My story began on a farm in Texas, where I was the only girl in a family full of boys. My 4 brothers and I didn't have much growing up, but we learned to have a deep appreciation for imagination and play--and that is still evident today! (As an adult, I often spend time on creative challenges, like buying old dollhouses and renovating them, doing DIY projects around the house, or accidentally starting a bakery out of my home during the pandemic!)

As a kid growing up in the 90's, I loved the movie "Matilda," and always aspired to be like Miss Honey: compassionate, kind, playful, and fun. As a child, I was always the one who wanted to hold the babies and play with the toddlers, and as an adult, I knew I wanted a career working with children. I became a pediatric speech-language pathologist and have spent years teaching hundreds of kids how to communicate, while also having a deep longing to have children. It is my dream to be a stay-at-home mom, and I'm praying that God will answer that prayer through the blessing of adoption!

• Loves thrift shopping ("treasure hunting"), vintage teacups, and all things nostalgic
• Designated baker for all family functions
• Has been called "eclectic" for enjoying random things like K-Pop choreography, trying to solve unsolved mysteries, & the National Spelling Bee
• Re-watches The Greatest Showman, The Holiday, and The Princess Diaries every single year

Jamie is joyful, tender, and affectionate--and she wants everyone she encounters to feel seen and loved. She prefers to skip past the small talk, and easily engages in heart-to-heart conversations with others. She has not had an easy life (growing up on a farm is no joke), but she has overcome many challenges that have made her incredibly strong, empathetic, and resilient.

Jamie puts 100% into everything she does. While working at a pediatric clinic, she won an award for "Best Speech Pathologist" in our county. When she learned how to decorate cookies, our house turned into a professional bakery. Jamie's determination, selfless heart, and commitment to continuous learning are just a few of the natural gifts that would make her an amazing mother. She loves deeply, has an uncanny ability to connect with children, and can usually be found singing, humming, or dancing while taking care of our home.

I grew up in a north Texas suburb, which is also our current hometown. I'm the youngest of 3 boys, and live just down the road from my parents and my brothers' families. Growing up, my two biggest passions were sports and the church youth group. I played baseball and football in high school, and currently enjoy being active in softball leagues and golf tournaments. I went to Texas A&M for college, where I studied Accounting & Finance. I've always been good with numbers, and personal finance is something I've loved learning about and applying in my own life. I currently work as a CPA, doing tax and accounting for a large business. I've always been an extrovert--I enjoy connecting with people on a deeper level, whether it's at work, at church, in the community, or with family and friends. I'm naturally drawn to leadership roles and enjoy being a mentor to youth and young adults at church, especially those preparing for marriage. I also love The Office, Parks & Rec, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all types of music, from early 2000's punk to Post Malone.

• Once won a karaoke contest by singing "Burn" by Usher
• Not ashamed to watch romantic comedies (and quote them regularly)
• Loves animals and gets excited seeing them in the wild
• Really good at country dancing--and loves spinning Jamie all around the dance floor

Erik is unlike any other man I've ever met. He has this incredible balance of being gentle and kind, yet incredibly strong and protective. He will always stand up for what he believes, and does not shy away from tough conversations--but he handles them with such grace, never raising his voice or speaking an unkind word. His heart is so pure and genuine, it's impossible not to like Erik! He truly is a friend to all. As you can see, kids love him...and animals also flock to him. To see my husband become a father would be the most beautiful thing.

He is total dad material, from his love of sports to his effortless words of wisdom (I've jokingly referred to him as "life coach 'Rik" because he always knows just what to say when anyone needs advice), to his grounded, down-to-earth nature that puts everyone around him at ease.

We met the summer of 2011 at Texas A&M. We were both on the leadership team for a student-led retreat at our church, so we spent a lot of time together, planning and preparing all the details. We became best friends that summer, even though we never imagined we'd ever be more than "just friends." Erik was outgoing, charismatic, and athletic...while Jamie was more reserved, reflective, and artistic. Our personalities and interests seemed totally opposite, with the exception of our shared faith. As the year went on, we began to fall for each other. On 11/11/11, we drove out to the lake to stargaze and make a wish at 11:11 pm, and then Erik asked Jamie if she felt like their friendship could turn into something more. We both smiled and immediately decided that we should date! We got engaged in 2014, married in 2015, and have continued to be best friends ever since.

Adoption touched Jamie's life when she was only one year old. Her Aunt adopted a baby girl named Rachel, and from the moment they met, they were best friends.

They grew up together, went to the same college, celebrated each other's weddings, and today they can be found texting each other funny videos on a weekly basis, even though they now live in different cities.

As a couple, we had talked about our openness to adoption during our engagement. Because of our shared religious beliefs, our options for growing our family were simple: either get pregnant or adopt. We always wanted a big family, and it took many years and many doctors to uncover the truth that it would be very difficult for us to have children naturally. We took some time to grieve as we let this news sink in, and over the past year, we have come to have true peace with it.

It has now become clear to us that God wants us to adopt...and we are doing everything we can to make sure our hearts and home are ready to welcome a child into our family!

We are so grateful for our home. We live in a one-story, 4-bedroom/2-bath brick house nestled deep in the heart of North Texas. Our neighborhood is filled with great families, a playground, soccer fields, and a community swimming pool. Families are always out walking, and we regularly play "count the bunnies" because there are cute rabbits all over our subdivision! We love our big windows that let in lots of natural light, the cozy reading nook in our bedroom, and our kitchen that operates as a part-time professional bakery. We love that the open-concept layout encourages connection and togetherness, and we dream of the day we can turn our extra bedroom into a nursery and make it a special place for a child!

Erik's parents recently celebrated their 40th anniversary, and Jamie's parents will be celebrating theirs next year. Erik is the youngest of 3 boys, and all of them live within minutes of each other and their parents. We love having 1:1 time with our nieces and nephews--from building blanket forts in our living room, to ice cream dates, or trips to the zoo, we love being the "fun aunt & uncle." We all see each other at church every Sunday, and are regularly involved in each other's lives.

Jamie is the 2nd oldest of 5 kids, and she enjoyed being the only girl. Three of her 4 brothers still live close to the farm where they grew up, which is a 2.5-hour drive from where we live now. The youngest brother also lived near the farm until recently, when he moved to East Texas for a tech job. Even though Jamie's side of the family is farther away than Erik's, we still make time to visit the farm regularly, and have them stay with us in the city when they're feeling adventurous! Whether we drive to them, or they drive to us, we always know we will be blessed with the gift of farm-fresh eggs!

For Thanksgiving and Christmas, we make it a priority to spend time with both sides of the family. With Erik's side of the family, since they live nearby, we often plan something special before Christmas, like riding around town in a horse-drawn carriage or exploring a massive ice sculpture exhibit! His family celebrates Christmas with a more formal dinner and the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," while Jamie's side of the family will smoke a brisket and spend time relaxing outside (where the kids enjoy feeding the chickens after opening presents). It's a fun contrast to have a mix of both city culture and farm culture each holiday, but one thing both sides have in common is a love of playing games! You can usually find us playing board games, card games, or just playing on the floor with all our little nieces and nephews when we get together.

For Easter, we go to church together as a family and then watch the kids hunt for Easter eggs. We usually dress up for Halloween, even if we're just handing out candy! We also celebrate birthdays with all our nieces and nephews, and usually Jamie is the one bringing a big birthday cake and lots of decorated cookies!

Jamie grew up in a family that didn't go on vacations, and Erik's family typically used vacation time to visit family in other states. Because of this, we now love trying to see as many different parts of the world as we can! Over the past 10 years of marriage, we've been able to explore St. Lucia, London, Disney World, the Harry Potter studio, Mexico, Canada, many different states in the US, and we most recently visited Switzerland. We also have a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife, so we try to go hiking in as many national parks as we can. We also love quirky getaways--we rented a treehouse for our 5-year anniversary, and stayed in a hobbit house a few years later!

We both love:

• playing board games
• musicals
• peaceful hikes in beautiful places
• dancing
• mentoring high school students
• movie nights
• escape rooms
• discovering new music
• working out
• being a marriage prep sponsor couple
• home cooking
• reading
• trying new foods

One of the most precious gifts we've been blessed with is our church community. They are always there to celebrate the good times, from birthday celebrations with "Just Dance" competitions, football watching parties and tailgates, and even group vacations. (Pictured above was our trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, with some of our crew!) When we have experienced times of grief, these friends do everything they can to show us love and support. Whether it involves bringing soup over as Jamie recovers from endometriosis surgery, or organizing 9 days of prayer just for our future family, this community is always present and active in our lives. They would be a huge source of love and support for an adopted child.

In fact, there are already 3 other children that have become a part of this community through adoption!

We are firm believers in finding each person's natural, God-given gifts and cultivating them.

Jamie was never forced to play sports (she would've been out on the field picking flowers), and Erik played every sport imaginable because of his natural athleticism. Jamie's artistic eye and creativity were present from a very early age, while Erik gets nervous when he has to draw anything. We recognize that a child in our care will have unique gifts and talents, and we promise to help uncover them. Between the two of us, there is a lot of variety--so whether a child is interested in science, math, writing, art, playing sports, economics, music, cooking, baking, or gardening...you can rest assured that we will cultivate their unique set of interests & gifts.

Family time will be a priority in our home. We live in a very fast-paced culture where people are often so busy that genuine connection is hard to find. We aim to go against the grain here--being fully present with those around us, having boundaries with our phones, eating meals as a family, & living life in a peaceful, unhurried way. Jamie plans to be a stay-at-home mom, Erik has a flexible work schedule--and we are both prepared to pour all of our love, time, and energy into raising our future children.

We are committed to teaching our Christian faith, going to church every Sunday, and praying together. We have a large circle of friends in our community, so opportunities to socialize and play with other children will be abundant. We will consider public school, private school, or homeschooling for each of our children based on their individual needs. We will encourage them to go to college, and we will provide financial support for them if they pursue higher education.

If you decide to move forward with us as part of your adoption plan, these are our promises to you and your baby:

The gift of adoption and your child's sacred connection to you will always be impressed upon them. We will speak of you and pray for you often. Your child will know their story, their culture, and how loved they are through your immense sacrifice. They will grow up in a joyful home full of love, laughter, and fun, where they know how cherished they are each and every day.

We will nurture their relationship with God, and we will teach them to love and serve others.

We will do our best to model selfless love--in our marriage, our friendships, and especially our family, we will model commitment and consistency through sacrificial love. We will be your child's biggest cheerleaders and encourage them to follow their passions and discover their talents. We will afford them every possibility within our reach, open every door that presents itself, and offer them a life of wonder, adventure, and unending love. Your child will grow up surrounded with family -- loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and hopefully, siblings.

They will be loved and cherished abundantly.

Thank you so much for getting to know us through these pages. We trust God will guide you throughout the rest of your journey, and we'd be overjoyed to have the opportunity to come alongside you and your precious baby.

No matter your decision, we are praying for peace and strength in whatever path you choose. We are incredibly grateful for your consideration.