From early on in our relationship, adoption was something we talked about with genuine excitement since Tori's cousins are all adopted! Our plan was to have biological children as well as adopt -- as part of how we hoped to build our family.

Life, as it often does, had its own timeline. After over five years of trying to conceive and walking through the ups and downs of fertility treatments, we took a step back and decided, if adoption had always been part of our dream, maybe this was the moment to follow that path.

That decision instantly clarified our path forward -- from realizing that the deepest desire in our hearts wasn't just to have a child, but to become parents. To love, guide, and grow with a child who needs us, and who we need just as much.

We can see God's hand in the timing of it all. What felt like a detour at first has become a deeply meaningful part of our journey. We believe that God's plans are always better than our own, even when they unfold in unexpected ways. That belief gives us peace -- and hope that the right match will come at the right time.

We are ready for this! We've done the work, had the conversations, and built a strong foundation of love and stability. We understand that adoption comes with complex emotions, and we're committed to honoring your story and the story of your child with honesty, openness, and respect.

Tomm and Tori met 14 years ago in College Station, Texas. Tomm was out celebrating a friend's engagement, and Tori was celebrating a friend's 21st birthday. As Tori walked out onto the rooftop bar, Tomm took notice, leaned over to his buddy and said, "I'm gonna marry that girl", while pointing to the girl in the pink top, Tori. He struck up a conversation with her and her friends - a connection was immediately felt!

Tomm and Tori spent a lot of time together while both attending Texas A&M University, going to football games, studying together, and hanging out with friends. Once Tomm graduated and moved away for work, they made a long-distance relationship commitment for two years while Tori finished school. During this time, they took turns visiting one another and getting to know each other's families. Once Tori graduated, she took the leap and moved to be close to Tomm, and they continued to grow in their love until when in 2017 they got engaged on their 6-year anniversary.

Eager to take the next step into marriage, they planned and held their wedding later that year with all their family and friends!

Thomas was born in Nebraska, but grew up in a small town in central Texas. He has an older brother, younger sister, and his parents have been married for 36 years. Thomas graduated from the fine arts program at Texas A&M and has been a firefighter since 2017. He loves spending time with family and friends. Thomas enjoys the outdoors by camping and hiking. He is also very active in his local gym. He actually used to be a strength & conditioning Coach! Thomas enjoys art and still practices his doodling skills, he also listens to all styles of music and loves watching his Green Bay Packers and Texas Rangers play as often as possible. As a true Texan, his favorite food is barbeque and loves to partner it with peach cobbler and ice cream.

Thomas is my home. He is the place I feel most comfortable, heard, and loved. He is a wonderful husband and partner in this crazy life. We have spent the last 14 years truly enjoying each other's company and still sing karaoke on 12-hour-long road trips. Thomas is ambitious and grounded, yet never passes up an opportunity to make me laugh. I believe we found each other by fate, and God meant for us to have a lasting partnership and marriage. He will be an outrageously wonderful dad!

• Each Fall, we attend the State Fair of Texas for the corn dogs, pig races, and a photo with Big Tex.
• Over half the families in our small group from the Church are adoptive & foster families who are extremely supportive of us.
• We learned how to make homemade pasta and have not looked back; we make pasta on a weekly basis.
• We love musicals and the theatre, and we attend 3-4 shows a year as they travel through our city!
• Our friends & family call us TNT, so we got matching dynamite stick tattoos.

Tori was born in a big city, but soon moved to a small rural town in central Texas where she helped raise cattle, horses, and chickens. She still loves to go home to the country every opportunity she gets. She was raised by her dad, grandma, and grandpa, and is still incredibly close with them. Family has always been important to her, and she knew that whoever she married would have the big loving family she always wanted. Tomm provided this dream as she is also a cherished member of his family and became best friends with her sister in love, Emily. Tori's favorite time of year is Summer. She loves the outdoors and staying active by hiking and biking. She also loves listening to audiobooks while baking her famous chocolate chip cookies. Her go-to food order is a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake.

I truly believe God created Tori to do amazing things. She is my everything, and I knew from the moment I saw her, she was it. Tori is a phenomenal wife and a selfless friend. She has always been generous towards others and invests all of herself in anything she commits to. Tori is constantly encouraging me and motivating me to be the best version of myself. I think that the best version of her will come as a parent, and I know she will make an outstanding mother.

• We attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade every year, and Tomm plays the snare in the fire department marching band.
• We have been members of a CrossFit gym since 2012.
• Each new city we visit, we always attend a sporting event, so far our favorite has been the Boston Bruins!
• We both attended Texas A&M University are are proud fightin' Texas Aggies!
• Both of us are Left-handed!

We live in a family-oriented neighborhood with many parks, trails, and community events. Museums, theatres, and zoos are within short driving distance. Our home is a single-story home and has 4 big bedrooms. Our favorite thing about our home is our covered patio and backyard because it's the perfect place to lie in the hammock & work in the garden.

We are so happy that we have a family home ready for hosting; we love decorating for all the Holidays. In particular, Tomm has been thrilled to be the home of the full-size candy bars at Halloween!

We LOVE animals and have always had pets growing up. Timber is our one and only fur baby right now; he is a 5-year-old Corgi who we have had since he was 8 weeks old. His top 3 favorite things are breakfast, dinner, and Mom & Dad...with A/C in the Summer as a runner-up.

Timber is very playful and enjoys going on his daily walks around the neighborhood, but he also loves a good cuddle and nap on the couch. He will do anything for a car ride and loves talking to the people in the drive-thru, especially when there is ice cream involved.

Our families are loving, supportive, and close-knit--and we're lucky to live near each other, which means we get to spend lots of quality time together. When we get together, you'll likely find us crafting, playing board games, or making memories at the beach. Holidays and everyday moments are filled with laughter, creativity, and love. We also believe we are extra blessed with a second family in the Fire Department; everyone is excited to welcome a new little one into all the fun and traditions we share.

Tomm's extended family has moved from the Midwest to around the country, but they have certainly not forgotten their Midwest values, which means they must feed you. Whether they are cooking out for a BBQ or baking Christmas cookies, everyone is going home with a doggy bag. Tomm's sister is a high school head volleyball coach, and we love going to watch her coach her girls and can't wait for them to get to a championship!

Tori's extended family has remained in Texas and continues to share in the love and stewardship of the country lifestyle with farming and ranching. They have continued to stay involved with their local Church and often provide the smoked brisket and all the fixings for community lunches.

Our family traditions are all about making memories and celebrating together. We go big for birthdays and Christmas, filling them with homemade birthday cakes, DIY decorations & themes, and trips to our favorite restaurants.

Each year, we brave the cold for a polar bear plunge, a fun (and freezing!) way to kick off the new year. We also take family trips to the beach, where we relax, explore, go fishing, and enjoy each other's company.

At home, we love crafting and DIY projects, turning creativity into quality time. Trips to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby are a regular occurrence!

These traditions bring us closer and make every season special, creating a sense of joy and shared purpose that we all look forward to year after year.

Together we love to experience new places, people, and most importantly, foods! We are in constant awe of the beauty of this world, and try to soak in as much as we can each year, whether it's around our home or a far-off destination. Recently, we had the opportunity to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, snowmobile in the Taos Ski Valley, and see a whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta!

Thank you for taking the time to read through our book and get to know us. We hope you see us as a fun and kind couple who have strong family bonds and the love and support to raise and nurture your child. Lastly, we'd like to share a few final thoughts with you...

Our promises to your child:

• Provide opportunities for education, adventure, creativity, and wonder
• Help develop their unique talents and interests
• Laugh with life's joys and persevere through life's challenges
• Teach them to be honest, generous, kind, self-respecting, and courageous

- Tomm & Tori