Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom? I had a happy childhood. I have an older brother and several cousins and we spent a lot of time with my grandparents, aunts and uncles. Summer vacations were always special. Our favorite spot was Walt Disney World, but we traveled to the beaches of Florida and Hawaii a lot. I attended a private Christian school and we were pretty active in our church. We laughed a lot and family was very important.
Adoptive Dad? Growing up was always an adventure. My father was in the military so I had the benefit of living in and seeing several parts of the country. I have a younger sister and we spent our afternoons at the beach in California. I have a large family and I am very grateful for that. Church was an important part of our lives and I feel it gave us the foundation to building the rest of our lives. Like my wife, we spent many vacations at Disney World (a tradition we continue with each other now). I am grateful for all the lessons I learned growing up.
Tell us about your home?
We built our home 3 years ago. We have an all brick, 4 bedroom and 3 full bath home that has a large sunroom, a bonus room upstairs, a formal dining room and a large open den. We have a large backyard that is enclosed with a privacy fence. We live on a quiet cul-de-sac that has several families with school age children. Our neighborhood has a community swimming pool and walking trails.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
When Matt and I have a 3-day weekend, it is always planned around our daughters. If the weather permits, we are either swimming, bicycling or heading out to the Farmer's Market. We love to grill out, go to the movies, go to the playground or park and just spend time together.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
Yes, we have 2 female dogs. Molly is a King Charles Cavalier and she is the sweetest, most mild mannered dog we have ever had. Her favorite thing is to go for a walk. Scout is a Llhasa-Poo and she is a little teddy bear. We chose small, easy going dogs because we have children in the home, so neither of our dogs are in any way aggressive.
What do you hope to teach your children?
I think the main things we hope to teach our children are that they are loved unconditionally, that no matter what we will be there to support and protect them, and that we will always do our very best to help them achieve every dream they have. We want them to know kindness, honesty, fairness, compassion, support, strength and unyielding love.
Describe your neighborhood?
Our subdivision is relatively new and is full of families with children. We have community Easter Egg Hunts, Hayrides at Halloween, Fireworks on the 4th and Christmas get togethers. We have sidewalks throughout and a great community pool. Our entire neighborhood is bordered by lots of trees and a beautiful creek and we also have walking trails around the neighborhood. We live far enough out of the city that on a clear night the stars are so bright and you can hear the frogs and crickets chirping. There is a Buttercup Festival every Spring as well as a large Fireworks show, Veterans Day Parade and Broken Wheel Festival.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
That she loved him/her with an unbelievable amount of love. I want the child to know that his/her birthmom did the most unselfish and brave thing a woman can do when she gave him/her to us. I want him/her to know that she wanted the very best for him/her and that she will always love him/her. He/she will know his/her birthmom was an angel and that there is no greater sacrifice or gift that a woman can give.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
On Daddy's Day we want to do all things "Daddy". So we would definitely share daddy's love for the water and spend a lot of time swimming. Daddy loves hockey so we would try and take in a game. Daddy is great about getting out and riding bikes, tossing a softball, taking the kids to the park and of course, going for frozen yogurt at our favorite spot!
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
We currently send our girls to a private school. It is rated as one of the top schools in the country. When we built our home 3 years ago, we moved to the county that has the top rated schools in Tennessee. We plan to continue to send our children to the private school that we love so much. Shannon's office is located 5 minutes from the school so she is able to take the kids in the morning and also pick them up in the afternoon. Education is very important and we want to provide the best that we can for your child.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
When Shannon and I married, we both wanted children. Shannon has 2 daughters and I have not had any children of my own. Shortly after we married, Shannon received a medical diagnosis that she would have to have a complete hysterectomy. We were both very saddened by this news. After much prayer and careful thought, we knew adoption was definitely for us. We have been blessed in so many ways and we have so much love waiting for this baby.
What faith will you raise your child?
We are both Christians and we plan to continue on at our church, which is a Church of Christ. Our faith is what carries us along in our lives. It keeps us strong and directs us. We know life is hard, but we have that strength to know that we are always cared for. We want our children to have that peace in their lives as well.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
I want her to know that I will be thinking of her and praying for her each and every day. Even now, my head does not hit the pillow without me praying for God to bless her, the baby and her family. I want her to get to know me so that she will have the confidence and peace in who will be raising this child. It's hard to understand, but I already love this girl because of what she is doing. I want to be available to her and I want her to know that she will have a family raising her baby that will give him/her all the love and joy they have to give.
How did you meet?
Matt and I met through a mutual friend who set us up on a blind date. The first time we spoke on the phone, we ended up talking for 8 hours straight! We have so much in common and we always make each other laugh. I am his biggest cheerleader and he is my greatest supporter. We had our first date and have been inseperable ever since.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Adoptive Mom? I adore my parents. They are so special and not only are they my parents, they are my close friends. My mom and I are very close and I am also extremely close to my grandmother. My mom is my greatest example. My dad and I have a very special bond and he is a great father. My dad baptized me and showed me what to look for when it came time to marry. I see my parents and grandmother often and we talk almost daily. I don't know what I would ever do without them.
Adoptive Dad? I have always had a very strong relationship with my parents. My mom lives close by and we see each other as often as we can. My mom did everything she could for us as we grew up and she has always been our source of comfort, support and caring. My dad lives in the midwest so I don't get to see him as often but we talk very frequently. He is a great father and I have truly been blessed with my family.
What attracted you to each other?
I love Matt's kind nature. Since he was in the military, you might think he would be a big tough guy, but my 10 year old daughter says it best, he is a big teddy bear. Matt is caring, honest, loyal, kind, generous, patient and loving. If there are soul mates, he is truly mine. Shannon is the better half of me. She has more love inside of her than any woman I have ever known. I fell in love with her inner beauty as well as her outer beauty. She is such a wonderful mother and she never stops taking care of her family. I know she will be my best friend and most loving wife until my last breath. She is more than I ever dreamed I would have and she is and will be the best mother for your child.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? I always try to be patient, fair, open, giving, joyful, honest, loyal and loving. I try to live my life and treat others the way I would want to be treated. I try to always put myself in their shoes so that I am not seeing things from my side only. I never want to be quick tempered or rash. I just try to be calm and easy going and always have a smiling face.
Adoptive Dad? Shannon is very outgoing while I am calmer. I hope people see me as honest, faithful, dependable, trustworthy and kind. I don't get angry very easily nor do I overreact to situations. I try to reason everything out and respond to everyone with a kind heart.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? I love to cook. I cook every night for my family (unless on weekends if we go out to dinner). I love when I make a meal and my family enjoys it - that puts a big smile on my face. I love to work in the yard, read, paint, go for walks, ride my bike and take my girls shopping. Matt and I love to take walks together, we love going to the movies, we love to travel, we love Disney World (we are big kids), we love going out to eat, we love the ocean and swimming, we enjoy tennis and also just sitting at home watching a movie together.
Adoptive Dad? I enjoy scuba diving. It's a passion that is harder to enjoy in Tennessee but I have traveled a lot and have had the opportunity to dive in Hawaii, the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda. I like to play golf when I can and I love playing ice hockey. I really enjoy being home with my family as well.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
My immediate thought is "Thank You". I can never explain what her decision means to us. I will always admire her courage, and character for this tremendous gift. I pray for God to bless her. I want her to know that this wonderful baby will receive as much love and blessings that we can possibly give.
How will a child enrich your life?
We have been blessed with so much, we simply want to share everything we are and everything we have with this child. I want Matt to have the child that I cannot give him and I want to share all the love I have with this precious baby. This child will be the greatest blessing in our lives. Matt and I will love this child without limits and this baby will be a priceless jewel to us.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? I am pretty outgoing and love to be around people so I knew I wanted to be in a business setting where I could interact with people. As the years went on, I developed a lot of skills and training and I am very good at what I do. My job now is in Hospital Management and Administration and I get to work with a large variety of people. My job allows me to take off and be at all the school functions, outside activities and any event my children are involved in. Plus, it is wonderful being so close to the school so that I can pop in and have lunch with my kids as well as take them to school and pick them up in the afternoons.
Adoptive Dad? After the military, I began working for a major auto manufacturer and I have been there ever since. I love my job and it provides well for my family as well as providing a large amount of benefits for us. We are able to get a new car each year, my company has huge Family Day activites and a large sports center on the property that we are free to use. My schedule also allows me to be at home with the kids when Shannon is at work. We have the very best of both worlds.
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