Our paths crossed completely by chance while traveling in South America. Tina had taken a year off to learn Spanish and immerse herself in another culture. Marcus had taken a few months off between graduating from law school and starting his first job as a lawyer, to see the world before buckling down into his career.

We met while in line to use a computer at a hostel in Iguazu, Argentina. Both of us had stopped there on our way to Rio for Carnival. We kept looking up at the other person, then back down at our books. We were reading the same South American guidebook. Marcus struck up a conversation. A shared taxi ride into town turned into spending the rest of the day together, finishing up with a classic Argentinean dinner of steak and red wine.

The next day we went to Iguazu Falls together, talking about home and our families while strolling along the largest waterfall system in the world. When Tina got a bee sting, Marcus bought her a popsicle and held it on the sting. That night Marcus cooked Tina dinner (starting a minor kitchen fire in the process) and Tina baked chocolate chip cookies. After spending just three days together, we knew we had something special. It felt right, and solid in a way neither of us had ever imagined we could feel with another person. We were both open to moving to the other’s home country to be together. And we’ve lived in both Australia and the US!

One of our biggest passions is travel. We are both curious about other cultures and places and we have had the privilege of traveling all over the world. In our travels we’ve visited historic sites including the great pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. We’ve also gotten to learn from other cultures, taking cooking classes in Thailand and Vietnam, learning about traditional medicine in Indonesia, and practicing meditation in Nepal. We also love going on adventures closer to home, walking on our favorite trails at city parks, finding a new hike, or trying a new bakery in town. The city we live in is never wanting for interesting things to do, so we often find ourselves at a football or hockey game, going to a farmers market, or enjoying a concert with friends. Going to the theater is something we especially enjoy, and Tina is even on the board of a local nonprofit theater company.

Even closer to home—our garden is our happy place. We’ve planted fruit trees, berries, and herbs around the yard and spent many an evening and weekend tending to our plants and figuring out new ways to use the harvest. This fall we made an abundance of apple galettes, honeyed figs, and herb shortbread!

If our child does have a different race, background, or culture to us, it will be a lifelong process of learning about their heritage and integrating it into our life.

We intend to be curious and engaged, immersing our child with books, music, and movies that represent what they look like and where they come from. We will seek out foods, celebrations, and traditions that we can incorporate into our life. We know that representation matters and we will look for leaders and role models that look like them.

We will look for a local community group that reflects their background and engage, trying to ensure they are connecting with people that are from their cultural background. We have several close friends who have multiracial families and we will lean on these friends for support and guidance throughout this journey.

Finally, we love to travel, so we would also most likely take them to visit their region of origin, if applicable.

We are lucky to have a big extended family between the two of us. Tina grew up in a house full of kids including seven biological siblings and five step siblings. We recently celebrated Christmas in Utah with her parents and all eight original brothers and sisters and their families. It was a big event full of board games, dinners, and catching up. Tina also went to visit one of her sisters in Portland to do their annual Christmas cookie baking day (six batches of cookies in one day!).

We are also close with Marcus’s family in Australia and see them as often as we can, usually at least once a year. Marcus’s parents, two brothers, and their families came to spend Christmas with us while we lived in Singapore last year. We took them sightseeing, spent a lot of time swimming in the pool, did crafts with our nieces, and went to see the Christmas lights.

It was also Marcus’s first time making the family’s traditional Christmas pudding recipe, which has been handed down for many generations.

Our families have been very supportive of our decision to adopt and are excited for us to take this next step in our life.

We live in a charming 100-year-old craftsman with three bedrooms and a big backyard. Our garden is one of our favorite places, where we’ve spent a lot of time planting trees, vegetables, and herbs we can use in cooking. That is, if we can get to them before the squirrels and rabbits!

Our house is just a few blocks away from a new primary school that gets top reviews and has a diverse student population.

We’re also a short walk from a lake that’s a popular recreation area with a playground, public pool, library, and sports fields. Marcus runs around the lake regularly and we love going there to walk with our dog Reina, meet up with friends, and swim during the summer.

We live in a city in Washington state that provides abundant opportunities, resources, and community activities to engage with. There are lots of after school programs, group sports, and community groups that cater to a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and interest areas.

The city is also close to beautiful outdoor areas and mountains, where we can escape to reconnect with nature and get a sense of quiet.

It means so much to us to have the opportunity to share who we are with you. We understand that this is a very big decision and are grateful for you taking the time to read our profile and consider us as potential parents.

We have been together for 16 years, married for eight of those years. We met in Argentina and have since lived in Australia, Singapore, and the United States. The connection we felt on the day we met has deepened and matured into a partnership full of love, respect, and appreciation. We are a family that believes in the power of hugs, values collective decision-making, and shares the same love language: quality time. Our home is filled with laughter, life discussions, and an unending disagreement about who's taller!

Our journey together has been one of discovery, filled with experiences that have allowed us to see the world. Now, as we stand on the brink of our next great adventure-starting a family-we are excited to extend the love and support we received from our families to a child in our life.

We aspire to provide the space for a child to explore their interests, whether in sports, arts, science, or any other pursuit that sparks their curiosity. Our hearts are set on sharing experiences, developing new skills, and connecting with community alongside our child. Camping trips, the companionship of our dog Reina, and quality time with family around the world are some of the activities we can’t wait to have them join. Tina looks forward to another stocking to hang at Christmas and another set of hands covered in paint during crafts, flour during baking, or dirt after planting a row of seeds. Marcus is excited for family movie nights and to go on hikes in the woods, play sports at the local park, and share his love of donuts.

We want you to know, from the depths of our hearts, that your child will be loved beyond measure. Every night, they will be read to, embarking on adventures through the pages of books. Cousins, aunts, and uncles will surround them, in a vast and loving family network. They will be seen, heard, and celebrated for exactly who they are-a unique and treasured individual. They will have the freedom to explore, coupled with the guidance and boundaries that foster growth and resilience in the face of challenges.

We acknowledge the gravity of the decision you are facing, and can only imagine the complexity of emotions you must be experiencing. We also recognize the uniqueness of each relationship, and are committed to facilitating the level of openness you are comfortable with. Whether through pictures, emails, calls, or visits, we are ready to ensure that your child always knows they are loved by every branch of their big, multi-faceted family.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our family as you consider adoption for your child. We're open to any and all questions or contact to assist you in making the right decision. No matter what you choose and where your path takes you, we truly wish you the best.

With Love,

Marcus & Tina