dear expectant mother
Dear Friend,
We have so many reasons to be thankful for you! First off, thank you for giving this child the gift of life! Also thank you for taking the time to read over our profile and consider us as potential adoptive parents for your little one. We can only imagine what you’re going through with this whole process.
Our Christian faith is the strongest tie that binds us together as a family. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to handle the ups and downs of marriage, foster care, and how challenging our fertility experiences have been. With our foster daughter, we’ve seen the impact a nurturing and supportive home can have on learning and development. Every child learns differently and at their own pace. One of our favorite family traditions before bed is reading aloud to one another from whatever library book we’re working on. We’ve read so many more books since we started foster care. We read with her and to her every day.
Of course childhood isn’t all about school but also about having fun, enriching experiences seeing the world! Vacations and holiday time are very important to us. From the solemn beauty of the Grand Canyon to the tropical Florida coast, we’ve been blessed to be financially stable enough to see all sorts of wonderful places, and we’re already planning our next trip!
There’s so much more we have to share with you too! We can’t wait to meet you and get to know you better!
About Us
Our names are Andrew and Rebekah, and here is a little information to help you get to know us better. Andrew is a laidback, patient person who is always on the lookout to crack a joke. He is an optometrist. When he’s not in the clinic, you can find him throwing the frisbee with our dog, cooking something in the kitchen, playing a board game with our foster daughter, or out on the golf course practicing his swing. Rebekah is a family-first, caring, and responsible person who loves to laugh and tell funny stories. She has been in child care for the past 12 years but is going back to school in the fall to study American Sign Language with the hopes of becoming an interpreter. She loves a good book, hiking, and snuggling with our dog.
Our Home & Pets
Nestled in Southern Illinois’ state national forest, we were initially attracted to all the natural beauty that surrounds our community. Once we got settled, it was wonderful to see the small town atmosphere shine through. Running into neighbors in the store and people you recognize is a refreshing feeling, and the laidback nature of many people here puts us at ease. Good schools, parks, and community involvement make this place we call home stand out. As you go through our pictures, you’ll notice our dog, Atticus. He loves running around playing fetch, taking walks, and accompanying us on hikes around our area. While naturally well-behaved, we did put him through obedience training before we started foster care. He loves snuggling up and playing with our foster daughter.
Our Extended Family
We are blessed to have extended family that are incredibly supportive of and excited about our interest in adoption.
Rebekah’s family lives nearby, and we see them regularly throughout the year. We love getting together for Sunday brunch, playing cards, and lounging in the pool. Christmas and Easter are always a joyful time when we all gather together at Rebekah’s parents’ house. We are a musical bunch (Rebekah’s mom on guitar, her dad on piano, and everyone singing) and love to gather together and sing hymns.
Andy’s family is farther away, and we see them about twice a year. We spend every Thanksgiving at his sister’s house. The kids can often be found playing board games while the football game is on in the background and the adults are catching up. Oftentimes we’ll decorate a gingerbread house after the big feast while we let our stomachs settle before dessert.
We share fourteen nieces and nephews between the two sides of the family. We are blessed to have such a good relationship with each one of them. All the cousins are very close and enjoy spending time together.
Our Adoption Story
Throughout our relationship, adoption has always been part of the family planning discussion. We’ve seen the direct impact adoption can have on a child’s life and think it is a wonderful blessing. Andrew grew up with an adopted sister, and Rebekah has some close friends from church who have adopted. We have also had the opportunity to become foster parents to a wonderful 10-year-old girl. All these experiences have only reaffirmed our willingness and openness in caring for children from all backgrounds.
Fun Facts
About Andrew
| Occupation | Optometrist |
|---|---|
| Education | Doctorate of Optometry |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Golf, board games, video games |
| Favorite Movie | James Bond, Indiana Jones, Batman |
| Favorite Sport | Golf, football, basketball |
| Favorite Holiday | Christmas |
| Favorite TV Show | DCI Banks, sporting games |
| Favorite Subject in School | History, geography, social studies, politics |
| Favorite Tradition | Family reunion during Thanksgiving |
| Dream Vacation | Tuscany, Bermuda |
About Rebekah
| Occupation | Teacher |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor of Science |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Hiking, camping, reading, family time |
| Favorite Movie | Anything Audrey Hepburn |
| Favorite Sport | Swimming, yoga, tennis, volleyball |
| Favorite Holiday | Christmas, Easter |
| Favorite TV Show | Friends, The Big Bang Theory |
| Favorite Subject in School | History, literature |
| Favorite Tradition | Playing card games, Sunday brunch |
| Dream Vacation | British Isles, Greece |
Contact Andrew & Rebekah
Choose a Family for
Your Baby With Confidence
As you browse our list of hopeful adoptive parents, you can feel confident in knowing that all of the adoptive families working with Angel Adoption are prepared to offer your baby a safe, stable, and loving environment along with a wealth of opportunities for a happy and fulfilling life.
Each adoptive parent has been thoroughly evaluated through a home study course conducted by a licensed agency. A completed home study means the family is emotionally, physically, and financially ready to adopt a baby.
The home study process includes assessments of each parent’s character, marital stability, financial situation, lifestyle, and medical history. The agency also runs background checks to verify there is no record of criminal activity or child abuse. In addition, a social worker will inspect the family’s home to ensure it is a safe environment for a child.
Furthermore, Angel Adoption requires each family to be educated on adopting and parenting. After a baby has been placed with the adoptive family, a social worker will continue to monitor and supervise the family. We go to great lengths to make sure all the families you have to choose from are going to be excellent parents for your baby!
Not sure how to start? See our How to Choose an Adoptive Family resource page.
If you need more help, you’re always welcome to contact us any time!