Early in our dating relationship, we agreed that we wanted to be dads someday. Quickly we realized that we wanted to build our family through adoption. We both have close friends who were adopted and Chris grew up with two cousins who were adopted from China. Those two little girls completed his family in an unexpected and joyful way! Their stories were celebrated and their heritage was honored.

We value connection, honesty, communication, and love. We were raised with the idea that loving others is the best way we show our love of God. The real master of our house is our three-year old dog, Arthur. It’s nice of him to let us live there. 

Matthew about Chris

Chris immediately caught my eye because of his good looks and his genuine character. Chris lives for a good game night with friends and loves to talk about and perform musical theatre. I admire that Chris is close to his friends and family – even though some live far away. Chris is predictable and caring. He listens to my problems and is a constant strength for me. The first time Chris met my family, he started reading a book out loud to my nephews with different voices for each of the characters. I’m certain he had honed that nurturing skill as a teacher, but he kept them engaged for two hours! From that moment on, I knew he would not only be a great husband, but also a wonderful dad.

Chris about Matthew

As I arrived at the restaurant for our first date, I remember spotting Matthew across the parking lot getting out of his car. It was a gorgeous summer day and I thought he was the most handsome man I had ever seen! As we got to know each other that first day, I came to realize that there is a lot more to him than the cute cleft in his chin. Matthew is the hardest working person I know. From growing the non-profit he works for, to remodeling our house, to spending all Saturday making home-made bread; Matthew lives out his love for others through acts of service. He is patient, understanding, and unconditionally supportive. Seeing him with our nephews has made me look forward to the day that he is a dad. I know he is going to be a great one!

Our Family and Community

Our families play a large role in our lives. Our extended family lives in Missouri, Arkansas, and  Kentucky. Although we are separated by distance we love to celebrate holidays together. When we can’t be together physically, we have found other ways to nurture our relationships. FaceTime and Skype have been blessings! We are also fortunate to have close friendships that have become family in their own right. When we shared our hope to adopt with the people we love, they were so excited for us. Chris’s parents are especially excited to be first-time grandparents.

We live in a walkable neighborhood in west Indianapolis. We are a block away from a cute main street with shops and restaurants.  We love to regularly take advantage of the walking trail nearby, and so does Arthur. He enthusiastically greets everyone we meet! We are within walking distance of several parks and schools. Our house has a fenced backyard and our whale-themed nursery is ready to go! Our church is a short drive away. We feel fortunate to be part of this diverse, open, and welcoming group of people.

Parenting

We are looking forward to being parents and providing a nurturing, loving, and joy-filled home for a child. We want to create an environment where our child feels safe, confident, and comfortable to ask us anything. We want them to have the opportunity to explore and discover their passions. They may grow to be artists, bookworms, musicians, or athletes. We will be our child’s cheerleader in anything they pursue.

We both plan to take paternity leave. Chris works with many teachers who are parents and they have been generous with excellent child-care recommendations. Eventually, we hope for our child to go to school with Chris. There is a fantastic pre-school program at the school.

Thank you for reading our profile! We look forward to getting to know you!