After both living in Texas our entire lives, Andy got a job opportunity that sent us to Germany for a while. We have really fond memories of that time, going to Christmas markets, skiing the Alps, hiking in Scotland, and eating pasta in Italy. We learned a lot about different cultures, and learned to rely on each other to navigate a new way of living. We loved traveling around Europe, and found an even greater appreciation for experiencing different cultures, which we hope to share with a child one day.

Andy and his family have a true love for skiing, so we make a ski trip at least every few years. Christan is still on the bunny slopes, but loves tubing and sledding with the kids!

We would love to do more international travel at some point, but we also love exploring the USA. One of our favorite places to travel is to the Texas Hill Country. Good barbeque, hiking trails, and cooling off in a spring-fed swimming hole is simply the best! We can't wait to start our family and share in our travels!

We have been married for almost five years, and have hoped and prayed to start a family. Our first and only pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, followed by years of infertility. We sought fertility treatment, and after rounds and rounds of failed treatments, we were told that we wouldn't be able to have a biological child. Although this was a very hard experience, it grew us closer and stronger, both as a couple and individually.

We have closed that door, and spent time praying and discussing this as a couple. We believe that this is what God planned for all along, and that we were meant for this very opportunity. Adoption is something that we have always considered as an option to build our family (discussed on our first date, interestingly!). We hope that just as we pray for the right mother to match with, that we are what you've hoped and prayed for as well. We are so humbled and grateful that you would consider us.

Christan about Andy: Andy does everything with his whole heart. Anything he puts his mind to, whether it's woodworking, a presentation, or doing a cannonball into a pool, he does it with 100% gusto. While there are times that this can end up comical, his spirit and enthusiasm is what I admire most about him, and I know that is something he will teach our children. Andy loves anything adventurous and outdoors - hunting, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, weight lifting, and even competed in the Crossfit Games a few times. I know he will teach our kids to be courageous and bold, to try new things and to not be afraid of failure. He's a big kid - he's goofy, fun, has a contagious laugh, and everyone loves him, especially our nieces and nephew! I know he will be the best daddy.

Andy about Christan: Christan is such a great nurturer and supporter. She loves to do things for me and for our families, like cooking and hosting everyone over (she's an excellent cook, by the way). She has so much faith in God and has such a gracious and giving heart. She has a fierce belief in "family first" which is a tenet for our current life and what we hope for our family in the future. She is active, vibrant, and one of the most resilient people I know. I can't wait to see her as mother.

We feel blessed to have great relationships with our families, and that they are both fairly close.

Christan's parents (Dede and Moose to the grandkids) recently moved to be closer, which puts us, her parents, and her brother's family all within minutes of the house we are building. We love having them all close, and have "Sunday Supper" together every weekend. Christan's side of the family embraces their Cajun side and have a tradition of what we call "Cajun Christmas" with gumbo, etouffee and other goodies every year, as well as crawfish boils in the spring. They are also big on the outdoors, and we all head to the Texas hill country several times during the year to hunt, fish, and live the quiet country life. Andy's family lives about 3 hours away, so we make every effort to see them during the holidays, long weekends, and to plan family vacations together. They are such a fun bunch, high-energy, and you can always count on a living room dance party or nail painting session with Andy's nieces. Andy's family loves to ski, and we usually plan a big ski trip every few years, although Christan hasn't quite made it out of ski school!

Our parents, nieces and nephew were so excited to find out that we are adopting, and we are certain there will be no shortage of love and attention from this crew!

Since returning from Germany, we have been renting in a great suburb outside of Houston, while we build what we hope to be our forever home. Our current home is in a wonderful, safe neighborhood with lots of walking trails. It's 3 bedroom and 2 bath, with a big open living area and a nice back patio where we grill and plant flowers and herbs.

The house we are building is set to be complete in July 2021.We planned every detail with the vision of what we dreamed of for our family. It's less than an hour away, in a more quiet, country setting. It's set on an acre lot with big pine trees, and deer that wander around the neighborhood. The house has 4 bedrooms, a wide open living space, and a big backyard with lots of trees for a tire swing. During the framing phase of the build, we even went room to room and wrote verses on the beams, and prayed and dreamed about all the love and life we hope for this home. The area is very safe, and in a great school district. The neighborhood has a park, pool, nature trails, a fishing pond, and activities for the kids like Cocoa with Santa, golf cart Christmas parades, and Easter egg hunts. It's the kind of neighborhood where everyone knows and watches out for one another. We can't wait to move in, and for our home to be filled with even more love.

Thank you for taking the time to read our profile. We hope that it helped you get to know us better, and we hope to eventually get to know you as well.

We know that this must be incredibly hard, confusing, and scary. The character, strength, and selflessness to consider this for your child is so admirable. We pray for you every day, specifically that you feel supported and cared for, and that in whatever decision you make that you feel a deep sense of peace and confidence in that decision.

We promise with everything we have that this child will be loved beyond measure. In addition to bringing us here with you, one of the silver linings of our infertility journey is that we can say with 100% certainty that we won't take this child or the opportunity to be parents for granted, not for a minute. We daydream and talk about all the things we want to do and experience with this child - bedtime stories, making Christmas cookies, helping them reel in their first fish, building sandcastles, teaching them how to ski and watching them swing from a tire swing in the backyard. And we can't wait to see who they grow up to be - their personality, their interests, and watching them grow into a courageous, kind, and loving adult - like us, and like you.

We promise to talk about and celebrate their adoption story - that they would know that because of your strength, we were able to come together and create a family, and that they are so very loved. We promise to keep in contact as much as you are comfortable with, whether that is sharing photos and letters, or making visits.

We have been married for five years, and through that time we have been through a lot. We've moved 3 times, lived in another country, experienced years of infertility, and built our first home. We've encountered things very well known to test a marriage, and yet, our relationship has remained steadfast. Our faith has grown stronger as well as our marriage, and we are a team until the end. Our upbringing has taught us a lot about marriage and family, and it's incredibly important to us that our child would feel not only a sense of stability and security, but that we would be an example of a healthy and happy marriage and home. We will create a life and memories that they will cherish and take with them into adulthood and into creation of their family one day.

We have a great support system and extended families who have been praying along with us as we embark on this journey. They are are all so excited and anxiously waiting to celebrate with us, and to love on this child.

Thank you again for learning more about us. We are honored to be part of this journey and hope to get to know you. We pray that in whatever decision you make, that it is one that gives you peace.

Much love,

Andy & Christan