Waiting Family Profile

From Rebekah - Dan is a wonderful husband and father!  He is fun to be around, caring, patient, and has a huge heart for others.  He works hard to provide for us, but is never too busy to take time for people.  He is very talented at building things and loves coming up with cool things for home, church, and school.  He is active and enjoys being outside, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and playing sports.  Spending time with family and friends is a large priority for him.  He is a very hands on type of dad, spending lots of time with our girls, playing with them, and supporting their interests.  I am grateful to be his wife and so thankful to able to do life together! 

I grew up in a loving Christian home.  My parents have been together for over 45 years.  I have a twin sister and younger brother close to my age.  Both are married with kids.  All of my family live in the same area in New Jersey along with most of my extended family.  They are very involved in each others lives, getting together often, helping each other with projects, and going on vacation together.  We are able to visit them for a good portion of our summers, and we video chat or talk on the phone every week.  My family is thrilled for another adoption.  They are great and I love them a lot. - Dan 

Adoption has been a special part of Dan's family for a long time.  One of his Uncles and Aunts adopted their 3 children.  They have adopted from China, South Korea, and here in the US.  His cousins were thrilled with us when we were able to add our girls to our family through adoption as well.   We stay close with them, especially with the oldest daughter, and are so glad that our girls will have them to be able to relate with and talk to about their adoption stories growing up.  

Dan teaches math, science, and PE for Jr. & Sr. High at our Christian school, as well as coaches the boys' basketball team.  

• Spending time with family and friends
• Woodworking
• Sports
• Outdoor recreation
• Skiing  

From Dan - Rebekah is affectionate, loyal, and kind.  She really enjoys getting out on adventures and seeing new places.  Family and friends are very important to her.  She holds these relationships very close to her and cares deeply about them.  Rebekah has a nurturing heart and great compassion for children.  She is a tremendous mother.  Her style, detail, and beauty, wrapped in love and care has made her a wonderful homemaker.  She is an excellent wife to me, and I love her! 

I come from a wonderful, large, fun loving family.  My parents were married for 40 years and have shown me a great example of how to love and support each other in marriage.  My Dad passed away a few years ago, and we miss him dearly.  I'm the oldest of eight children.  I have 4 sisters and 3 brothers.  With so many siblings there is never a dull moment when we are together.  Including our daughters, there are 10 young cousins now with 2 more coming this summer!  Get togethers are often a little chaotic, but always so much fun!  My mom as well as the majority of my siblings, live in Wisconsin.  We often spend most of our summer split between NJ and WI with both Dan's and my families.  My siblings and I have all stayed pretty close, love spending time together, and even going on vacations together.  My family is thrilled to welcome another grandchild into the family soon! 

Adoption has always been a part of my family growing up.  When my mom was a teenager, she made an adoption plan for her first daughter.  I remember learning about and seeing pictures of my half sister when I was young.  When my sister grew up, she came to meet us and thank my mom for the life she gave her.  It was such a special time for all of us and we have since stayed in touch.  Even though she lives in Florida, we were able to go to her wedding and see her a few times since our first meeting.  Seeing how God worked in my mom and sister's story, I knew that I wanted adoption to be a part of my story one day.  Also watching firsthand some of the joys and sorrows my mom has experienced as a birth mom over the years, has given me a greater compassion for both of my daughters' birth mamas as well. I pray for them and think of them both daily.  I am forever grateful to them for giving their daughters' life and giving me the privilege to raise them.  Their sacrifice will never be lost on me.  

Rebekah has taught Pre-K, and coached our JR High/High school girl's volleyball team in the past, but is currently home with our girls. She still helps out at school from time to time and recently has played the piano for our elementary and high school choirs in our school’s Christmas and upcoming Spring program.

• Spending time with family and friends
• Taking pictures of our daughters
• Taking our daughters to the zoo, local museums, farms, or state fair
• Music - Rebekah plays the piano and flute proficiently and also can play a little bit on the harp. She also loves singing with her sisters when they are together
• Hiking, as well as exploring the beach and tide pools in our state
• Drinking coffee
• Watching her favorite show, Gilmore Girls! 

Eliana has an adventurous spirit and is always wanting to play, climb and explore.  She is sweet with a little bit of sass, a blooming artist, and lover of cats.  She also loves to build with Legos. You will often find her building with them, reading another book, or making her own ninja course in the family room. She was thrilled when her prayers for a baby sister were answered and she has been a great big sister! She is excited about the possibility of one more little one joining our family. 

Ruby is always making us laugh with her silly faces and joy for life.  She loves listening and dancing to music.  Her birth mama is an amazing singer and Ruby seems to share her love for music.  Since the day we brought Ruby home from the hospital, we have played for her, her birth mama's recordings of her singing songs in Spanish.  Ruby is part Hispanic, so we have added bilingual books to our library which she enjoys.  She also loves animals and trying to give them kisses, and is happiest when her big sister is around.  Eliana is probably her favorite person and seeing their bond continue to grow is the sweetest thing.  We are hopeful about the possibility of Ruby having a sibling close in age.  We know she will be a loving big sister.