We have wonderful families who are very loving, supportive and fun to be with. Our families are very near to us. Jeff’s family is about 45 minutes from our home and Lori’s family is about 2 and ½ hours away. We love to get together for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Jeff's stepfather, "Pop," and Lori's father, "Grandpoppy," love to play the guitar when they visit. Jeff and the men get together and have and old time music jam session complete with guitars, banjos and mandolins. Lori's daughters, Lauren and Lindsay both enjoy playing music as well. Lauren plays the piano, violin, and sings in the school chorus. Lindsay plays the harp, piano and also sings with Lauren in the chorus. Jeff's mom and sister both play the piano and sing in their church choir. Our home is always filled with the sound of music.
Jeff's sister, Susie and brother in law, Matt, are crazy about our son Braiden. They will make wonderful parents someday. They are currently working on having a child of their own. Addison is our niece. Jeff's brother, Michael, and sister in law, Melissa, are exceptional parents to their baby, Addison, who is 6 months old. Melissa is devoted to helping children with developmental delays in her job with Easter Seals, which is obviously her calling in life.
Braiden with His Cousins
Jeff's mother, "Mamaw," and his "Uncle David" were both adopted as babies. They grew up feeling loved and adored by their adoptive parents. Their warm and nurturing environment gave them the tools to provide a loving and supportive home for their own children as well.
Our families support our decision to adopt a baby. Adoption has been part of all of their lives. Lori's cousins also adopted two children. They know that we will be loving, nurturing, supportive, parents to your child if we are given the opportunity.
Beyond our immediate local family, we are both blessed with many, wonderful, loving, extended family members. Jeff's extended family lives in Alabama, where his father was born and raised. We visit at least twice a year. Lori's relatives live in the Maryland where she grew up. Most of Lori's uncles, aunts, and cousins get together for a wonderful, family vacation at the same beach house every summer. Lori fondly remembers these summer vacations from her childhood and is excited to be able to share these same special times with her own children and hopefully
with your child. We can assure you that your child would be surrounded by the most warm, loving, supportive family that you could imagine and would welcome your child with open arms and open hearts into our family.
Our House and Neighborhood
Our Home
We have a four bedroom home in a fabulous, established neighborhood filled with great neighbors in a small town in North Carolina. After we married about 3 years ago, we chose to remain in the same home where Lori had raised her daughters for 15 years. We wanted our daughters to stay in the home they had always known with the friends that they had grown up with. We also knew that it was the ideal neighborhood to raise more children. There are many children of all ages in our neighborhood. We have social activities including Easter egg hunts and a Halloween parade each year.
Annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt
Our yard is almost an acre with fencing around the backyard. We have a playhouse, swing set, sandbox, and climbing structures for children to play on. We spend many afternoons playing outside watching for birds and squirrels, climbing, swinging, digging and looking for bugs.
Kids have always come to our yard to play and we like it that way. Jeff entertains the children with music and science stuff, while Lori helps them paint pictures and make crafts. Our neighborhood is a safe place for children to play and explore. We all look out for each others kids.
Our community has excellent schools that are very close to our home. There are also many parks, pools, zoos, science and nature museums, movies and sports complexes nearby.
Our home and community is a loving, nurturing place to grow up. We hope that you will feel that it could be the right home for your child.
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).
