“Wanna hear a joke?” That was how it began for us back in middle school. Phil stood up in band class to share a joke with everyone. He was giggling before he could even get it started. Rachel rolled her eyes. “This boy is so obnoxious,” she thought. The teacher gave a sigh and said, “Sure Phil, but make it quick.” Phil grinned, he knew this was gonna be good. “Alright. How do you catch a polar bear?” The class snickered.
They had no idea, but they knew Phil, the class clown, was up to something. “I don’t know, how do you catch one?” the teacher replied. “Well…” he began, “First you have to cut a hole in the ice. Then, you’re going to need a can of peas so you can dump the peas into the hole. Don’t worry, the peas will float.” Phil paused for effect. “Okay,” the teacher said, “let’s wrap this up.” Phil smirked, “Well, when the polar bear goes to take a pea, you kick him in the ice hole… BAHAHAHAHA!!!”
Let’s just say the teacher was not pleased. “PHIL! That’s totally inappropriate!” Phil couldn’t stop laughing. “That’s it!” the teacher said, “you’re sitting up in front with the clarinets for the rest of the week!” Phil looked over at the clarinet section and there was a beautiful brown-haired girl named Rachel. He brought his chair over next to hers. “Hi! Can I sit here?” …And the rest is history.
We are best friends who met in middle school band class. We started dating our junior year of high school. Phil proposed on Christmas of 2006 and we were married at a beautiful Christmas ceremony in December of 2007. We are fortunate to be each other’s favorite person.
We have always dreamed of starting a family together and adoption has always been one of our goals. We take time to talk to each other and share about our days. We are intentional about gauging how the other is feeling and try to support each other every day.
We enjoy spending time together playing board games, watching tv, going for walks, visiting friends and family, and especially trying new restaurants in Grand Rapids. We love good food! :) We love playing fetch with our two golden retrievers, Lionel Richie and Pam Beesly (yes, those are their real names).
We also love spending time apart! Everybody needs alone time and we try to give each other space to enjoy time on their own. Phil likes to play video games and board games with his friends. Rachel love to go camping, read books, and try new recipes.
Gender: Any Gender, including an Ambiguous or Transitioning Gender Child
Ethnicities: Any Race and Ethnicity
Age: Newborn to 2.5 Years
Total of: 1 to 2 Children or 2 Siblings
We Live In: Grand Rapids Area
Our Faith: Christian
Pets: No Pets
Kids Already: One Child Now
Child Care Plan: Licensed Child Care Center  Stay-at-Home Parent Â
We are both close with our parents. Phil’s parents are divorced, but they get along really well. Rachel’s parents have been married for 38 years. Phil is an only child, but Rachel has two sisters. They both are married and have children of their own, all under the age of 6.
We love to spend time with both our family and friends playing games, going out to eat, sitting around a campfire, and just being together. It’s very important to us that our future children get to experience the love and belonging and friendships that can happen in a healthy family environment. We plan on many future play dates and sleepovers with our friends and family.
Our household is stable and family-oriented. We currently live in a house that comfortably meets our present needs and can easily accommodate another child (or two!). It provides a safe and supportive environment for our child, Theo, with plenty of space for fun family activities (playing) and quality time together. We value having a home that feels welcoming and consistent, where our child(ren) can grow and thrive.
We live in the greater Grand Rapids area, which offers a family-friendly community, access to great schools, parks, and healthcare, and opportunities for social and cultural activities.
We plan to remain in the Grand Rapids area long-term, as it provides both personal and professional stability. If and when we move, it would be to a larger home that can better accommodate additional children. Our goal is to create a household environment that continues to prioritize stability, love, and opportunities for growth as our family expands.
We believe education is vital because it opens doors and gives children more choices in life. We do not think college has to be the goal for every child, but we do expect strong effort and regular attendance in school through high school.
Education has made a big difference in our own lives, and we believe it is the key to a future full of opportunities. We also want our children to see many different ideas, cultures, and experiences, so they can grow into open-minded, thoughtful people.
We believe discipline should be patient and loving. We never use physical punishment. Instead, we use timeouts, calm talking, and listening.
For example, when our son has a tantrum, we do not punish him. We first ask if he needs a hug, a rest, or maybe a snack. We try to understand what he is feeling and help him calm down. Our goal is to guide him with care, not blame or shame.
Faith is part of our lives, but in a simple way. We believe in Jesus and try to follow His example of love, kindness, and caring for others. We are more focused on living out those values than on strict rules or church traditions.
We do not force our children to go to church or believe a certain way. Instead, we want them to learn about love, respect, and treating others well. If they choose faith as they grow, that will be their choice. What matters most to us is that they feel safe, accepted, and loved no matter what.
I love working with middle schoolers and high schoolers. It’s a fantastic age where kids are becoming individuals and finding themselves. I love that my job is to be a part of that. I also really love to teach. It’s exciting when I get to help students discover new things on their own.
Following placement, I’m able to stay home with the child(ren) and attend to all needs (I work from home). In addition to a 4-week paternity leave, I’ll have the flexibility of being home with the child indefinitely.
What I find most enjoyable about being a nurse practitioner in palliative care is the opportunity to walk alongside patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. I value the time I get to spend listening to their stories, understanding what matters most to them, and then helping them make decisions that align with their values.
Unlike some fast-paced areas of medicine, palliative care allows me to slow down, build relationships, and focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than just the disease. It’s incredibly meaningful to provide relief—whether that’s managing pain, easing anxiety, or simply being present. Knowing that I can make even a small difference during such a difficult time is deeply rewarding.
My employer provides a 12-week maternity leave, which I will be taking following the placement of a child(ren). This was what I did for our first adoption. During that time, my focus will be on bonding with the child. After maternity leave, I plan to return to my NP role on a part-time basis, continuing my current responsibilities while working with my team to ensure a smooth transition back into practice. My long-term plan is to remain in this position, as it offers both professional fulfillment and stability for my family.
I was born in Virginia, and moved to Michigan when I was 5 years old. My family, both my Mom’s and Dad’s side, is of European descent. My mom and dad live nearby and I see them regularly. My extended family was a large part of my growing up years.
I am an only child, but my cousins were like my brothers and we did everything together. My Dad’s side of the family still gathers for Christmas and also a family reunion. We share a big meal and spend time laughing and reminiscing on our shared memories.
I was born and raised in Michigan. My family heritage includes German, Irish, French-Canadian, and Native American ancestry. My parents have been married for 38 years. I have two younger sisters who are both married. I also have two nephews and two nieces. My family also includes grandparents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
One of my favorite family traditions is our annual camping trip that my dad’s parents started over 40 years ago! My extended family still spends ten days every July together at Higgins Lake. We love spending time together visiting, boating, sitting around the campfire, and relaxing with each other.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our family. We know this is a big decision, and we want you to know that we see it with love and respect.
We are parents to our son, Theo. He is the light of our lives, and we hope for him to have a sibling. We want him to grow up sharing life with a brother or sister—playing, learning, and supporting each other. We also believe having a sibling who is also adopted can bring comfort. It gives them someone to relate to and to walk with as they grow and ask questions about adoption.
We promise to raise our children with patience, love, and openness.
With love and respect,
In our hearts, we hope adoption is not just about growing our family, but about building a bigger circle of love around a child. In the very best circumstances, we imagine our adoption experience to be full of honesty, respect, and connection between us and the birth family.
Our dream is for the child to always know their story, and to know they are loved by both families. We hope for an open adoption where there is room for updates, visits when possible, and real relationships—not just with us as parents, but also with you as an important part of their life.
We picture sending photos, sharing milestones, and creating space for conversations as the child grows. We would love for them to feel the comfort of knowing where they came from, and to have the chance to experience love from all sides. We hope adoption will not feel like a loss of connection, but the start of a bigger family tied together by love for the same child.
In our hearts, we hope adoption is not just about growing our family, but about building a bigger circle of love around a child. In the very best circumstances, we imagine our adoption experience to be full of honesty, respect, and connection between us and the birth family.
Our dream is for the child to always know their story, and to know they are loved by both families. We hope for an open adoption where there is room for updates, visits when possible, and real relationships—not just with us as parents, but also with you as an important part of their life.
We picture sending photos, sharing milestones, and creating space for conversations as the child grows. We would love for them to feel the comfort of knowing where they came from, and to have the chance to experience love from all sides. We hope adoption will not feel like a loss of connection, but the start of a bigger family tied together by love for the same child.
Just one more thing...In our hearts, we hope adoption is not just about growing our family, but about building a bigger circle of love around a child. In the very best circumstances, we imagine our adoption experience to be full of honesty, respect, and connection between us and the birth family.
Our dream is for the child to always know their story, and to know they are loved by both families. We hope for an open adoption where there is room for updates, visits when possible, and real relationships—not just with us as parents, but also with you as an important part of their life.
We picture sending photos, sharing milestones, and creating space for conversations as the child grows. We would love for them to feel the comfort of knowing where they came from, and to have the chance to experience love from all sides. We hope adoption will not feel like a loss of connection, but the start of a bigger family tied together by love for the same child.
