Kristin & Charley
Our Religion(s)
Christian / Spiritual
Race of child interested in adopting:
Any
Dear Birthmother
Dear Expectant Mother,
Since Charley was adopted as an infant, he grew up knowing love makes a family and families come in all shapes and sizes. If you are reading this letter and thinking about adoption for your baby, you must be a strong and kind person. Your baby must be able to feel that too. We feel honored and deeply grateful you would consider inviting us to be such an important part of your baby’s journey.
Just as we have with our first child, we promise to surround your baby with love and to celebrate the unique perspective he or she brings to the world. We value kind communication, curiosity, and creativity in our house, and it will be a joy to help our children learn these values too. We are committed to providing an excellent education for River and his younger brother or sister and to supporting their dreams any way we can.
We know you are supporting your baby’s dreams too. Although he did not meet his birthmother until he was an adult, Charley had a deep sense his birthmother was always wishing the best for him and cheering him on in her own way. We promise your courage and love will always be part of your baby’s story. Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents for your sweet child.
Our Home
Our home is within a beautiful and historic college residence hall, where Charley supports students from all over the world. We eat many of our meals in the campus dining room with students, expanding our perspectives as we learn about faraway countries and cultures. We can’t imagine a better place for a child to develop a generous and inclusive view of the beautiful people of the world! Our neighborhood is a wooded park-like campus that includes a variety of spaces for little adventures, like an indoor swimming pool, a dance studio, playing fields, playgrounds, and a community garden. Sporting events, plays, dance productions, and concerts happen year round. It’s also the perfect place for family bike rides, hikes overlooking the Mississippi River, and playtime with other kids in the neighborhood.
Our Family
Our summer and winter breaks allow for precious time with our close-knit family, who can’t wait to hang another Christmas stocking over the holiday fireplace. In the winters, we go north to snowy Michigan for sledding, snowshoeing, and warm evenings by the fire with cousins, aunts, and uncles.
At Papa’s (Kristin’s dad’s) house, matching pajamas, old-time candy making, and carols around the piano help us to embrace the holiday spirit. Papa is a retired colonel in the Air Force and a pilot who now flies volunteer humanitarian missions. Kristin’s sister and brother are both married, and her sister has two children (ages 11 and 13) who make for playful and caring cousins.
Springs and summers add Florida and Ohio to our road-trip list. Charley’s brother (also adopted) gives tours of his big-rig truck and proudly gives presents adorned with Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns insignias. Grampy (Charley’s dad) is a former lawyer and entrepreneur who now lives close to the beaches, where we build castles and scour for shells and shark teeth. Family gatherings always include dog walks, Cleveland sports, and lots of laughs and hugs.
We also celebrate both of our moms, who have passed, through games, puzzles, and family reading—the things they loved the most!
