Our story began in 2019, when we met at our parents' small community church during a holiday visit. What started as communication, quickly grew into dates and weekend trips, as we navigated a two-hour distance. As we spent more time together, we realized how well our personalities complemented each other—Kay Ellen, with her friendly, compassionate nature, and Brian, the conversationalist and natural leader. We knew we had found a relationship that was God-ordained and enduring.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic in 2020, we married, determined to start our life together. We settled in Central Indiana, choosing a home in an established neighborhood, close to our extended families. Both of us grew up surrounded by siblings, so family has always been at the heart of our lives.
After experiencing the heartbreak of a miscarriage and completing difficult IVF treatments, we made the decision to pursue adoption. Our desire to become parents and share the love, values, and support we’ve built together, led us to this path. We are excited to welcome a child into our family and pour all our love into raising them in a home full of faith, laughter, and devotion.
Expectant mothers who choose to make an adoption plan may qualify for some level of financial assistance during their pregnancy. However, each person's situation and specific needs are different. Your adoption social worker can help you determine what level of assistance you qualify for and deserve. Many expectant mothers qualify for financial assistance to cover basic pregnancy and living expenses, including but not limited to - transportation reimbursement, utility assistance for phone, water, and electricity/gas, maternity clothing and supplements, etc.
It won't cost you anything. If you choose to place your baby for adoption, all of your medical and legal fees will be covered and you may be eligible for financial assistance with other pregnancy-related expenses.
Yes. Even if you don’t know the identity of the birth father, you can still choose to make an adoption plan. However, every adoption situation is different. The adoption social worker you’re assigned to will get to know you and your story first, and then guide you through the process accordingly.
You can make an adoption plan at any point in your pregnancy, even after the baby has been born. But, it's important to start the process as early in your pregnancy as possible. Connecting with those resources will allow you to gain access to important medical services, including prenatal care, to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
One aspect of your adoption plan is the "Hospital Plan" an outline of how you'd like your hospital stay and delivery to go. You can craft this on your own or with the help of your adoption social worker. But everything is up to you. You’ll be able to choose who comes to the hospital with you, who is in the room with you during delivery, and how much time you’d like to spend with the baby before signing the final papers.
As part of your adoption plan, you'll determine whether or not you’d like to have an open or closed adoption or something in between. Open adoptions may include phone calls, messaging (via social media, email, or text), and/or periodic visits each year. Closed adoptions may include no contact at all or annual updates provided to the birth parent(s) by the adoptive family. Each post-adoption relationship is different and can vary based on what an expectant mother chooses in her adoption plan.
This month, we soaked up the sun and made unforgettable memories during our semi-annual beach vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina! We were thrilled to spend quality time with Brian’s brother Chris, his wife Abby, and their three amazing kids. Together, we created a perfect blend of relaxation and fun, rotating between the sandy beach, the refreshing pool, and the cozy hot tub. For Kay Ellen, the beach is a haven of peace and beauty, second only to the joy of visiting family. We dove into a variety of activities that brought us closer together: building epic sandcastles, splashing in the waves, crafting paper creations, and sharing stories that sparked laughter and nostalgia. Lazy naps under the beach umbrella and lively games filled our days, and we capped off the trip with a professional beach photo session to capture those precious moments. No beach trip is complete without indulging in our favorite treats! We made multiple stops—five, to be exact—for bulk saltwater taffy, each of us picking out our favorite flavors to share. We even brought some home to savor the sweetness a little longer. Nightly ice cream runs and a special donut breakfast outing added extra delight...
This past weekend, Kay Ellen and I took part in the annual neighborhood garage sale. It’s always an enjoyable event, giving us a chance to spend time with family while also clearing out some clutter. Brian’s niece and nephew set up a lemonade stand and sold homemade baked goods prepared by his sister-in-law—which, of course, we all happily sampled. After the sale wrapped up, we donated the remaining items and treated everyone who helped to lunch at Chick-fil-A. Between the two of us, Kay Ellen is definitely the more sentimental one and finds it hard to part with certain things. I, on the other hand, appreciate the freedom that comes with a more minimal lifestyle—it helps you focus on what truly matters, without the weight of unnecessary stuff. In the end, both perspectives have value—holding on to memories and letting go of excess can each bring their own kind of joy. -Brian
This past weekend Brian and his brother Chris spent the entire Saturday doing basic home repairs (I snuck up on him to take the picture) and landscaping. Brian is the type of man that makes sure our home is well maintained. Him and his brother love to take on DIY projects. I spent the day planting flowers and putting mulch around the house while Brian did the physically strenuous task of edging the flower beds and hauling the excess dirt away. Later in the day my sister-in-law and I made pasticio which is a greek pasta dish everyone in the family enjoys. We use a recipe that has been in Brian's family for generations. Spring is such a wonderful time in our home. We are able to spend more time outdoors, take long neighborhood walks and breath in the fresh air.
Kay Ellen and I celebrated Easter 2025 here in central Indiana with friends and family. Our church always outdoes themselves with their Easter Morning Service and it was fun to dress up real nice for the occassion. Our home was filled with lots of Easter decorations. Kay Ellen had over our neices and nephews to decorate eggs and complete Easter related crafts to put on our mantel. Plenty of wonderful memories were made, but we are both looking forward to having a little one of our own to make similar memories with on Easters to come.