Being a parent is the most important job in the world. We feel that being a parent means passing on unconditional love, skills, and knowledge - being a provider, a protector, and a role model. And we are so eager to see each other in these new roles as a parent.

We are looking forward to experiencing our daily life with a child, like our morning dog walks to the river, as well as adding in new routines like bedtime stories and diaper changes!

Brandon is the teacher in our relationship and will be for a child whether its reading books, riding a bike or problem solving. And Danielle is the nurturer, she has been for the two of us and our two dogs! These qualities in both of us are what make this process a little less scary as we know being a parent is what we want to be.

One of the things that makes us a unique couple is our flexibility in our jobs. Brandon works for Danielle's parents and their local family business of vacation rentals that they started almost 30 years ago. These cabins were built by family and have a huge place in our hearts because of the memories that are made there, including our wedding.

Danielle's job is fully remote, and she is able to work from home or anywhere with wifi. Because of this flexibility, we will be able to spend ample time with a child. From the moment they come home with us and continued as the child gets older by traveling and exploring new places like National Parks.

We also both have a passion for building and home remodels. It started when we bought our first home and has turned into a side business. Each project has brought a new set of challenges and through hard work and a LOT of humor, we've been able to accomplish these challenges.

We will address cultural diversity by actually addressing it. We want to encourage questions, conversation and to always keep an open mind. Both of us feel that no matter the conversation or the question a child might have - we should always be a safe space for these conversations.

Kids are so beautiful in the way that they are born with a natural sense of loving others and we want them to keep that as long as possible. We also know that if one of us is uneasy answering something, we will have resources in friends and literature to help us address those tough conversations for the child's best interest.

We feel excited to share with a child their heritage; whether it's the same or different from ours. Embracing one's differences, teaching respect, and practicing an inclusive life will be pillars in our home.

We both come from very close, tightknit families. Everyone from either side has been beyond supportive of our journey to adopt and their excitement to be grandparents, Aunts & Uncles is unmeasurable! Danielle's parents live 5 minutes away from us and Brandon's are just a few short hours away which brings us a lot of opportunities to spend time together.

When friends and family are around, we are centered around activities, games & food. We love to go on a hike or jump in the river then head inside for a new card game and snacks.

Our family is also big on birthdays. We love celebrating each other in a special way or activity! This creates so many memories and experiences that we cannot wait to share with a child.

What also makes our family unique is the time both sides spend together. We have most recently started taking a road trip once a year in our travel trailers as an extended family with Brandon's parents, Danielle’s, and her brother & sister-in-law. 

Washington - We live in a beautiful mountain town in the heart of Washington State. When we moved here a few years ago, we found ourselves surrounded by amazing people and a very inclusive and supportive community. We are lucky to get all four seasons here, so the activities change with the weather, always keeping us busy!

Our home is a block away from the community pool, the library, multiple parks, and our favorite river trail where we walk our dogs every day. Our favorite park always has kids riding their bikes and running their hearts out. Because of the closeness of our home to so many amenities, each day can look different from the one before. There are many annual events held here that are fun for all ages - Fall Festivals, Farmers Markets, and our annual Christmas Lighting Festival, where even Buddy the Elf makes a guest appearance!

Our favorite place to be in our Home is our kitchen. We love to make dinner together, catch up on our day and play a card game. (Usually between Monopoly Deal or Rummy!)

We want you to know first and foremost that our relationship and home is based on the foundation of love, kindness, inclusivity, and laughter. Our home is one to always feel safe and welcoming.

The two of us have been together for 10 years, 7.5 of those have been married! The last decade together has been filled with so much love and new experiences but isn't without challenges. We met our senior year in College and instantly connected on our shared passion for adventures. Within the next year, we moved into our first apartment where we later got engaged! We spent 7 years in the city where we made lifelong friends and bought our first home, but after 5 years of owning this home, we began craving something different than the city and decided to move to our current mountain town. This move was not only for a change of lifestyle but also in hopes of solving a piece to our fertility struggles.

Since moving, our priorities and lifestyle have completely shifted to let us be the people we want and strive to be. This shift in both of us has created an even bigger drive to be parents and fill the missing piece from our little family through adoption.

Not only do we welcome diversity, but so do our surrounding communities. We are committed to supporting and encouraging a child from any background.

Both Brandon and Danielle's parents have been married for over 30 years and instilled core values in both of us. They've taught us hard work, respect, and the importance behind doing our best, which are all values we hope to have the chance to teach a child. Brandon grew up helping his dad in the garage fixing anything he could get his hands on and Danielle learned early on the importance of "work hard, play hard" as her parents started up their own business. Each of these memories we have from our childhood, are moments we look forward to experiencing in our own life with a child.

We want to pause and take a moment to thank you for the time you've spent learning a little bit about us and acknowledge how difficult it is for the decisions you are having to make. If your path leads to us, know that we will support you in any role you wish to play. We are happy to send updates through emails or letters along with pictures and stories that mark milestones in your child's life. The two of us are committed to keeping this a healthy relationship for all involved and always speaking highly of you in our home.

Thank you for allowing this moment to connect and the potential to become family! We want you to know we already love you, and respect you. And when the time comes for us to meet you, we will prove this to you through our actions. We do not know the circumstances that brought you here, but know we are supportive of your decisions.

Sincerely,

Brandon & Danielle