Our favorite vacation spot is Cape Town, South Africa. From the moment the plane landed and we walked down the steps and breathed the crisp air, we knew we were in store for an amazing experience. We could not have been more amazed by the sights and sounds of South Africa. From the amazing local food to the incredible people, each moment was filled with delight. We had amazing experiences from start to finish. Visiting Table Top Mountain by way of a cable car that zoomed us to the mountain top was a breathtaking experience. From there, we were able to see the city of Cape Town in all of its wonder. We visited Robben Island by ferry boat, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. We visited the jail and compound where he spent so many years of his life in incarceration. We had the exciting experience of spending two nights on an animal safari/reserve, making a dream come true to be able to walk with giraffes in their natural habitat and see lions, the kings of the jungle, in the wild. This place is truly special to us both and an experience we will never forget.

What makes us unique is the expectations that we have of each other. Not only do we support each other in our individual goals and aspirations, but we work on a unified front to achieve our collective aspirations. We love to encourage each other to be our best selves, and give selflessly of our gifts and talents to others. We are not a competitive family, and we seek to uplift ourselves and others on our journey of life. We work hard, but also love to have fun. We work hard and play hard. We can engage, work, and love people from all walks of life. We have a unique ability to move in different environments with different people. Teaching and learning from our experiences are unique gifts that we have; which allow us to take a well-balanced, calm approach to handling difficult situations and people. We believe that it is important to treat everyone the way we would like to be treated, and in doing so, we all will be better people.

James' older sister is adopted. His parents adopted her when she was three months old. His parents shared age-appropriate information about his sister during his pre-teens. It changed nothing about their relationship and sibling bond. While her adoption was closed, which was the norm in the 70s, she is comfortable sharing her story and experience as an adopted child and is excited that we have chosen this option for growing our family. We believe that her story and experience will have a great impact on our adopted child. James witnessed the unconditional love and impartial treatment his parents bestowed on their children and plans to model similar behavior. It is where he was initially inspired and encouraged to explore adoption. Additionally, his family's transparency about having an adopted child and the seamless integration into both the immediate family and extended family is noteworthy. This is a wonderful blueprint that we intend to duplicate.

We live in a new single-family home with five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one half bathroom (5,000 + square feet) nestled in the Maryland suburbs of our Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C. We were blessed to build our home four years ago and have enjoyed designing and furnishing it. We are just a few miles from the Show Place Arena, Equestrian Center, nearby shopping centers, restaurants and the Washington National Harbor. We have a quaint walking trail connected to the community making outdoor exploration fun and accessible. Our home is often the place for hosting family/friend holiday celebrations and gatherings.

Our neighborhood is very quiet with great neighbors who look out for each other and each other's homes. The neighborhood children are very friendly and often play in the cul-de-sac and nearby playground together. Our neighborhood continues to grow daily with new homes developing across the street and adjacent to us. We are excited for the growth and completion of our neighborhood; filled with professionals and fun-loving families.

Family is at the core of our commitment and a part of the foundation of who we are individually and collectively.

Kirk is the older of two children. He has a younger sister and their parents have been together for over 30 years. Kirk's sister is married and has two biological children along with 4 bonus children from her husband's previous relationship. James is the youngest of 3 children. His oldest sister is adopted. His adopted sister has two daughters and his biological brother has a son and a daughter. James' mother and father have been married for 53 years.

Kirk's family lives close by in Maryland and James' family lives in Georgia.

We have a blended family from all directions and are blessed that both families have come to know and love us and each other over the years. We know that our adopted child will definitely be welcomed with open arms and loving hearts by everyone connected to us.

Thank you for taking time to visit our profile and learn more about us and our desire to grow our family through adoption. We recognize how difficult this decision may be for you and all of the emotions that come along with embarking upon this journey. We promise to provide love, protection, guidance, and support that will offer the child a lifetime of foundational growth and development.

We have been together for 12 years and married for four years. We love our life together and cannot wait to expand our family! We love to travel domestically and internationally; experiencing new adventures and learning more about the world we live in and the people and cultures that surround us. We love to cook, experience new restaurants, play tennis, go for neighborhood walks with our Frenchie Skye, watch movies, go to concerts, attend our nephews' sporting events, host game nights, fishing, visits to museums, hiking, reading and spending time with family/friends. Our strong faith is at the core of our values and daily strength which will undoubtedly be shared amongst our growing family. We are so excited to share these things and more that bring us joy and excitement into our lives.

We are stable, responsible, and mature individuals. We support each other unconditionally and are able to rely on each other during difficult times and are also able to celebrate together during joyous times. We have a strong community which includes both sides of our families and close friends. We have made clear, responsible decisions and are ready to face the challenges and joys of bringing a child into our family.

Our plan is to be as transparent as possible; supportive and respectful of our child's desire to learn more about his or her birth family history. We are committed to being open with our child and will share adoption information in an age-appropriate way. We understand the difficult, courageous decision you as the birthparent have to make, and we feel blessed to have the opportunity to welcome a child into our home.

We are looking forward to bringing your child into a blended family life full of education, faith, fun, adventure, and stability. Our heart is open and ready to welcome our adopted child into our lives. The vision we have for our family is one filled with success. Having the blessing to live life to the fullest is not something that we take for granted, and we are looking forward to teaching, guiding, and protecting our child throughout their developmental years and beyond. We are truly grateful for the opportunity and are excited about the future!

Again, we recognize that the decision you are faced with is not an easy one. We empathize with you and want you to make the decision you feel is best for the child's future. We share this journey together and look forward to learning more about you. We are open to meeting you and providing even more comfort and reassurance beyond our profile.

With Love & Respect,

James & Kirk