We were blessed to foster two boys prior to our adoption of Lucas, so we have practiced as a parenting team for several years now… And that’s exactly what we are as parents, a team. We balance each other out. For example, Elizabeth plays kid songs on the way to daycare with Lucas, while Drew will play Bob Marley, Metallica, and Garth Brooks. Elizabeth is very nurturing, where Drew is a typical boy dad and will be rough and rowdy with Lucas, especially right before bed time. Although we bring different qualities to our parenting team, our overall goal is to help any children that come into our lives to grow into smart, kind humans that value family, faith, and education. We strive to provide a life full of experiences and adventures to help achieve that goal. We want to show our love through words as well as actions. We will raise our child(ren) to know their adoption story and be proud of who they are and where they are from.
We are blessed to live in our spacious rural home for over 10 years now that sits on several acres of land. There is grass to run in, woods to explore, a big garage for Drew to work in and Lucas to make mischief in, and last but not least, “Lukey’s playground” (swings, slide, monkey bars, and a sandbox) that he loves to share with his cousins or friends when they come over.
In our community, we have several parks, indoor play areas, a YMCA with a pool, and highly-rated schools. We are within an hour’s drive of several large cities with museums, zoos, and other activities for kids as well.
During the year, we like to pick out a Christmas ornament from something fun or somewhere we have been during that year to put on the tree. It makes our Christmas tree so special to set up each year as we remember our cherished time together as a family.
Halloween is Lucas’s favorite holiday and lately has revolved around whatever he is into at the moment. He has been Maui, Olaf, and Charlie Brown. We wear shirts that complement his costumes, creating some adorable family costumes and cute photos to cherish. Lukey can’t wait for some duo costumes in the future to share with a sibling!
Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually large gatherings with sometimes upwards of 40 people at one of our relative’s houses! It’s a noisy, entertaining, and busy time that is full of laughter and love. There are too many nieces and nephews to count, and they are always causing a ruckus, but it’s a great time.
We have family both near and far. We both have sisters with 5 year old girls and 1 year old boys! Lukey loves his cousins and will often ask to talk to them on the phone when we can’t see them in person, so we spend a lot of time on FaceTime with family and friends.
Each day, Elizabeth checks in with her parents and sister, always sending their Wordle results first thing in the morning. Communication continues throughout the day via text messages and several times weekly there is a group FaceTime. She texts or talks with her sister daily, often going back and forth on parenting successes and sometimes the woes of a sleepless night. They are best friends!
Lucas attends an in-home daycare where he gets just as much love as at home…probably spoiled a little more than at home! His daycare provider is also from Arizona, not far from where Drew grew up. So there was an instant connection, and we often see her and her family outside of daycare. Daycare provides pictures and updates on him throughout the day. We love how excited he gets each morning to be there! He thrives when he is learning with kids of all ages, all in one place. For the first 12 weeks, Elizabeth will be off work to bond with a new baby before they will get spoiled at daycare right alongside their big brother.
We are extremely blessed to have a great relationship with Lukey’s birth family and have spent his birthday with them each year. We send updates, exchange pictures, and communicate openly. Lukey even got to go to his birth mom’s graduation! Initially, we were uncertain about the openness of adoption, but through the education we received from Adoptions of Indiana, we are so happy that we chose an open adoption. It has truly turned out to be one of the best parts about adopting. It’s heartwarming to see the connection Lucas has with his birth mother when they see each other.
We are excited for another opportunity to share similar moments with you. However, we know each situation is different, and we are open to all types of communication. We want what is best for you at this point in your life and will always be willing to work with you in the future, if you change your mind about the type of adoption you are seeking.
We are ready for another chapter in our adoption journey! Thank you for spending time getting to know a little about us. We look forward to learning about you.
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