Our adoption profile

Kristin & Charley

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Family Type: Heterosexual Couple

State We live in: Illinois

Children: Yes

Religion: Christian & Spiritual

dear expectant mother

Dear Expectant Mother,

Since Charley was adopted as an infant, he grew up knowing love makes a family and families come in all shapes and sizes. If you are reading this letter and thinking about adoption for your baby, you must be a strong and kind person. Your baby must be able to feel that too. We feel honored and deeply grateful you would consider inviting us to be such an important part of your baby’s journey.

Just as we have with our first child, we promise to surround your baby with love and to celebrate the unique perspective he or she brings to the world. We value kind communication, curiosity, and creativity in our house, and it will be a joy to help our children learn these values too. We are committed to providing an excellent education for River and his younger brother or sister and to supporting their dreams any way we can.

We know you are supporting your baby’s dreams too. Although he did not meet his birthmother until he was an adult, Charley had a deep sense his birthmother was always wishing the best for him and cheering him on in her own way. We promise your courage and love will always be part of your baby’s story. Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents for your sweet child.

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If you are reading this letter and thinking about adoption for your baby, you must be a strong and kind person.

-Kristin & Charley

About Us

We are both happy educators, working at the same liberal arts college. Kristin is an artist and author who loves learning and teaches on the studio art faculty. Charley works in the Dean’s office after years as an elementary school teacher and principal. Working in education helps us practice healthy communication at home too. We found each other as adults and knew almost immediately the other was the one each of us had been seeking. Our engagement involved a five-mile snowshoe hike in Northern Michigan. Charley proposed at our favorite steep overlook—but instead of the gorgeous views of Lake Michigan, we had a good view of a blowing snowstorm. We got married on a beach close to that spot the following summer. Whatever the weather, we know we are stronger together. Our home is joyful and positive, and it revolves around shared family activities with our son, River.

Our Home & Pets

Our home is within a beautiful and historic college residence hall, where Charley supports students from all over the world. We eat many of our meals in the campus dining room with students, expanding our perspectives as we learn about faraway countries and cultures. We can’t imagine a better place for a child to develop a generous and inclusive view of the beautiful people of the world! Our neighborhood is a wooded park-like campus that includes a variety of spaces for little adventures, like an indoor swimming pool, a dance studio, playing fields, playgrounds, and a community garden. Sporting events, plays, dance productions, and concerts happen year round. It’s also the perfect place for family bike rides, hikes overlooking the Mississippi River, and playtime with other kids in the neighborhood.

Extended Family

Our summer and winter breaks allow for precious time with our close-knit family, who can’t wait to hang another Christmas stocking over the holiday fireplace. In the winters, we go north to snowy Michigan for sledding, snowshoeing, and warm evenings by the fire with cousins, aunts, and uncles.

At Papa’s (Kristin’s dad’s) house, matching pajamas, old-time candy making, and carols around the piano help us to embrace the holiday spirit. Papa is a retired colonel in the Air Force and a pilot who now flies volunteer humanitarian missions. Kristin’s sister and brother are both married, and her sister has two children (ages 11 and 13) who make for playful and caring cousins.

Springs and summers add Florida and Ohio to our road-trip list. Charley’s brother (also adopted) gives tours of his big-rig truck and proudly gives presents adorned with Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns insignias. Grampy (Charley’s dad) is a former lawyer and entrepreneur who now lives close to the beaches, where we build castles and scour for shells and shark teeth. Family gatherings always include dog walks, Cleveland sports, and lots of laughs and hugs.

We also celebrate both of our moms, who have passed, through games, puzzles, and family reading—the things they loved the most!

What Led Us To Adoption

Our family has been blessed by adoption over and over again! Charley was adopted by a loving family as an infant, and he has always delighted in knowing that true family is about love and commitment, not about genetics. With cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents who have all been adopted, the next little member of our family will be surrounded by a family with adoption woven into the very fabric of our love. When we made the decision to expand our family circle with the addition of a precious little one, we knew we had the perfect history and foundation to embrace the beauty of adoption and support this unique and expansive family structure. We can’t wait to go on this journey with you!

more about Kristin

Occupation:: Artist/college professor
Religion:: Christian
Race:: Caucasian
Education:: MFA in Visual Arts
Food:: Anything with ginger
Hobby:: Gardening, growing orchids
Movie:: The Princess Bride
Favorite Tradition:: Baking Christmas cookies

Sport:: Fitness: kid hoisting & chasing :)
Holiday:: Christmas, Mother’s Day
Music Group:: Indigo Girls, Trampled by Turtles
TV Show:: Queer Eye
Book:: Griffin & Sabine
Subject in School:: Art, English, sustainability
Dream Vacation:: Hiking the Camino Santiago

more about Charley

Occupation:: College residential life
Religion:: Spiritual
Race:: Caucasian
Education:: MA in education
Food:: Salad, ribs, sushi, cookies
Hobby:: Surfing
Movie:: Elf
Favorite Tradition:: Summers in Northern Michigan

Sport:: Hockey, volleyball
Holiday:: Thanksgiving
Music Group:: Simon & Garfunkel
TV Show:: Finding Your Roots
Book:: Stephen King books
Subject in School:: Russian, theater, social studies
Dream Vacation:: Family train adventures in foreign lands

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