Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mother - My Childhood was filled with laughter and adventure. My parents were strict, but fair. My mother was very nurturing and gave me lots of love and support. We lived overseas when I was a child, so my brother and I are closer than some other siblings. We all enjoyed each other’s company because we had few others to interact with. My father built a playhouse in our backyard and the neighborhood kids always congregated at our house. As I got older, we had a swimming pool and a game room, so our house was always full of our friends. I loved that my parents didn’t mind a houseful of kids. I would like that type of environment for my children.
Adoptive Father - My childhood was filled with stability and steadiness. My parents were strict by fair. School was stressed very heavily and participating in other events hinged on trying your hardest in school. We did not have to be the best student, but you always had to have tried your best. My childhood was filled with family vacations, summer camps, playing in our large yard and going to baseball and hockey games.
Tell us about your home?
Our home is a warm and comfortable. We have very traditional taste in decoration. A lot of our art was collected during our trips, a lithograph from Paris, a watercolor from Hawaii. Our kitchen is the heart of our home. We often sit at the kitchen table after dinner discussing our day’s triumphs and trials. We have a tradition of asking at least two questions of everyone each night: What was the best thing about your day and what was the worst thing about your day. We have a large family room with room for indoor play. We have a swing set and sandbox in the backyard and plant a vegetable garden in the summertime. We have an open and welcoming home, often having friends over to spend time with us
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
When we have a three day weekend, we either try to some somewhere or we have friends over and just relax. Many times on holiday weekends we will travel to visit one of our families. Since both our families live a distance away, the three day weekend is a perfect chance to visit them. In the summer, we like to take advantage of the site seeing locations nearby.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
We have adopted a female cat through a rescue organization Her name is Glinda. She is a very playful and cuddley cat. She likes to be curled in your lap.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We hope to teach our children a value system where they are able to develop good judgment. This includes the basics of right verses wrong, and also that sometimes there are shades of gray. The shades of gray areas of life are at the center of most hard decisions in life. A good strong foundation helps people to eventually be at peace with their decisions on the “grey area” issues. We want our children to know that no matter what, as their parents we are always there to support them in their decisions (even if we don’t agree with the actual decision).
Describe your neighborhood?
Our neighbor is a nice quiet suburban area and is very family oriented. We have two playgrounds and tennis courts. There is also a small pond where the kids go fishing. Our neighborhood is a dead end, so the kids can ride their bikes and scooters in safety. In the evenings during nice weather, the families congregate to watch the kids play and chat.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
I will tell my child that his/her birthmother was the most courageous person I know. She loved you so much that she decided to try and give you a better life than she thought she could provide herself. She will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
We might go do something active, play baseball or basketball. Or maybe ride bikes then go for ice cream.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
We currently live in a county that consistently ranks among the top public school systems in the nation. If our child has a talent or interest that is not supported in the public schools, we will find the best way to provide an outlet for that interest or talent, if that means enrolling the child in private schools we will. If we move to a location that doesn’t have such a stellar public school system, then we will revisit the idea of private schools. Greg attended private school for middle and high school, and Jane attended private school when she lived overseas.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We came to the decision to adopt a child because we have always planned to have a child or two, and have been unsuccessful with fertility treatments. Our lives are not complete; we want a true family, with the laughter of children ringing through the house. We have so much love to give to a child and hopefully we can enrich a child’s life.
What faith will you raise your child?
Our child will be raised in both the Armenian Orthodox and the Lutheran Churches. We want to share both faith traditions with our child.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We would like her to consider us like either favorite cousins or close friends. It will be a little awkward at first, until we learn our places in each other’s lives. She is giving us the most precious gift she can, and we have to be respectful of her thoughts and feelings. Hopefully our birth mom will want to include us in her life as the pregnancy progresses, but we plan on letting her lead the way.
How did you meet?
We met on a blind date!
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Adoptive mom? My parents have become some of my best friends as well as my parents. We talk on the phone every day, even if it’s just to say HI. Since they live so far away, our chats help us stay connected with each other’s daily lives. My Dad and I are closer now than ever, since I’ve grown we can talk about that and he gives me great advice about work issues.
Adoptive dad? My relationship with my parents has always been good. They are very old fashioned in a lot of ways, but they are always there to lend their support.
What attracted you to each other?
We are attracted to each of other's sense of humor and how loving and caring each other are. Also, we both have a deep love and appreciation for family.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? I think I have an outgoing, happy personality. I like people and life. I also like to learn new things. I am currently taking a photography class. My friends say I’m easy to talk to. I even chose my area of law practice to maximize my exposure to people. I like to take a positive view of thinks.
Adoptive Dad? I have a serious personality. I am told that I am wrapped “too tight” sometimes. However, I do have a silly side which surprises some people. I tend to be quiet around a group, but I am very talkative once I get to know somebody and feel comfortable talking to them. I like things to be neat and clean and orderly. I am very organized and don’t like clutter.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? I like to cook, I relax by being in the kitchen measuring and mixing. I also enjoy reading, I read a wide variety of books, currently I am reading a lot of historical books about the Middle Ages. I also like to garden, both flowers not vegetables. I enjoy photography and am learning how to scrapbook. I enjoy walking outside in nice weather and swimming.
Adoptive Dad? I like to run, exercise, ride my bike and lift weights. When the opportunity presents itself, I like to golf and go hiking. I enjoy going to ice hockey and baseball games.
Together? We like to travel. When we plan a trip, we read books and try to learn about the history and culture of the place before we go. That way we can really absorb more about the people we meet. We also enjoy live theater and also musicals.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
I am grateful beyond words for her choice to let us raise her child. I am awestruck by her strength and love for her child. I am hoping she will be able to fulfill all her dreams for herself, as we are hopeful to help her child fulfill his or her dreams.
How will a child enrich your life?
A child will enrich our lives by allowing us to view the world thought their eyes. We will almost be reborn, by re-experiencing things with the child. We can’t wait to travel and have adventures centered around the child.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? I always worked for attorneys in the real estate field. Everyone I knew always said “you should be a lawyer.” I eventually finished putting myself through undergrad, so I decided to try for law school Once I got into law school, I realized I wasn’t cut out to be a litigator in court, and that I really enjoyed the people interaction I had doing real estate work. So after school I went back to that field, only this time as the lawyer, not the secretary! I love my job, I get to help people buy or sell their houses. I get to meet interesting people and almost everyone leaves my office happy. Not many attorneys can say that.
Adoptive Dad? I knew from an early point in my life that I wanted to be a lawyer. My parents always talked to me about “what do you want to be in life” and exposed me to different areas. Once I entered school, I was focuses on becoming an attorney because I wanted to help people. Because I was focused on helping people and wanting to keep people safe, I started to explore areas where I could use my experience as an attorney to help others and keep others safe. I decided to become a Special Agent, which has been one of the best decisions of my life. I get to help people by keeping the United States of America safe.
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