Jared’s Family

Jared is the third of four children. He has two sisters, one older and one younger, as well as an older brother. His older sister is married with two children, a boy who is 15 and a little girl, 5. His brother is married with two little boys, ages 4 and 2, and his younger sister is married with a little girl, 2 and a baby on the way. We are very close to his family, they live about an hour and a half away, but we get to see them often. We get together for all the birthdays, holidays, theme dinners and camping weekends.

Angela’s Family

Everyone looks forward to the holidays and the activities that surround the holidays. Judy is one of those mothers that has to have a theme for each holiday, whether it be the 4th of July, Saint Patrick's Day, Halloween or even Flag Day.

Angela is very close to her parents. Her father is a corporate pilot who has traveled all over the United States and overseas. Angela's mother is her sounding board as well as her best friend. Her family lives about an hour away, but they talk daily by phone and see each other at least once a week. We enjoy going to auctions, family reunions, cooking out and visiting. Both of our families are very supportive of our decision to adopt and excited to welcome a new family member.

We host a pumpkin carving party at our house every year. Both of our families come to the party for dinner, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing and holiday fun.

Our Home

Our historic home is located in a small community; rich in heritage and old fashioned values. We live on a quiet street with children of all ages. Our loving home is a story and a half with two large bedrooms, newly remodeled kitchen, formal dining/family room and a finished lower level. Our home is the gathering place for many family and holiday events including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, family reunions and a Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party.

Our Nephew Bobbing for Apples at Our Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

We live in the same area where Angela's parents grew up and where a lot of her extended family lives, including her grandparents and great aunt. Our small town has three parks, an 18-hole golf course, and a pool all within blocks of our home. The school scored 91 out of 100 in this year's Annual Performance Report released by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The school also has a low teacher to student ratio. Our community provides fun activities throughout the year including a July 4th Parade, Halloween Hot Dog Roast, Easter Egg Hunt and a Christmas Open House.

We live a few miles from a federal wildlife refuge that is over 7,000 acres. There is a 10-mile auto tour route, 3 hiking trails and many outdoor programs and sites. We also live a few miles from a lake that offers camping, fishing and a playground. There are two large metropolitan cities within a little more than an hour drive; they offer museums, shopping, amusement parks, sporting events and many annual events.