Hello, we are Chris and Angela. Thank you for choosing to hear our story and learning more about us as prospective parents.
Our story begins with a chance meeting at church. Chris thought there was something special, but Angela had her eyes on someone else at the time. However, God had other plans, and a year later we realized we had become best friends through the simple act of doing laundry together. Sunday night laundry time had become a casual way for us to get to know each other without the pressures of dating. Soon, we realized we were meant to be together, and our friendship blossomed into love. Chris proposed in March of 2006, and our wedding followed in October.
It has always been our dream to start a family. However, we never dreamed that we would experience multiple miscarriages in our struggle to conceive. We’ve found peace and joy in the blessing of adoption and are excited to give a child all the love and care they need. We said in our pre-marriage counseling that we desired to adopt, and now see adoption as a part of God’s plan for our life.
From a young age, I’ve always had a love for people. I was always the friend that listened and if there was a need I was there. At the same time, I’ve always been interested in music and in understanding the deeper things in life such as God. I decided to major in music education but realized along the way that I had a heart for ministry. I started a campus ministry my last year of college and graduated with a bachelor’s in music.
I’ve always desired to love and impact the next generation. In college, I worked at a daycare for over three years. After graduation, I became a nanny and worked as a youth pastor for two years. Throughout this time, I have also developed my worship leader skills in the various roles I have had in church.
From 2015 through the summer of 2019, I had the honor of being a caretaker for my father who had developed Alzheimer’s. Since then, I have started a weekly night of worship at my church. I’m so excited to start a new chapter and pour my love and passion into a child.
I had a competitive nature growing up that showed up in school, music and sports. Whether it was football, cross country, baseball, the marching band, or wrestling, I could always remember having my Dad, Mom, and sometimes my Sister at all of my competitions.
I took that competitive nature into college, and eventually into the business world. Instead of competing in sports today, I work for an IT consulting company, where the trophy I get to take home is taking care of my family. Beyond work, I love traveling, playing board games with friends and family, and participating in my church, where I am one of the leaders with my wife, Angela.
I can’t wait to grow my family and support my children in whatever they want to pursue in life. I want to provide what my parents provided for me in supporting whatever I was passionate about, even coaching at times when able.
We live in a three-bedroom home, built in 1990, on about a half-acre. There is lots of room in the house to play, a full basement ready to be turned into something fun, and a new fireplace for the cold winter nights. The sounds of Angela playing her piano, guitar, and singing are heard daily. Out in the backyard is a nice deck with a grill that gets used all summer. We often see deer walking through on their way to get a drink from the creek that flows through the neighborhood.
We have an ice cream shop about six houses down the street. Many evenings include a cone or a blizzard. A couple of houses down in the other direction we have an elementary and middle school with a park and playground. Our city has a downtown that is a 5-minute drive away. There are events happening all of the time, from farmers’ markets to concerts, and an ice-skating rink in the winter.
Family relationships are key to helping raise a healthy child. We firmly believe that the more love and positive input we can give to a child, the better. That said, the value of family was a huge part of both of our upbringings. Chris’ extended family is quite large, whereas Angela comes from a smaller family. We also have a tight-knit church family that we feel blessed to be a part of.
Both of our parents are eagerly waiting to become grandparents. They love to dote on nieces and nephews and are excited to turn that love and attention towards their own grandchildren. We already have a room set aside in our home with gifts and supplies that we have collaboratively gotten in anticipation.
Living in the same area as our parents allows for close relationships and frequent family get-togethers over dinner and board games. Holidays involve lots of presents and food (so much food) as both sides of the family love to give in this manner. Every year Christmas is a family favorite, with special days scheduled for each side of the family.
We have a passion to see the world and learn about various different cultures. We look forward to teaching our children about different people and places and then having the ability to travel to meet those people and see those very places they learned about.
We love to travel to new places every summer on the shores of Lake Michigan. Discovering new beaches, parks, restaurants, and meeting new people is one of the highlights of our year. Every year it is something spontaneous and new, yet the same amazing lake and the same amazing sunsets. Every five years we have taken a larger trip, from a Caribbean Cruise to a 10-year anniversary in Rome. We can’t wait to travel the world as a family.
Holidays are a time to slow down in the midst of the chaos. Some time off of work for Chris means a snuggle next to the fireplace, watching a Christmas classic movie, like Elf, or A Christmas Story. We get to open presents multiple times, splitting time between Chris’ family and Angela’s family. Between the presents, the food, the dogs, and the games, everyone is ready for a good nap afterward.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know our family. We hope to someday get to know yours as well. We are already praying for you and your baby in loving anticipation. We commend you on the brave and loving decision you have made.
If chosen as the adoptive parents, we promise to love, nurture, protect, and provide for your child with all we have and all we are. We promise to let them know that you chose to make a loving sacrifice on their behalf and that they are special and chosen from us from day one. We promise to be honest in telling them their adoption story in the most loving way possible from birth.
We hope to have an open adoption in which your child can learn the importance of your family history. Whatever the level of communication you prefer, we promise to lovingly work with you and give you lifelong updates. Our hearts are filled with love anticipating the day we can hear from you.
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