WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR OVER 25 YEARS!

We initially met in our church youth group but developed a close friendship while working together as leaders in the children's program at our church. We dated for over 5 years before tying the knot. As a married couple, we quickly realized that life, love, and anything worth valuing would take commitment. Our journey to build a family through adoption has given us a great appreciation for the blessings in our lives. This year, we are celebrating our 18th year of marriage together and our 10th year as parents. Along the road, we have enjoyed many movie dates, baseball games, theme park excursions, and family game nights. Our girls were the perfect addition to our story!

WE LOVE TO PLAY AT DISNEY! We enjoy week-long stays at a Disney Hotel, quick day trips to a park as a family, and especially individual day dates with our girls.

One of our favorite places to eat is an interactive restaurant called the Hoop De Doo Revue. The show is set in the Wild West (boots, braids, and country cookin'). We enjoy a delicious dinner of fried chicken, ribs, cornbread, baked beans, and mashed potatoes while we watch the musical show. Elsie and Charlotte love to watch the show, but their favorite part is the giant strawberry shortcake that we get to eat at the end!

Our regular trips have given us the opportunity to pick out the parks and rides we love best. We love hopping on the thrill rides with Elsie and meeting the characters with Charlotte. But the family favorite still remains the It's a Small World boat ride! We can't wait to hop on the Dumbo ride, visit Mickey, ride the train, and eat ice cream with our next little one.

I graduated with a bachelor's degree in business and am a leader at a company that specializes in providing bulk petroleum and chemical transportation. I work with ships, tugs, barges, and tankers. I have worked in this industry for 25 years and truly enjoy my job. For the past 5 years, I've worked remotely. Being at home during the day has given me the flexibility to take the girls to school, attend events, and help manage their daily activities.

IN MY FREE TIME, I ENJOY HANGING WITH MY GIRLS. We play board games, watch movies, read books, and roller skate together. Once a month, I take one of my girls on a Disney trip so that we can eat the treats and ride the rides that she likes. I LOVE TO GIVE THEM THIS SPECIAL TIME AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO LOVING ON A NEW LITTLE ONE.

A few of Brian's favorite things...

ICE CREAM FLAVOR - My favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla with peanut butter cups mixed in.

SPORT - I enjoy playing just about any team sport. I play flag football and whiffle ball a couple of weekends a month with friends from church and in the community.

VACATION - My favorite vacation was our honeymoon cruise. We slept in as much as we wanted, and we ate all day!

SEASONAL ACTIVITY - I really enjoy taking Elsie to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney. Last year, we dressed up as Star Wars characters rode our favorite rides in the dark, and collected so much candy!

BRIAN IS AN INCREDIBLE FATHER AND HUSBAND.

He is present in the day to day activities like slipping on his roller blades and skating with the girls around the block or bringing me lunch at work when the week has been challenging. But he is also purposeful in planning special larger moments so that we all feel loved. This year, he planned a birthday getaway for the two of us so that I could enjoy some sunshine, peaceful reading, and delicious food! During our time there, he even bought us both a spa day! Brian also takes the girls on special day dates. Last month, he picked up each girl individually and took them to their favorite Disney park. He took Elsie to Hollywood Studios to explore Star Wars land, and he took Charlotte to Animal Kingdom where she could see the Finding Nemo show (because fish are her absolute favorite).

BRIAN IS CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW WELL HE LOVES THIS NEXT CHILD.

I graduated with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Prior to adopting, I taught 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade. I am passionate about children and creating opportunities for their success.

After Elsie and Charlotte were each born, I took a year off of work to be with them and then transitioned to a Reading Coach position where I support teachers with their instruction and work with small groups of struggling readers. When I went back to work, my parents enjoyed extra time with each of the girls. Both girls are now at school with me, but my parents scoop them up each day from school to spend a couple of hours with them. My job offers a lot of flexibility, which has been a benefit to my family.

Following this third adoption, I PLAN TO STAY HOME PERMANENTLY TO CARE FOR THE NEW BUNDLE OF JOY, and to manage the household and extracurricular activities for a family of 5!

a few of Rachel's favorite things...

ICE CREAM FLAVOR - I don't really like ice cream... I'd rather have an iced caramel latte!

INSTRUMENT - My mother is an accomplished pianist. While I am not nearly as talented as she is, I do really enjoy playing the keyboard. In fact, we play on the praise team together at church. The girls love to sing along as we play their favorite songs.

VACATION - My favorite place to vacation is the beach! I love the feel of the sunshine, the sound of the crashing waves, and the smell of sunscreen on my babes.

SEASON ACTIVITY - I love Thanksgiving! I love the food, the fall weather, and the pumpkin candles! We host the family meal at our house. I really enjoy watching the parade with the girls in between food prep. After a delicious dinner, we watch the first Christmas movie of the season!

RACHEL IS THE BEST WIFE AND MOTHER.

She spends most parts of her day investing in intentional conversations with our kids. Rachel works so well with the kiddos- they don't even realize they are learning. They read and write when they play, they do math when they cook. She is purposeful in her engagement with our family. From the fun pieces like getting the girls matching outfits, to the more necessary things like cooking meals, she works to help our family feel loved. She regularly plans activities for our friends and family such as game nights, meals, movie nights, and outdoor get-togethers. People always feel cared for whenever Rachel is involved.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW SHE PLANS FOR OUR FAMILY WHEN SHE IS HOME FULL-TIME!

Elsie is 9 years old and very social. She enjoys roller skating, reading, and going to antique stores. Her favorite thing to do on a Friday night is to "watch a movie on the lawn" with her friends.

ELSIE IS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING WITH A NEW BABY. SHE EVEN SAID SHE'D CHANGE DIAPERS!

Charlotte is 5 years old and loves to cuddle. She enjoys singing, dancing, baking, and drawing fish. Her favorite thing to do on a Friday night is to "beat daddy in UNO!"

CHARLOTTE CAN'T WAIT TO BE A BIG SISTER! SHE IS ALREADY TALKING ABOUT ALL THE BOOKS THAT SHE WILL READ TO THE BABY.

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, WE BUILT OUT HOME IN THE PERFECT LOCATION! We have a small neighborhood with very little outside traffic. Rachel's parents live 5 houses down from us, and Brian's parents are 5 minutes away. And they are all anxiously awaiting another grandchild to spoil!

We are directly across the street from some of our best friends, and our church family is 5 minutes away. We are surrounded by people we love! We have a gated yard and covered lanai that is perfect for chalk drawings. We have an extra large driveway and a quiet street that is a great place for the kiddos to play basketball, throw the football, roller skate, ride bikes, and hang out. We enjoy dinners outside with the friends, and when the weather gets a bit cooler, we love to roast marshmallows and watch movies on the lawn. Within our neighborhood, we have a gated park with slides, a jungle gym, benches, trees for climbing, and plenty of space to run with a kite. We have kids of all ages in our neighborhood, so it's easy to make friends!

Lucy is our sweet girl. She is 6 years old. We chose her from the animal shelter when she was just a pup. Lucy loves to play, but is also very content to sit and relax. She is great with children. The girls enjoy taking Lucy on walks around the block. She is very patient with them as they learn the role of caring for a pet. Lucy is a very important part of our family!

WE HAVE A UNIQUE FAMILY SITUATION. OUR FAMILIES HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER AND ATTENDED CHURCH TOGETHER FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS. This has given them the opportunity to grow together and love each other well. Along the way, we've made friends who have become family as well. We celebrate holidays together, play games together, vacation together, and worship at church together.

BRIAN: I grew up in a big family! I have one older sister and two younger brothers. My parents, brothers, and their families hang out with us regularly. We eat, play games, and just enjoy each other's company most weekends. Although my sister lives out of state, we remain close through visits, calls, and texts. I have been blessed to be loved by so many people!

RACHEL: As an only child, I grew up with the full attention of my parents. We went on family vacations, played putt-putt golf, and built underground tunnels in the backyard. Now, they enjoy giving that same attention to their grandchildren. Grandpa takes the girls fishing and to antique stores, and Grammy bakes, reads, and paints with them. They can't wait to share their love with another little one!

OUR FAMILY: OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE LEARNED THAT FAMILY IS MORE THAN JUST BLOOD. IT IS MADE UP OF THE PEOPLE WHO REJOICE WITH US IN OUR SUCCESSES AND WALK THROUGH LIFE WITH US IN OUR STRUGGLES.

We are blessed to have lifelong friends who we now call family. Through these relationships, we extend our support system and broaden our family's capacity to love. We are forever grateful for these friends that have become family!

>> A home filled with laughter;

>> A safe environment;

>> An understanding perspective when they want to try it on their own;

>> A helping hand when they stumble;

>> A listening ear when they hurt;

>> Family and friends to celebrate, encourage, and support;

>> The opportunity to travel and learn about other cultures;

>> The choice to try new activities;

>> The chance for a great education;

>> A TON OF LOVE!

Thank you for considering us, our home and our families for your child. If chosen, we will absolutely fall in love with and be devoted to your child. We will teach your child how special being adopted truly is. Your child will know about your sacrifice and great love.

Sincerely, Brian and Rachel