What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Family Life is focusing on the people that matter most in your life, those that you care for and love, being true to them, cultivating the best relationships with then, doing for them, and surrounding yourself with them.
Describe your childhood:
Bobbie - Growing up, my life centered on the small neighborhood with the church and parish school I attended in a mid-sized city on the outskirts of New York City. I was actively involved in sports, community drama and arts programs, and church and family events. I played a lot with my older brother and younger sister, and remain close to them. Our house was the one where neighborhood and school friends gathered. Mom was a stay-at-home mother and my dad worked hard to support our family. I fondly remember Saturday family trips to the lake, weekends at the beach, and cold water sprinklers from the neighbors hose during hot city days.
Ed - Ed’s life on the small family farm in Missouri centered on family, sports, and the outdoors. Ed’s dad was gardening organically long before it became popular! Ed was raised with his older sister and younger brother, and all had chores in the huge organic garden, vineyard and orchard. Fishing in their lake and hunting were also important parts of his family’s life. I love hearing tales of his family making homemade ice cream on hot summer nights, or the neighbors getting together to make vats of apple butter in the fall. Going home to his family’s log cabin in the Missouri woods is like stepping back into a pure and simple time. I get excited when I think that I will bring our child to this beautiful part of the world to visit the grandparents!
Tell us about your home?
Ours is a spacious and comfortable 3 bedroom ranch home with a large fenced backyard complete with BBQ, picnic tables and fire ring for roasting marshmallows on crisp evenings. We have one of the bedrooms being prepared for our child! Some of the best views of the mountains can be found right through our living room window. Our home is warmed by a woodstove for which Ed cuts all the wood. It is surrounded by woods and open land with spectacular mountain scenery around us. Ed and I gather at our harvest table for dinner nearly every night to catch up and chat about our day. Our home is filled with laughter, talking, friends and music. We have occasional visitors of elk, coyote and moose in the front yard.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
Usually something active as a couple or with friends. Our “backyard” is the beautiful and abundant Teton Mountains and we love exploring our environment by hiking the trails, camping, kayaking, climbing or skiing the area. The last 3 day weekend we had was last week, and we went to a horse auction and rodeo at the state fair. Other times, we like to attend plays, go to the symphony or opera, or enjoy museums.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
Yes, Knuckles is our 17 pound terrier-mix that we adopted from the animal shelter. He accompanies us on most of our adventures! He also has a ritual of crawling under our blankets in the morning and having a quick cuddle before we start our day. And although we do not own them, we care for, ride and train 4 horses named Chuckie, Bernie, Flash and Jack.
What is your favorite food?
I think Ed would say “Anything that Bobbie cooks” as I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen! If we had to pick I’d say we mostly love to eat southern Italian Mediterranean foods - including fish, whole grains and a generous supply of fresh veggies and fruit. Ed has a weakness for homemade ice cream and I for strawberry-rhubarb pie.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We hope the teach our child that life is a journey with peaks and valleys; that they should strive for doing the right thing, but it is OK to learn from mistakes as there are valuable gifts in them; that they should always be true to themselves and their beliefs; that it is not what you have in life, but what you do with it; and with the right attitude and hard work and determination, they can accomplish anything.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Ed plays classical guitar – it fills our home with lovely, gentle sounds. He studied music in college. While I do not play an instrument, I love many kinds of music and appreciate mostly folk and classical. Music is often in the background of our home. Friends commented recently that we had quite an eclectic selection of CD’s, i.e. Chopin next to Johnny Cash next to Broadway Hits next to Pavarotti!
Describe your neighborhood?
Our home is situated in a small residential neighborhood. There are lots of families with children and the neighborhood playground is adjacent to our house. We know virtually all the families as they all work for the park in some capacity. It is a nice community feel to knowing the neighbors, and it is very protected and safe. The children bus to the nearby elementary school from the Park’s Headquarters - so the kids walk to work with Mom and Dad and wait for the bus as the parents start their day! We live in a very rural area, yet our neighborhood has a suburban feel to it. Town is an easy 13 miles away for any necessary need – medical, shopping, groceries, entertainment, or cultural events or restaurants.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Husband? She sings in the shower.
Wife? He loves show tunes!
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
We slow danced in the living room with a Tony Bennett album!
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
That she is a courageous and selfless woman who gave us the gift of being a family.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
Most likely, an out-of-doors activity that would nurture in him/her a love for nature and all living things in it – fishing, hiking in the mountains, climbing and playing on the boulders, or just throwing rocks into the river on a cool evening.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Yes, during the appropriate time we plan on sharing that information with him/her.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
Most likely, public school as the system is excellent here. And as I hope to be teaching in it very soon, when our child is school aged, we can travel to school together.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We have always thought of adoption as an option to build a family. And, after years of trying to have a family and the loss of a son soon after birth, we knew that adoption was the path for our child to reach us.
What faith will you raise your child?
Ed and I were both raised Catholic, and we will raise our child to live a spiritual life with respect for all living things and for the earth, while practicing our traditional Catholic heritage.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
By exposing him/her to many diverse experiences as possible; by supporting his/her positive and healthy interests; and by guiding him/her towards their goals.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We are open to different situations, but the common elements that I see in all of them are offering her support to the extent she needs but also respecting her privacy, being open to her and her experiences, and creating a healthy and positive relationship as we start the journey together.
How did you meet?
Ed and I met thru a mutual acquaintance who arranged for a group of our friends to have a meal at an Italian café in New York City. Ed was in the group, and we starting chatting about everything from music to nature. He was studying Classical music in NYC and I was teaching 6th graders and working on my Masters degree in Education. The next week, we went hiking in the Delaware Water Gap in NJ. We have been together since!
What was your relationship with your parents like?
My folks were very involved in my life, yet at the right time, gave me the space for my wings to grow. They tried to understand my values and were and are respectful of my decisions. Ed has had similar experiences with his relationship with his parents. We are both fortunate to have strong and dependable relationships with our folks.
What attracted you to each other?
Ed is sensitive and strong all at once. I was immediately attracted to his blue eyes which reveal a quiet strength and a great character. He is my rock – solid and strong! Ed is a hard worker, yet I love how he can be so playful! What do I love about him? He makes me laugh and laughs at my jokes; he loves my cooking; he is honest and possesses a strong sense of integrity and always tries to do the right thing; he is well respected and known in his field at work; he loves to learn new things; he calms me in trying times; he falls asleep with the dog on his belly; he has a great sense of adventure that has exposed me to many experiences in different parts of the world; he has a passion for the great outdoors and respects wilderness; he is a patient soul; he shyly plays guitar when he thinks I am asleep; he puts us first; and after 16 years of friendship and 8 years of marriage, he still takes my breath away.
Bobbie’s personality radiates warmth and beauty. Life is better and easier with her. She is an active and positive person. One thing I love about her is her strong set of tradition that she carries into everything she does. She has a lot of respect for and is close with her family. Her best friend is her sister who lives in New Jersey. Bobbie is a great teacher and chose that field so she could work within a community and provide positive experiences to children. Bobbie loves to be around children and her students have always been testimony to that! She has a big heart and reaches out to those that need a little extra. She works hard and has much passion for what she does. She is simply fun to be around as she turns even the boring chores into an adventure. She is understanding of peoples’ humanness and is forgiving. She is a good listener and a loyal friend. She protects our times together in an often hectic world, and is a great life partner. She keeps her mind, body and spirit healthy and active.
Please describe your personalities:
Please see above!
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Husband? We are lucky in that we share many of the same hobbies such as rock climbing, doing yoga, skiing, kayaking, watching movies, and horse riding.
Ed also likes road-biking, playing guitar, reading, and training horses.
Bobbie also enjoys studying languages, cooking, running, and poetry.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
I am feeling extreme gratefulness for her act of love.
How will a child enrich your life?
Growing up is about discovery – self and the world in which we live – and we are excited to be apart of a child’s journey. We are hoping that we learn as much as our child as we guide him/her. We hope to become even more creative, playful and more present in the moment, and live more so by the time honored values of generosity, kindness and respect.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
We both chose to be Rangers to work and play in the environment and outdoors that are integral to our lives. We both are passionate about and strive to protect and preserve a healthy environment for future generations.
What makes a birthmom special?
Her selfless act of love in giving her child the best possible gift.
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