We find many ways to relax and have fun together! Becca is an avid gamer, and loves to play video games such as Stardew Valley and a lot of JRPGs. Stephen enjoys playing music (he can play piano, guitar, and cello, among other instruments). Both of us enjoy watching movies and TV shows together; right now we’ve been watching Columbo, Star Trek, and some older Disney movies. We also frequently walk with our dogs; outdoors hiking is preferred if it’s not too hot! We enjoy cooking together, and try to make dishes from all over the world to have some fun and try new things. One of our favorites has been Ärtsoppa, a soup from Sweden. Church is another big part of our non-working lives. We have helped with Sunday music performances, taught kids as part of the Youth Program, and participate in a lot of community events like bake sales, picnics, and potlucks.

We are definitely dog people! Both of us had dogs in our households growing up, and dogs continue to be a big part of our lives today. We currently have 2 dogs (Bert and Otie) that we have raised since they were puppies. They are actually half-brothers, and were born within 3 months of each other. We enjoy taking them to the local park for walks, setting up playdates with Becca’s mom’s dog Penny, and giving them lots of belly rubs! Both boys have gone through obedience training, and Bert is in training to become a therapy dog because of how much he loves people (especially kids). Right now, our dogs are like our kids, and we spent a lot of care and time to make sure they were raised to be obedient, gentle, and happy!

We want to be very mindful of our child’s cultural background and provide lots of opportunities for them to know their heritage. We want to ensure there is media in our house (whether it’s movies, books, music, or anything else) that depicts multiple cultures and ways of being in a supportive and realistic way. We would also try to build excitement and appreciation of cultures through food, important figures in history, and perhaps even local multicultural festivals. We want to be sure to open our child’s mind to multiple cultures, but also give them space for whatever level of interest in their own background that they would have. We would also love to continue cultivating relationships with people in our community of diverse heritages so our child can know that many different types of people exist in the world.

We are blessed to have both Stephen and Becca’s parents live close by! We love getting together frequently for “parent dates” where we explore our city and communities together; in the past, we’ve attended local festivals, gone to Escape Rooms, and tried out several new restaurants. Life can get hectic, but we always make sure to set aside time to make memories together.

All four of our parents are retired, so it also helps them to get out of the house and stay active. Stephen’s brother is a college professor who lives in Tennessee. We typically see him on holidays and during the summer, when he comes to visit for over a month during the school’s break. When we get together with him, we love to play board games and video games, as well as go out to watch movies. Becca is an only child, but has over 40 first cousins who live in various parts of the country. We get to visit with family pretty often, either when they are traveling, or we are! Just this past Thanksgiving, we rented an Airbnb by a lake with Becca’s aunt and uncle, their daughter and son-in-law, and their 3 kids. With the dogs thrown in, it was definitely a holiday to remember!

We love living in our small but thriving Arizona neighborhood! Our house has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a backyard with enough room to run and play (just ask our two dogs). There are lots of families with small children that live along our street and are always outdoors together, or hanging out at our gated community pool. We also live right across the street from a large park with a playground, basketball and volleyball courts, and plenty of space for picnics and other activities.

We’re only a couple of minutes away from our local library, which hosts reading hours, arts & crafts, and even a toddler rave party! We enjoy walking over to the community college campus right next to our neighborhood; they have an outdoor pond for local wildlife to visit and many concerts to attend. A nearby river where we have gone kayaking, tubing, and also done some hiking is only 10 minutes away. We especially love to see the wild horses that hang near the river in the early morning. It’s wonderful during the summer months when the temperature drops 15-20 degrees near the water. Also close by is a state park where we like to walk out in nature. Our favorite time to visit is in the winter when all of the flowers are in bloom. We love where we live!

We are deeply grateful that you are considering us as adoptive parents for your child. We can only imagine how much thought, love, and courage has gone into this decision, and we feel honored that you are taking the time to learn about us.

We have been together for over 11 years and married for more than 4. Over that time, we've created a home together built on love, trust, and community. We have known for a long time that we want to become parents. After several years of trying to have a child on our own, we learned that we would not be able to conceive due to infertility related to medication Stephen has taken throughout his life for chronic kidney disease. While that journey was difficult, it ultimately led us to adoption, and we are incredibly hopeful and excited about the possibility of growing our family this way.

Stephen is a music therapist who works with children with developmental disabilities, including autism and Down syndrome. He loves helping children learn, grow, and express themselves through music. Becca comes from a large extended family and has always enjoyed spending time with her many younger cousins. Caring for and connecting with children has been a meaningful part of both of our lives for many years.

Our home is full of music, playfulness and creativity. Stephen plays several instruments, including guitar, piano, and cello. Becca loves to sing and is known for making up little songs while doing chores around the house. We also love reading and have books in nearly every room. Family game nights, board games, video games, and being playful are all things we enjoy together. We look forward to sharing these passions with a child and encouraging them to discover their own interests as they grow.

Community is also an important part of our lives. Through our Unity church, we have built strong friendships and a support system that we cherish. We hope to raise a child with values of kindness, compassion, self-love, respect for others, and mindfulness. We have both also benefited from therapy and have learned communication and emotional skills that we use every day in our relationship. We hope to create a home where a child feels safe, heard, understood, and loved unconditionally.

If we are fortunate enough to adopt your child, we want them to grow up knowing their story and understanding how loved they are by everyone involved in their life. We believe openness is important, and we would be happy to share updates, photos, phone calls, video calls, and emails as your child grows. We recognize how important you are in your child's story and would welcome opportunities to maintain that connection in ways that feel comfortable and healthy for everyone involved.

Thank you again for considering adoption and for taking the time to learn about us. We know this decision comes from a place of profound love. No matter what you choose, we wish you and your child happiness, peace, and every blessing in the future.

Stephen & Becca