Hello! We are Joshua and Shaun. We have been together for 17 years and have been happily married for 14 of those years! Joshua is a Professor of Theatre at a local University, and Shaun is a primary care physician. We have a happy home with our dog, Zoey, and our cat, Rory; they are best friends. We love to travel – Disney World is one of our favorite vacation spots. Shaun actually proposed to Joshua in front of “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!” We are total Disney nerds and are super excited to share our favorite destination with a child. We have always wanted to open our home, expand our family, and provide a loving environment full of joy and fun. We’ve been committed to the idea of adoption for a long time and are excited by the prospect of growing our family and providing for the health, well-being, and happiness of a child. Thanks for visiting our profile – we look forward to possibly meeting you soon!
Joshua and Shaun met on a social dating website and have been inseparable ever since. As far as personalities go, we are the perfect complement to each other – Shaun tends to be a bit more practical, and Joshua tends to be a bit more emotion-driven but we understand each others’ love languages and enjoy spreading affection. We love to spend time with family, both immediate and chosen, and visiting local restaurants, supporting local businesses, participating in community events (including live theatre performances), and appreciating art and museums. Being involved in the community and in our families’ lives gives us great pleasure and we are thrilled by the prospect of doing that with a child!
Joshua (According to Shaun)
Joshua is going to be a wonderful father to a child, as he is already a wonderful husband to me. He is someone who truly embodies compassion for others, is selfless to a fault, and only sees the goodness he can bring out of whomever he meets. He shows this when he talks about his students and delights in teaching them new things and seeing them grow. He is wise and patient, respectful, and family-oriented. When he sang at my sister’s wedding, he lit up the room and guests and family still remark on the beauty of his voice to this day. He enjoys creating art, storytelling, and has a huge imagination, especially when it comes to the theatre and music. He puts his whole heart and soul into the productions he directs and is a true leader. He also has a childlike curiosity about the world that I admire, as well as a fantastic sense of humor. I couldn’t be prouder of what he’s accomplished in his life since I’ve known him. He’s “Simply the Best,” and I’d marry him all over again!
Shaun (According to Joshua)
I knew pretty early on in our relationship that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Shaun. In many ways, Shaun saved me. My life was pretty rocky when we met 17 years ago, and Shaun has taught me so much about standing on my own. His work ethic is incredible, and he accomplishes any task he sets out to do. He is passionate about taking care of those around him and has a wonderful sense about what others need in a moment of crisis. He has a sense of compassion that extends not only to his family, both biological and chosen, but also to the community and the world in general. He is fiercely loyal and supportive and that is one of the things I love most about him. It is these attributes that I know are going to make him a wonderful father and a fantastic mentor to a child.
Shaun is the foundation on which our entire relationship is based. But he’s also a ton of fun! He has a wonderful sense of humor and sort of playfulness that makes even the most mundane days a treat. He takes life seriously, but also knows when to lighten the mood and just celebrate life itself. He completes me in more ways than I can list here and has been a wonderful partner and best friend. I’m thrilled to embark on a journey of parenting a child with him and can’t wait for him to bring his sense of compassion, loyalty, and fun to the life of our growing family.
Our Family & Chosen Family
Both of us maintain close relationships with our families, although they live in different parts of the country. (Joshua’s family lives in Indiana, Shaun’s in New Jersey.) We speak to our families on a regular basis and travel to visit them quite often, particularly given that Shaun’s sister and brother-in-law are expanding their family through surrogacy.
Joshua grew up an only child and was raised by a single mother (his birth father was not part of his life) for most of his childhood. He also had a supportive aunt, uncles, and a grandmother who helped raise him. They lived in a close-knit community in Indiana and, even though they struggled financially, he felt surrounded by people who he could love and trust to be there for him. Shaun grew up with his parents and younger sister in a quiet suburban neighborhood in New Jersey. There were many other children in his neighborhood to play with. He got to experience family traditions and he was supported and encouraged to follow his dreams.
We have several close and diverse friends who we consider to be our “chosen family.” These family members live in different areas across the country (which means more traveling!) and are very excited to welcome a little one into our big, extended circle! Some of these friends have also expanded their families through adoption!
Our Values
Our shared values as a couple are to always respect each other’s opinions and points of view, and as we grow our family, we would extend those ideas to a child as well. We want to nurture a child and instill a sense of self and a sense of pride into their outlook on life. We would like to teach patience, kindness, respect, compassion, and, most of all, love for themselves and others. These are the values that we were raised with, and we would like to pass them down to a little one. Our goal would be to lead them along a path in life that encourages them to become a self-sufficient, socially aware adult. Our family, both biological and chosen, are important to us and will be an important factor in the child’s development as well.
Our Community
We live in a wonderful community to raise a child! We are near several public parks, swimming pools, and we are in close proximity to the local school system. There are plenty of cultural events, fairs, and social gatherings that provide a means to interact with the general public. We are constantly learning about new things to do that our community has to offer. We live in an open-minded community, which fosters a sense of inclusion and kindness towards others. We have happily settled here and experienced these attributes firsthand from our welcoming neighbors. Also, we are located within a short drive to major surrounding cities, making day trips a real possibility for a fun outing!
Additionally, we have made our own “communities” within our workplaces and consider our colleagues to be part of our larger friend groups. Joshua’s work at a local university taps him into a more diverse social network, and Shaun’s work as a physician does the same.
We are truly committed to creating a warm, loving, healthy environment for a child. Our priority is to create a safe, brave space for a baby to grow, learn, and thrive. We would foster open dialogue between ourselves and a child, allowing them to come to us with any issues they may have. We would treat a child with respect and patience, encouraging them to show their personalities and be their authentic selves. Additionally, we are wholly committed to sharing the adoption story with the little one at an early age, answering any questions honestly with openness and empathy.
We want to thank you for visiting our profile and for considering making us a part of your journey. We know this cannot be an easy time for you, but we do want you to know that we honor and respect your decisions in this process, and we are supportive of your well-being. Much love and peace!
