What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Spending time with the ones you love, sharing one another’s day-to-day interests and concerns, helping and cheering on other family members, and expecting the same in return.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom?
Dad went to work, Mom stayed home with me and my two brothers. There weren’t many children my age in the area, but I had two good friends with whom I am still close. I was a studious child, and always loved reading. In the summer, I spent most days in the neighborhood pool.
Adoptive Dad?
I had a very loving childhood. My parents always put forth the idea that I could do anything I put my mind to. Our house was the “cool” house all my friends congregated at, playing board games, baseball, kick ball or watching my dad do his hobbies of ham radio, model trains or wood working.
Tell us about your home?
We have a 3-bedroom ranch house in a family-friendly neighborhood. There is a large deck for having cook-outs and entertaining friends, and a large yard for little ones to run and play. It is large enough to give everyone their own space, and yet remain homey and cozy.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
We prefer to spent time together as a family. We like to hang out together, or take short trips to see and experience new and interesting things.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
We have a big goofy Labradoodle dog named Pippin; he is sweet and full of high spirits. We also have two shorthaired rescue kitties, black Rascal and orange tabby Tobey, who compete with the dog and each other for attention and petting.
What is your favorite food?
We enjoy a wide variety of foods from different cultures: Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Indian, Greek, German, French, Guatemalan, Mexican, etc. In fact, we’ve never met a cuisine we didn’t like.
What do you hope to teach your children?
Love of God, love of learning, self-worth, self-esteem, respect for others, respect for the environment
Do you play any musical instruments?
Ray plays piano, and used to play guitar.
Describe your neighborhood?
We live in a residential, suburban neighborhood with many families and young children. It is very safe, with cul-de-sacs off the main streets so that kids can run and play safely, and big hills for rolling or sledding down. We were attracted to the area because of the large number of young families, and there are many potential playmates on our street.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Adoptive Mom?
Dawn wants to get a tattoo, but keeps delaying because she can’t figure out exactly what it should be.
Adoptive Dad?
Ray started college as a theater major.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
On a weekday, Ray took the train to Dawn’s office in the city and brought flowers; then we splurged on lunch at one of our favorite historic restaurants and spent the rest of the afternoon together.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
I will tell our child that his/her birthmother was not prepared to care of any child when he/she was born, so she made a plan to ensure that her baby would have a loving home and family, and the opportunity to develop his/her full potential.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
Well, everyday is Daddy day as I am a stay-at-home dad: So my day consists of waking up my daughter, getting her dressed, fed, making her lunch, walking her to the bus. Some days I help in her class, at the end of the school day I wait for her at the bus stop, then help with her homework and reading.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
We will tell our child as much as we know about his/her birth parents, in an age-appropriate way. As the child grows and has greater understanding, we will share more details and expanded information.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
We have very good public schools in our area, so our second child will follow our 6-year-old daughter into the public school system.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We always knew that we wanted a family, but we discovered that we are unable to have children biologically. Becoming parents was much more important to us than becoming pregnant, so we adopted our daughter from Guatemala six years ago. Now we want to grow our family by adopting a second child. This is a very natural choice for us as many of our friends and family are adopted or have adopted children themselves.
What faith will you raise your child?
We regularly attend a local United Methodist Church, where there are a lot of programs for children and where we have met some great friends. We plan to continue attending that church, and so will raise our children in that faith.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
We will provide our child with a good education, give him/her a solid foundation of love and support, and encourage our child to talk about his/her hopes and dreams, and to make a plan to accomplish them.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
A relationship of mutual trust, respect and affection; to be a source of encouragement and support and/or an ear to listen when she needs one.
How did you meet?
We met at a Halloween party, where Ray was Moses and I was the burger chain’s Wendy. Two weeks later our first date was dinner and a movie, and we have been together ever since.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Dawn – I had a warm and loving relationship with my dad, who passed away 7 years ago. I greatly respected him and felt respected by him. Although my mother lives in another state, she and I chat at least weekly on the phone, and she visits 7 or 8 times a year, spending most holidays with our family.
Ray – Both my parents encouraged me in all I did, whether they agreed with it or not. They let me be safely independent, but were always there when I needed their help and love. My dad was an outgoing, intelligent man interested in all sorts of hobbies: my mom is quiet and loving always concerned with the health and well being of her family.
What attracted you to each other?
Ray always makes me laugh; he is very intelligent and very gentle (although he likes to act tough).
Dawn had a great smile and a twinkle in her eye that intrigued me.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? Reserved, thoughtful, loving, silly with friends & family
Adoptive Dad? Irreverent, analytical, protective, intellectually curious
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? Baking, gardening, cross-stitch
Adoptive Dad? Video games, leather working, historical re-enactment
Together? Traveling, reading
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
Respect, gratitude, warm wishes for a blessed life
How will a child enrich your life?
Another child will bring more love into our family. We will experience the world in new and different ways through his/her eyes. Her joys will bring us great delight, even while his sorrows will cause us great pain. Parenting a second child will require us to learn new ways of thinking and to grow as individuals.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom?
I have always enjoyed math and working with numbers. I wanted a practical career, such as business, so combining the two lead me into the finance field.
Adoptive Dad?
My career path more chose me, from retail to technical retail sales to IT to contracting to stay at home dad. I’m glad I have the opportunity to be with my daughter daily and make sure she is raised with the values we find important.
What makes a birthmom special?
A birthmom is a woman who puts the welfare of her child above her own interests; she makes the difficult decision to carry this child in her body and then make an adoption plan for its future welfare.
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