horse and Deva would sit still through it all so he wouldn't be startled or fall off. She brought tennis balls and Frisbees for him to throw for her, gently laying them at his feet. Deva often goes on vacation with us, visiting our parents for holidays, touring through the Grand Canyon on vacation, or road-tripping to see friends in Colorado. She's a well-traveled dog!