We benefit from strong family ties that are a constant source of love and support. We are fortunate that all members of our extended families are within a short driving distance, allowing us to see them frequently.
Tom was raised in a traditional Catholic family, deeply involved in church and community. His parents have been married for over forty years. His father held a variety of elected offices, including police commissioner. Both parents helped organize school and church fairs, carnivals and other events, involving the family in all of them. Now retired, they continue to serve, Dad as a mentor and Mom on church committees. They are looking forward to becoming grandparents for the first time.
Tom has an older and a younger brother. He has fond memories of playing sports with them throughout his childhood, and their love of sports keeps them linked today as they often make time to chat about their favorite teams or take in a game.
Education has always been a big part of Tom's family. Regular family field trips to parks, museums and historical landmarks built a strong family bond and made learning fun. It sparked Tom's love of history, an interest he still pursues as a hobby.
With Judy’s Clan
Judy is the youngest child in a close-knit Lutheran family. Her parents have been married over 50 years and split their time between homes in Florida and New Jersey. They are retired, but haven't slowed down. Judy's mom is a pro level shuffleboard champion, while her dad has been honored by the state of New Jersey for his contributions to the sport. They also enjoy bowling and dancing and hosting game nights and barbeques, a tradition Judy and Tom continue in their home.
Judy has two older sisters. Being the youngest and having sisters was like having 3 mothers growing up. They all shared the love of dancing and gymnastics, and often danced together at recitals. One sister has carried this love in to a career of teaching both.
Judy's large family includes an endless supply of aunts, uncles and cousins who don't just "stay in touch". There are a couple of family gatherings each year, including their infamous Christmas party, where the Santa (Judy's dad) always makes a special appearance and the Yankee Swap exchange of gifts is a long-running, and often hilarious, tradition.
Our families are all extremely supportive of our plans to adopt and eager to share their love, affection and support with your child.
Our House and Neighborhood
Our Home
We live in a charming three bedroom, 2 bathroom Cape Cod style home. The house has a large living room and a TV room that will serve as a playroom. We have a screened front porch which we enjoy for a relaxing dinners, quiet reading or watching the world go by with our cat and dog. We also have side patio used often for summertime barbeques and a fenced in backyard.
Our town is a well-established family oriented neighborhood. Actually, it's a small postage stamp sized town that dates back to 1915 and was recently voted one of the best places to live in Delaware. It is a mix of families that have lived here for decades and young couples starting families. It is in one of the state's top school districts.
Nearby Park with Horses
The town has its own little "Main Street" with shops and a café. We also have three large parks within walking distance with playgrounds and ball fields. One is a state park that's home to horses and a pond for fishing. It hosts concerts at an outdoor amphitheatre and educational events for children. There also community swimming pools within walking distance.
Neighbors are friendly and keep an eye out for each other. We hold an annual community yard sale. There are children of all ages in the town and some of the younger ones have adopted our yard as a playground for playing ball and flashlight tag under the watchful eye of our Golden Retriever, Buddy, who has no shortage of friends who want to walk him.
There are plenty of family-friendly annual events in town. The church just around the corner hosts a spring carnival and other events. Our town also hosts events, including the town Christmas tree lighting, a summer picnic, and a Halloween parade.
While we enjoy the small town feel of our neighborhood, we also have much to do nearby. Situated near Philadelphia, we have access to all the arts, culture, history and sporting events we enjoy. We are also just an hour away from both the beach and the mountains for recreation.
American Adoptions, a private adoption agency founded on the belief that lives of children can be bettered through adoption, provides safe adoption services to children, birth parents and adoptive families by educating, supporting and coordinating necessary services for adoptions throughout the United States. For more information on American Adoptions please call 1-800-ADOPTION (236-7846).
