Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Steve and Ericka
Dear Birthmother
We are Ericka and Steve and we are excited and grateful that you are reading our letter and considering us as adoptive parents for your child. We understand what a challenging decision you are facing and commend you on being so brave and selfless. It is important to use that you know if you should choose to select us to raise your child, that your child will be brought up in a safe, loving and nurturing home. We are sure you have many dreams for your child's future and we promise with all our hearts that we will do everything possible to ensure every hope and dream becomes a reality. We have so much love to give a child and are filled with gratitude toward you for considering making our own dreams come true.
How We Met...It's all about the Shrimp!
We met on-line. We both had friends that signed us up for an on-line dating service; fortunately the same one! Steve’s method for getting in contact with women was to pick the last one on the list and see if they were interesting; none of them were. Ericka was looking through possible matches one day and came across a fun looking man with very warm eyes. The best part about the picture was that Steve was in a tuxedo with a bunch of shrimp coming out of his mouth (a dare at his best friend’s wedding). After a month long email exchange, we finally spoke on the phone and the call lasted 3 hours. We never ran out of things to talk about…we were friends right from the start! From the beginning, Ericka gave Steve the nickname of “Shrimp Guy”. On our first date, we went to a rooftop restaurant and talked and laughed for hours. On our third date, we had the relationship conversation – always a scary conversation – but not this time. All of our hopes and dreams for the future were right in synch with each other; especially the part about having children and having them soon. About 3 months later, we went on our first trip together, Jamaica. Steve says that trip was where he knew for sure that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. We still say that was our favorite vacation. Six months after meeting, Steve proposed to Ericka. For 3 days, Steve kept trying to find the right time and place, but the timing just wasn’t right. One evening, we came home from dinner and Steve just came out and asked…everything about it was perfect…it was about us spending the rest of our lives with the person that made us feel “just right”!. Six months later, we were married and we recently celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary. At our wedding, we had a shrimp bar and recreated the original meeting picture, except we became “Mr. & Mrs. Shrimp Guy”. Our love for each other gets stronger each day…we know that no matter what life throws at us, we are in this together.
Our Home
We live in a friendly neighborhood in Northern New Jersey where we see our neighbors and their children out riding bikes or playing in park at the corner of our block. We are friendly with our neighbors and feel fortunate to live in a community where people look out for each other. We are within walking distance to both the local elementary school as well as the local middle school. We have a huge support system of family and friends that live nearby.
About Steve...by Ericka
My husband Steve is one of the sweetest, fun-loving, generous and caring people that I have ever met. These are the qualities that made me fall in love right from the start of our relationship.
When I close my eyes and dream of our future together, I can't help but smile when I think about the pride that Steve will be filled with when his son plays in his first Little League Softball Game. (Win or lose, Steve would be the father that takes everyone out for ice cream afterwards!) The thought of seeing the wide smile on his face when his sees his daughter dressed in a tutu for her first dance recital makes my heart swell with love.
Steve is very close with his entire family and they cannot wait until we have a child to shower with love. It amazes me how close Steve became right off the bat with my family. In fact, I often tease my mother that she loves Steve more than she loves me! Steve is always the first one to volunteer to help our families or friends with anything from fixing things around the house to helping them pick out the best new TV.
One of Steve's great loves is sports. Football is his favorite and he has been loyal to the Jets from the time he was a little boy. He doesn't care whether the Jets have a good season or not, he will always be loyal to them. That describes Steve's personality perfectly...he doesn't care about the glitz and glam of big superstars, he cares about the quality that is deep within people.
I love my husband dearly and am so thankful for the life that we have built together. I cannot wait until the day we are able to become parents together. Steve is going to be such a wonderful father.
About Ericka...by Steve
Ericka is the one I was looking for all my life. The love we share as partners is the same love we would share as parents. Ericka has the ability to juggle her job and her life and still have time for me and anyone who needs her. Our relationship is as strong today as it was on our wedding day. Our lives are filled with so much laughter. I know exactly how to pull Ericka away from a stressful situation and make her laugh in a matter of seconds.
Ericka gives back to charitable organizations often. She spends a lot of time working with Dress for Success; an organization that helps women get back on their feet and into the workforce. She works with these women and does not pass any judgment of what they may have done in their past, but just helps them to move forward with their lives and focus on the great women they are destined to become.
Ericka loves to make me happy...I love to make her laugh...we share everything with each other. She is the ying to my yang. Her strengths are my weaknesses and she is a fantastic, loyal, warm, sweet, sincere, honest woman and I am so thankful to call her my wife. Ericka is going to be an amazing mother.
As Parents We Promise
- Unconditional love and lots of affections
- Endless encouragement and understanding
- A cozy and safe home - filled with lots of Ericka's baking
- To always listen, support and guide
- The best possible education
- Time to imagine, play, explore and dream
- Goodnight kisses and good morning hugs
- Bedtime stories
- Family dinners together
- Tons of laughter
- Adventure and travel
- Tons of sporting events
- A large and loving extended family
- To teach compassion
- To love and love forever
Closing Thoughts...THANK YOU!!
Words cannot express the love, gratitude and respect we have toward you! You are courageous woman...trust in your heart to help you make your decisions. If something feels "right", it usually is. We hope you select us to travel on this journey with you and your child, but regardless of the outcome, we wish you continued strength and peace as you work to find the best home for your baby.
With much love and respect,
Ericka & Steve
Our wedding vows:
You are my best friend and the one I want to share my life with. I will love you forever, and under any circumstances. I will stand by you always. I will have faith in you and encourage you in everything you do. I will be here to listen to you, to laugh with you and to hold you. I will work with you as we build a life together, and I will support you as you live your own independent life. I will strive every day to make our relationship stronger. I will be your friend, your love, and your partner for all the days of our lives.
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