Scott & Rachel
Scott & Rachel
We are part of a Guinness World Record! On October 8, 2016, we renewed our vows at WMU’s homecoming tailgate party to break the record for most vow renewals in one place at one time!
We stood up with 1,200 other couples to say “I Do” again.
Afterwards, we celebrated with cake and champagne and a homecoming win for the Broncos!
We use this as a great excuse to celebrate 2 anniversaries each year!
Our Story
We met at Walgreens, where I was a pharmacy technician and Scott was a customer. I thought he was really cute and nice, so I looked him up on Facebook and added him as a friend.
After a few weeks of small talk and flirting, He asked me on a date and we’ve been inseparable ever since! Scott proposed by placing the ring in a Walgreens bottle that read “will you marry me?”.
I said yes, and we were married June 14, 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Our Relaxation & Fun
Things we like to do for fun are go out on dates to comedy shows or concerts, dinners, baseball games or just take our two dogs Abbey and Pierre for walks. Our 18 month old daughter Natalie keeps up busy reading books, playing with her tea set and curious George toys. She also loves to meet Grandma at the YMCA to go swimming each week.
We also spend as much time as we can with our families. We have lots of cousins and like to have game nights where we all get together and play board games and reminisce about funny stories from our childhood.
our adoption hopes
Gender: Any Gender, including an Ambiguous or Transitioning Gender Child
Ethnicities: Any Race and Ethnicity
Age: Newborn to 12 Months
Total of: 1 to 2 Children
a snapshot
of us
We Live In: Kalamazoo
Our Faith: Open to All Religions
Pets: Dog(s)
Kids Already: No Children Now
Child Care Plan: Licensed Child Care Center Licensed Child Care Home
Our Family & Friends
We both have very large, loving families that we see as often as we can. Both our families host reunions every summer where we get together and share great food, lawn games, and make memories. Most of our extended families still live close by so it is less than an hour drive to visit.
Our Home & Neighborhood
We live in a 4 bedroom, 2 bath Cape Cod style home in a diverse and family friendly neighborhood. We live within walking distance from many schools, parks, churches and lots of fun things to do.
What initially drove us to this neighborhood was the Kalamazoo Promise, which is a pledge by a group of anonymous donors to pay up to 100 percent of tuition at any of Michigan’s state colleges or universities for graduates of the public high schools of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Education
Education is very important to us, and we plan to make sure our children have the same passion for learning that we did. We hope to help them learn organize their time and support their desires to learn new things in and out of school.
Correction & Discipline
We believe in empathy for your child, setting age appropriate boundaries, giving them choices and helping them learn from their mistakes. We always encourage “using your words” to express and work through feelings.
Our Faith Views
Both of us grew up in Christian households, and attended church regularly as children. As adults we remain spiritual and live by Christian values but do not limit ourselves to one faith.
Scott's Career
For work I plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment and oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment. I love the puzzle like nature of my job and it’s like working with Legos but better!
I will be able to take 2 weeks paid leave with the option for FMLA leave to bond with our adopted baby. My mother, Madeline will also come stay to help out and bond with the new baby after placement as well.
Rachel's Career
I work at a hospital inpatient pharmacy where I confirm accuracy of home medications on all patients within 24 hours of admission to the hospital and prepare IV medications that are given to patients. These IV solutions might contain antibiotics, chemotherapy solutions, lifesaving medications for heart attack or stroke, or nutritional supplements.
My favorite part of my job is talking with patients and making sure they get the medications and treatments they need while they are in the hospital. I have a great group of coworkers and they make it a pleasure to come to work every day.
My employer allows me to take 4 weeks of paid leave to bond with my newly adopted baby. I can take an additional 8 weeks off using my vacation time to stay home a total of 12 weeks. After my leave is up, I will return to working nights and Scott will be continuing childcare at night. We are also fortunate enough to have help with childcare from Scott’s family (Grandma and Grandpa).
Scott
My family background is mainly Swedish, German and French. However, we tend to stick to more American traditions. We enjoy spending time together watching baseball, talking about cars, and grilling steaks. We also gather at holidays for lots of good food and great company.
Rachel
My family background is Irish, English and Native American. I feel like our family traditions are very similar with any culture’s: spending time doing things we love with people we love. Holidays and gatherings always have a “the more the merrier” policy and everyone is welcome. At Christmas, it is not uncommon to find a white elephant gift with your name on it under the tree!
We know that this is a confusing time for you while you are trying to figure out the best option for you and your precious baby. We hope that you feel supported and loved no matter where you are at in your journey. We admire you so much for choosing life and considering adoption.
If you decide to make an adoption plan, we want to assure you that we promise to respect you and whatever level of openness and contact that you want to have with your child.
We promise to cherish and love your child with all of our hearts and souls and to provide a safe, happy home and a life with every opportunity possible.
Know that we are praying for you and your sweet baby throughout your pregnancy and hope that God will fill you with peace in whatever decision you make.
- Child Separation, Attachment, and Bonding
- Child Development, Including Safe Sleep Practices for Children
- Behavioral and Emotional Needs of Adoptive Children
- Impact of Adoption on the Family
We have been so fortunate to develop an ideal relationship with Natalie’s first mom, and our hope for our next baby remains the same. We enjoy sending text and photo updates often (day to day cuteness as well as milestones/pediatrician updates), video chatting, talking on the phone, and visiting whenever possible (especially birthdays!). We always want our children to grow up knowing who they are and where they came from. We are very close with our families and want our first families to feel included as well. There’s no such thing as having too many people to love!
OUR COMFORT LEVEL WITH DIFFERENT ADOPTION OPTIONS
- Very Comfortable
- Mostly Comfortable
- Unsure
- A Bit Uneasy
- Not Comfortable
We have been so fortunate to develop an ideal relationship with Natalie’s first mom, and our hope for our next baby remains the same. We enjoy sending text and photo updates often (day to day cuteness as well as milestones/pediatrician updates), video chatting, talking on the phone, and visiting whenever possible (especially birthdays!). We always want our children to grow up knowing who they are and where they came from. We are very close with our families and want our first families to feel included as well. There’s no such thing as having too many people to love!
Just one more thing...We have been so fortunate to develop an ideal relationship with Natalie’s first mom, and our hope for our next baby remains the same. We enjoy sending text and photo updates often (day to day cuteness as well as milestones/pediatrician updates), video chatting, talking on the phone, and visiting whenever possible (especially birthdays!). We always want our children to grow up knowing who they are and where they came from. We are very close with our families and want our first families to feel included as well. There’s no such thing as having too many people to love!