INTRODUCTION

Hi! We’re Christina, Dave and Lilly!

We hope to meet you soon!

We live in Missouri in a small city that is diverse in a variety of ways. Our public schools are excellent, and there is a lot to do here—whether it’s eating at an ethnic restaurant, going out for cultural events, or attending film festivals. We also have beautiful hiking paths that we like to use to get out and explore as a family.

We are adopting because we always knew we wanted a bigger “team”. It did not happen for us in other ways, so we are here now with open hearts and open minds!

We promise to cherish your child’s story, your family history and background, and of course most importantly...you. Our biggest dream is to grow our family, and to always provide a warm, safe, and loving environment for our children. We want to help them thrive and change, and we will always support their passions as they discover them. We like to have a lot of silly fun, and we hope our kids will, too!

OUR STORY

We met in Wyoming in 2009.

We met at parties through mutual friends, and Christina always thought Dave was older than her (ahem, receding hair line). When we finally connected and began dating, Christina figured out she was 6 years older than Dave!

As Christina finished her graduate degree in Creative Writing, Dave finished his undergraduate degree in Geology. Christina broke up with Dave, and did that 2 more times over the next few years. She always knew Dave was “the one,” but she was figuring out her life path and career. Finally, in 2012 Christina got her head on right and reconnected with Dave. He visited Missouri, and we were married in June 2013. Our precious daughter Lilly was born November 2014.

We connect on many levels, but I think we admire each other for our intelligence and sense of humor. We’re also both warriors. Lilly is bubbly and silly, and she also has disabilities. We have nursed her and cared for her through a lot of procedures and surgeries. There is no way Lilly would be doing as well as she is, and we would be doing as well as we are, if we didn’t work as the close-knit team we are. All three of us love going big on holidays, and love reading. Lilly may be the biggest book hound of all of us!

“Open adoption is especially important to us—we want you to know that you will always be a part of your child’s life, in whatever way you feel comfortable. ”

get to know us

Meet Christina (by Dave)

Christina pushes me to do more and not to be complacent in any facet of life. That helps bring out the better things I do like getting involved in advocacy work, and helping me have courage to speak up for what is right. She is also smart and funny, and stands up for what she believes in. Christina also knows a lot about musicals, food, and other cultures. 

Meet Dave (by Christina)

Dave is the most patient, intelligent, and funny man I’ve ever known. He is quite laid back, too. He cooks, maybe better than me, and makes homemade sauerkraut, using an old family recipe. I had no idea sauerkraut could be so delicious until I tried his!

Dave is a gamer when he gets the time. He plays Dungeons and Dragons with friends, but his favorite is to play video games on his Xbox.

“Christina is a professor of English at a small college. She’s taught there for 11 years, and now also directs the college’s study abroad program. Dave is a GIS specialist—he makes maps of data for the State of Missouri. He’s worked there for 7 years.”

our daughter lilly

Silly Lilly, as we call her, is our 6-year-old, biological daughter.

Lilly uses a communication device to speak, but she is whip sharp and very funny.

She is so excited to be a big sibling, and routinely says to us “adopt” or “adopting”, and “sister”, “brother”, and “baby”. When we ask if her if she’ll help us read to the baby, and watch movies with the baby, she always says “yes” and claps her hands enthusiastically. Sometimes, when talking with her grandparents, she’ll mention that she is going to be a big sister, too.

Typically, Lilly loves going to school, reading, hanging out with friends, going down slides at playgrounds nearby, and going on “cruises” around town in our car.

we will teach your child

• That love makes a family. Period.

• That anything he or she takes interest in, we will give them the resources to learn more. 

• Treat all people with kindness.

• Learn to distinguish causes and efforts that are worth your time and energy and those that are not.

• Enjoy each moment you have because the future is not guaranteed.

one last thank you

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and learn more about us.

We hope, like us, that you’ll want an open adoption—we want you to know your child and hopefully know us, too. 

We promise to give your child every opportunity he or she needs or desires. We want to travel with them, expose them to cultural events, and learn about their interests. We hope to treasure and share your family traditions as well, and incorporate them into ours. 

We know Lilly will be an awesome big sister, and we can’t wait for you to meet her as well. We’ve done everything we can to help Lilly become the best version of herself, and we will do the same with your sweet baby, too.