Married: 2011 Children already in the home: Samuel was adopted as an infant in 2020. He loves learning new things and helping in whatever way he can. He really loves people and enjoys being goofy! He enjoys sports, trucks, books and music.
Occupations: Brandon is the Community Engagement Coordinator for a local non-profit that builds homes. Brandon has started his own business doing strategic planning. Brandon also referees high school and college soccer. Shelly stays home with Samuel and does volunteer mentoring at a local private college where she worked previously.
Education: Brandon has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from a private college and a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Non-Profit Management from a public university. Shelly has a Bachelor of Arts from a private college with a double major in Youth Ministry and Bible and a minor in Spanish.
Where we live: We live in a three bedroom house in a rural neighborhood on five acres. We have a very large backyard and woods with a walking trail.
Religious affiliation/practice: We attend an Evangelical Free church and are involved in a small group there. Shelly helps with the youth group and teaching Jr. High/Senior High Sunday School. Brandon helps with the Sunday service. Our faith is very important to us and guides our life. We want our children to know God’s love and learn to care for others.
Health: Good health for all.
Child care plan: Shelly will continue to stay at home to care for our children.
School Preference: We have good schools in our area and plan to send our children to a public school. Homeschool may be an option for us depending on the needs of each child.
Hobbies/Interests: Brandon: Fishing, hiking, canoeing, camping, cross-country skiing, ice skating, playing video games, playing soccer, watching movies, basketball, football and baseball. Shelly: Baking, cooking, reading, working with teenagers, mentoring, watching football, watching the Olympics, cross-country skiing, learning about different cultures, going to ethnic festivals, trying various kinds of ethnic foods, camping, hiking, archery and canoeing.
Pets: A cat named Musty and a dog named Annie.
Additional Comments: We believe that each child God brings into our family is no accident but purposely designed for this time and purpose, and we will raise him or her with their unique purpose in mind.
Dear Expectant Parent(s),
Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents for your child. We can't begin to imagine what this journey is like for you. We admire your courage and respect your decision to protect the life of your child. We already know you love your child deeply through this selfless act. We want you to know that you also are loved and are precious and valuable because you are you. There is no one else just like you and that makes you of infinite worth!
We started on a different journey. We were married in 2011 and attempted to have children biologically for several years. We then went through the process to become parents through a foster-to-adopt program, but after a few years, it became clear that God had a different plan for us. In 2020, right before the world shut down, we became adoptive parents to Samuel! Again, it was different than we imagined, but God took that crazy time and allowed us to bond with Samuel making it better than what we could have thought.
As parents, we try to be loving, caring, nd responsible while still having a sense of humor. Brandon's dad style is being goofy while taking his dad role seriously. Shelly's mom style is to encourage and bring out a child's God-given abilities, but still set the needed boundaries. We love to laugh and learn together and see the world through a child's perspective. Samuel is such a little extrovert and is so interested in kids, other people and helping that he will love being a brother! We look forward to making new memories of building snow forts, roasting marshmallows over the campfire with our children and enjoying them for who they are created to be!
If you choose us to parent your child, we will love your child always with no strings attached. We will allow your child to be creative, to use their abilities, to value people above things, to love God, and to live a full life without filling up every moment. We will tell your child about your love for him/her through this gift of adoption and will always speak well of you and your decision.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and get a little insight into our hearts and lives. We sincerely hope we have the honor of meeting you. Know that we will be thinking of you and praying for you often through this challenging journey.