What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Family is a commitment to be with one another each and every day and to make that time as fun and productive as possible. Our family is extremely active and filled with love. We enjoy each other’s company and find happiness in the simple things in life. Families stick together in good times and bad and we are committed to one and other and willing to make the individual sacrifices necessary to keep our home happy and secure. Family means everything to us and we can only continue to hope and pray that the love we share within our family can be enhanced by the addition of another child.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom? My childhood included 3 siblings and 2 wonderful parents. My Mom was a stay at home mother who was thankful to my Dad for affording her that privilege. My parents provided a very loving and secure home. Our daily lives always revolved around family. We shared the holidays with extended family and still do today. Another family tradition we have carried over the years is the annual summer vacation. In the beginning it started with the six of us in our immediate family and then grew over the years to nearly 25 family members. We use this time to have fun and make lifelong memories.
Adoptive Dad? I grew up in an active loving home with one sister in a neighborhood of family and friends. Family was always first growing up whether it was my immediate family or my extended family. Our lives were fairly basic wanting for little; while often having just enough to get by. It was not uncommon to spend a portion of every day playing ball either organized or pick up in the backyard. The highlight of each year was our family vacation that included my mother’s two sister’s families and their 6 children. This trip left the stresses of day to day living at home and focused strictly on FUN!
Tell us about your home?
We were blessed to have built a new two story home less than 6 years ago that has four bedrooms and plenty of space both indoors and outdoors. Outside we have 5 acres of fenced in yard with a two story playhouse swing set and basketball court. The other 3 acres of ground are meadows that connect to a large wooded plot. Our home has an expansive deck that we utilize in the warm weather for birthday parties, marshmallow roast and water balloon fights. The swing that is located on the covered porch is also a great place to unwind on a warm summer night.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
We enjoy travelling as a family and have seen many different areas of the country. It is not uncommon to spend a weekend going to the zoo or visiting The Children’ Museum or simply swimming at Grandma and Pap’s pool. We also utilize these long weekends to work on projects around the home. Often times we have home improvements underway and this extra day gives us the opportunity to gain ground on a project. We work and play together as a family and find great joy just being together.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
YES, we have 3 dogs. Lucy our lab, the Mama to all, Ginger, our golden retriever, loyal and fun and Coco our poodle always eager to play. We also have a tank of 9 fish. Lastly and most recently is the addition of our 3 pygmy goats, Mahoney, Lezzel and Chuba Bubba.
What is your favorite food?
Food is a hot topic at our house as each member of my wife’s family tries to outdo the other by mastering one of the many family recipes. The range varies from authentic Italian dinner dishes that include homemade noodles/sauce and bread to baked goods. I am partial to my mother in laws lasagna which features homemade sauce that is easily soaked up with a piece of freshly baked bread. My wife on the other hand let’s her sweet tooth win the battle and leans towards a healthy slice of her mom’s cheesecake. This cheesecake like all of the family recipes starts from scratch and finishes like something seen on the cover of a magazine.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We will strive to teach our children the value of family and the importance of hard work. We feel that a strong foundation starts at home and that family, faith and a positive sense of self will give our children the tools necessary to make good decisions throughout their lives. Our family is extremely loving and giving and it will be our mission to teach through example these traits. Success in our home is measured by who you are on the inside and we will work tirelessly to assure that our children live this same model at their core.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I, Christy play the piano on an amateur level only having had 3 years of lessons as a child, but music is a huge part of our everyday lives. The iPod is always playing and we all enjoy testing our vocals while listening to our favorite tunes.
Describe your neighborhood?
Our home is located on an 8 acre parcel that is less than 30 minutes from a major city. We feel blessed to live in a somewhat rural setting while having all of the culture offered by a major city just a few minutes away. The community is extremely safe and the school district consistently receives the blue ribbon academic awards. Both I and my wife have grown up in this community and feel fortunate to have plenty of family and friends close by.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Adoptive Mom? Erik, my husband once had an 80 year old man trying to “push” his pickup truck free for he thought it was wedged against the curb. The truth of the story is that he had the emergency brake on and it took his Aunt to make him aware of his oversight.
Adoptive Dad? My wife holds the distinct honor of getting her head stuck between the rungs of a kitchen chair.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
Romance has taken on a different face now that we have a daughter. Sometimes you have to look past the fact that you do not necessarily need to be alone to have romance. With that being stated I had a very romantic night with my wife and daughter in early December. The evening started in the city with a great dinner and cab ride to the local theater to see the Rockets Christmas show. The city was decorated for the holiday and my two girls looked beautiful! As I watched the show and held their hands my heart was filled with love and yes romance.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
If it is the wish of the birthmother and we are fortunate enough to know the details of her story, then at the appropriate time we will share her story of love and courage. Our child will know that their mother acted out of love and that she wanted only the best for her baby.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
I enjoy the outdoors and feel that it is the perfect time to lose the distractions that come with television, computers and phones. Spending the day hiking/biking and picnicking with my child would be perfect. There is plenty of time to talk while still having fun and enjoying each other and the outdoors.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
We have a tremendous respect for any parent who has the love and courage within their hearts to make such a selfless and loving sacrifice. We would be honored to tell their story.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
As referenced above we are fortunate to live in a blue ribbon school district and will take advantage of this strong public education.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
Erik and I have been together for 20 years; 10 years of dating starting in the 11th grade and married for the remaining 10 years. As life continued to unfold and our desire for more children grew, adoption was the most natural course. We were blessed to have our daughter and feel that adopting a child or children is part of our life’s path. Our three year old daughter is also eager to become a big sister and is filled with a love and excitement for life.
What faith will you raise your child?
Catholic.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
In order for a child to dream it is essential that they have a complete understanding of what the world has to offer. We want to give our child the life experiences needed to dream and the self confidence and support necessary to turn those dreams into reality.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We feel that it is important to develop a relationship based on mutual respect that is fostered by one common uniting goal, the best interest of the child. Our relationship with the birthmother will be one of support and admiration as we honor and respect her wishes throughout the process.
How did you meet?
Erik and I attended Junior High School together and became best friends several years before dating. When he did finally ask me out I was dating someone else and he gave me a “one time date offer”. I was quick to reply yes for he was my best friend, my soul mate … my other half. This brings us to our twentieth year together and each day feels comfortably new and loving.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
My relationship with my Dad is loving and fun. He and I always spent time doing projects together around the house growing up. My dad is always in a good mood and eager to do most anything. My relationship with my Mom has evolved over time as I have a deeper understanding of who she is and what sacrifices were made to raise their family with love, compassion and happiness. I talk with my Mom several times a day, she is my rock. Erik’s relationship with his Mom is one of love, deep respect and admiration. She too stayed home and raised her children and enriched their lives in doing so. Erik and his Dad found a common bond growing up in sports. As adults they have grown closer as they take the time to talk daily about the day’s events or stories of the past.
What attracted you to each other?
At a first glance it is Erik’s striking deep blue eyes that kept my attention, however in getting to know Erik his selflessness, kindness and generosity won me over. He truly has the most loving heart of any man I know. He lives his mission in life which is to bring happiness and quality of life to those around him. Christy is intelligent, beautiful and a lot of fun, but I would be lying if I said that her blue and white striped leggings from the 80’s didn’t have a lot to do with the initial attraction. Christy is “good” in every aspect of her life and as our friendship continued to grow and I saw deeper into who she was it did not take long to fall in love.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? I would describe myself as a compassionate, loving, strong willed, nurturing and loyal. I feel that I take charge and embrace each day for exactly what it is ... this moment in time.
Adoptive Dad? I would say Erik is a fun loving, caring, compassionate, selfless, driven individual who works hard to always maintain a positive attitude.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? I enjoy being a Mom. It is my greatest JOY. I love to bake, garden, craft and silly as it sounds, handy work around the house.
Adoptive Dad? Erik loves the outdoors. Hiking, fishing and taking care of our pets (dogs and little pygmy goats). Growing up Erik was always involved in sports and his love for athletics is still alive today. He is a great competitor.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
Admiration. It takes a very special, selfless and courageous woman to make this choice. She has given the ultimate gift to our family and in return we will love and nurture her child unconditionally.
How will a child enrich your life?
? We have always thought of ourselves as raising a large family, and today we embrace our family and all the love it brings. Another child would be the answer to many prayers and the addition to our family would only enhance our lives. As a family we have so much love to give and we would cherish the opportunity to share this joy with your child. As we are eager to grow our family our daughter is equally as eager to be a big sister. She is energetic, silly and tons of fun to be around.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? I choose my career for two reasons. First and foremost is because I love caring for patients and second was my love of medicine and my passion to understand the amazing human body.
Adoptive Dad? It started out as a job and quickly developed into a career. I enjoy people and in my position I talk daily with a wide variety of people under varying circumstances. My competitive nature has lead to success in sales and my leadership skills helped me to make the transition to management.
What makes a birthmom special?
Choosing to give life to a child is the most selfless act of love. You are special because of this choice you have made. You are a person of strength that put many to shame. You’re placing the needs of another well beyond your own and for that you are a tower of strength and love.
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