Hello from Olympia, Washington! We are Daniel and Joan along with our children Danielle, Matthew, Kaylee, Luke, Grace and Heather. We hope that by reading these next few pages you’re able to smile and feel loved and know we are inspired about the courageous journey you are taking and we would like to walk it with you. We can’t wait to meet you; because we value your life, courage and sacrifices. It seems impossible to fit our world into this one profile but we hope we can give you a small look into our hearts and lives so you can get to know us as a loving family with a happy and fun home, who will provide a life of joy, happiness, and security for your child. We will share the best of each of us and provide your child with the character and confidence to tackle whatever comes their way. Our entire family is part of this decision and is committed to creating a loving, fun, and happy home for your child to grow up in. We know exactly how much lives can change because of adoption. Adoption holds a special place in our hearts and in our family. Looking at our extended family’s experiences, we can say that adoption means growth, healing, and hope. We will love your child unconditionally.

We absolutely love being parents and are super excited to begin this journey with you.

We look forward to sharing our love with your child. We’ve actually known each other our entire life. Our parents have been friends since before we were both born. We’ve grown up together and sometimes it’s hard to see where one of us ends and the other begins. We were both born in Eureka, CA and when I was 3 my family moved to Washington State while Joan’s family stayed in California. During our high school years Joan’s family decided to move to Washington and our families reconnected, We became good friends. When l proposed to Joan on Christmas Eve, we both knew it would be a lifelong commitment. We have been married for 22 years.

I feel very lucky to be a stay-at-home mom. I get to say “I love you” at school drop-off, and the first one to hear all about their days at pick-up. Being a mom is the most rewarding and fulfilling job around!

I absolutely love making food, from big Thanksgiving meals to treats for the kids’ classroom parties (animal cookies for their 3rd grade animal day or a snowflake cake for their winter party.) I also really enjoy traveling as a family, and we always choose vacation destinations where we can enjoy the outdoors. One of my absolute favorites is Maui, Hawaii where we will spend long days at the beach. Nothing is better than watching a Maui sunset, wine and chocolates in hand from a beach chair on Makena Beach while the kids play in the waves and swim in the ocean. We have so many good memories there and I can’t wait to share them with your child.

I have loved Daniel for as long as I can remember. In our twenty two years of marriage he has cared for me and has helped me know that no matter what comes our way he will always be there for me and with me.

He is an amazing father, he loves being outdoors with our kids, hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, riding bikes, roasting marshmallows, with seemingly endless energy.

He finds time to talk with each one of them every night, helping them with homework, listening to their stories, eating ice cream. Our children know without a doubt they are loved and dad is never too busy to talk and spend time with them.

Danielle loves to sing. Whether she’s cooking in the kitchen, cleaning her room, or getting ready in the morning, she is always singing. She’s so excited about her new sister or brother that her and her friends have already picked out special toys and outfits for the baby impatiently waiting to give them :)

Matt - If he’s not outside playing football you can usually find him in our studio recording music with his friends. He can’t wait to have a new brother or sister.

Kaylee can make anything into a game and all the neighborhood kids love her. She loves taking pictures and cooking. One night a week she and her sisters will set the house up like a restaurant complete with menus and music and cook the family dinner and dessert- It’s a lot of fun.

Luke loves fishing swimming and playing outside with his friends. He also can eat an enormous amount of food and be hungry again an hour later.

Grace is the tomboy of our family. She loves flannel shirts, jeans, and playing football with her older brothers. She practically lives in her cowboy costume, complete with a capgun, spurs and hat. She is already saving her money to get her new sister or brother a cowboy costume just like hers.

Heather is a bundle of energy. She loves music, singing and coloring pictures. She is very sweet and is the chatterbox of the family. She is super excited about having a new brother or sister to play dress up with and tell stories to.

We live in a neighborhood full of children. We have a large community with a lot of friends with children. In the summer months, the kids will usually congregate in our yard for swimming or a game of basketball, kickball or volleyball. Our older children with some of the neighborhood kids started a band so we have an outdoor community stage where they’ll give spontaneous concerts for the neighborhood.

We have a large house with a recording studio where we play and record music. Music is also a big part of our life. We have a large audio studio in our house that we use everyday to play and record music. One block away is a park with a baseball field, walking trails, and a beautifully restored carousel. There is also a big band shell where local orchestras will come to perform during the summer.

Grandpa Randy and Grandma Kerry have been married for 54 years and live across the street from us. Grandma Kerry is an amazing baker so on many nights the kids head over for her homemade ice cream and chocolate cake.

Grandpa Randy was an army medic during Vietnam and then later worked as the fire commander and Arson investigator in California for 20 years, so when anyone gets hurt or needs his expertise he is close by and ready to help.

Grandma Diane and Grandpa Lewis have been married for 46 years and also live within walking distance from us. Grandma Diane teaches art at a local school so the kids enjoy going to her house to do art projects. We have a very large extended family with several of our cousins, aunts and uncles that all live within a few blocks from us. Our entire family is very supportive of our adoption journey and they can’t wait to welcome another child in to the family.

Our biggest holidays as a family are Thanksgiving and Christmas. On Thanksgiving morning all the boys in the neighborhood get together for a very competitive football game called “The Turkey Bowl” and then we have a large family dinner with all of our relatives and extended family. On Christmas we all take part in our local Christmas theater production, which is a lot of fun. After Christmas we head out for a surprise family vacation. We try to pick a new destination every year and we never tell the kids where we are going. It’s always so fun surprising them.

From the bottom of our hearts we thank you so much for considering our family. Thank you for showing us the true definition of bravery. As you consider us as adoptive parents we believe that every child is a world changer and we raise our children with this in mind. We can hardly wait to meet you and to celebrate you, because we value your life, your sacrifices, and your courage. You’re looking for a wonderful home and future for your child and we’re looking to share our love and lives with another child in our family. We will absolutely unconditionally love and welcome your child into our family.

With love,
Daniel, Joan, Danielle, Matthew, Kaylee, Luke, Grace, & Heather