What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Everything! It is the most important relationship you will have on Earth. It means loving, growing, sharing new experiences, teaching and learning together.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Dad? My mom and dad divorced when I was young. My three brothers and I stayed with our mom but remained close with our dad. We were not wealthy but never “wanted” for anything and always knew we were loved.
Adoptive Mom? I had a wonderful childhood, filled with great memories of visits to both sets of grandparents. My maternal grandparents lived on a farm where I was often greeted by a new litter of puppies in the barn. Memories of visiting my paternal grandparents include walking through the woods looking to discover a new animal. I also have fond memories of fun weekends spent at home. My parents would have friends over on weekends for cookouts and to play either softball or pool volleyball and we would often be joined by other families from the neighborhood. We have always been a “close-knit” family and remain so to this day. I want this same closeness with my children.
Tell us about your home?
Our home is an older house built in the fifties which we have totally renovated, including the addition of a master bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet which almost doubled our living space. It is very comfortable with plenty of room. We decorated the house in what we call a casual-country-Spanish feel. It has hand finished antiqued natural woodwork and slightly textured off-white walls throughout, all of which I did myself. It also has many large windows for an almost outdoor feel.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
We love our cookouts and outdoor movies. We also have a huge park with bike trails and ponds, and love to ride our bikes down to the pond to see all of the doggies play in the water. If the weather isn’t nice we might go to a science museum where children of all ages can learn about science, from what makes the rain to what the stars are made of.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
Yes. We have two kitty cats (Gryphon and Bella). We also have many outdoor animals that visit us on a regular basis, including raccoons, opossum, geese, and a (momma/poppa) pair of ducks that return every spring, usually with baby ducklings.
What is your favorite food?
We all love pizza, pasta and Mexican food! We also love our summer cookouts with hamburgers, corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, basil, dill and chives from our garden.
What do you hope to teach your children?
Good moral values. Treat others as you want to be treated. Honesty is always best. All things are possible to achieve if you put forth all of your effort and believe you can. God has a plan for each and every one of us, even if we don’t sometimes understand what it is.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Adoptive Dad? Yes, I have played the guitar since I was about fourteen and have loved all types of music as long as I can remember.
Adoptive Mom? I played piano when I was younger but haven’t played in many years.
Describe your neighborhood?
Our home is in a great neighborhood with mature trees and views of a nearby river. We have about an acre of land with plenty of room for volleyball, soccer, hide and seek, or just running around. We have a big swing set with a slide and playhouse. We also have a big “bouncy house” that we blow up and once inflated, all the neighborhood kids come over to jump and play in it. We often have cookouts and outdoor movie nights with neighbors and their children. We bought a movie projector and show movies on a screen as big as the house.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Adoptive Mom? Everyone can clearly see that Terry is a great father, but what they probably don’t know is how emotional he can be just by watching our daughter interact on a daily basis.
Adoptive Dad? Kodi is a better mom than even she thought she could be!
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
I surprised her with reservations for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, which also happens to be where we went on one of our first dates, almost twenty years ago.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
She made a very difficult decision in offering you for adoption! I’m sure she based her decision on what she feels was best for you. Even though she offered you for adoption it doesn’t mean she didn’t love you with all of her heart! It is always alright to ask questions about your adoption and your birthmother. We will make an adoption life book to share her story with her.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
Depending on the time of year, we might take a bike ride and picnic in the park, take a trip to the museum, build a snowman, go sledding or skiing, or go to the zoo or water park.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Of course, it is part of their heritage. We will always be open and honest with our children as they become more curious about their biological parents.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
Private.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We adopted our daughter, Olivia, from Guatemala and would love for her to have a sister with whom she can grow, share, love, and learn.
What faith will you raise your child?
Christian, with the possibility of them attending a private Catholic school.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
Encourage them in all they do! Help provide the tools of an education and the opportunities for them to be successful in life, whatever that means to them.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We want her to have confidence in her decision of adoption and choice of adoptive parents! We also want her to know we will unconditionally love her child all the days of our lives!
How did you meet?
I am in a family business with two of my brothers. Our secretary (Barb), at the time, was Kodi’s aunt, and I think she always had in mind to get us together. One day I met Kodi in the office and a few days later asked Barb if she thought Kodi was available and would go on a date with me. I asked Kodi out, we dated exclusively for a few years and then I popped the question. We have been very happily married ever since.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Adoptive Dad? My parents divorced when I was young. I am close with my mom, and I was close with my dad until he passed away ten years ago.
Adoptive Mom? I have a very close relationship with my parents and see them almost daily in the summer. They take absolute delight in their granddaughter and are looking forward to another baby to spoil. In the winter months they live in Florida but we usually talk on the phone at least twice a day and sometimes connect via Skype on the computer so they can see Olivia.
What attracted you to each other?
Adoptive Dad? I was immediately physically attracted to Kodi, but the more I got to know her I learned what a kind and good person she is. I love that although she likes nice things she is not a materialistic person and knows they are not what are most important in life.
Adoptive Mom? I think when someone meets their soul mate there is almost always at first a physical attraction, but I was drawn to Terry’s independence and responsibilities at such a young age, being part owner in his business. He is one of the funniest people I have ever met and he keeps me laughing daily.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? I tend to be a little shy until I get to know someone. I am dependable, loyal and kind-hearted.
Adoptive Dad?
I am easygoing, fun-loving, and a people person who can strike up a conversation with anyone. I am intrigued by people with different accents and love to hear “their story”.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? Scrapbooking, music, bike rides, spending time with friends, cookouts at home and of course our outdoor movie nights in the summer.
Adoptive Dad? Family bike rides. Playing guitar. Music of all kinds. Working on our Koi pond. Travel, I love to see new places and meet new people. Photography, Thank goodness for digital, if you don’t like the shot you just delete it. Outdoor movies. The fourth of July (Independence Day) is a big day here. We start early in the morning with a bike ride to breakfast and a pet parade in the park, followed by live music and dancing. Then we go back home to hangout and get the cookout started. At dusk it’s back to the park for an amazing fire works show and if everyone is not totally exhausted, an outdoor movie afterwards.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
How courageous she is to have made such a selfless decision! How I will always tell my baby girl about which of her birthmother’s physical traits and characteristics she shares.
How will a child enrich your life?
It is hard to put such an experience into words. Our first child, Olivia is adopted from Guatemala. Although we always knew we would someday have children, we had no idea how it would affect our lives in such an amazing way. We have learned that God has a plan for us whether we understand it or not. I used to always tell people” I don’t consider myself a particularly lucky person”. However, since bringing our precious daughter home, I truly believe I am one of the luckiest people on earth!
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? Before leaving my job to be a stay-at-home mom with Olivia, accounting was always something I had an interest in and had been doing since graduating from business school with an accounting degree.
Adoptive Dad? I started working with my older brother when I was about fifteen…painting houses. When I graduated from high school I had no desire to go on to college. I continued painting and our second brother joined us in the business. We have built a business now in commercial painting with our specialty being difficult or large scale projects such as college and NFL stadiums, NHL arenas, hospitals, high-rise buildings, government facilities and schools to name a few.
What makes a birthmom special?
Her selfless decision to offer her child a life with more possibilities and opportunities than what she feels she could have provided.
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