almost 20 years. Linda herself was adopted, and she
knew that adoption would always play an extremely
time,andwearenowhopingtocompleteourfamilywithababygirl.
Stephenisascubadiver,and
Lindaenjoystravelphotog-
raphyandmakingphoto
albumsfromourtrips.
turalism.Ourchildrenwill
learnabouttheirancestries
inordertoprovideself-
confidenceandcontinu-
ouslyenrichingexperiences
inbondingandgrowing
togetherasafamily.We
havefriendsofallracesand
Anewbabygirlinourhomewouldbesurroundedwithuncondi-
tionallovefromus,ourfamily,andourfriends.
househasalargeoutdoorarea,anoversizedkitchen,familyroom,
playroom,andbeautifulnurserywithhand-paintedrainforest
murals.
eversince.IcametoloveStephenbecauseheistrulythekindest
andmosthelpfulpersonIhaveeverknown.Forfun,Stephenisa
greatfanoftheGiantsand49ers,andhealsoplayssoftball.Heoften
worksonhouseprojects,andheisafantasticchef!Stephenworksin
arehabilitationdepartmentinahospitalalongthePacificcoast.He
findshisjobextremelyrewarding.
and,mostofall,loving.Iadorewatchinghimteachoursonfunnew
activitiessuchasT-Ballordrawingonouroutdoorchalkboardwall.
hadakind,generous,lovingheartandwasintelligentandinsightful
inmanyways.IknewIhadmetthepersonwithwhomIwantedto
spendtherestofmylife.
includemakingcontemporaryjewelryandworkingwithclothing
designerstomakewhimsicaloutfitsforchildren.
theneighborhood,eithertotheparkoranearbyfirestation.Asa
mother,Lindawillmotivateourchildrentobekind,thinkforthem-
selves,andfunctionresponsibly.
honoredtomeethisbirthmotherandherfamilyseveralweeksprior
tohisbirth,andLindaassistedinhisdelivery.Drakeisavivacious
toddlerwhosefavoriteactivitiesincludechasingourtwodogs,climb-
ing,andsplashinginwater.WehavehadgreatfuntakingDrakeon
severaltrips,includingMexico,Hawaii,andDisneyland.Wearealso
veryexcitedthathewillsoonstartpreschoolonthecampuswhere
Lindaworks.
shelivesnearbyandweseeheroften.BothMaryandherhusband
BobhaveawonderfullyaffectionaterelationshipwithDrake,and
theyarethrilledaboutthepossibilityofhavingagranddaughter!
sisters.Samaraisveryexcitedaboutbecominganauntagain,andshe
looksforwardtothedayswhenshecantakehernieceshopping!
includingsportsandhobbiesoftheirchoosing,arts,culturalexplora-
tion,andaqualityeducation-includingcollege.
firsthandhowextraordinaryandprivilegeditfeelstobeadopted,
andStephenisnowanincrediblyhappyadoptivefatherhimself!
theamountofcontactthatmakesyoucomfortable.Youmaycontact
usanytimethroughLifetimeAdoptionat1800-923-6784.