Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Elizabeth and Frank
Dear Birthmother,
Though we have never met, we share the same wish as you: that your baby has the most wonderful, happy life imaginable. We are deeply grateful that you have decided to consider us as potential parents. In return, we are praying for your peace and resolve as you go through this time and try to make the best decision. We hope our pictures and words that follow will convey to you that if we are so fortunate to be chosen by you, your child will be received as a beautiful gift to our family and will be raised in a home filled with love, laughter, and support.
Our History
We met nearly four years ago on a blind date arranged by a close mutual friend. We had each traveled long, winding paths to get to that night, and from the moment we met, we knew this was going to be something special. We talked for three hours non-stop and were amazed by how much we had in common – stuff like: both our sisters had adopted their children, Frank grew up in the same part of NY as Elizabeth’s dad, and we were both Catholic with a similar sense of humor. Our 2nd & 3rd dates were within days of the 1st one, and eight months later, Frank proposed during a summer clambake at the beach near his house. Just nine months after that we were married, surrounded by our family & friends in the chapel on the campus where Elizabeth went to law school.
About Frank...
One of the things that helped me fall in love with Frank so quickly was how apparent it was that he was an incredible father already, to his daughter Grace (then 9). Our mutual friend had given Frank my number, and after getting a message from him on weekend, I called him back that same evening just as he was about to tuck Grace in for the night, and he quickly let me know that he’d have to call me back once she was asleep. I believed this spoke volumes about him, and in these past 4 years, my first instinct was correct. He is one of the most patient, kind, attentive fathers I have ever met.
Frank had a happy childhood in Queens, NY, with his older sister, and knew as early as junior high that he wanted to be a scientist and pursue his calling to find a cure for cancer. To accomplish this, he took on his own paper route at age 12 to help pay his way through private high school. He continued supporting himself through college and graduate school in North Carolina (go Tar Heels!), where he earned his Ph.D. in cancer research. I am so inspired by his dedication to his work as a professor in brain cancer research at a local university.
Besides being a great dad, husband and cancer-warrior, Frank is a great cook (he usually wakes us up with pancakes - from scratch - on weekends) and loves camping, hiking and anything active outdoors. From the time Grace was 5 years old, the two of them took an annual summer trip to Yosemite, which has helped Grace become a fan of the outdoors too.
Grace is one of the greatest joys of our life. She is compassionate, bright, disciplined and just a lot of fun to be around. She’s a wonderful artist, plays soccer, is in Girl Scouts and is an avid Irish-dancer (she even danced at our wedding). She can’t wait to be a big sister and will be great in this role.
About Elizabeth...
Elizabeth was my first, and thank goodness, last, blind date. When I met her, I was immediately taken with her openness and energetic personality. She is one of those rare people who makes you feel as if you have known her forever. She’s sensitive and warm, yet has this great sense of humor that makes even the most mundane tasks seem really fun. From the moment Elizabeth and Grace met, they have been like two peas in a pod, with Elizabeth taking Grace shopping for school clothes, helping out with homework, camping with the Girl Scouts, or tucking Grace in to bed at night (yes, even at 13 – she still likes this tradition!) Elizabeth has taken to her stepmom role like a fish to water.
Elizabeth’s nurturing instincts are a reflection of her upbringing with her own family, as the youngest of three kids. Her family moved from New York to Virginia before finally settling in Arizona. Her sister and brother still live there with their families, close to their parents. Although we live in San Diego, Elizabeth remains close to her family through many visits back and forth each year. This past spring, the entire family, including 7 great-grandkids, gathered to celebrate Elizabeth’s grandmother’s 100th birthday.
Elizabeth went to college in Arizona and worked for the federal government for 10 years before going to law school. She enjoys her work as a government attorney and plans to work part-time once the baby arrives. In the meantime, she enjoys time at home, either reading or watching movies, or being outside – either swimming, hiking or bike-riding.
Faith, Family & Home...
Our faith in God is the foundation for our marriage. We go to church near our house, have met many great friends this way, and feel like the friends we have here are our “extended family” in San Diego.
We visit each of our families throughout the year, and try to take a couple of trips back to North Carolina, where Frank’s family has settled after leaving the cold winters of NY. We take Grace on a summer vacation each year, and try to make it something fun and educational, like Washington, D.C. one year and Boston the next, with a side trip to Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard. One of our favorite things to do wherever we go is to ride everywhere possible by bike, even to the point where we feel like our legs will fall off.
We live in a beautiful home in one of the most family-oriented neighborhoods in San Diego. Aside from the many parks, wooded paths, and five-minute drive to the beach, our neighborhood has some of the top-rated schools in the county. Some of our happiest times are just going for a bike-ride with Gracie and stopping for ice cream on the way.
Adoption...
We believe there are many paths to parenthood, and adoption became a very easy decision as we accepted our infertility. Maybe this was because we both had personal family experience with adoption. Frank’s sister and husband adopted their daughter in New York in 2003, and Elizabeth’s sister and husband brought home their first two babies in 2001 and two more in 2003 from an orphanage in eastern Europe. Elizabeth still remembers the excitement of going with her mom to the airport in 2001 to greet her new niece & nephew, and then, two years later, babysitting them when her sister and husband flew back over for the newest additions to her family.
When we think of our future of our growing family, we think of stability, adventure, responsibility, and fun, but most of all…love. Whether flying a kite at the beach on a warm, breezy day, baking Christmas cookies with Grandma, or cheering on our youngest child as they ride their bike without training wheels for the 1st time, we see our future as a reflection of all the best things we’ve learned from our childhood and adult lives. We have a warm home, loving family and friends, and a dream that one day all of us will look back and be very proud that we made this decision together.
We wish you all the best in your decision, and if you have any questions for us or would like to talk to us, please contact your adoption advisor at AdoptHelp by calling (800) 637-7999.
Thank you so much,
Elizabeth and Frank
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