What does "Family Life" mean to you?
We believe that “family life” is just that, the “life of the family”. We believe life within a family includes sharing time together, sharing stories, sharing hardships, and sharing accomplishments. It means helping one another, learning from one another, and being supportive and present. Most importantly, family life should be filled with joy, laughter, and love.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive mother: My early childhood was filled with lots and lots of love. I spent a lot of time playing outside and playing games. My parents challenged me to learn new things, and encouraged discovery and wonder. My younger sister and I have always been close. My father passed away when I was young, but that has only served to bring my family closer and more supportive.
Adoptive father: I was raised, along with my three sisters, by my mother who is a very hard-working, selfless woman. She always made sure we all had what we needed regardless of money being tight. This included a nice, clean home with plenty of food and lots of love. I spent a lot of time outside, including family trips camping and fishing. My mother raised me to respect others, work hard, and enjoy life.
Tell us about your home?
We live in a four-bedroom, two-bath, one-story home. It is spacious and full of natural light. Together we have made some renovations, including landscaping and interior upgrades. We have a beautiful backyard full of trees and flowers that is quiet and safe. We live across the street from a beautiful green park with a swing set and plenty of room to run and play outdoors.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
When we have a three day weekend we love to go to breakfast for pancakes. We like to go to the movies. We would almost always include an outdoor activity such as hiking, cycling, or walks with the dogs. Sometimes we will go for a walk and have a picnic in a park. Also we like to spend the extra time on a project for the home, working to create an even more relaxing space.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
Yes! We love pets. We have some dogs and a cat. All of our pets our rescued animals; some are from the Humane Society and others from a parking lot. They are all very loving and definitely cute. Our pets are just like our family, very much a part of our everyday life. They bring us joy every day!
What is your favorite food?
Kelly’s favorite food is chicken cordon bleu and Randy’s favorite food is chicken and dumplings.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We hope to teach our children to be kind and respectful. We would encourage them to be inquisitive and challenge themselves. We believe in learning about music and the arts. Being that Kelly’s mother is a teacher, education is extremely important in our family. We hope to teach our children the importance of hard work and an advanced education, to ensure a career they enjoy and a life they love. Most importantly, life should be full of fun and laughter!
Do you play any musical instruments?
Randy had piano lessons and played the coronet when he was in elementary school. Kelly plays the piano and guitar.
Describe your neighborhood?
We live in a quiet, secluded neighborhood full of trees with two community parks. All the neighbors get together twice a year in the park for a picnic, and Santa Claus comes to every home to see the children during the holiday season.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Adoptive mother: My husband likes to talk for our pets, using different voices for each one.
Adoptive father: My wife likes to put marshmallows on her peanut butter toast.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
We like to leave little love notes or give each other cards. We usually give these things at a time when it is not expected, that makes it even better.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
We will tell our child everything we know.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
A great Daddy’s day activity would definitely include a trip to the zoo and ice cream.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Any information the birthparents would want us to share, we would be open to sharing with our child.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
We are planning on providing a public education. We would research the best schools in our area so that he/she would be challenged and nurtured.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
After finding out we had a very low chance of conceiving naturally, we decided to pursue adoption. Even though we cannot have a child naturally, we long to be parents. We know we can give an adopted child a loving, nurturing, and joyful upbringing.
What faith will you raise your child?
We plan on raising our child Christian.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
We hope to give our child the necessary tools to believe they can accomplish anything. We will be very encouraging and supportive of any dream they want to follow. We will help them physically, emotionally, and financially.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We want the birthmother to be comfortable with us as people and prospective parents. We would hope she could feel comfortable voicing any questions or concerns with us.
How did you meet?
Randy and I met in college while studying similar careers. We started to date in 2001 and were married in 2002.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Adoptive mother: I have a very close relationship with my mother. We see each other often and talk daily. We only live a few miles from each other. We share the same sense of humor and spend a lot of time laughing. Until the passing of my father, at a young age, we were always together, sharing times and talking. My parents both taught me a lot about challenging myself, hard work, and caring for others.
Adoptive father: Currently I do not have a relationship with my father. My mother is a very caring and loving mother. She lives in another state but we talk often on the phone and send each other cards by mail and email. My mother has always been very supportive in my decisions and I can always count on her being there for me and my family.
What attracted you to each other?
Randy’s quiet, gentle nature first attracted me. After spending time together I was in love with his sense of humor. He has always been able to comfort me and make me smile. Kelly’s beautiful eyes, sense of humor, and outgoing nature continue to attract me.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive mother: Caring, generous, witty, intelligent, and analytical. Loves to learn new things and try new challenges.
Adoptive father: Funny, playful, dedicated, and loyal. Loves to enjoy life around him.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive mother: Running, listening to music, and taking care of the pets.
Adoptive father: Video games, painting, fishing, camping, and gardening. Together we like to cycle, hike, and go to museums. We also like to travel, especially to historical places.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
I am amazed with the selfless gift and hugely difficult decision she has made.
How will a child enrich your life?
A child would enrich our lives by giving us the opportunity to see the world through their eyes.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive mother: I really love doing my job because I get to take care of people. I enjoy talking with people and giving them the best care, especially in times of illness and need.
Adoptive father: After being in the service for twelve years, I wanted to choose a career where I could support a family and have a home. I like being able to help people, especially in times of need.
What makes a birthmom special?
Her selfless act of great love puts the health and well-being of her child before her own needs and desires.
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