What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Sharing everyday moments together, whether it’s a favorite TV show, a favorite book, spending time together in the outdoors, or discovering new things.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom?
I was a tomboy, very athletic. I played softball and soccer and spent most of my time outdoors. I was always bringing home animals (mostly turtles and frogs) I found while I was roaming the neighborhood with friends.
Adoptive Dad?
I was very active in sports and spent most of my time outside. We took family vacations almost every year and I had good grades in school. I loved traveling, exploring new things and figuring out how things worked. I would regularly take things apart to see how they operated and would put them back together. Most times they still worked!
Tell us about your home?
We have a spacious 2 story, 4-bedroom home that we built 1 year ago. We have a large yard backed by woods and a creek.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
We like to take family outings (zoo, hiking, camping)
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
We have two dogs, Tori and Dixie. Tori is medium sized and 4 years old. Dixie is small and 13 years old. They’re both lap dogs and love to cuddle. Both are very well behaved and are great with kids.
What is your favorite food?
Crab legs and Prime Rib.
What do you hope to teach your children?
Love of nature, the importance of family, generosity, hard work, and how to have fun!
Do you play any musical instruments?
No
Describe your neighborhood?
Quiet, filled with children of all ages; small town atmosphere even though we are close to the city.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Husband?
She talks in her sleep, occasionally sitting straight up in the midst of a dream and asking completely nonsensical questions. She never remembers them and swears I am making it up when I ask her about it the next morning.
Wife?
How much he really looks forward to the time he spends with our daughter and how his feelings get hurt when she tells him he can’t have a hug or kiss or when she shows a preference for me.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
For our anniversary I surprised Rich with a weekend stay in a cottage at a winery. We relaxed, walked around town, and sampled the wine!
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
We will be completely open with our children about being adopted and the courage it took for their birthmother to make a very difficult decision. Anything the birthmother may want their child to know, we will make sure they do.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
First it will be a trip to one of our local parks to hit the playground. From there we will go to Monkey Joe’s to bounce around on some giant inflatables. Next is McDonald’s (not very often, but an occasional Happy Meal never hurts) and then a drive down a less traveled road to go for a walk in the woods where it is just us. Hopefully the weather is good and maybe we can see a train go by. The day ends with bath time and us sitting quietly cuddling until we fall asleep.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Yes, as much information as we have.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
Public and we will certainly encourage higher education.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
After 6 years of infertility treatments we decided the most important thing was not becoming pregnant, but becoming parents. We adopted our daughter 2 ½ years ago and are ready to expand our family again.
What faith will you raise your child?
Non-practicing
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
By providing possibilities, variety and simply supporting their decisions. We will give them a wide range of exposure to many different things and then they can choose what interests them.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We prefer an open adoption so the birthmother is comfortable with who we are and what type of life her child will have. An open adoption also allows us to get to know the birthmother so we can pass along her characteristics and background to her child as they grow up.
How did you meet?
We met in college after I skipped a few classes. Rich happened to sit next to me and I asked to borrow his notes. We spent most of our time together from then on.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Denise – I was very close with both parents, although I spent most of my time with my Dad. He was involved in all my sports activities. My parents divorced when I was 18 and I lost contact with my Dad. I’m still very close to my mom and see her every week.
Rich – Very close and did a lot together through the early teen years; mostly sports activities, family vacations and hanging out at home. We were not as close during my teen years when I spent most of my time with friends. Once in college we became close again as I grew up. We are now very close and see each other almost every week.
What attracted you to each other?
I was attracted to Denise when some of us in the college dorm were playing football and Denise laid a good tackle on me. I was also impressed how she was never lazy. She was always working or getting herself into an activity. She is a very smart, honest and beautiful woman that I am very lucky to have married.
I was attracted to Rich because he took great notes in class and let me borrow them whenever I skipped class! Really, it was because he was attractive, athletic, smart and had a great sense of humor. He always made me laugh (and still does) and we have a lot in common.
Please describe your personalities:
Husband?
Laid back, witty humor, meticulous on projects, dedicated to family, high interest in exploring new things.
Wife?
Easy going, have an odd sense of humor, like to be in control (I’m the planner in the family), very affectionate, generous.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Husband?
Baseball, racquetball, hiking, biking, traveling and building/putting things together
Wife?
Scrapbooking, reading, hiking, biking, traveling
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
That she must be very strong to make the unselfish choice of adoption. Grateful that adoption was the route she chose and that she’s entrusting us with the care of her child.
How will a child enrich your life?
We are grateful every day for our daughter. Another child will just double the enrichment we already feel.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Husband?
I am an analytical person and my role in the Finance arena is intellectually stimulating. Every day there is a new puzzle. I also work with very good people in an exciting industry.
Wife?
I took an accounting course in high school and loved it; from that moment I decided to pursue accounting.
What makes a birthmom special?
She’s able to provide a gift to both her child and another couple who desperately wish to have children. She is unselfish; thinking only of the well being of her child.
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