Tony (according to Krysta)

The world needs more Tonys in it. He is the most genuinely kind person I have ever known, and as cliché as it sounds, he makes me want to be a better person every day. He is slow to judge, preferring to listen to, talk with, and get to know someone rather than make assumptions about them. He is endlessly patient, which is just one reason I am positive he will be an incredible father. He is also great at encouraging people to be who they are and express themselves in a way that feels comfortable to them. The thing I’m most looking forward to is seeing Tony teach our child – whether it’s how to ride a bike, how to play a new game, or helping with homework, I think he will bring an ideal mix of patience, encouragement, and a “don’t be afraid to try new things” attitude. There is, truly, nobody else with whom I would rather parent a child!

Krysta (according to Tony)

It’s difficult to sufficiently communicate who Krysta is in only a few sentences. From very early on in our relationship, I knew she was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Whenever I express a hope or dream, she is fully behind me. She has a passion and love for life that I haven’t encountered with anyone else. Anything that she cares about she puts all of her energy into. She’s also wise beyond her years. She isn’t always a very talkative person, but when she has something to say, people listen because they know it will be worth listening to. Because of these things and so many other things that I cannot list here, I know that she is the only person I want to coparent with. She will give our children the love, support and direction they need to become their best and truest selves. I knew this from the first time she met my family. My niece Gianna was nine at the time, and we were all at my parents house for dinner. Gianna went directly to Krysta and asked if she could interview her. Krysta was more than happy to go along with it. Gianna had prepared a long list of questions that she wanted Krysta to answer to make sure that she would fit well in the family. Krysta handled  the interrogation better than anyone could have hoped. She was kind and patient as well as open and honest. I can’t imagine a better partner to go through this life with or to coparent with. I should also mention that Krysta received Gianna’s approval that night, along with the acceptance of the rest of the family.

Our Lives, Our Family, and Our Community

The things we value the most, and the things that make our relationship work, are openness and honesty. We are committed to talking to each other about things, even when we’re upset or frustrated. We work hard to do this with love and respect for each other, as well as an openness to learn from each other. We would like to encourage this same openness with our child. We have as much to learn from them as they have to learn from us, and we want there to be space in our family for them to express their truest thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

We love spending time together most of all, whether we’re cooking a meal, playing a game, or just watching TV or reading a book. Whatever we’re doing, you can be sure we’re cracking jokes and making each other laugh. We visit with our families fairly often, since they all live within about an hour and a half of our house. Both sets of grandparents are very excited to welcome a new grandchild! When we’re not spending time as a family, Tony can sometimes be found in the garage working on a carpentry project, and Krysta may be reading a book or playing the piano. Sam is usually snoozing nearby (or chewing on a rawhide bone). Tony’s work schedule is very flexible, and he often has the option of working from home. Krysta is on a school schedule, so she has breaks throughout the year and summers off. Our schedules will leave us plenty of time to spend together as a family.

Over the past year, we have been getting more involved in our church, and we are especially enjoying getting to know other families with young children. We love how open and supportive that community is, especially as we’ve been in this adoption process. They are all really looking forward to welcoming a new baby.

We’re very excited to start this adventure and are looking forward to meeting you!