Dan's Family

Dan: I am the youngest in my family. I have one brother who is 4 years older than I am. My brother is also married and has a daughter, age 11, who is the center of attention for our extended family. We both work in the computer field which gives us a lot to chat about when we get together, much to the confusion and annoyance of our wives. My father retired from the Department of Human Services and went to work for a Missions organization. My mother is a retired school secretary. Growing up, my parents attended church with us regularly. School, church and family gatherings were the primary social influences of my childhood.

After college, I left the small town where I grew up and moved to the city. My brother's family and our parents have since moved closer, too. We're all fortunate to live only 20 minutes apart from each other. They are all very supportive of our decision to adopt and look forward to having another focus for their love and attention.

Stacy's Family

Stacy: I grew up out in the country close to a small town. I was the older of two children. My brother is only 20 months younger than I am. Because we are so close in age and didn't live near many other children growing up, we were great friends and playmates. My brother and I are still very close. He is currently engaged to his girlfriend of three years. My father is the president of an asphalt and rock company. My mother is a retired art teacher.

My mother was a stay at home mom/crafter until I was in high school. I can remember running up the hill from the bus stop, excited to see what my mother had done while I was away at school. She is a very creative person and has always encouraged that in my brother and me. My dad was raised believing that hard work builds character. So, living in the country as we did, there were always plenty of family chores on the weekends. I have lots of character! We ate every meal together and did our homework at the kitchen table so my parents could help us if we needed it. My family is very supportive of our decision to adopt. They are so excited about having a grandchild to love and spoil and include in family get-togethers.

Our Beautiful Home

We live in the suburbs of a large city where we have the best of both worlds. There are many beautiful parks and museums in our city. We are close to a zoo, aquarium, planetarium and several minor league professional sports teams. We are also fortunate to live in one of the state's top school districts. Our house is located in a very family friendly neighborhood. Our community prides itself on beautiful landscaping and clean, open sidewalks. We live on a corner lot next to a well kept, grassy, park-like area that all the neighborhood families enjoy. Everyday we see families playing with their children, riding bicycles, and walking their pets.

Our Future Nursery

Our house is a single story 3 bedroom 2 bath home. It has a nice fenced in backyard with trees and flowerbeds. It is just waiting for a swing set and a puddle pool. We love our home and have spent a lot of time personalizing it and making it unique. Throughout, our home reflects our many interests and hobbies. For instance, we have several rooms that highlight different cultures and places Stacy has traveled. Our family room reflects Dan's love of Americana and patriotic themes. Stacy has hung some of her original artwork in the hallways. We have put a lot of love and care into our future nursery as well. We, along with Stacy's mother, spent many happy hours hand-painting murals on the walls. We hope it will provide a bright, fun and stimulating environment for a child.