We know that you're faced with a challenging decision about your baby's future, and that you're about to do a very important and selfless thing. We want you to know that we not only want to adopt a child, we also want his or her birth parents to feel comfortable knowing that their child is being raised in a loving home. We hope the following helps you to get to know us a little better. We are Rick and Kris, and we met 13 years ago at church (where Kris thought Rick used really bad pick up lines). We haven't been apart since our first date. We've been married 10 years, and have a strong partnership based on love, trust, respect-and a lot of laughter. We share a deep faith in a loving God, and a passion for making the world a better place. Our home in Northern California The center of our home is a large, warm kitchen where people like to gather usually because Rick has cooked up something delicious. We really enjoy having friends and family over for game nights, pool parties or weekend visits. Our house is sunny and bright, and our cats love finding a warm spot to curl up for a nap. The nursery next to our bedroom is full of Winnie-the-Pooh murals and ready for a little one.
Our home is in a beautiful neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. Just around the corner there are both public and private elementary schools, so we know our child will have plenty of playmates. (We secretly hope our child will be the "cool kid with the pool".) Our neighbors are very outgoing-the kind of people who borrow sugar, decorate their houses at Christmas, go caroling through the neighborhood, and organize Halloween parades for the children. We've had several babies born on our street in the past year, and we are "Auntie" and "Uncle" to the little girl next door. We want our son or daughter to grow up in a friendly neighborhood like this where people look out for each other's kids.
About Rick by Kris Rick is the kind of guy that women want as a husband: loyal, protective-and a really good cook! Before we got married, he decided that we (actually, he) needed to buy a house. It was more than about having a place to live; he really wanted to make sure that he could take care of his family. He shows his love for me in large and small ways. He calls me at work to just to check in, does the grocery shopping, and puts the comforter on the bed because I'm cold. He's thoughtful, caring and has big dreams. He worked his way through college with two jobs, and was the first in his family to get a degree. As an environmental scientist, he uses his passion for healing the planet by restoring wildlife habitats around local streams. His ability to be a big kid is one of the strengths that he brings to our relationship and a trait that will make him a great father. He likes to bike to work, go kayaking, play his conga drum, and hang out with the dads and kids in the neighborhood. About Kris by Rick The thing I love most about Kris is that she has a big heart. She works for a nonprofit agency that helps abused children through counseling services and ensuring that they have safe, caring families to grow up with. Kris is someone who amazes me by her ability to manage the busy-ness of life. Regardless of how much is going on, she always finds time for other people and makes them a priority. If there is a baby or toddler in the room, she's a hopeless flirt and it's not unusual to find her peeking over the pews in church to play with the little one in the next row. She has a passion for working with kids of all ages. She also has a natural gift for knowing when I or someone else that she cares for needs encouragement or someone to listen. Kris likes to catch up with her friends over coffee, sing (she knows all the old musicals), go sailing, garden, read a good book, and plan parties for friends and family.
We both grew up in families where children are loved. Rick is the eldest of five children and was raised in a Hispanic community in California's Central Valley. He speaks Spanish fluently, and hopes to raise our child bilingually no matter what his or her ethnicity. Rick's siblings have families of their own and all live within a few miles of his parents. Rick's parents have been married almost 50 years, and enjoy having their grandbabies close by in their retirement years. Kris is the older of two children; her brother was adopted when they were both young. Her parents-who have also been married almost 50 years-taught that God and family came first. They're currently caring for Kris's paternal grandmother who lives with them. Because Kris's family moved around the U.S. while she was growing up, she has extended "family" in several states who regularly stay in touch and are excited about a new baby in our lives. Her family is very tight-knit, and her mother and godmother are already planning their visits after the baby arrives. As we start our own family, we're looking forward to taking the first six months off when baby comes home. After that, we plan to take advantage of our flexible work schedules to be with our child as much as possible.
Our values and dreams for our child The strong points in our relationship are a common value system, a deep faith in God, and an unwavering love for one another. We are able to communicate with each other, acknowledge when we are wrong, and forgive each other. We hope to teach our child the same things that we were taught growing up: to value a good education, work hard for what you have, to help those that God puts in front of you who need help, and to treat others with kindness and respect. What about you? (from Kris) I know how important it was to my brother-when he was ready-to get to know his birth mom. He had lots of questions, and our parents encouraged him to find and get to know the woman who had given him life. She's now an important part of our family because she gave us my little brother (who's not so little any more!). No matter what we work out in the way of contact, please know that your child will grow up knowing how much his or her birth mother loves and cares for him or her.
Wherever you are in your journey, we hope that you find comfort and peace. Kris and Rick |
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