We are both very fortunate to have our extended families living nearby so that we can share in each other's lives on a frequent basis. Both families are very excited and supportive about our decision to adopt, and can't wait to let the spoiling begin!
Our Family at Mike’s Surprise Party
Mike is the infamous "middle child" of three. He has an older brother that is married with a little boy. Mike and his brother and nephew enjoy "guy time" spent fishing at the lake while talking about anything and everything that has an engine! In addition, Mike has a younger sister that is also married with a daughter. He and his sister are very close and enjoy playing with his niece and talking about education since they are both teachers. Mike's father is a construction foreman and has given Mike the amazing handy abilities that he has. Mike's mother is a secretary at the local elementary school and has instilled in Mike the importance and value of education. Mike's parents continue to be happily married and enjoy spending their time spoiling their children and grandchildren. We are also very close with Mike's grandmother who we visit regularly. Summer barbeques by his parent's pool, Sunday dinners, birthdays and holidays are all very special times that we celebrate, laugh, and share with each other.
Kim is one of four children. She has an older brother that is married with two sons. Growing up, Kim and her brother were (and still are) two peas in a pod. No matter how bad Kim ever feels, her brother is someone that can always make her laugh and feel better. We also treasure the time spent with our nephews including numerous trips to the mountains and the beach. Our youngest nephew warms our heart every time he calls us "Uncle Nike and Aunt Tim". In addition, Kim is also very close with her two teenage sisters. The three sisters share a common interest with singing, dancing, and colorguard. Kim is very close with her parents. Kim's mom works as a sales representative for a wholesale jeweler. Kim has inherited her mother's love of cooking. Baking Christmas cookies and singing Christmas carols each year with her mom are two of her most cherished family traditions. Kim's dad works as a sales representative for a Chemical Industry and has passed on his love of science to Kim. Some of Kim's fondest childhood memories were times spent camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting with her dad.
Our House and Neighborhood
Home Sweet Home
"Home sweet home" to us is our single family house that is situated on one acre of land in a rural community. It is a split-level house with three bedrooms, two full baths, living room, and a just recently finished family room that we hope to fill with toys some day. Our house also boasts a large dining room where we host family and holiday dinners and our newly renovated kitchen which is thanks to Mike's handy work. We love spending time in our yard which is half open space and half wooded. When we purchased our home, we envisioned children someday spending countless hours playing along the many trails that run through our woods in the backyard.
Baking in Our Kitchen
We live in close proximity to the many neighbors on our street. The children in our immediate community enjoy playing, fishing and having picnics at the playground and lake that is nearby. We also have a large county park that is within a five minute driving distance from our house that has miles of winding trails to walk and ride bikes in addition to playgrounds galore.
The strong sense of community is felt each year as we take part in the town traditions of blueberry picking at the farm down the street, attending the long-awaited Cranberry Festival, and singing Christmas carols at the annual Christmas tree lighting downtown. In fact, we volunteer each year to be Santa's Elves, taking pictures of the children on Santa's lap. We are particularly fortunate to have our house located in such a way that we are able to take day trips to the beach, the mountains, or any of three major metropolitan cities that surround us.
Quality school districts are very important to us. The school districts in our town boast some of the highest test scores in the state. We are actively involved in our elementary, middle, and high schools. Mike's mom is a secretary at the local elementary/ middle school and Kim is actually a teacher at one of the high schools in the regional high school district in which we live.
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).
