Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Theresa and John
We are honored that you are considering us for your child’s adoptive parents. We are in awe of you and the difficult decision that you are making regarding your child. What can we say to the special person who is about to embark on such a selfless and courageous act? We can’t seem to find the right words to express our heartfelt gratitude and deep respect. Actions speak louder than words, so we’ll show you. We will give your child all that we have, teach him or her all that we know, love and cherish this child forever! Most of all, we will never let them forget YOU, and we will always teach them how much they were loved from even before they were born. We don’t want this conversation to be just one way either- we want to learn about you- your interests, your goals and your dreams for your future.
Getting to know us…
Our hearts long for another child. Having two siblings ourselves, we know first-hand the joy that they bring to our lives. Our wish is for our children to have a sibling to be their “partner in crime” and forever friend.
Becoming parents four years ago was the happiest moment of our lives. When we met 15 years ago we both talked about our dreams of having a family someday, and Gillian’s birth was a lifelong dream come true. We love everything about being parents- it has brought us immeasurable joy! Having another biological child just isn’t in the cards for us- but adoption would be another dream come true in another way. John’s sister was adopted, and we’ve long talked about adopting as a way of making that love come full circle in our lives. God must have liked our plan, because here we are! John’s sister is especially excited to welcome a niece or nephew into our family, and she will cherish the special bond they will always have.
Our daughter Gillian is a smart, talkative and affectionate four and half year old. She loves listening to stories, playing dress-up, singing Disney Princess songs, doing ballet, gymnastics and playing soccer. She is very excited to be a “Big Sister”. Each night as part of her prayers, Gillian asks God to send her a baby brother or sister.
We are a loving family that really enjoys spending time with each other, our extended family and in our community. Our favorite moments are spent with each other, and it doesn’t matter what we are doing. We love “family hugs”, playing soccer or catch in the yard, reading together and even just taking care of chores around the house.
Our Lives as a Family
We both grew up in similar families. We lived in the suburbs of New York City and each of us has two siblings. Faith was an important part of our lives and still is today. Both of us recall going to church every Sunday and then sharing a big home-cooked meal with extended family. These are the same kinds of experiences we try to create for our family today. We would love for your child to join us as we gather around the table for one of Theresa’s delicious home cooked dinners, and to join in the love and laughter as we talk about our day.
It’s the little things like family dinners that are the foundation of our life together. We also enjoy traveling- our favorite destination is Disney, where we go with Gillian’s cousins. We also like to make sure Gillian gets the opportunity to experience a wide range of things in life- from staying active and healthy with sports to encouraging her love of learning with educational (and fun!) activities at home. We have a pool (don’t worry, it’s safely fenced!) and we enjoy splashing around with Gillian and her friends.
Getting to know Theresa:
Hi! I am Theresa. If we were meeting in person I would love to share a cup of coffee or tea and just get to know you. I’m sure we would laugh a little and cry a lot. Since we’re meeting on paper, let me tell you a little about myself.
I enjoy the simple things in life: spending time with family and friends, reading a good book, eating a delicious meal and helping others. I especially enjoy baking cookies for our church fundraisers, babysitting for friends, and cooking a meal for someone in need. I was a teacher back when I was still working, so I love spending time with Gillian sharing my love of learning.
Looking back on my childhood I recall fondly our family reunions on Long Beach Island. My dad’s siblings and their families would gather for a week of fun in the sun. It was a blast! Whether we were collecting seashells, boutique shopping, roasting marshmallows or sitting by the bonfire telling stories, great fun was had by all! Now my parents rent a house for me, my sisters and their families. We look forward to this special time each year!
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a mom. My first job was babysitting for many of the neighborhood children. In college, I became a Nanny for a family of three children. It enabled me to experience the responsibilities of motherhood early on. My love of children and the need to make a difference in their lives led me to pursue a career in education. I was an elementary school teacher for 13 years. My favorite position was teaching my special education kindergarten students. I loved being able to work closely with each student, helping him/her to achieve success and to learn at their own pace. I also learned that children need routines, lots of praise, someone to embrace their uniqueness, and that anything can be made to be fun and exciting!
A note from John:
Theresa is a warm, sensitive, caring and spiritual person. She has made the last 15 years of my life so much fun and I can’t imagine my life without her. She made the perfect teacher for the same reason she is a great mom- she is patient, energetic, dedicated and makes life exciting!
Fun Fact: Theresa is a “Dancing with the Stars” fan and secretly longs to be on the show.
Getting to know John:
Hello! I’m John. I guess you could say I’m a kid at heart. I love to laugh, run around with my daughter and the neighborhood kids at our park and play basketball with friends. I also volunteer at a woman’s crisis clinic because I feel that it is important to give back to the community.
I am a firm believer in divine intervention. I truly believe that you are reading this letter because of our prayers and God’s leading. I want you to know I pray for you every night, and want only the best for you.
My childhood home was warm and welcoming to all. It seemed to be the place where all the neighborhood kids liked to hang out. I have great memories of playing catch with my dad and spending time as a family. Theresa and I hope to create that same type of atmosphere for our children and their friends.
As an adult, I followed in my father’s footsteps and became a police officer. I have since retired from the police force after a successful career. The police department afforded me the opportunity to provide financial stability for my family at a young age. I have also been a college football coach for several years. Both of my careers exposed me to many brave and capable men that have positively influenced my life. I believe athletics provides men and women with many life lessons, such as teamwork and responsibility. Currently, I am a professor at a local college. My flexible schedule enables me to spend more time with my family. I learned a great deal from each of my experiences and feel they have made me a better father.
A note from Theresa:
John is incredibly loyal, generous and devoted to his family. He is honest in everything he does, and he is someone other people turn to in times of need. He is a natural father, and really enjoys spending time not only with Gillian but with our nieces and nephews and kids in the neighborhood!
Fun Fact: John can quote lines from movies! His favorite movies of all time are Bull Durham, Jerry McGuire and Oceans Eleven.
Family & Friends
Theresa’s family is tight-knit, despite living across the country. Weekly phone calls, emails and planned visits keep us close. Every summer Theresa’s family gathers for a family reunion on Long Beach Island. Our vacation is filled with catching up, lots of laughter, playing endless rounds of Dominos and enjoying each other.
John’s mom and step-dad live a few hours away which provides Gillian with many opportunities for weekend visits with her Mi-mi and Pa-pa. His two sisters, brother-in-law and nieces live in California. Family road trips are made so we can share in birthday celebrations, holidays and to spend the day at Disneyland.
John’s sister Jessica was adopted as an infant. When Jessica was 8 years old, their dad passed away. John took on a fatherly role. He even walked Jess down the aisle on her wedding day. They continue to have a special relationship.
John has always wanted to grow our family through adoption. Witnessing the special bond John’s family and Jessica share has made Theresa even more eager to adopt and to complete our family in such a special way.
We are very fortunate to have family and friends that are involved in our lives and support us in everything that we do. They are waiting as eagerly as we are for the newest addition to our family.
Where we live and why it’s special
Last summer, we bought our dream home in a family-oriented community in the Southwest. Our home is situated on a cul-d-sac with a pool, Jacuzzi and grassy courtyard. Our community is home to seven man-made lakes, tree lined jogging paths, a weekly Farmer’s Market, fun-filled parks, adventurous hiking trails, welcoming community centers and excellent private and public schools.
We love living here because we never have to leave the quiet serenity of our neighborhood to do some quick shopping, to enjoy a great meal or have fun! We most enjoy the tranquility that our nearby lake has to offer. We feel it is a refreshing place to picnic, play or just sit and relax. We also love having brunch on the dock at our favorite restaurant, Captain’s Cove with our friends and neighbors. We can’t wait for your child to be a part of all of this!
The Future:
Adopting a child would be like finding a rare and wonderful treasure. We look forward to creating many special memories with our newly formed family! We can’t wait to have another car seat in the back of our car, more splashes in the tub, another voice joining in our singing and laughing, receiving sweet baby kisses, and holding those tiny hands.
No matter what the future holds, we will always be there for our children. It is a commitment we made to ourselves and now we are making it to you. Your child will be lovingly encouraged to dream big, live life to the fullest, pursue a good education and choose a career that he or she is passionate about.
Whenever we talk about you to this precious child, we will do it respectfully and with much honor. We promise to share your story of courage and love.
Theresa will be a stay-at-home mom until Gillian and our future children go to school. We feel that it is important that our children are raised by both parents. We are responsible for instilling our Christian values, love of learning and self-confidence in our children.
Whatever you decide regarding the future of the child you are carrying, we pray that your decision will bring you contentment and peace. Wishing you all the best!
If you have any questions or would like to speak to us about adopting your child, please contact one of our Adoption Advisors at AdoptHelp at 1-800-637-7999 toll-free.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.
Warmest Regards,
John & Theresa
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