Sue’s Family

Sue is youngest of three girls, growing up on a family farm in Kansas. Outside of farm-chores, her family was very involved together in 4-H, church and time with family and friends in the community of 200 they lived near. She enjoyed living in a small community as it offered opportunities and encouragement to try a variety of activities without fear of being "cut" or not being good enough. In addition to 4-H, she participated in a variety of school events ranging from volleyball, basketball, marching and concert band, show choir and county events including "Junior Miss". Her older sisters, Kim and Jan, are both married with children living near the Kansas City area and are excited to have another child in the family to share family gatherings, including having a new baby to "spoil", at Christmas time. Sue & Brad have enjoyed many fun times with their six nieces and nephews from Sue's sisters, including frequent visits for the holidays and for special events in their lives, such as graduation, sporting events, or just simply a trip to the movies or water-parks with them. Sue's parents likewise are very excited to share in the life of a new grandchild, sharing with all their adoption focus while looking forward to traveling to see and spend time them. Sue and Brad have considered investment in a web-telephone camera system to assure that their families are able to "see and share" in their lives with the addition of children since they live outside of Wisconsin where Sue and Brad reside.

Brad’s Family

Brad grew up in the country outside of a small town in rural Wisconsin. Brad would describe his childhood more of that of an "only or single child lifestyle" as his three half sisters were 12 + years older than him and during his childhood were not living with him and his parents. Susan now lives in Chicago and Sandy and Sari in San Diego with visits being on average of two times per year to see him, his father, and nephew Ben and his family. This childhood lifestyle was the start of his creativity and originality when it comes to playing. Brad "invented" many sounds as he enjoyed the return echo his "bird-calls" created at his home that is surrounded by 40 acres of woodland. Brad remains a "big kid" to this day, sharing his original sounds with all! Brad's mother died in 1996 from lung cancer while his father is currently retired from a family owned business and resides in the homestead where Brad grew up. Brad and Sue see his father at least once a week, as he lives only 20 minutes from them. Brad, like Sue, attended a small country school located about ¼ of a mile from his home before transferring to the "in-town" school for junior high / high school. Brad's fondest childhood memories include the times he spent with his mom, particularly watching the Packers, along with his cousin Leon and former brother-in-law Pete who both helped him develop his confidence and skills to play football and baseball. Brad's family is very supportive of our adoption plan and look forward to having children to enjoy as there is currently only one other grandchild / niece on this side of the family, Sofia, who is the 2-year old daughter of Brad's nephew Ben who also lives in WI. Adding to our family will be a great thrill for all.

Our "extended family" of friends and neighbors are thrilled for us to fill our lives with a child as they have been very supportive and involved with us throughout the loss of our daughter, Hope, and attempts to conceive more children. They often comment what a wonderful life we will give a child and how lucky that child will be to have us as their parents.

Our Home, View from the North-East Side

We live in central Wisconsin on a golf course just outside of a small rural town of about 2000 population. We see the small town life as a benefit to our children, offering strong family values, one to one attention, and a general feeling of safety for raising a child. Where we live, it is a quiet and very scenic environment surrounded by woodlands and farm fields to play golf, walk our dogs, cross-country ski and merely enjoy the quiet-peacefulness of the country. Our A-frame style home sits on an acre lot with open lots surrounding us and is at the end of a private cul-de-sac, perfect for safe play, including a pick-up game of basketball. We chose this home and neighborhood with the focus of raising a family with its 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an open floor-plan for family time together. Our home is on Hole #4 of the golf course. Our views are very "picturesque" throughout our home. We have a neighborhood that is slowly growing and very safe. We have minimal traffic as we are tucked back, being five miles from a major highway, creating a safe area for our children to ride bikes, roller skate, sled or just enjoy a backyard game of catch. Within walking distance is a private lake and we have many friends who live on the lake, allowing us to enjoy their "lake access" for swimming, fishing and boating.

Our Backyard Looking Towards the Hole #4 Fairway of the Golf Course We Live on and Our Closest Neighbor

Living in a small community provides opportunity for our children to attend a small school and participate, without fear of rejection, in extracurricular events such as sports, plays, music events, etc. We also have "bigger city" options within only 1-2 hours of our home, so we can certainly expose our children to events such as college and professional sports, museums, plays and shopping opportunities.