We both grew up in families where traditions and family time have always been highly prioritized. Both of our parents have been married for more than 30 years.
Troels: I am the oldest of two children. My sister, Lise, is 7 years younger than I and she has a wonderful boy, Oskar, who is now 5 years old. I grew up in a little town in Denmark with a loving family. My parents have been happily married for more than 40 years and they have always made sure to teach both my sister and I good family values. Every Friday evening I would go to my paternal grandparents for family gatherings. They were always a lot of fun and are, to this day, very special memories to me. Even if my nephew, Oscar, lives in Denmark, I have lots of contact with him via the phone and web cams, and every time I travel to Denmark, family time is very important to me. I have close relations to my family and visit with my aunts, uncles and cousins when visiting Denmark.
Memphis Vacation with Stine's Parents
Stine: I am the oldest of two children. My sister, Anne, is four years younger, she is married to Thomas, and they have two wonderful boys, Casper 11, and Mikkel 7 whom I have a close relationship to even if they live in Denmark. We often talk on the phone and also via web cam. I grew up in a small town in Denmark in a very loving environment where family values were highly prioritized. My parents have been happily married for more than 37 years and they are and have always been the most wonderful parents anyone can wish for. I grew up with a lot of traditions, especially around Christmas time, which still is my favorite holiday season. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood, besides Christmas' at my maternal grandparents are the tradition of having two evenings a week where my parents and my sister and I would do something together as a family. My parents implemented "TV-free" week nights where we would play cards or board games one evening and another evening my dad would read out loud
for us, mostly from The Little House on the Prairie books. Those moments are treasured and will be a part of the family traditions I wish to carry on to your child. Although my family live abroad we have a very close relationship and we see each other every chance we get. Troels and I go back to Denmark at least once a year. My parents and my in-laws come once a year and the rest of the family and friends come as often as they possible can. I have two cousins who are both adopted, so adoption is a very open subject in my family.
Our family and friends are extremely excited and supportive about our plans to adopt and they are all very excited to meet the new little baby.
Our House and Neighborhood
Our Home
We recently bought our house with the reason to raise a family. It is a lovely two-story home with 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a finished walkout basement waiting to be turned into a great playroom for the child. Our home is located on a one-acre lot in the suburbs of a large metropolitan city. We spend many hours watching the wildlife in our area; birds of all kinds and a lot of deer come to feed in our wooded back yard.
Deer in Our Backyard
The neighborhood is well established and extremely family oriented. There are lots of families with kids of all ages, who all play well together. Everyone knows everybody and several times a year the neighbors arrange block parties along with the annual 4th of July party. We are also fortunate to reside in one of the state's highest rated school districts.
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).
