Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Bill and Valerie
Dear Birth mother,
Hi, we’re Bill and Valerie from Long Beach, CA. It’s Sunday at 2pm and we should probably be working in the yard, but we’re lounging in our pajamas enjoying our day together. We have decided to accomplish one thing today – we’re going to stop talking about this letter and actually write it.
By now you have read that all of your prospective adoptive parents are happily married, have a loving household and more than anything, they want to add a baby to their family – we assume you know that. Everyone has acknowledged your courage and selflessness – we agree and respect your decision. While trying to figure out the best way to describe our family and everyday life, we have decided to tell you a few short stories that will paint a picture of us. Since we have very different styles of writing we’re going to take turns in telling our story, we acknowledge our differences and the value that we each bring to our relationship. And, it’ll be interesting for us to see how the other will describe our story.
MEETING: (written by Bill)
On the night of February 26th 2000, I found myself a single dad with three children under nine years old (Eden 8, Connor 6, and Mackenzie 2) and having an absolute blast. On that night amidst all of the fun, noise and chaos, I found the person I would spend the rest of my life with.
I had arranged to have one of my son’s fellow Cub Scout and his brother come over for dinner and a sleep over. My daughters fit right in with our guests and the house was loud. We had baked some blueberry muffins for dessert; the kitchen was a disaster area. The pillows were off of the couch and a fort was being constructed in the living room. Everything was perfect. And then it got better.
I answered the front door, and met “Aunt Valerie”. She owned a house two blocks up on the same street and had stopped by to say hi to our guests, who it turned out were two of her four nephews. I was wearing a pair of grubby jeans and she was wearing jammie bottoms and a thermal underwear top. Neither of us had expected to meet anyone that night, but she accepted my invitation to step into our blown out home to join the fun. I knew that I wanted Aunt Valerie in our life.
MR. AND MRS. AMANS: (written by Valerie)
Bill and I dated for 5 years before getting married; waiting to make an easy transition for the kids. Bill finalized his divorce shortly after we met and we wanted to ease the kids into the next step.
You should know that most everything we do is well thought-out and unique. Why should our proposal have been any different? Bill proposed during a Chris Isaak concert, the crowd parted for Bill, who was down on one knee. As shocked and excited as I was, I first asked him if he had already asked my parents, he had and I said “Yes”! We were married 4 months later, we were ready; we had bought a bigger house for all 5 of us, and wanted to start having children of our own.
100 of our closest friends and family joined us for our wedding. My Dad shook as he walked me down the aisle and my Mom and sisters cried (we’re a very emotional family and we can’t hide it). Eden, Connor and Mackenzie brought up the rings and joined us for a family prayer during the ceremony. Although we already considered ourselves to be a family, the wedding made it official… I was a wife and a step-mom and finally got to introduce Bill as my “husband”.
KIDS AND FAMILY: (written by Valerie)
Like everyone else, we have busy lives. But we always make time for family and fun, whether it’s hosting friends, taking the kids boating, or just hanging out, we make the time. It can be difficult to find an activity that’s a crowd pleaser. Some kids like to fish, others get bored, some like to camp, others hate the bugs, some like activity-packed family vacations, and some need down time. The kids each have very different personalities…
Eden: 17 year-old straight “A” student beginning the college application process, she’s an amazing writer who loves to read and have an audience – she’d make an excellent teacher. She studies a lot so we haven’t seen much of her lately. When I met Eden she was an 8 year-old Brownie who desperately wanted her parents to be together. Over the years we’ve struggled to find a happy medium, and I’ve struggled to convince her that I’m not competing with her Mom and that it’s okay for her to love both of us. We’re finding our way and forming a friendship as she gets older.
Connor: 15 year-old sophomore who is sometimes tough to figure out. He has a very soft side that he doesn’t like to show – but we see it. We see it when he asks us about our day at work; when he confirms that the entire family is coming over to celebrate a holiday “because it’s our tradition” and when he helps Mackenzie with her homework. He had old-fashioned values: sitting down as a family for dinner, talking about our day and planning the next family event. We try to have as many meals at home as possible, how much longer will he want to hang with us?
Mackenzie: 11 year-old 6th grader who is absolutely golden. Out of the three, Mackenzie has the quickest wit and best sense of humor – our friends get a huge kick out of her! During the summer she has Mackenzie’s Spa Service and gives the best foot massage ever. In her mind, there hasn’t ever been a time when I wasn’t in the picture; maybe that explains why she’s so much like me and Bill…she likes everything neat and tidy and she loves to cuddle. She’s not too old for the occasional sleep-over in our bed. Mackenzie is a tiny girl….still wearing a size 6 and shopping at Gap Kids. I want her to stay small and cuddle with us forever.
Mama Sal and Papa Doug: My parents are beyond thrilled at the possibility of another grandchild. They are very involved in the lives of their grandchildren, soccer games for Doug, piano recitals for Davis, Junior Lifeguard competition for Max and Davis, cross-country track meets for Eden, wrestling matches for Connor, diving meets for Mackenzie…and so on. They are amazing grandparents who will be supporting us every step of the way as we begin the adoption process.
I’m very lucky to have my family living close by – both sisters Jane and Michelle and all 4 of my nephews, (the boys) Joshua, Douglas, Max and Davis. We get together for everything, holidays, birthdays, graduations, you name it. Our group is usually joined by my cousins and their kids, and family friends. If I had more time I would talk about my amazing nephews – but for now just know that I absolutely adore them!
Unfortunately Bill has a very small family so we are very appreciative of the extended family we have created between the 5 of us and my parents and siblings. We also have many friends in our lives and cherish our relationship with those who love the two of us as well as Eden, Connor & Mackenzie.
OUR NEW FAMILY (written by Bill and Valerie)
Yes, we have a great family, but nothing will compare to the family that Bill and I will build with a child. We talk a lot about our child’s future - preschool, sports, fiends…But mostly we talk about the simple experiences and making lasting memories…
We want to see our child running around outside with Cotter and Joe Schmoe (family dogs), the main reason we bought this house 4 years ago was to have “our” child playing in the huge backyard! The empty bedroom will finally be a nursery, facing the backyard which means the room is filled with sunshine every morning. Our extended family will continue to take our annual camping trip and summer vacation, we’ll rent the tiniest skis available for Spring skiing, and Mama Sal will still make a huge deal out of Halloween costumes. But our dreams also consist of the three of us cuddling on the couch without a care in the world, laughing at the ridiculous stories Bill makes up, going out on the boat for the day just to enjoy the fresh air, and at the end of the day we’ll both be there to tuck him/her in at night after hugs and kisses, left with precious memories of our day spent together.
GRADUATION 2026, OUR WISH FOR YOUR CHILD: (written by Bill):
Oh my god….I cannot believe there are over 20 people here for my graduation. My friends will never let me forget this, of course it shouldn’t surprise them, they know my family and have seen most of the crazy, loving things that they’ve done. They have heard them on the sidelines at my games, they have been to my birthday blowouts; most of them have even joined us on vacations, and have seen the entire family there each time that I went to a formal or prom.
To be honest, I’m OK with it. In fact, I would have to admit that I love it. Of course Papa Doug and Mama Sal are there, I can count on them to show up at everything that I do, they always have. Aunt Shelley, and cousins Josh and Max; Auntie Janie and Uncle Eric and cousins Doug and Davis are here. Not easy for Mom, Dad, Eden, Connor and Mackenzie to save that many seats but somehow they always get it done. Mom’s best friends Mia and Danielle are here, Mia’s kids Sydney and Isaac (my best friend) are here to cheer me on. Uncle Chris and his daughters Brook and Brenna were late (of course) but since he has been dad’s best friend since kindergarten I’ll let it slide.
They are just about to start and since so many people will be cheering wildly and taking a zillion pictures, I want to make sure that I walk slowly across the stage. I will try and look at each and every one of them. It is my silent way of thanking them individually for the love and support that they have shown me for the last 18 years. This is truly a wonderful family and I could not be happier.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a bit about us, we’d love to share more, if you would like to speak to us please call our adoption advisor at AdoptHelp at 800-637-7999 toll-free.
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