1. We met in college. We were enrolled in the same Radiologic Science program and got to know each other during our study group. 
2. We love to travel. Our international travels include England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, and Nova Scotia.
3. We enjoy attending concerts. The furthest we've traveled for a concert was to Birmingham England for a small James Bay concert. We also loved seeing Lauren Daigle at Red Rocks.
4. Bradley is an Eagle Scout. He is always prepared. Need a flashlight? No worries, he has at least two on his person at all times.
5. Leah loves to crochet. She crocheted blankets, our Christmas stockings, and gift tags that double as ornaments. 
6. We love animals. We both grew up with beloved family dogs and believe they genuinely make life better.
7. We made a special trip in Ireland to visit a farm with Highland Cows. We spent a full day with the owner of the farm, brushing the cows, and learning more about the farm.
8. We both enjoy nature photography. 
9. Leah enjoys baking. She bakes sourdough bread weekly. At Christmas she makes soft gingerbread, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies.
10. Bradley enjoys woodworking.  He recently made live edge floating shelves.

We enjoy our weekly Sunday Pancake Dinner. Chocolate chip pancakes are a staple but we enjoy incorporating new flavors like strawberry banana, blueberry, or cinnamon.

Every summer we take a trip to the Outer Banks and spend about a week on Ocracoke Island. We enjoy the slower pace of island life, searching for shells (especially Scotch Bonnets), and dining at local fresh seafood restaurants. 

In November we travel to Asheville for the candlelight Christmas tour at Biltmore Estate. While in Asheville, we explore the local art markets, grab a drinking chocolate from French Broad Chocolates, and drive the Parkway.

The holidays are always spent with our extended families. Leah's parents always host Thanksgiving lunch and Bradley's parents always host Christmas lunch.   We attend church with Leah's family on Christmas Eve. As a couple, we always decorate the Christmas tree while watching "The Santa Clause" or "Home Alone" and drinking hot chocolate.

Adoption has always been our primary choice for growing our family. We believe family is built on unconditional love and respect rather than simply biology. Our dream is to provide a loving home for a child to thrive, share our family traditions, and build a relationship with a child's birth parents, should they be open to it. Between our experience in health care and our relationships with families that have adopted children, we have seen what a gift adoption is for the child, adoptive family, and birth family.

We were blessed with families that provided us with every opportunity to thrive. We were loved and cared for by our parents and we hope to do the same for this child. Our goal is to support and encourage them in everything they do, lovingly guide them through life's challenges, and provide a safe environment for them to grow up in. We have traveled and learned about many cultures and we hope to share our future adventures with them. We can't wait to share their adoption story with them. We want them to know that unconditional love and courage was woven into their story from the beginning and will continue with them throughout their life. 

Both Bradley and Leah are fortunate to have their families live close by. Leah's parents, brother, sister, brother in law, nieces and nephew live within driving distance. Bradley's parents live about an hour and half away but visit regularly. When we gather with family we always enjoy a big meal together. Leah's dad smokes brisket and turkey, perfect for summer BBQs. We typically sit outside in the large back yard, talk and play games for hours. Bradley's parents host our annual family Christmas lunch complete with ham, deviled eggs, and delicious cookies and peanut butter fudge for dessert.

Leah's family is very adventurous. We have enjoyed several international family vacations, including trips to Germany, Switzerland, and England. We also explore local attractions such as baseball games, mini golf, and shows at the Performing Arts Center. Bradley's dad loves the outdoors and is an avid camper. Bradley's mom enjoys reading and crafting. When we get together with Bradley's parents we enjoy antiquing, perusing the local farmers market, and eating at one of our local restaurants. 

Our families are very supportive of our dream to adopt a child. Everyone is very excited to share our family traditions and look forward to welcoming a new family member.

We live in a beautiful North Carolina neighborhood complete with playgrounds, pools with water slides, a sports complex, and miles of walking and bike trails. There is often a gathering for each holiday, such as the Winter Holiday Parade. We also have concerts and food truck festivals weekly in the summer. Since there are two schools located within our neighborhood, there are kids of all ages playing outside. 

Our home is a cozy, open concept 3 bedroom house. While at home, we spend the majority of our time enjoying meals in the kitchen and relaxing in our living room curled up next to our dog, Sassy. We also enjoy spending time on our deck, tending to our small vegetable garden. Our large dining room is perfect for hosting family gatherings, putting together puzzles, and playing board games. There is also a large park across the street from our home that is a very popular play space for kids. 

Dear Expectant Parents, 

While we cannot begin to imagine the weight of this decision, we recognize the tremendous love and selflessness required to consider an adoption plan. We admire your courage, and we hope to offer our support throughout this journey.  

We are Leah and Bradley, and we have been married for 9 years. Our relationship is anchored in love, friendship, and a shared dream of growing our family through adoption. We live in a cozy home in a family-friendly neighborhood in North Carolina, surrounded by a supportive family who are eager to welcome this sweet baby.  

In our home, we cherish slow, quiet moments: evenings spent curled up on the couch with our dog, Sassy, Sunday pancake dinners, and visits with our extended family. We love going on adventures, exploring our home state, and learning about other cultures through travel. One of our annual traditions is a summer trip to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks. Time seems to slow down as soon as you step off the Hatteras Ferry, and it is a perfect location for quiet family time. We look forward to sharing these experiences with this child and cultivating their curiosity. 

Our goal as parents is to create a loving environment for this child to thrive. We hope to instill a love for learning and provide the freedom for them to express themselves through their own interests. Whether they find passion in the arts, sciences, sports, or something entirely unique, we will be their biggest cheerleaders. We look forward to supporting them as they grow and watching their unique personality develop. 

A value we hold dear is treating others as we would like to be treated. We plan to model love and respect within our own home and community, as we believe children mirror the behaviors they observe. Having both grown up volunteering, we also plan to provide similar opportunities for this child to give back. Whether it is helping at a local food bank or participating in community clean-up days, we want to teach them the importance of empathy and the joy of serving others. By leading by example, we hope to guide them toward becoming a kind, respectful, and confident adult. 

If you are comfortable with ongoing communication, we would love to keep you updated through photos, emails, and letters. We want this child to grow up knowing their story and the incredible love that led to our family coming together. We plan to document every milestone and sweet moment-from the first steps to the first day of school-so that, even if you choose to pause communication, we can still share those updates with you at a later time. Your role in their life is significant, and we want to honor that in whatever way feels right for you.

If you choose us to raise this child, we promise to love them unconditionally, provide them with a safe space to grow and be themselves, and teach them how to be kind and respectful of others. Thank you so much for taking a moment to learn more about our family. We hope this brief insight into our lives offers a sense of the love that we already have for this child. 

With gratitude and love, 

Bradley & Leah