| Family Type: | Heterosexual Couple |
|---|---|
| Children: | Yes |
| Location: | IL |
|---|---|
| Religion: | Non-Denominational |
dear expectant mother
To start off, we simply want to say thank you. Thank you for considering us as the adoptive parents of your child. Thank you for being brave enough to face what we can only imagine is an impossible decision. Thank you for being so selfless and courageous. Thank you for trusting us with a piece of your heart. We cannot wait to raise another child and expand our family. Without your selflessness, this wouldn't be possible.
Together, as a family, we are excited to see what the future has in store for us. We dream of what might be, what bonds will be built, and what adventures will be had. We know the emotional toll a decision like this can have, and we want you to know that we are here for every step through life.
As nurturers by career, it comes naturally for us to care for and give to others. This is one of the most important things we want to teach a child, and you are giving them the first lesson. You are considering giving us the best gift we could ever ask for, and we cannot say thank you enough.
About Us
Hello! We are Bryan and Ellen. We have been together for 14 years and just celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. We love going on road trips, visiting national parks, trying new foods, and reading. Ellen is caring, funny, creative, and tells a great story. Bryan is quiet, goofy, and intelligent; he doesn't like to admit it, but he's a good dancer. Ellen has been working as a special education teacher for 14 years. She works with students with significant disabilities on developing life skills. Bryan is a nurse practitioner and focuses on adult care. He really enjoys working with the older population, listening to their stories, and helping them with their health. Lucas (2) loves singing, dancing, and spending time outside. We became a family of three through the blessing of adoption and are looking forward to watching Lucas grow up with a sibling to bond with and create lots of memories.
Our Home & Neighborhood
We live in a four-bedroom home we built in a wonderful neighborhood. Our big yard is wide open and is located next to a bike path we use to walk the dogs, visit the neighbors, and watch many bikes go by. Our two goofy dogs, Marley Mae (10) and Henry (7), enjoy spending time outside watching the world go by. This is especially easy with beautiful prairie common areas and a neighboring farm. Our neighborhood is the perfect mix between the hustle and bustle of the city and the serenity of the quiet country. The dogs love to snuggle and are big couch potatoes! Bryan loves to cook, especially on the grill or smoker, and together as a family, we love to spend time outside.
Our Family & Friends
We spend a lot of time with our extended family and are blessed they live nearby. Ellen's family lives in the neighboring town. Her parents are retired, and her brother and his wife have two young boys. Ellen's parents host a large event on Labor Day weekend to get family and friends together and make homemade sauerkraut. This tradition has been going on for over 50 years! Bryan's parents and his middle sister with her husband and four children live in the same town we do! This allows us to attend soccer games and choir concerts to support our nieces and nephews. His youngest sister, her husband, and children live a little farther away but come to town often! We all celebrate holidays together, and Bryan's family has even joined in on the sauerkraut tradition! We love that our families are close and are by our sides through everything!
Our friends, or what we like to call our chosen family, also live nearby! We often plan trips and activities together. Football games, cooking competitions, and holidays are just a few. During the summer, we attend our annual "friends trip" and enjoy time together. The summer of 2025 was our ninth year celebrating.
Adoption in Our Lives
We have been hoping to see our family grow for a few years. We have had the chance to see our three nieces and five nephews grow up and love spending time with them. In 2023, our son, Lucas, was born. After adopting Lucas and watching him flourish and grow, we would love to expand our family even more. We are so blessed to continue a positive and open relationship with Lucas' birth parents and now get to see him run around with his cousins at family events. We feel this is our journey in life, and we have so much love to share!
Fun Facts
About Ellen
| Occupation | Special Education Teacher |
|---|---|
| Education | Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Food | Salad, sushi, Asian infusion |
| Favorite Hobby | Crafting, photography |
| Favorite Movie | Princess Bride, Shawshank Redemption |
| Favorite Music Group | Anything; ranging from country to rock and anything in between! |
| Favorite TV Show | Project Runway, West Wing |
| Favorite Subject in School | Language Arts, Art |
| Favorite Tradition | Friends Trip |
| Dream Vacation | Bora Bora |
About Bryan
| Occupation | Nurse Practitioner |
|---|---|
| Education | Master’s of Science in Nursing |
| Race | Hispanic |
| Favorite Food | Burgers, BBQ, comfort food |
| Favorite Hobby | Reading, golf, fishing, video games |
| Favorite Movie | Indiana Jones, Forrest Gump |
| Favorite Music Group | Alternative Rock |
| Favorite TV Show | Ted Lasso, The Big Bang Theory, West Wing |
| Favorite Subject in School | Social Studies, History |
| Favorite Tradition | Fantasy Football League |
| Dream Vacation | Europe |
Contact Ellen & Bryan
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!