Thank you for considering us as you explore adoption. We know you are looking for a wonderful and loving family for your baby.  Our hearts and home are open and ready to welcome a new life. We believe that we are all here for a unique purpose and ours is to provide a fun, loving, and nurturing home for a child.

Our Story

We are Shelley and Tom and we met while teaching at a local elementary school. We started our relationship the best way possible, as friends.  Now, 14 years later, we are not only best friends but happily married as well.  Like all relationships, we’ve experienced great joys and endured some sadness along the way. We know that sometimes life doesn't happen exactly as hoped, and through the unexpected twists and turns, we often discover even more meaning and purpose.   We have gathered great, unexpected, strength in our journey towards parenthood and feel our bond as a couple is stronger than ever before.  Adopting a child is, without a doubt, what we are meant to do.

Why we want to adopt?
We were both raised in loving homes surrounded by extended family and friends. We enjoy extremely close and special relationships with each of our nieces and nephews.
All of their little questions, discoveries and “a-ha” moments are what we find so enjoyable and fulfilling. We love being around children and have always planned on growing our family so we can share traditions and experiences all wrapped up in a loving environment. We participate in activities that involve children whether through Shelley’s teaching career or Tom’s Little League coaching.  We enjoy every aspect of being with children and find great rewards in helping them become who they are meant to be.

Our Home

We own a wonderful home in a quiet neighborhood, with a spacious front and backyard, where we enjoy many barbecues with family and friends. Tom likes to “wow” our company with his cooking skills, especially his yummy crème brulee. Shelley also brings a smile to faces with her delicious desserts -- pies, cookies and cakes are her specialties. Over the holidays she continues the tradition of making gingerbread houses with the nieces and nephews.  Shelley uses that creative, decorative touch on our own home too.  As a result, it always has a warm and inviting feel when you step inside. Tom enjoys woodworking and if there’s anything around the house that needs to be built, he will build it. Our home is a focal point in our lives and people enjoy hanging out here, inside or out.

Our neighborhood is diverse with many young families. We’re a short distance from local beaches and mountains, and even a shorter walk to a local city park, all of which offer a variety of recreational and sporting activities. We like to play on weekends, so we can be found on most weekends at any one of these places doing a variety of activities.

Us at Play

We love our playtime together and can’t wait to have children to include in the fun.  We like to be outside, especially with our dog Wrigley. Tom loves baseball and has been a passionate Chicago Cubs fan all his life. “Wrigley” is named after the baseball field where Tom’s beloved Cubbies play. A perfect weekend might include Tom’s newest passion, cycling. He has completed several 100-mile bike rides with his brother. This has been a great way for them to spend time together. Another of our favorite things is to spend time with our 5 nieces and nephews, attending one of their sporting events and having “dates”, as they like to call them. For as much as we love spending time with them in groups, we also value that special individual time where conversations can take shape.

We both love to travel and explore the world around us.
We enjoy quick weekend trips as much as our annual trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We love the mountains and the quiet and beautiful surroundings.  While there, we do a little fishing (when they are biting!) and hike to places just off the beaten path. We can hardly wait to have a child of our own to include in this tradition.  We feel that feeding a child’s natural curiosity about the world around him, by way of travel, is an important part of parenting.

Us as Parents to Be

Education has always been an important part of our lives. We were taught early on that opportunities are created through education. Because of that, we consider ourselves life long learners. Not only do we love an academic education, but we also love the everyday wonders that spontaneously arise.  Musical concerts, theaters and museums are a few of the places we like to go, but unplanned adventures like walks around the neighborhood can open exciting conversations and discoveries as well. We love to answer questions like: Why is the sky blue?  Why is the grass green?  Or, Why does our dog like his tummy rubbed so much? Shelley always likes to make learning fun for children and that’s why her students love her great science lab classroom. We expect our home will be a place of discovery as well. Even though we don’t currently have children, we like to volunteer our time to be with them. Shelley is a constant at our church’s nursery, and is always available to any of her students who need some extra help. Tom began coaching little league this last season and is a natural coach. He knows how to help children feel successful while learning to love the game.

Our Work

Like most couples today, both of us work. This affords us the ability to live comfortably and allows us to provide for a better future for our family. We feel fortunate to be in careers we enjoy.  They will provide plenty of flexibility as we build our family. Shelley is a science teacher at one of our city’s award winning elementary schools. Her science class is open to all the students in the school and, class-by-class, they rotate through for lessons. Shelley’s students love her – probably because they know she will do anything for them.  Many years ago, Shelley donated blood platelets for a student stricken with cancer. This has created a special relationship between Shelley and this student’s family that will last a lifetime.

Shelley's work situation is ideal for raising children because of the flexibility. She can be home by early afternoon during the school year and will be home during the summer, winter, and spring vacations. If we are fortunate enough to adopt a child, Shelley plans to adjust her schedule.  We both know how important the early years are for children and we want to make sure our child is wrapped in the kind of family love all children deserve.

After graduating from college, Tom was pulled by his desire to make a difference in the lives of children.  He was selected by the "Teach for America" program, which places new graduates in under resourced schools. His commitment to the program was for only two years, but Tom stayed an additional four years because he found it hard to step aside. He loved his time as a teacher, mostly because of the opportunity to shape young lives. After 6 years of teaching, Tom entered the world of business where he currently works for a national bank. He has carried the skills that made him a wonderful teacher into his new career. His clients and his co-workers are drawn to and respect his talent and honesty. Like Shelley, Tom's job offers great flexibility.  This flexibility will allow him to be actively involved in the raising of a child.

 Our Family

Although Tom’s family lives in other states, he speaks to his father and brother weekly (often in Chinese, which Tom is fluent in) and visits them often. Both are very excited to become a first time grandfather and uncle. Tom’s dad is great with children and that is a big part of why Tom and his brother have such wonderful connections with kids. 

Shelley’s mom and two sisters live locally – they are all within ten minutes by car.  Everyone is excited to have a new baby in the family. All five of our nieces and nephews have been spoiled (in the best way) with love and attention, so a new baby will be no different. The kids often ask when we’re going to have baby, so you can imagine their excitement when a new baby comes.

We know that there is no one exactly like you. You are unique and we have the greatest respect for you and the plan you are making for your baby. It takes a person of great strength to entrust their child's life to another loving couple, and it takes a person of great character to follow through on these hard decisions.  When someone places a child for adoption, it is not because they don't love the child but rather because they love him/her enough to do what is right. We want you to know that we understand the difficult decision you have to make and we promise to love your baby with all our hearts, while making sure the love you have is never forgotten.

Our best wishes to you,

Shelley and Tom

If you would like to speak with us about adopting your child or have any questions for us, please contact one of the Adoption Advisors at AdoptHelp by calling 1-800-637-7999.