From Mary: Michael and I met in my first college class, Drawing 101 when the professor had us go outside to draw trees with charcoal. Michael found a spot close to me in the grass and waited for the opportune moment to strike up conversation. He gave me tips on my drawing that had me convinced that he was an upper class art major. I was shocked to find out he was a Biochemistry major who hadn’t taken a single art class in his life! I was immediately attracted to his joy and confidence, but I had promised myself I wasn’t going to date the first semester of college.

A week later I came down with the flu and Michael brought me a care package full of soup, medicine, and entertainment for my time in quarantine. My heart began to race as I got to the end of his handwritten “get better soon” note. We barely knew each other, but he was led to write my life long favorite verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that he had selected that verse to encourage me and I took it as a sign from God that this guy was special. In that moment I opened my heart to Michael and the rest is history!

For our first date Michael offered to make me dinner to celebrate my release from quarantine. When he served me his special cinnamon cream chicken I questioned what I had gotten myself into! Who puts cinnamon in a chicken dish? It was surprisingly delicious (unlike the cinnamon tacos he attempted another time) and we had a great time together. 

We went on many adventures that first year of college. One of our favorite dates was the day we went to Chinatown in Chicago. Another highlight was seeing the Christmas Carol live performance in Indianapolis, Michael’s hometown. On our way back to school we spontaneously pulled off the freeway to stretch our legs and ended up dancing in a cornfield. It was like we walked into a country song as we shared our first kiss in between rows of corn. 

From Michaal: While Mary and I went to a Pacers basketball game in downtown Indianapolis, I sent my buddy to find our special cornfield and hide so he could capture some photos of the proposal. I got a text message that said “Dude, the cornfield doesn’t exist anymore, it’s been cut down.” I froze. I didn’t have a plan B and thought maybe tonight wasn’t the night. After the game I took Mary on a walk by the canal that runs through the city. Mary kept commenting on how beautiful it was and it hit me that I should get down on one knee right then and there, so I did! Hearing her say “yes” was one of the happiest moments of my life. 

We got married on a beautiful summer day in Oregon at a family friend’s estate surrounded by mountains. Mary’s uncle married us and all our siblings, cousins and closest friends made up our wedding party. People traveled from across the country and our community rallied around us not just to celebrate our marriage, but also to help with every little detail of the day. Our favorite local Italian restaurant catered a delicious dinner and Mary’s barista friends from high school served specialty espresso drinks to our guests. We were overwhelmed by the amount of love and support we received. A highlight for Mary was sharing two Father-daughter dances; one with her adopted Dad and one with her biological Dad. We ended the night dancing to our favorite Frank Sinatra songs and other classics. 

Last year we celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary! Change is inevitable in marriage and we’ve learned to choose each other again every day. In July we renewed our vows in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. 

Our favorite way to connect on a weekly basis is playing pickleball and working out at the gym. Every week we also look forward to Saturday date night. After the kids go to bed we chat while playing a game or watching Perry Mason. We also enjoy going out to dinner on nights we have babysitting. Traveling together is our favorite thing to do, and while we love getting away just the two of us, at this stage of our life we usually bring the kids along on our adventures!

From Mary:

Our family is greatly blessed by Michael’s dependability. He is a rock for us and those that know him. Michael began work as a dentist at a corrections facility because of his conviction that all people are worthy of care and respect, regardless of the mistakes they’ve made. He doesn’t judge people based on what they’ve done and finds the good in everyone. Michael has a great sense of humor and brings so much laughter and joy to our home. He is also a natural teacher and life-long learner. Michael is extremely generous and has the gift of hospitality. He cooks the best steaks and loves to bless people with special meals. Michael is a natural leader and life with him is such a fun adventure.

Our kids adore their Daddy. Before he goes to work they run up to him yelling “Hug! kiss! hug! kiss!” He showers them with affection and they repeat this ritual every evening when he returns home. Michael loves to teach our kids new things and is patient with them as they learn. From museums, to zoos to outdoor explorations, to amusement parks, he is always leading our family to new adventures. He is basically a big kid and knows how to make things fun for everyone. 

When Finn was one Michael was changing his diaper and made a mess. When I walked over and asked what happened, Finn said “Daddy do-it!” and the phrase stuck. When Daddy has a different (usually more fun) way of doing things than Mom we say “Daddy do-it!” He helps us welcome joy and spontaneity while also offering structure and dependability to our family. 

From Michael:

I work as a dentist for a corrections facility. I love being able to help people in prison that may have hit rock bottom. I get plenty of time to talk with people and share God’s love with them, and obviously help in healing their oral health. The main reason I switched to this job from private practice is so that I could have more time off with my family: I have ample vacation time and only work four days a week. 

I enjoy playing and watching basketball and football. My family are big Indianapolis Pacers and Colts fans so rooting for my teams is nostalgic for me. I like playing computer and board games with my friends. I love learning and exploring new things and places. Recently I’ve taken up gardening and really enjoy working outside.

I am looking forward to growing our family through adoption and watching our children grow through each stage of life. I am excited to learn from and teach all of our children. My greatest wish for my children is for them to fully know and have a personal relationship with God. From this place of acceptance I believe they will flourish into all God has planned and purposed for them.

From Michael:

I admire Mary’s determination, loyalty, and spiritual dedication. She is loving, thoughtful, and hard working. My wife has an amazing gift of being able to bring people together with her natural relatability. People are her passion and she uses her free time to serve others. She is a visionary and uses her vision to activate others and lovingly push them towards their dreams. She does a great job remaining calm and finding the good in the middle of chaotic times with the kids. She is the glue that holds our family together. Everyone that knows her has benefited from her caring attachment and skill at pulling out the best in people.

Mary has this incredible ability to enjoy our children and be present with them in the moment, while also considering their future and how she can help them grow. She finds the gifts hidden inside our kids and naturally calls them out. She is encouraging, loving, and nurturing. There is nothing she wouldn’t sacrifice for our children. She finds purpose even in the mundane moments of motherhood and finds ways to make ordinary things fun. She includes the kids in her housework and is patient as she teaches them. She is never happier than when she has a child to cuddle and her coffee and Bible close by. She believes children are God’s greatest gifts and is so excited to grow our family through adoption.

From Mary:

I am very fortunate to be a stay at home mom. It is truly my dream job. It’s such a blessing to be fully available for my kids and not miss any milestones. It is both rewarding and exhausting and I have found that I thrive with additional creative outlets in addition to full time mothering. 

Ministering with my church family is my favorite thing to do with my free time. Leading people to encounter God, experience freedom and true transformation is the most rewarding thing. It never gets old! I also love to tell stories with images and words and spend a lot of time photographing and writing. I had a photography business before having kids, but now I get the joy of photographing just for personal projects and my family.

I am looking forward to getting to know the personality of our next child and falling in love with every part of them. Growing our family has been the most exciting experience of my life. There is nothing like bringing a new child home! I believe every child placed in our home has a unique purpose. I am looking forward to watching their passion blossom as they grow. I cannot wait to go on family adventures and experience new things together. I am sure having a full house for the holidays and the joy that comes with celebrating family traditions will be yearly highlights. But, I also look forward to the ordinary moments together like conversations around the dinner table and trips to the grocery store.

Our Children

Finley is five. Finn is determined, goofy, smart and very expressive. His pediatrician called him a 0-60 baby and that description still fits him well. Finn asks questions all day and truly loves to learn. He enjoys playing with building toys, drawing, doing craft projects, and swinging outside on our play set. He is very excited to add another child to our family and is the best big brother to Lucy. 

Lucy is three and a half years old. Lucy is caring, sweet, silly, joyful, creative, and spunky. She has always been very affectionate and loves to cuddle. She is obsessed with babies and plays with her baby dolls all the time. Lucy also loves to play doctor and helps mama with cooking and cleaning. She loves to dance, sing and jump on the trampoline. She is a healthy, fun-loving little girl!

Our family loves to spend as much time as possible outside exploring. We are happiest on the brink of adventure and love traveling to new places. Every year or so, we visit extended family in Tennessee and spend a day at Dollywood. We also make it a priority to spend a weekend at the beach as often as we can. A typical week for us includes Friday night family night where we cook a special meal and play games or watch a movie. Saturday’s are our rest day where we reset with family adventures and intentional connection with each other and extended family. We love to have breakfast and pastries at local cafes, go swimming at the gym or in the river in the summertime, and explore different parks. Sundays we spend with our church family and host an evening church service in our home. Michael has Fridays off work so we spend that day taking care of house work and projects together to prepare for the week. 

We have two dogs that are part of our family. Indiana is a golden retriever who is 7 years old. She loves people and is so patient with the kids. She is an amazing family dog and our kids adore her. She is full of energy, but is also very gentle. Chloe is our rescue pup. She is 9 years old and is a mix of Australian Shepherd and Papillon. She is incredibly loyal and loves to keep track of all her people. She spends most of the day avoiding the kids until it’s time to go on a walk or run around outside. She sleeps cuddled up next to our daughter at night. 

Mary’s Family:

Mary’s adopted Dad’s name is Steve and her mom’s name is Liz. Our kids call them Grammie and Papa. They are genuine, caring and adore their grandkids almost as much as our kids adore them. My older sister Natalie is married to Andrew and they have 3 kids, James (8), Christopher (4) and Sarah Alice (2). These nieces and nephews are like siblings to our kids and Natalie and Andrew are like second parents. My younger sister Anna is married to Cody. They haven’t started their family yet, but they will be the best parents when they do. My younger brother Sam is still single and takes his role as the fun uncle very seriously. We are also close with my biological dad, David and step mom, Kim (Pops and Gimmy). 

Michael’s Family:

Michael’s parents, Tim and Janet, love to spoil their grandkids and go by Bapa and Mimi. My older sister, Cyndel is married to Rick and they have four kids: Kenzie (10), Conner (8), Shane (6), and Marshal (4). My twin sister Erica is married to Chris and they have three kids: Hayley (6), Isabella (4), and James (1). 

Mary’s side of the family are all very close and see each other weekly. Once Mary’s parents retire in a couple years, we plan on buying land together and building houses next to each other along with her siblings and their families. We are also very close with Michael’s parents and he talks with them almost daily. His family doesn’t currently live near us, but we prioritize seeing each other at least a couple times a year. 

Everyone is so excited for us to grow our family through adoption!

We grew up with wonderful family traditions that we love preserving and passing on to our kids. Whenever we can, we spend Thanksgiving in Tennessee with Michael’s extended family enjoying the Smokey Mountains and adventuring at Dollywood. We have always had fresh Christmas trees and look forward to our yearly tree hunt sometimes at local farms and sometimes up in the snowy mountains. We spend most of Christmas Eve in the kitchen making tamales and albondigas soup with Mary’s latino grandma and homemade pies with Mary’s mom. To end the day, everyone grabs their instruments and we sing Christmas carols. On Christmas we exchange stockings and gifts and stay in our PJs most of the day. 

We spend Memorial Dad at the Oregon Coast with Mary’s side of the family. Her grandmother owns a beach house in a small coastal town with the best fish and chips and quaint shops. We spend our days searching for agates, dodging waves, playing games on the beach, hiking, and exploring neighboring towns. On the 4th of July we celebrate Mary’s Grandpa’s birthday with a big family gathering. We swim, bbq, play volleyball, and set off small fireworks in the street. 

Each summer we also have a family reunion in one of our favorite local resort towns with the best bike trails. Having all the cousins and extended family together is a blast. Every year we have a big bike rally that my Grandpa organizes and an annual poker tournament with chips instead of cash. We wear silly hats and glasses and all ages are welcome. We spend the days floating the river and riding bikes to the horse stables and local village for ice cream. 

We have a four bedroom two bath new ranch home on half an acre. The inside is all very open which makes it easy to watch the kids play in the living room while we cook in the kitchen. That is, when they aren’t insisting on cooking with us because they love to help! We also have a sunroom where we do crafts and preschool with the kids. In the evenings we put on music and dance around the house as we pick up. We end our days reading books cuddled up together. 

Our large backyard has nice manicured grass and garden beds. The kids love to help us plant and water the garden. We have a play set, trampoline, and kiddie pool that keeps them busy in the summer. Behind our home is a vineyard with a big trail around it. We take family walks on the trail and the kids love to ride their balance bikes. 

We spend a few hours a week at our local athletic club. In the winter the kids run around the basketball courts to get exercise and love to go swimming in the pool. In the summer we spend a lot of time at the outdoor water park. The kids also love going to Jungle Gym while Mary works out with her friend Vanessa. She is a strong black woman who is legally blind, but so independent and tenacious. Knowing her has taught me so much. I met her at the gym a couple years ago and we’ve been working out together ever since. We take her to church every weekend and she spent Christmas with us this past year. We call her our sister because she has become like family to us. One of our other closest friends is a single mom who has two half African American half Caucasian sons. She has also taught us a lot about culture and diversity. Our closest community is our church family and we regularly host church gatherings in our house. Our head pastors are African American and Hispanic. We have made it a priority to have a very diverse group of friends and are so grateful that they have welcomed us like family.

Our city on the West Coast has incredible playgrounds and riverfront parks. We have warm and welcoming neighbors that look out for each other. We live near two big cities that we enjoy visiting, especially going to the zoo. 

We plan on buying land with Mary’s family in the near future so we can all live on the same property. We are really excited for our children to experience multi-generational living! We love large, diverse families and believe being a part of a family team gives every person the best opportunity to thrive. We want our children to develop more empathy, stronger adaptability, less self-centeredness, and healthy diverse life perspectives that come up naturally with the involvement of extended family members. We are also excited to learn how to garden and take care of farm animals together! 

We dream of traveling with our kids and believe these opportunities teach us so much about history and culture. While they are young, we’ve stuck to traveling throughout the US but we are looking forward to traveling internationally together. We have both been very impacted by mission trips we’ve taken to third world countries and we plan on taking our kids along when they get older.

We also dream of opening a local restoration home for vulnerable women and children. We are passionate about partnering with God’s redemptive storyline and have a huge heart for foster care children, single mothers, women in crisis pregnancies, and human trafficking victims. 

We believe in shepherding our children by raising them with clear biblical boundaries and modeling to them the values we wish to instill. In our minds, discipline means to teach, not to punish. We strive to demonstrate God’s unconditional love to our children in the same way that he is so patient and gentle with us. We daily teach our children values like compassion, generosity, honor for all people, and kindness. We feel so fortunate to have the support of our church family in our day to day lives. To us living a Christian life isn’t about going to church on Sundays and following a set of rules. There is a whole beautiful lifestyle that comes with having a personal relationship with Jesus. This freedom, not religion, is what we wish to pass on to our children. 

We plan to either send our children to private school or join a home school co-op. We wish to give our children as many opportunities to pursue their dreams as possible whether that looks like helping pay for college or giving them resources to start their own business. We have already started a college saving fund and cannot wait to learn and encourage the dreams and aspirations of our children. 

We are so grateful that you have taken the time to read through our profile! Our family is far from perfect, but we are committed to learning and growing together every day. We want you to know we believe in you, whether you choose to parent or choose to make an adoption plan for your child. It takes bravery and love to consider all your options and we respect you for your willingness to seek support. 

Our hearts, hands, and home are open to you and your child should you choose us. In our family you will always be treated and spoken about with the utmost respect. You aren’t just a means to a child. You are a valuable daughter of God and it would be an honor to get to know you in whatever capacity you are comfortable with. We pray you feel God’s grace and love guiding you. 

We will leave you with the blessing Mary’s mom spoke over her and we choose to speak over our children;

“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace.”

Thank you for taking the time to get to know our family! Considering an adoption plan requires a selfless love that we deeply admire. As you read our profile, know we are praying for you. We pray that you would experience the love of God every step of this journey and for you to feel peace and support in whatever decision you make. Having our paths cross, even just for a moment, as you take the time to read this, is an honor.

We have always dreamed of growing our family through adoption and the excitement we feel in having the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you is overwhelming. Should you decide to make an adoption plan with us, we want to assure you that we will respect you and your openness desires with your child. If chosen, we commit to love you and your child for the rest of our lives. We promise to cherish your child and provide a safe, loving, and joy-filled home for him or her. Your child will always know where he or she came from and what an incredibly brave, strong, and selfless woman their birth mother is. Choosing our family to adopt your child would be one of the greatest gifts we could ever receive.

Adoption has changed the course of my (Mary's) life. When I was three, my mom remarried and my step dad chose to legally be our father. I consider my biological Dad’s decision to release us for adoption as a selfless and loving act and I am incredibly fortunate to have had an open relationship with him my whole life. The blessing of having two stable parents in the home always outweighed any pain from not being able to be raised by my biological father. Despite adoption being a huge blessing to me, I also understand the loss that is a part of every adoption.

For as long as I can remember I have dreamt of adopting myself one day. As a child I regularly played “adoption” with my baby dolls of various ethnicities. My aunt and uncle adopted a child from China when I was 11 and I got to witness how she thrived in their home and overcame past trauma. In high school I had the opportunity to live with their family in China for six months and attend an international school where my value for other cultures and diverse communities grew, as did my desire to one day adopt. 

In college, I chose to pursue a major in intercultural studies and photography. When Michael and I met, one of the main things that attracted me to him was our shared heart for adoption. Since we began dating 13 years ago, we both felt strongly that there was at least one child that was meant to join our family through adoption. We strongly desire more children but I had very challenging pregnancies and we do not feel we can safely have more biological children. Our two children, Finn (5) and Lucy (3.5), talk about our future baby every day and we all feel a hole in our home as we wait to welcome a new child through adoption.

So, with compassion, and a lot of humility, we present our hearts and family to you. We recognize the situations surrounding adoption are never ideal and we want you to feel supported in whatever decision you make. It’s an honor to be able to pray for you during this time. We believe God will give you discernment to know what is best for you and your child. Thank you so much for considering us!