Eric & Marife
Our Religion(s)
Christian / Christian
Race of child interested in adopting:
Any
Dear Birthmother
We admire your bravery, your courage, and the tremendous sacrifice you are considering. The decision you’re making is indeed a difficult one. We can relate as we have faced tough decisions in our lives. We thank you for considering us to raise your child. They will be safe, raised with values, loved as you want us to love them, and encouraged to be successful if you choose us.
We value the importance of community, respect, growth, and love. Marife can't wait to speak and teach your child her respective dialects as a way to immerse your child in her culture. In addition, we will immerse your child in the arts as Eric played music in high school. Lastly, that competitive spirit lies between the both of us, from board games to active sports. Your child will be engaged in family board game night and will be active in the community, surrounded by sport parks.
No matter what, we promise you we will raise your child as you want us to and will respect and support your decision. We want you to be a part of how you want your child to be raised and to be that support. We would be blessed to raise your child as a testament to your sacrifice, courage, and bravery. We stand committed to this experience and will be forever grateful and indebted to you for this opportunity.
With love,
Eric and Marife
About Us
Our story began in 2006, when a friend introduced Eric to Marife and we started a blossoming pen-pal relationship. Eric was stationed in North Carolina, enduring a number of deployments to Iraq. Marife was homesteaded in the Philippines, assisting her sister in running a successful small restaurant. After a few years of communication through emails, meeting occasionally on video chat, and visits to the Philippines, we made it official in 2009 and married in a small town in Ohio. Our 14-year journey as a married couple has taken us on travels to multiple countries, experiencing different cultures and unique cuisines, hiking trails to seek scenic vistas, enjoying competitive spirit through board games, spending time at home watching movies, and getting together with family and friends. Eric is still in the service, and Marife has been holding down the household, setting the foundation for our family and caring for CoCo, our rescued cat.
What Led Us To Adoption
Our desire to start a family through adoption was our calling; however, we were met with challenges with our first attempt. We started the process to adopt our orphaned niece in the Philippines. Burdened with the constant military moves, we struggled with the prolonged process of international adoption. As we moved through the process, our niece was growing older, and the thought of uprooting her in her critical teenage years clouded our judgment. Because of this, we faced a hard decision to forgo the process. We remained optimistic however, inspired by the friends we met, listening to their success stories, and observing their joys with parenthood. We decided to start the process again only with more flexibility and stability with our current location.
Our Home
We purchased our first home in May 2023. Eric is in the twilight of his career, and this purchase will be a home to grow into. We live in a small suburban neighborhood in Virginia. Our location is unique and has potential for boom. The neighborhood is filled with plenty of young children eager to play. The neighborhood is close to public and private schools, minutes away from numerous hiking trails, and a drive away from our nation’s capital, where there are a plethora of museums and lots of different sports parks. CoCo brings life to our family. He was born in a pet shelter in Okinawa and made the migration to the United States. If CoCo is not resting or eating, he plays with his small toys, plays hide and seek, or encourages us to interact with him and his favorite fishing pole toy.
Our Family
Both coming from large families, we plan to capitalize on the strong family connection and raise your child in that environment. Every day will be filled with love, culture, and strong traditions aimed at building that foundation and bond with one another.
Marife grew up in the Philippines, where a “fiesta” (similar to a Filipino Thanksgiving) can be held anytime of the year, on any occasion, and gathers family from afar to travel to that event. Karaoke, games, lots of food with a roasted pig, and reminiscing on past times fill the fiesta with plenty to do. Your child will be well versed in Tagalog, Visayan, or any other Spanish-based dialect from the numerous relatives who will be trying to immerse your child in their culture.
Eric had an annual summer family tradition growing up of spending time on the beaches of California. As a way of getting away from the hustle of city life, Eric’s family loaded up the car with barbecue food items, drinks, a radio, beach blankets, and all the other essentials to make a full day fun. The evening would be capped off with watching fireworks at a nearby amusement park.
