Hello! We are Carrie & Jake. We would like to thank you so much for taking the time to consider us as adoptive parents to your child. Life is a gift, and children are a gift in whatever way they exist in one’s life. We have discussed adoption since the first week of our relationship. This is the choice that has always felt right and we feel that life has brought us to this choice for a reason. We dream of a day that we will be parents.

We met while living on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Our first date lasted fifteen hours. We met for coffee and talked until they shut down the patio. We decided that we weren’t done with our conversation, so went to the 24hr diner. We ate and continued talking until 6am. Later that day we went on the first of what would become many road trips. We explored every inch of the island, eating all of the foods, snorkeling every weekend with the sea turtles, and experiencing the sense of Aloha that is everywhere. When we left the Island, we considered moving to Ireland and spent 40 days traveling the country.

After our trip we decided to stay in the US, but with the door left open for future opportunities. We continued looking for where we could find a sense of home and belonging, landing in the Pacific Northwest, where we continue to hike, eat delicious foods, search for wildlife, and enjoy local culture.

I grew up as the youngest of three daughters in rural Indiana. I went to a small county school, where my graduating class was 27 people. We lived on a hobby farm, where we took in animals of all sorts, explored in the field, and snuck vegetables from the garden. It was a happy and safe place to grow up.

I initially went to college at Ball State University but was far more interested in travel, so I became a flight attendant. When my airline closed, I went back to school and became a nurse. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have been, for most of my career, a labor/delivery nurse, caring for women and babies around the country. I am now a Clinical Supervisor for the Family Birth Center and Emergency Department. I have recently completed a Master's Degree in Bioethics.

When I am not at work I try to be at the beach or on a hike. We are fortunate to live in an area with many trails and mild weather to hike in. When we have free time, we travel. Whether on big trips or day trips, we like to go and see something new. These are the things I look forward to doing with our future child. I look forward to traveling and exploring all there is to see in the world.

Carrie is amazing! She’s a kind, caring, loving woman who has a helping heart. She has an adventurous spirit and loves to travel near and far. Not a weekend goes by when she doesn’t have a suggestion about a hike we should do, a new restaurant to try, or a beach to explore. She has an artistic eye and loves to try different craft projects from refurbishing a dresser to crocheting a new hat, she’s always keeping herself busy. She values education and learning, and for birthdays, in addition to gifts, she always thinks of an experience that would enhance the person’s life. Her love for her family is unmatched, her honesty is heartfelt, and her spirit for living our best lives is what will make her an outstanding mother.

Originally from rural Wisconsin, I moved to the suburbs of Milwaukee when I was seven. I spent time with my Nana baking and helping to coordinate a monthly dinner for people in a low-income neighborhood in the city. I served as a leader in a Jewish youth organization that allowed me to travel to Israel to explore and learn about my heritage and culture.

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Higher Education. I worked for different universities for about 16 years helping college students figure out who they were and what they wanted to do in life, while giving them the skills to be successful after they graduate. Now I work in Healthcare as the Education Program Manager, supporting a department of amazing staff who are all working hard to provide quality care for patients.

One of my favorite hobbies is photography. Carrie and I have spent many trips going on photo adventures looking to capture the natural surroundings that we find ourselves in. We can’t wait to show our child the world and the opportunities within it. We’re looking forward to teaching them about different cultures and communities- opening their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them.

Jake is the best soul. He is all the things one thinks could not exist in only one person. He is optimistic, funny, brilliant, genuine, and kind. More than that, he is up for every adventure I throw his way. His enthusiasm for living, and his interest in trying new things is infectious. Fortunately, within all of that he maintains an unshakable strength. I am so excited to be able to watch him grow as a father. If there is anyone in the world deserving of being a father, it is Jake. I am beyond fortunate that he is my partner in all of life and that he loves me. Your child will always know they are loved as well.

Jake’s Family: Jake’s parents, Steve and Sharon, live in Mequon, Wisconsin. Jake’s dad writes crossword puzzles for fun and Sunday mornings are often spent doing the NY Times puzzle together. His mom is often doing artistic projects such as painting, beading jewelry, and tending to her garden. Jake’s sister, Leah, lives in New Jersey with her 3-year-old son, Tiziano. Everyone is so excited about our plans to adopt, but Tiziano is especially excited for a new cousin to play games with!

Carrie’s Family: Carrie’s family all live in Indiana so we are always talking on the phone, texting, or video chatting with them. Her parents, Harold and Nancy, are beyond excited to welcome another grandchild into the family. Carrie also has two sisters. Laura and her husband Mike, have two children, Emma, age 21, and Liam, age 18. Jenny and Graham have two boys Zach, age 21, and Carter, age 20. Our future child will have an incredible group of cousins who are looking forward to cuddles and spoiling a baby cousin during our visits to Indiana!

We are fortunate to call many people “friends,” but the closest among those are Von and Jeremy, Jake’s friends from his younger days, and a group we refer to as the Birds. The Birds are a group of amazing women that became like family when we lived in Bend, OR. The group is made up of Jane, Dana, Becky, and Stacey. We talk constantly, and when they were told we were adopting, they all exclaimed “we’re going to be aunties!!”

We have recently purchased a new home in a beautiful and lively town. Our neighborhood has beautiful trees and is full of kids. Our town is a small friendly, welcoming community that takes pride in safety and cleanliness. There are beautiful parks, with many educational programs and schools in the area that promote family involvement. We are also very close to the beautiful Puget Sound and the bay, which allows for incredible sea life sightings.

Thank you once again for learning about us. We’re very excited to become parents and to share our journey and our love of life with a child. Such a special gift requires much consideration, and we appreciate your strength in making the decision you feel is best.