Wearetheproudparentsoftwobeautifulgirlsandonefurrydog andwecan'twaittogrowbyonemorechild.Welovethesounds suchcuriosity.Wehavebeenblessedthroughadoptioninsomany waysthatweknowthisistheplanGodhasforus. fortwelveyears.Thefamilystartedtogrowinthesummerof2000 withtheadoptionofJuliaandgrewin2003whenwewereblessed toadoptMelaina. Itwouldn'tbeunusualtoseeourfamilyenjoyingacampoutinthe livingroomorusingthefamilyR.V.atacampground.Fallisafavor- itetimeofyearwithtripstotheappleorchardsandhayridesthrough thepumpkinpatches. Adoptionjustseemedrightforus.Jerrywasadoptedandgrewup inafamilyof9childrenwiththreeothersalsobeingadoptedbyhis parents.Michellehasalwayshadaspecialplaceinherheartforchil- drenandfeltledtoprovideasafe,loving,andChrist-centeredhome. iblyintuitiveandpossessesawonderfulsenseofhumor.Whenwe welcomedJuliatothefamily,itwasunbelievable;Ihaveneverseen amorenaturalmother.Ifindmyselfjustwatchingherwithbothof ourchildrenandrealizinghowluckytheyareandIamtobeableto shareher.Everydaybeginsandendswithsmiles,hugs,and"Ilove you's",andmanyin-between. ofhumor.GettingtoknowhimbetterIrealizedamongmanyofhis fantasticqualities,thathewouldmakeagreatfathersomeday.He possessesstrongmorals,values,andintegrity.Jerryisaverysuccess- fulhighschoolteacherandcoach.Hehasanaturalwaywithkidsof allages. Beinganadoptedchildhimself,hewitnessedfirst-handthelove andsupportthatadoptiveparentscananddooffer.Wefeelthatis anaddedbenefitashecanrelatetosomeofthequestionsthatour childrenmayhave. andsensitivegirl.Shelovesschoolwithherfavoriteclassbeinggym withaclosesecondgoingtoscience.Sheiscurrentlyinthefirst gradeataChristianschoolnearourhome. expressive.Shelovesbeingthecenterofattentionandtellingher favoritejokes.Sheisalsoveryintelligent,creative,imaginative,and caring. comestowelcomingadoptedchildren.Jerry'sfamilybeingsolarge andspreadoutaffordsmany vacationdestinationsas wellaslargefamilycelebra- tions.Jerry'sbrotherhastwo adoptedchildren. Michelle'sfamilyisabit smallerbuttheyallliveclose by.Hermotherliveswithin 5milesandusuallycomes overafewdaysaweekto visit.Michelle'ssisteralso hasthreeadoptedbi-racial children.Thecousinsare frequentplaymatesandusu- allyafterchurchonSunday wegettogetherat"Nana's" andeataSundaydinnerandthekidsplay. familyfriendlysuburbinMinnesota.Wehaveabeautifulbigyard completewithaplayhouseforthekids.Therearemultipleparksto choosefromcloseby.Christmastimeisaspecialtimeastheentire neighborhooddecoratestheirhomes.WelovelivinginMinnesota andexperiencingthefourseasonsandthemanydifferentactivities fromswimmingatabeachtomakingourownlittleskatingrinkin thewinterinthebackyard. consideringusasadoptiveparents.Wehavebeenblessedthrough adoptionandwecan'twaittowelcomeyourchildintoourfamily. Ourhomeisfilledwithjoy,laughter,andmostofalllove. youwouldliketotalkwithuspleasecallLifetimeAdoptionat 1-800-923-6784. |