We were three miles up a river in a narrow canyon when we came to a fork in the road. We had three options: go straight and wade through deep water; go right and attempt to climb 10-15 foot waterfalls or turn around and go back. Me (Cole), being the more risk adverse person in our relationship proposed that turn around and go back. Sierra, being the risk taker and thrill seeker, wanted to not only go to the first boulder, but she wanted to see how many of the boulders and obstacles we could climb and conquer. So, on we went…
When we got to the first boulder, Sierra immediately climbed up and turned around to see if I would join her. Seeing her joy and strength gave me the courage and energy to do the same and so I climbed on up and followed her deeper into the canyon.
We continued for another 1-2 miles up the canyon overcoming around five large boulders with each getting more difficult the farther we went. Sierra led the way and continued to encourage and push me out my comfort zone.
By the end of the hike we were both exhausted and soaking wet, but so full of joy, peace, and lasting memories. Sierra’s appetite for adventure was satisfied and I had deep sense of joy from having been pushed out of my comfort zone to achieve something I likely would not have done on my own.
This story is an illustration of us as a couple (we love the outdoors and enjoying God’s creation), but it is also a beautiful picture of what marriage is all about – being able to push and challenge each other so that we may grow and become closer to the people that God has made us to be.
We technically met online, but not the way you would think. We met not looking to date, but rather as a way of trying to connect with our future classmates at college. We initially connected over a post about sports. From there we continued to connect over being student athletes, growing up in different states (Iowa and Colorado), and our faith.
For Cole, he could tell early on that Sierra was a special person and someone who had a lot of the characteristics he was looking for – athletic, pretty, and most importantly a heart for God and others. For Sierra, she immediately noticed his good work ethic in football and the classroom, his love for God, and that he was 6’3”.
Fast forward to the first day of college, where we finally met in person over lunch in the dining hall (and Cole met all his future in laws). Four years later, we graduated college, got married and began writing our new story together. Through the past eight years we have lived in Holland, Memphis, TN, then back to Holland. We have a dog and two wonderful children.
Our story has not always been easy, but it has been beautiful. It is a story of personal struggles and trials, self-discovery and growth, and joy and peace. We are two imperfect people trying to build a life together and raise our children well. We know that who we are and what we do as individuals and a couple has a direct impact on our children. We strive to always be learning and growing to become better people for our children and each other. Ultimately, our hope is that we are able to build a life of love, purpose, peace, and flourish
As a family of four, we love to go on bike rides, hike at Saugatuck Dunes, swim in Lake Michigan or at the pool, have Mario Kart competitions, visit the library, play outside (rain, snow, or shine), and have slow Saturday mornings. The kids especially love Saturday mornings because it’s their special TV time.
As a couple, we love to have game nights with friends, play sports together, watch new TV shows, and travel. We alternate with who gets to sleep in on Saturday and Sunday mornings and who gets up with the kids. It’s a nice way to reset after a long week.
Individually, Sierra participates in two book clubs, plays rec league slow-pitch softball, gardens, and loves to peruse a thrift store or used bookstore. Cole enjoys playing rec league basketball, working out with close friends, riding his bike, cooking on his Blackstone Grill, and having a quiet morning with a cup of coffee and a good book.
We respect each other’s quiet times and encourage everyone, even the kids, to pursue their own passions.
Gender: A Boy or A Girl
Ethnicities: Any Race and Ethnicity
Age: Newborn to 3 Years Old
Total of: 1 to 2 Children or 2 Siblings
We Live In: Holland
Our Faith: Christian
Pets: Dog(s)
Kids Already: Two Children Now
Child Care Plan: Stay-at-Home Parent
We believe that all of us were created to be in community with one another, which is why having a strong, supportive community is so important to us. Cole’s parents live in Holland, one brother and his wife live in Grand Rapids and are expecting their first child, and Cole’s other brother and wife live in a suburb of Chicago. They’re all close enough that we have at least four big family gatherings a year while seeing Cole’s parents frequently.
Sierra’s older sister and mother live in Pennsylvania, her younger sister and husband live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her brother and father live in Iowa. Despite the distance, they communicate frequently via text, phone call, or video call. And the distance doesn’t stop us either. We still see Sierra’s family four times a year during holidays or long weekend visits whether we visit them or they come to us.
The second half of our circle consists of so many wonderful friends who have kids with similar ages to ours. And those who don’t have any children, love ours so well. Game nights, kids’ playdates, family picnics, family soup nights, dad’s night out, mom’s night out, seasonal parties, etc. are frequently on our calendar.
The community we’ve created here is filled with people who will challenge us, encourage us, support us, and be there with us through difficult times. We’re lucky to have friends who we call family and we’re grateful that our kids will grow up knowing they are surrounded by loved ones.
Our quite multigenerational and multiethnic neighborhood is one where your name is known and your family is loved. When we get together as neighbors whether planned or impromptu, we have at least ten kids of all ages playing together. It’s a joy to watch their unique personalities and creativity come together for fun.
Our home is within walking distance to both Holland Public and Holland Christian Schools. We are five minutes away from our pediatrician’s office, Holland Hospital, Holland Aquatic Center, and some of our favorite playgrounds, including three that are indoor (great for wintertime!). It is only an eight-minute drive into downtown Holland where we attend church and enjoy all that Holland offers. We also live in close proximity to a lot of our good friends which allows for spontaneous get togethers.
We live in a four-bedroom home with two bathrooms, a basement with extra living space, and a fenced in backyard for our kids and dog to enjoy. However, our children tend to stay in our large front yard to ride bikes and play with the other neighborhood kids. We dream of expanding our home to have more space to host family and friends but that will be a few years down the road.
Education is extremely important to us. Sierra was a teacher in Memphis, Tennessee for three years and she saw first-hand how important education (or the lack thereof) can be in a child’s life. We truly believe each child deserves a good, equal education that fosters a love of learning, engages their curious minds, encourages creativity, develops life-long skills, and supports their individual learning style.
In Holland we have many great options for school and we have decided as a family to choose one of the schools that is within close proximity to our home (two public, one private). We believe it’s important to invest in our community and encourage age-appropriate independence (such as walking or biking to school, an opportunity Sierra wished she had as a kid). We believe we are our children’s greatest influence so we will support and work with the teachers to aid in our children’s personal growth.
We believe that the purpose or goal of discipline is discipleship. In other words, it is to teach and correct. We believe that everyone at their core is good inside (especially our children) and that our behavior is not our identity, but rather a symptom of some unmet need or desire. As such we do not believe that punishment for behavior is the best thing for our child in the long run.
Instead, we care about connection with our child. This means understanding them and their unmet needs while at the same time holding to firm boundaries that they are unable to hold for themselves. We want to teach our children the skills they need to become a confident, resilient adult.
We are Christians and our faith plays a big role in our life and how we view the world. We believe God calls us to be peacemakers in the world and to love our neighbors as ourselves. While we attended Hope College, we both spent a year in an intentional Christian living community that focused on the intersection between faith, justice, and racial reconciliation within the church.
That time had a profound impact on how we view our faith and the world around us, mainly that our faith is not meant to be just between us and God, but also us and the world around us. We are called to care for the immigrant, the widow, the oppressed, the orphan, the weak, and the hungry.
While we are Christians and it is very important to us, we also recognize the hurt that Christian’s have caused in so many people. We recognize that systemic racism and white privilege are real realities within our society, including our churches. But we live with a hope that one day Jesus will make all things new and reconcile all things to himself.
We attend a church that prides itself on being a place where names are known, stories are heard, and questions are honored. We appreciate the love, inclusion, and acceptance that it brings.
We hope all our children grow up with a deep knowledge of God’s love for them and for the world.
I was a middle school science teacher for three years before I became a mom. After I had my son, I stayed at home and became a nanny for four years. The girl I nannied is my son’s best friend now. I believe children learn the best through experiences, so I take my kids to local events such as story time at the farmers market, seasonal crafts at the library, local festivals, we visit the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens every year, and more.
We also have frequent play dates with friends, we go to playgrounds and parks, bike rides around our neighborhood, and the kids love to help feed the neighbor’s chickens. I get to watch my kids experience the world in new ways every day. I find it most enjoyable when their curious minds make sense of something new and to see their creativity come to life. It is a blessing to witness them grow into strong, kind, and intelligent human beings.
I will continue to stay at home with our children until all of them are enrolled in school full-time. When that happens, I will find a part-time job in order to have time to support our kids in school and extracurricular activities, while also supporting our family financially. If I have a job before all of our kids are in school, our childcare plan is to enroll them in the Outdoor Discovery Preschool fulltime if they are of age or split their time between the Outdoor Discovery Daycare and at home with the grandparents or a close friend.
During the summer before my senior year of college I landed a part-time internship at a software company as a software tester. Fast forward to today and I now have the honor and privilege of owning and running that company I interned for years ago. My favorite part of my job is being able to positively impact the lives of those that I work with and those that our company serves.
We work with tribal and local governments and all too often the software that our clients use is a large source of frustration and hindrance to them doing their jobs effectively. I find great meaning and purpose that my company can provide both exceptional software and customer service, so that our clients can focus on serving and supporting their communities to the fullest extent possible.
I also genuinely enjoy being a leader and serving my team in whatever way is needed. I want to create an environment where each person is valued for who they are and the gifts they bring to the team. It is so rewarding to see our team flourish and to know that I have a role and a responsibility in shaping that.
I plan on taking a couple weeks of leave during the initial weeks following placement. When I do go back to work the plan is for Sierra to continue working full time in the home, caring for our kids.
I grew up as Midwestern as one can get (without the farming), living outside of town in the country, next to corn fields, getting hit by deer while driving home, and appreciating the animals grazing the land. Small town Iowa was home until I moved to Michigan for college.
My ethnicity is a melting pot of Western European descent. My dad’s parents were Danish (mom) and German (dad), while my mom is a mixture of Irish, German, and English. Growing up we did not engage in traditions tied to our ethnicity, but we had many family traditions and celebrated the Christian traditions of Easter and Christmas. I grew up in a Christian household, attending church every Sunday and a youth program every Wednesday night.
It was a small church, but a strong community. As a family, we would take annual ski trips, numerous camping trips, one big family vacation to either Florida or Colorado, and annual family reunions. My siblings and I would attend summer camp every year from 3rd grade to 12th grade, eat cinnamon rolls on special days, and dress up for Halloween.
Since I did not grow up with strong cultural traditions, I have always enjoyed learning about other cultures from friends, co-workers, books, and local events. I like to stay curious and ask questions.
So far, our traditions as a family of four include buying DeBoers donuts before leaving on a road trip/vacation, picking apples and pumpkins with Cole’s family, using our handmade stockings on Christmas day, dressing up for Halloween, and many more to come as our family grows.
I grew up in Louisville, Colorado (a small town outside of Boulder) and lived in the same house until I moved to Michigan for college. My mom’s side of the family originates from Ireland and the Netherlands. My mom grew up most of her life in Colorado. My Dad’s side of the family originated from Germany and Ireland. Unlike my mom who grew up in the same place, my dad grew up in a military family that moved frequently across the US and other international military bases.
My family, Mom, Dad, and twin brothers, all live in the Midwest now. My parents live in Holland, one brother lives with his wife in Grand Rapids and are expecting their first child, and my other brother lives with his wife in Chicago.
Growing up we would always celebrate holidays as a family and food was a big part of it. For Christmas Eve we would feast on prime rib and then get up on Christmas morning for cinnamon rolls and bacon (Sierra and I have continued this with our family). New Year’s Eve we would bring out the fondue pots and have cheese and then chocolate fondue (my brothers and I always fought to avoid being kissed when someone inevitably lost their food in the pot). Then at Easter we would usually enjoy lamb chops all cooked and prepared by my mom.
You are strong. We respect your courage and selflessness for your child by considering adoption. We know the strength and endurance it takes to nurture a child in the womb and we can only imagine the strength, love and sacrifice it takes to make this decision. Thank you for considering our family as you decide what is best for you and your child. We are honored you took the time to learn our story.
If you choose us/if we are the right family for you and your child, we promise to love your child like our own two biological children and we promise to raise your child in a safe, nurturing, and peaceful home surrounded by laughter, love, and adventure.
We want to share and honor your role (and courage) in your little one’s life by maintaining a relationship with you by visits, video calls, and text updates if that is what you desire too. We care for you and your needs as well as your child’s. Thank you again for considering us as your child’s family. We hope and pray you find peace in your decision.
With Love and Admiration,
We believe that relationships are one of the most important and meaningful parts of life. That is why we hope this journey ends in a deep meaningful relationship with you. We envision a relationship that is built on a foundation of trust, honesty, and mutual respect. Our goal is to raise a child who knows their entire story which includes you, your strength and courage, and their native culture.
So, we promise to work together to find the perfect balance in our relationship – whether that’s frequent video calls, text updates with pictures, playdates at the park, or attending family traditions. We will honor and respect your boundaries for you and your child.
Thank you for considering us in this adoption journey. Your precious child will be welcomed with open arms, warm hearts, and an abundance of love from our family.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Sierra and Cole
We believe that relationships are one of the most important and meaningful parts of life. That is why we hope this journey ends in a deep meaningful relationship with you. We envision a relationship that is built on a foundation of trust, honesty, and mutual respect. Our goal is to raise a child who knows their entire story which includes you, your strength and courage, and their native culture.
So, we promise to work together to find the perfect balance in our relationship – whether that’s frequent video calls, text updates with pictures, playdates at the park, or attending family traditions. We will honor and respect your boundaries for you and your child.
Thank you for considering us in this adoption journey. Your precious child will be welcomed with open arms, warm hearts, and an abundance of love from our family.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Sierra and Cole
We believe that relationships are one of the most important and meaningful parts of life. That is why we hope this journey ends in a deep meaningful relationship with you. We envision a relationship that is built on a foundation of trust, honesty, and mutual respect. Our goal is to raise a child who knows their entire story which includes you, your strength and courage, and their native culture.
So, we promise to work together to find the perfect balance in our relationship – whether that’s frequent video calls, text updates with pictures, playdates at the park, or attending family traditions. We will honor and respect your boundaries for you and your child.
Thank you for considering us in this adoption journey. Your precious child will be welcomed with open arms, warm hearts, and an abundance of love from our family.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Sierra and Cole
