Why Adopt?
Even before our daughter was a year old, we began trying to have a second child because we knew we wanted to have another baby, and we wanted our daughter, Maggie, to have the gift of a sibling to grow up with like we both did. Since the beginning of 2007 we have experienced heartbreak after heartbreak as we experienced several miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies. After pursuing several unsuccessful infertility treatments, we let go of trying to have another child biologically, and without hesitation, we moved forward with a plan for adoption so that we can bring another child into our family.
We believe welcoming a child into our family through adoption is truly a gift beyond anything we could ever imagine. We know that without a doubt we will love the baby that comes into our lives through adoption as deeply as we love our daughter. Our family has so much love for each other and we so look forward to sharing our love with another child and welcoming him/her to our family. Our child will always know the story of his/her birth and how their birthmother made the most courageous, selfless, loving decision to allow adoption to occur.
How We Met
We met in 2003 while we were both pursuing our Master’s degree in preparation for going into ordained ministry. Before going to graduate school, Denise had told herself that she would never marry a minister….but then she met John! It started as a casual friendship that eventually led to a life changing conversation at a party. Denise was graduating, (John still had one year more to go), and we found ourselves attending the same graduation party. Denise had originally planned to stay at the party for only one hour, but we soon found ourselves standing in a corner losing track of time, and talking for several hours! Quickly after, we went on our first date together, and we found ourselves spending all of our free time together. It did not take us long to fall in love with each other and seven months later, we became engaged! We married nine months later, and we've been happily married ever since. In September, we will celebrate our 6th year of marriage by going fly-fishing!
Our Faith
Our Faith is integral to who we are as individuals and as a couple. We are deeply committed to serving God and sharing God’s love with others. Our hope is that we instill a deep faith in God in our family as we raise our children in a Christian household. Because our faith is at the heart of all that we do, our lives are connected deeply to serving this world by sharing the love of Christ with all people.
Our Life Together
In our family, we enjoy spending lots of time together. We love quiet nights at home just watching a movie or one of our favorite television shows, but we also like getting outside to play, walk, fish, hike, and work in the garden. We also enjoy cooking meals together and eating as a family. We value our family and are lucky to have extended family--grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends nearby to share meals with and special events like holidays and birthdays.
We enjoy music, theater, and art and love to go to concerts, musicals, plays, and art festivals. We want our children to grow up appreciating the arts as well, so our daughter Maggie often accompanies us.
We live in Alabama and enjoy traveling and taking family trips away to the beach or the mountains nearby to enjoy nature and just be together as a family.
We know that time to ourselves is also important in our marriage and we both like to spend time on our individual hobbies. We really seek to support one another in doing activities that make us feel fulfilled and happy.
About John
(by Denise)
John is an incredible husband, father, and my best friend, and he has so many gifts to share. My life is truly blessed because of the person that he is. John is an artist, and he loves to create by woodworking, drawing, painting, and even creating amazing meals in the kitchen. In addition to being an incredible artist, he is a joy to be around because he is so naturally positive. He loves to laugh and he loves to find humor in daily life, and he is not afraid to act goofy, so you cannot help but smile when you are around him.
John is also very caring and loving. He is deeply committed to our marriage, and he not only tells me he loves me every day, he often surprises me with thoughtful ways to show me how much he loves me. Whether it is surprising me with beautiful flowers, making a delicious meal, giving me a funny or sweet card, or just embracing me in a long hug, John continues to remind me of his love for me in so many ways.
He is also extremely patient and kind. He is not just patient and kind with his family, but he has a natural ability to put people at ease with his kindness and patience. He is incredibly generous in the time he devotes to others and to his family. His compassion and respect for others show through as he takes time for others by the ways that he listens patiently, and how he warmly interacts with other people. His playful and creative personality and warmness also draw kids of all ages to him. Children love John, and wherever we go, he is a total kid magnet!
Maggie, our daughter, takes great delight in spending time with her Daddy, who loves to be as silly as she is and share affection with her on a daily basis. John is a deeply devoted father and husband. He is committed to our family, and all of his qualities make him an amazing husband, father, and minister. He is a true gift in my life and to all who know him.
About Denise
(by John)
Denise is the most loving, patient and kind woman I have ever known. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would marry a woman like her, but sometimes it seems that God blesses us with someone better than even our wildest dreams. She cares for me deeply, and shows me and tells me daily that she loves me. She challenges me to be a better man, because I want to be the person that she deserves. She encourages me in my work, as a dad and as a husband. I’m very blessed to love her and be loved by her.
Denise puts the fullness of her being into everything she does. She loves her family endlessly and is devoted to fulfilling the calling that God has placed upon her life. She is hardworking and driven in anything she commits to, be it being a mom, a wife, or a minister. She possesses within her a deep and abiding strength, a surety of self, and just a dash of stubbornness, but she measures that with sensitivity and caring.
As a mom, Denise is amazing. The patience and creativity she reveals in parenting help me to be a better dad. She has taught me so much about what it means to love and raise a child. She has a tremendous heart for children and I am lucky beyond measure to get to be a parent with her.
Denise is a woman with style and she has always been effortlessly cool, creative, and artistic. But my favorite thing about her is that she has a wonderful goofy and silly side. She loves to laugh, both at herself and with her friends and family.
Denise is the love of my life, and I thank God every day that he has set me upon this journey with her.
Our Hope for the Future
We thank you from the depths of our hearts for the decision that you are making. In reading this blog, we hope that you will gain a better idea of who we are as a family. We truly believe in the miracle of adoption, and we trust that the parents that you choose will be the right parents for your baby. If you choose us to be your baby’s adoptive parents, we hope that you will consider an open adoption. We would very much like to get to know you and to be there for you during your pregnancy, whether it is accompanying you to doctor visits to being present on the day that you deliver your baby. We are also open to discussing ongoing contact even after the adoption is complete.
If you would like to contact us, please click onto our e-mail address at the top right of this blog.
We thank you for reading about us, and please know that our prayers are with you and your baby as you travel on this journey.
With Appreciation,
John & Denise
