Dear Expectant Parent(s),

We realize that you are in the midst of making a life-changing decision and we pray that you will be filled with peace, insight, and reassurance as you make your decision.  We feel very fortunate that you have taken the time to get to know more about our family. 

Tina and Al met while attending college.  During our courtship, we found out that we had several things in common and similar backgrounds. We both grew up with 2 siblings, each on a family farm, and in small communities in Iowa.    15 years ago we married in front of family and friends.

Al has a B.S. in Public Service and Administration in Agronomy.  He currently works for a local cooperative in the agronomy department.  He also has a grain and livestock farm.  I fell in love with Al’s witty, warm, & fun-loving personality.  He is a hard working provider for our family and amazing father to our two children.   Al loves spending time with the kids and includes them in his sporting hobbies, especially golf. 

Tina has a B.S. in Social Work.  Tina currently runs her own small business out of our home, which allows her to have a very flexible schedule to be at home with the kids.  Tina is a wonderfully compassionate mother.  She is the ‘glue’ that keeps the family organized and on time.  She has been involved in multiple organizations, including a mothers group and several different bible studies.

Our family includes two great sons.  Cory, who is 8, has a heart of gold.  He loves reading, swimming, riding his bike, and building and re-building legos.  Cory has always loved babies and has enjoyed being a big brother to Tyler since he was born. Our youngest child is Tyler and he is 6.  Tyler likes to make others laugh and loves animals, especially cats. He loves swimming, boating, and camping. He is learning to read, which is exciting to watch.  He talks about being a big brother with excitement and how we will include our new addition into our daily lives.

Adoption has a special place in our hearts because Al was adopted as an infant.  We want to expand our family further and adoption is the road God is leading us down.  Infertility has been a part of our journey, but we will not let it define us.

Tina has two wonderful parents who love being grandparents.  She has one brother and one sister.  Her sister is married and they have two sweet kids.  They all live just 1.5 hours away from us so we are able to see them often.  Tina's brother farms with her dad. Al has great parents who live just a few blocks from our home.  They too love being grandparents and spending time with the kids.  We are blessed that they live so close to us. Al also has one brother and one sister.  His brother is married and they have two adorable children. They live out of state but we are thankful we are able to see them 1-2 times a year.  Al's sister lives just a few miles away on a farm with 2 cats and a dog.  The boys love spending time with their Aunt.

Our Christian faith is also essential to who we are.  We want our children to know that God loves them and they are here on this earth for a purpose.  We are members of a local church and the kids are involved in Sunday school and other children’s activities.

In the summer months, we love boating, swimming, and camping.  Throughout the year, we love playing in our yard, taking walks in the woods, and trips to the library.  Our small town provides many kid-friendly activities that our kids enjoy participating in. We also make it a priority to take family vacations every year which have taken us to all the nearby states and most recently to Florida.  

We are praying that your decision to parent or making our adoption dream comes with peace in your heart and mind. If adoption is the path you feel you want to explore, we would love to partner with you as you develop your plan.  We are eager about our paths crossing and going through the journey together.

With Gratitude,
Al and Tina