Thank you so much for considering us as a potential family to raise your child. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share a glimpse of who we are and the loving home we have to give. We truly admire your love and courage. Our hearts have so much love and joy to share with a child. We will celebrate their successes and comfort them when things don't go right. And above all else, we'll be sure to always let them know they are loved.

We met 8 years ago at a friend’s birthday party. From the moment we met we knew there was something special. Matt was going to wait until the next morning to send Ryan a message on Facebook, but couldn’t wait and sent it that night. We had our first date a few days later. We started to fall hard for each other. It was only three months later that we were telling each other we loved each other on a mountain in Hawaii. We have fun whether we are traveling, snuggling and watching Netflix, going to the gym, or doing some home improvement project.

I grew up with my dad and five older brothers. With so many brothers, life was always an adventure. Summers were special, when we visited our large extended family in Austin. My childhood had its fair share of challenges, which opened my eyes to the pain of life. The more I saw, the more I wanted to help. This led me to a career as a psychotherapist. My work is flexible so I will have time to chaperone a field trip, go to soccer practice, or take care of our child when they are sick.

Matt inspires me to be more caring and present in life. He will kiss my cheek while I'm playing a video game and ask if I want to go on an adventure or save me from missing out on a cute dog moment with a tap on the shoulder.

I grew up in a small town in west Michigan, with my sisters, brother, and my parents. I loved exploring the outdoors, always curious about the world. My parents fostered my curiosity and instilled confidence in me . I can’t wait to raise our child in the same way. I am passionate about my garden, and I love to create delicious, healthy meals from our own backyard. I work in healthcare, focused on children. I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule, and my work has a generous paternity leave.

Ryan exudes stability, playfulness, and creativity. He is my rock. Looking into his eyes, I know everything is going to be ok. I feel his joy when he’s dancing to pop music and see the glee in his eyes dressing up for Halloween. I also love to witness Ryan’s creativity, whether he is painting a nature scene or constructing a fireplace mantel from scratch.

Matt has a large family of 5 older brothers, who each have families of their own. His family loves to get together as much as possible. Our future child will have so many uncles, aunts, and cousins waiting to welcome them into our extended family.

Ryan’s large family lives in the suburbs of Grand Rapids, Michigan. We take an annual trip to visit his family to spend quality time with our 11 nieces and nephews as young as 3 years old. Ryan and his mom, Cheryl, talk at least 3 times a week. Their deep connection and sincere interest in each other’s lives provides a parenting example I admire.

We live in a lovely bungalow in one of the most diverse cities in the US -- Oakland, CA. There is such a rich variety of different cultures, peoples, and customs. It’s a welcoming community, with many children throughout. Our home is open and bright, with a wonderful deck out back full of greenery and space. San Francisco is just 15 minutes away and has so many wonderful activities for kids. We can’t wait to take our child to the exploratorium, the ice cream museum, and the aquarium of the bay.

Popeye and Bowser are wonderful dogs. Popeye is the king of snuggles, while Bowser loves walks and a good game of tug-of-war. They can't wait to welcome a little baby and become fast friends.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We promise to be loving parents to your child. We promise your child will know their adoption story. We promise to raise your child in a home filled with love, safety, opportunities, and education.