We originally met as kids when our families attended the same church, but we didn’t start having interest in each other until Matt’s childhood best friend and Kate’s college roommate started dating.

We saw each other again at a summer party and went on our first date at a local festival downtown. On our date, we talked about what we wanted to do in the future, what our interests were, laughed at jokes, and enjoyed the moment. As we visited the last food vendor and got our elephant ears (sugared fried dough – it’s delicious), it started pouring rain, so we ran back to Matt’s car and drove back to Kate’s place.

Matt was in law school at the time and couldn’t commit to a relationship, so we parted ways but kept in touch. Eight months later, Matt asked Kate to be his girlfriend on the day he graduated – he didn’t waste any time!

We got married after four years of dating, and at the rehearsal dinner, Matt surprised Kate with elephant ears from a local restaurant for dessert. We have even found local versions of elephant ears on vacation - in Canada, they’re called Beaver Tails!

What Kate loves about Matt: Matt is a strong, resilient, and kind person. He is an incredible “cat-dad” to our cat Max. He never hesitates to help his loved ones. Our friends recently experienced a combination of job loss and pet loss, and Matt suggested we get them gift cards for groceries and take-out meals. He also never stops learning - he loves reading articles online, watching videos by experts, and talking with people who are passionate about their subject. It fuels his curiosity and also provides interesting topics of discussion at the dinner table.

What Matt loves about Kate: Kate is the sweetest and most caring person I know. She is always interested in taking care of abandoned animals, ranging from rescued cats to taking care of the woodchucks living under our shed. I am also very proud of how much she works to improve herself. From becoming the top lifter at her gym to pursuing leadership opportunities in her job, she keeps looking for ways to improve herself.

At its core, parenthood is caring for the emotional and physical needs of a child. For us, being parents means helping a child grow into a happy, healthy, and capable adult. It is important to us to be present in this child’s life and support them as they navigate the world. We look forward to comforting them when they cry, helping them with homework, and cheering them on as they work towards their dreams.

There are many things we’re excited for when it comes to being parents! As we’ve watched our nephews and our friends’ children grow, it’s been wonderful seeing them develop interests, opinions, and personalities. We can’t wait to watch a child grow, develop, change, and become their own person. Matt is most looking forward to seeing the world through a child’s eyes - traveling with them, sharing different cultures and experiences, and seeing what they think about it all. Kate is most looking forward to what passions this child will have - will they love music? Or sports? Or science? We’re so excited to learn who they are.

Both of us are very close with our families. Kate's mom and Matt's parents live within a 10 minute drive, and most extended family are within an hour's drive.

We love spending time with our nephews Wyatt and Wade (and our other nephew and niece Isaac and Anna when they're in town). We get together at least once every other week for dinner with them, and there's always something fun going on. Recently, Wyatt, Uncle Matt, and Aunt Kate held a pretend tea party where we ate macaroons (Kate's choice) and mac n' cheese (Wyatt's choice). Wyatt loves to talk about superheroes with Uncle Matt and to snuggle up with Aunt Kate.

Every Christmas, Kate and her mom make chex mix and pumpkin bread from scratch. It's an old family recipe that she can't wait to share with a child! We spend holidays with both sides of the family, and Christmas usually involves a gift exchange and a lot of good food.

Matt's parents love traveling around the state of Michigan (and beyond!) and are looking forward to family trips with a new family member. Everyone in our family is so excited to meet this child and surround them with love and joy.

We live in a suburban neighborhood about 15 minutes from a diverse and growing city in Michigan. Downtown offers a lot of opportunity for cultural experiences, family activities, and unique experiences. Every year there are multiple festivals held, including a Pride festival and a Hispanic festival. We enjoy going to "Food Truck Fridays" with friends, which includes local food trucks, vendors and musicians and is located along a river that runs through the city.

Matt's parents live five minutes away and have a big pool where this child and their cousins can swim and play during the summer. Kate's mom lives five minutes away as well, and we can imagine summers spent at Grandma's cooking in the kitchen and doing crafts.

Our house has four bedrooms - one for us, two as offices/hobby rooms (we both work mostly from home), and a dedicated bedroom for the child that will join our family. Our house is surrounded by trees, and we often have deer and turkeys stroll through our yard. Lots of birds visit our birdfeeders, which captures the attention of our cat Max!

We have a large yard for playing and running around. Within walking distance are hiking trails, an apple orchard, and the elementary school. We can envision evening walks to go play on the playground after dinner or a Saturday morning walk to the orchard for fresh cider and donuts.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We hope that you feel supported and loved no matter where you are in your journey. You have already shown a deep love by seeking out your options and considering adoption.

We are Matt and Kate. Matt is a thoughtful, intelligent, and quick-witted guy who enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and learning as much as he can about the world and history. Kate is a creative, kind, and hard-working girl who enjoys crafting, music, and weightlifting. Together we enjoy board games, trying new restaurants, traveling to new places, and spending time with friends and family.

We live just outside of a diverse, growing city in Michigan. We both grew up here, and our extended family is just a short drive away. We live within walking distance of the elementary school, a hiking trail, and an apple orchard where we love to go in the Fall for cider and donuts. There are many options for daycare, public/private school, and academic support programs that will provide this child everything they need to learn and grow. Our home is cozy and welcoming, with a large front yard for running around and lots of wildlife to watch from the window. We live in a four-bedroom house - one of which is for this child, and two are offices. Both of us mostly work from home, so we’re able to adjust our schedules to support this child’s care as the need arises.

We have many friends and family members who are incredibly excited to meet this child! Matt’s parents and sister (with our two young nephews) live near us, and Kate’s mom and brother live close as well. We get together every other week for dinner with Matt’s family, and have a lot of fun playing with our nephews (or just having snuggle time on the couch). Our friends are so excited to share their parenting knowledge with us, to see us build a family, and to watch and support this child as they grow.

When it comes to being parents, our goal is to raise a child who is capable, confident, and connected - they can think for themselves, regulate their emotions, and build healthy relationships. We want them to know they are valued, heard, and safe. We will provide structure and a safe environment to ask questions of both the world and themselves. We will help them learn to recognize and process their emotions. We will enable them to grow and learn who they are! We can’t wait to see what their interests are - we want to share with them many different cultures, hobbies, and skills, so they can follow their heart on what brings them joy.

When it comes to connection with you and this child’s birth family, we are very open to communication. We will send letters and photos, and are open to other forms of communication like emails, phone calls, or potential visits in the future. We want to do what is most comfortable for you - we respect you, we trust you, and we’re happy to follow your lead on the type and frequency of communication. If your preferences ever change, we are here to support you and be flexible. If you choose to, we want to be a part of your child’s life. We promise to provide an upbringing where kindness, generosity, and respect for others is taught and demonstrated every day. We promise to help them learn to love and appreciate the people and places that make up this world. Our commitment to you is that we will love this special child unconditionally, and fill their life with joy, encouragement, and endless possibilities.

We are incredibly grateful for the time you’ve taken to read these words and learn about us. Please know that you are in our hearts and minds, and we want you to choose what is best for you and this child.

Matt & Kate