Our favorite vacation spot is the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Ryan has been going there with his family since he was a child, and he introduced Justin to this destination after they met. We have been back together a few times, both with family and friends. It is so fun to rent out a whole beach house with a deck, pool, and sometimes even a game room! We love the area for its quiet, beautiful beaches, plus the mix of activities and just having time to relax at the beach or by the pool. We enjoy kayaking on the Sound side (no waves!), playing putt-putt, and visiting the historic English gardens and lighthouses. We also like to watch the kite boarders at sunset - we haven't tried it yet, but maybe one day! A beach trip would not be complete without seafood, and we love the crab and shrimp that all the waterfront restaurants serve. On the drive out, we like to stop at the farmer's market for fresh fruit!

In our free time, we enjoy participating in a wide range of activities. First and foremost, we love to travel! Whether it is a short day-trip to a nearby town or a longer vacation, we're constantly looking to learn about new places and discover what makes each place unique. Closer to home, we love to play games! We enjoy having a lot of board game nights with friends, playing trivia, and getting out in nature to play disc golf together. We also enjoy watching football, going to the movies, and seeing musicals or plays. Justin has recently picked up golf and he loves to do puzzles, while Ryan really enjoys baking bread and playing video games. We look forward to sharing our hobbies with a child, as well as allowing them to discover their own interests throughout their childhood and helping to cultivate these interests.

About Ryan

What I love about Ryan is his patience and kindness. When I am pessimistic or cynical, Ryan is great at remaining level-headed and seeing the good in people. His lighthearted humor and love for a good pun have already prepared him to be the best at dad jokes! Ryan is amazing with his students, and when I get to see them interact, it's clear how they admire him. But watching Ryan with our niece and nephew proves how easy it is for him to connect with anyone of any age. This last Halloween I was so moved by Ryan's creative communication with the neighbors and trick-or-treaters!

About Justin

Justin has amazed me from the very first day we met! Family is such an important aspect of his life and he shows me that through his everyday actions, attention, and care for our dogs and for me.The first summer we spent abroad together for my work, he adapted to life in France well and he was up for the challenge of living in a new culture and language. I love the level of passion he puts into playing trivia or board games, and supporting his favorite sports teams. He makes me laugh every day and I am lucky to have him as a husband and partner.

We live in a small but vibrant historic downtown that has so much to offer families. The community is very diverse and we are proud to call it home. We live steps away from a large park that has a river running through it and a new playground. The community frequently holds festivals there, such as classic car shows, jazz concerts, and evening movies in the park. We enjoy how easy it is to walk to many restaurants and coffee shops in the area. Our coffee shops regularly hold meetups for families with young children and we look forward to becoming a part of this community. We are also fortunate to have many good friends who live within a few blocks of our home.

We live in a two-story home that has 3 bedrooms. We love our main floor because the kitchen, dining room, and living room are all open so that we can spend time together no matter what we are doing. We enjoy coffee on the front porch, grilling in the garden, and spending evenings on the patio by the fire. Our dogs enjoy running around or sunbathing in our grass, and taking walks through the park.

Our families play a very important role in our lives. Ryan's family lives about 4 hours away in Kentucky, but we see them throughout the year. When we visit, we do a lot of activities with our nephew, Killian, and our niece, Anya. Last Thanksgiving, we took Killian out for a special "uncles day" where we went to an arcade, lunch, and an indoor playground. For Christmas, we spent an evening at Zoo Lights where Anya got to see her favorite animal, the "flamingmingos," and ride her favorite ride, the carousel. Every year, we go to the horse races with Ryan's family, a tradition that Ryan grew up with and that we both enjoy today! Justin's family lives in Arizona, where he grew up. We love spending Christmas with Justin's family so that we can enjoy the warmth! But the best part of spending the holidays in Arizona is the tradition of holiday baking; sauerkraut soup for Christmas Eve and a bunch of baked goods following recipes from Justin's eastern European ancestors! On our last visit, Justin enjoyed golfing with his cousin, who recently retired from the Navy. With Justin's family, we also love traveling around the state to go off-roading or spend time at the family cabin.

Both of our families are very supportive about our plans to welcome a child to the family. We know that they will open their hearts to this child and will be excited to continue our family traditions with them.

Thank you for reading our profile and considering us as adoptive parents. We are so grateful that adoption may be a part of our story. We also want to express our admiration for you as you make this incredibly brave and difficult decision. We hope to value and honor your story as our journeys connect.

Since the two of us met a decade ago we have always imagined exploring life with children, and after seven years of marriage, we are excited to grow our family! When choosing to expand our family, adoption was the only option that we considered. Becoming adoptive parents is a privilege and responsibility that we are humbled to undertake and we promise to make sure that your child is proud of their adoption story as well. We cannot wait to welcome a child into our home, to watch them grow and develop, to love them unconditionally, and to help guide them through this world.

Working in the field of education, we are always aspiring to learn more from the world around us. Ryan is a Professor at a local, large university, where he teaches and coordinates courses in the French program. Justin is a Graduate Coordinator at the same university, where he does recruitment, admissions, and administration of Master's programs in a science department. Justin also has a creative background with degrees in theatre and performance. Together we look forward to sharing our love for learning with a child.

Here in Michigan we have formed a chosen family of wonderful friends -- a close-knit support group that all live within walking distance in our small downtown neighborhood. On any given night, you might find us at the downtown basement arcade, playing weekly trivia at a restaurant down the street, or enjoying a pizza in our local bistro garden. In our spare time we enjoy hosting and attending backyard get-togethers where we barbecue, play games, and sit by the bonfire. Although we both grew up out of state, we are so excited to grow our family with a bit of Midwest charm and kindness!

While we adore the comforts of home, travel is also one of our shared hobbies. We have supportive parents and siblings in Kentucky and Arizona, and being able to visit our niece and nephew or returning to our hometowns for holidays is such a blessing. Our families are patiently and excitedly waiting for us to become adoptive parents. We are so ready for this child to experience all of the wonders that this world has to offer - both near and far!

As adoptive parents, our greatest hope is to share these life experiences with you through pictures and emails, and we are open to future visits with you so that we can maintain a relationship between your child and you. You will always be a part of your child's adoption story. If you think our stories could overlap, we would love to meet you! Again, thank you so very much for your consideration and openness.

Ryan & Justin