Hello! We are Shara and Chris from Ventura County, California. Thank you for making this wonder a possibility and for taking the time to read our story.

When we learned we would not be able to conceive naturally or medically, we knew that adoption was the right path for us. Adoption is an amazing way for us to start a family and share our loving and happy home with a little one. To us, family is made up of the little things; the routines built around the lives we lead. There is a wonder about life that comes from a child’s eyes. Games of catch, building forts, bedtime stories, jumping on the bed, and making dinner together are the little things that bring that wonder to life. We look forward to growing our family and sharing the love, silliness, and warmth we have to offer.

A Wedding Started It All: We met at a friend’s wedding where Chris was a groomsman and Shara was the photographer. We both noticed the other and both spoke to the groom, asking questions about the other. Chris lived near Boston at the time and Shara was thinking about moving. We swapped numbers and we had our first date the next Monday! Chris traveled back to New England on Tuesday, and we spent the next 6 months talking on the phone every day. Shara visited Rhode Island for 4th of July weekend and Chris moved back to California two weeks later.

Chris proposed at Meditation Mount in Ojai, the town where Chris grew up. We had our friends involved, taking Shara around town and eventually meeting at Meditation Mount, Chris, already there, came out of hiding and proposed. Together, we enjoy our weekly dance class with friends, going to the farmer’s market down the street, and visiting the botanical gardens in our area.

I grew up in Ventura, California, a town just off the beach in Southern California. I love the water, and was a certified junior lifeguard starting at age 12. My parents and I traveled all over the country, to Mexico and Hawaii starting when I was very young. We would camp and go backpacking in the mountains. I love the outdoors and nature. There is something very special about fresh mountain air and the scent of pine trees. I’m excited to share my love of the outdoors and travel with our child.

I studied photography in college, and started my own photography business for a number of years. I love capturing life’s special moments, and the beauty around us. I love decorating for the holidays and bringing beauty to a space.

Dance is also a large part of my identity. I love to get swept up in the music and movement. It’s a fun way to express myself. I was a gymnast for 11 years when I was young, and then transitioned into dance.

I look forward to singing, dancing around the house, and reading bedtime stories with our future child. To see their face light up with excitement when they experience something new for the first time will be amazing.

Shara is one of the most attentive people I have ever known. She has taught me the value of conversation and talking about the peaks and valleys of life in order to make future days better. Shara has big dreams, she wants to see the world and this pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing. Shara sets the example of what a healthy adult relationship with your parents looks like.

I love that we dance together. I love that Shara notices the little things and turns them into moments of joy when I least expect it. I love that we have gone through our journey to start a family together. All the hope and all the tears, we are hand-in-hand and never let the bad days undermine our love.

I grew up in Ojai California, a sleepy, out-of-the-way town in the hills above Ventura. I went to college in Rhode Island at Johnson & Wales University and majored in Finance. I work in the Finance department at a large property insurance company. My job allows me to work from home and have a very flexible schedule which gives me lots of time to devote to a child.

I like writing fiction, reading (sci-fi & fantasy mostly), video games, and YouTube. I’m a history nerd too. When I read or consume non-fiction, it is usually history, with a dash of philosophy. I hope to publish a book one day and center my life around creativity. I’m also into all things space, pictures, science, exploration, spacecraft, etc.

Sports, are a large part of my identity. I play golf and watch a lot of baseball, hockey, and football. I love rooting for my teams and I hope to bring a child along for the joy of sports fandom. Shara and I have talked about this, but something I look forward to is the first time a child asks me to play catch. I will probably cry, and they won’t know why, but I look forward to telling them what that moment means to me.

Chris is one of the most patient and supportive people I have ever known. He thinks through situations so that he can see and understand how the other person is feeling and what they need. He is patient with me when I need time to think through feelings. He has been my rock through tough times, and still makes me feel loved every day.

Chris makes me laugh, even when I’m low. He brings light and playfulness to everything. We have fun together no matter what we are doing. I love that he dances with me. He learned how to dance just for me, and has fun with it too. It means a lot to me that I can always count on Chris to be honest and follow through. He is a man of integrity, values family and will be an amazing father.

We live in Ventura County in the southern part of California. Ventura is 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. Our home is a 3-bedroom condo located in a mostly quiet neighborhood that is quite diverse in age and race. We live 2 miles from the ocean, and we get a nice ocean breeze that makes its way up our street. In our neighborhood, we have a small park with a children’s playground and a separate open picnic area.

In the larger neighborhood, we have two full-size parks with soccer and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and large playgrounds for kids with slides, swings, and jungle gyms. There is a great school in our neighborhood and there is a high school a 3 min drive away. We look forward to running, playing and exploring the outdoors with our future child.

We have 3 rescue cats named Lindy, Obi, and Paul. Lindy is a 10-year-old tabby. She was born on the same day we were married. She is the smallest cat in the house and has the biggest attitude. Obi is our big black cat. He is almost 4, he’s big & goofy and a solid teddy bear. Paul is our youngest cat; he is a grey 3-year-old; very quiet, curious and very smart. He is always trying to get into rooms or chew on things he isn’t supposed to. They have never been around a child, but they have been around friends. They all hide, then 3-4 hours later will start investigating, and then are snuggle buddies with whoever is in the house.

We can’t imagine a life without pets in the house. They are part of what makes a house a home.

We have a wonderful family and an amazing group of friends. Shara’s parents have been married for almost 50 years. She has many cousins, but no siblings. When she was young, she would spend a lot of time with her cousins on their farm, riding horses. Now that everyone is grown with their own families, they are spread out and get to see each other every few years.

Chris has a sister, Claire, who is married with three kids in Virginia. Chris has a close relationship with his niece, Caitlin. Locally, Chris has family friends from his youth we like visiting with. We go to their homes for Thanksgiving every year. Chris has a small family and that means his friends have become his family. Chris also has a number of cousins, aunts and uncles in England.

Our family is spread out, so it makes it fun to travel to see them! Each visit gives us the opportunity to experience new places and try new things!

We cannot say thank you enough for considering us as adoptive parents for your child. We understand this is a difficult time for you, and admire you so much for considering adoption.

Our future child will know they are adopted from the beginning and will know how much you love them. We look forward to being parents and promise to love, support, and provide the best future possible. Our child will be our priority in everything. To help them discover their imagination, creativity, education, sports, music, art and travel. We promise to teach good values, respect, and compassion.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us, and helping us create the precious gift of family! You will forever have a special place in our hearts.

With Love,
Chris & Shara