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| Family Type: | Lesbian |
|---|---|
| Children: | No |
| Location: | IL |
|---|---|
| Religion: | Lutheran |
dear expectant mother
Dear Expectant Mother,
We hope for a chance to get to know you as we travel an unknown path together. We may have a lot in common, or we may have only a little in common. No matter what, we pledge to love your child, to fully welcome this little one as part of our family, and to help this gift find his or her own passion and potential. When Kaia came to us nearly three years ago, we saw her as a gift. She is also loved by a larger community. We understand there is something wonderfully unique in your child too. If your child also becomes a gift to us, we will do all we can to help him or her thrive, love, and ultimately share his or her gifts with the larger human family.
Maybe something we have in common is that you are beginning to take steps to painfully think about sharing a gift. We will share too. We will protect, love, educate, laugh with, and, in the end, help your child share his or her unique gifts with the world.
The military, the church, and other obligations have sent us around the world from time to time. We have always found ways to experience family bonds much stronger than blood alone. We have church family, military family, foster family, friends, and family. We hope that with you and your child, we can all experience another amazing way to be a strong family together.
About Us
We are Karene and Kerstin. We met in 2009 while overseas in the military. We hit it off and maintained a long-distance relationship before we got married in 2012. We both left active duty to spend more time with family and each other. We enjoy new adventures, especially with our little girl, Kaia. Kerstin has extra flexibility these days since she took an extended leave from work as a pastor. She is in school full time on an independent schedule. She is grateful for the extra time with family. She spends most days at home with Kaia. Karene works for a government agency and enjoys experiencing new cultures. We both are earnest and hardworking and like to keep things in perspective. We love outdoor activities, cooking, and seeing extended family as often as possible.
Our Home & Pets
We live in a neighborhood just outside a big city with access to great parks and cultural events. Our three-bedroom house has an upstairs playroom with space to run, explore, and learn. Our house sits on a street just a block from a large playground and rec center. The park district offers tons of fun and educational opportunities for families and kids throughout the year. We love walking through the parks with our dog, Macy. Kaia loves the local library, where we go to music classes and interactive story/activity time. She loves when Zeke the therapy dog visits storytime.
Our Extended Family
We both have very supportive extended families. Kerstin is one of six sisters, and her sisters have young kids who love to play together. We go to the beach in the summer with Kerstin’s family and occasionally meet up at summer family camps, where there are activities for all ages. Kerstin’s dad was in the military, so they moved every two to three years. They created their own extended family wherever they lived in the world by inviting large groups over for Sunday supper. They often had 20 people around the table, creating family simply by sharing food and lots of laughs.
Karene has an older brother and many cousins who grew up with her. They often spent time together at family events riding horses or just playing outside. We like to spend Thanksgiving out in the country with Karene’s family, and we spend Christmas with a big portion of Kerstin’s family.
What Led Us To Adoption
We began thinking about adoption shortly after we married in 2012. Our path led us first to foster care. We’ve been fostering our little girl since she was two months old. Her third birthday is in September 2020, and we are hopeful we can adopt her soon. It has been a joy to stay in touch with her siblings and watch her thrive. We are excited to begin a new adoption journey and meet other amazing people. We hope our growing family will be a place for another child to thrive, love, and explore. Children have always been a central part of each of our families. We also know Kaia will be a great big sister. She is loving and already sees the best in everyone.
Fun Facts
About Kerstin
| Occupation | Pastor |
|---|---|
| Education | M.A. Divinity/Theology |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Guitar |
| Favorite Movie | The Power of One |
| Favorite Sport | Distance running |
| Favorite Music Group | Sara Bareilles, Patty Griffin |
| Favorite Subject in School | English |
| Favorite Activity | Hiking |
| Favorite Tradition | Sunday pizza night |
| Dream Vacation | The Alps |
About Karene
| Occupation | National Security |
|---|---|
| Education | M.S. Forensic Psychology |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Hiking |
| Favorite Movie | A League of Their Own |
| Favorite Sport | Softball |
| Favorite Music Group | Journey |
| Favorite Subject in School | Math |
| Favorite Activity | Beach |
| Favorite Tradition | Family meals at the table |
| Dream Vacation | European |
Contact Kerstin & Karene
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!