VIEWS + BELIEFS

Open Adoption - Our ultimate goal.

Our goal is to have a child-centered adoption, meaning we will always do what is best for the child. We have learned through classes and training that understanding their biology and adoption story is crucial to an adopted child’s development and identity. To us, adoption means growing our family, not just with children. We cannot imagine raising a child without knowing and loving the parents who gave them life. Our heart is to have a relationship with our child’s biological family however they desire, with open communication and possible visits. We know that relationships can be hard, but they’re worth the effort. We have heard devastating stories from birth parents who were promised an open adoption and then the family cut off contact — this is something we would never do and we promise to stay committed to our promises.

Faith - It’s not just about going to church.

While we rarely miss a Sunday, our faith is much more personal than gathering in a building. Our home will be a place where peace and joy are a priority and God will be present in everyday conversations. The life of Jesus is our example of how to show God’s love to all people. Sometimes that looks like praying together as a family or helping someone in our community. Our kids will be exposed to (and likely participate) in doing random acts of kindness for strangers, serving and doing life with people at church, participating in church activities, and telling others about God’s love for them personally.

Political + Social Views - People first.

We don’t adhere to a specific political party, but select candidates that align best with our values. We will always be Pro-Life, but along with being Pro-Life, we are Pro-Mom and Pro-Family. We believe mothers should be able to raise children and accomplish their dreams. We support/donate monthly to our local Pregnancy Resource Center as we have seen first hand the amazing resources they provide for mothers and families with children. We believe everyone is entitled to quality of life and should have resources available to them to promote success.

Race - Adopting and celebrating culture.

We are open to any race/ethnicity for our future children. Our desire is to include their heritage into our family, teaching them about their culture and embracing it by celebrating new holidays or trying new authentic foods. For example: Our son’s birth mom was raised on the island of Guam, so we have learned a lot about the island and would love to visit to show our son where his ancestors are from. We also understand the importance of creating opportunities for racial mirrors. While there is much diversity represented within our church family and close friends, the majority of our immediate family members are white, with the exception of Torie’s step-mom, who is from Nigeria. Should we adopt a child of color, our efforts would be always to celebrate their ethnicity. We recognize that love alone does not protect children from the harm the world can cause, but we are committed to raising our children to be confident in their identity, no matter their skin color.