| Family Type: | Heterosexual Couple |
|---|---|
| Children: | Yes |
| Location: | IL |
|---|---|
| Religion: | Christian |
dear expectant mother
Please know it is not your obligation to make our family’s dreams come true. Rather, if you choose us, it is our commitment to ensure that your baby is treated with the respect, care, and love they deserve and that they are reminded of your beauty, your courage, and the hope you had for their bright future. We want your child to know your story and about what makes you you because inevitably your story will be part of their identity; that deserves to be honored. You are considering a beautiful and unthinkably hard thing, and it would be our privilege to be part of your story and to welcome your child as a part of ours.
We have seen firsthand how welcoming a child into our family can change lives in profound ways. If joining our family, your child will have two siblings and built-in playmates who are eager to teach, hug, and protect their new brother or sister. We’ll encourage your child to be curious, brave, and compassionate. We’ll provide them with a safe, comfortable home and unconditional love. We’ll gently guide them and be a constant, reliable source of support and encouragement. We’ll teach them to ask questions, seek answers, pursue their passions, and never stop chasing their dreams. We want all of our children to know deep in their bones that they matter, that our family is our foundation, and that when we say, “I love you,” it means forever.
About Us
We are Michelle and Dan, and we’ve been together since 2008, when we met at a festival while standing in line for Bavarian pretzels. (Some lines are worth the wait!) We both have adventurous spirits and love to be outdoors together. We’re active and competitive: marathons, triathlons, Tough Mudders, CrossFit, and the list goes on! Dan is into cars and DIY craftsmanship, while Michelle enjoys yoga and cooking new vegetarian foods. We've been blessed with two children (born in 2017 and 2019) who are our greatest sources of joy. Our kids have contagious laughs and big hearts, and they will be over the moon with excitement to welcome a new brother or sister into their lives. Dan works in a business solutions role, and Michelle works from home for a digital marketing agency. We are fortunate to have lots of flexibility with our careers.
Our Home
We live in a medium-sized suburb that has a strong school system and convenient accessibility to the city, the country, and plenty of great parks. Our four-bedroom, three-bathroom house is complete with a finished basement and ample room for little feet to run wild. We love our big, tree-covered backyard and the family friendliness of our neighborhood. There are a few ponds nearby and a small park with a playground at the end of our street. You can often find us squatting by the ponds looking for frogs with our kids or chasing them through the park after a family walk. Our neighborhood has lots of children and organized events, like an annual Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot” and a Christmas cookie exchange.
Our Extended Family
Michelle is the second of four daughters in a close-knit family. She considers her sisters her best friends (even if it wasn’t always that way!). Michelle’s parents were high school sweethearts from a small town in the mountains of New England and still live in the house where Michelle grew up. Her mother recently retired from a long teaching career and frequently comes to stay with us, helping out with the kids and reviving our gardens (neither of us has much of a green thumb!). Michelle’s father is the ultimate family man. He coached all four of his daughters’ basketball teams and is still famous for taking his kids and grandkids on “secret special surprises,” where we pile into a car and no one but he knows where we are going or what we are doing until we arrive.
Dan grew up in the Midwest with his younger brother and parents. We now live ten minutes away from Dan’s brother and only 45 minutes from his parents. Dan’s parents are separated but still live within minutes of one another and happily spend family gatherings together with us. They have always been extremely supportive of Dan and our family and are excited for another grandbaby to spoil!
What Led Us To Adoption
Adoption has been a consistent and unwavering goal of Michelle’s since she was about nine years old. After spending a full day playing with and swooning over her cousin’s young foster kids, the baby boy fell asleep on Michelle’s shoulder. Even at a young age, Michelle remembers experiencing a profoundly connected feeling in that moment, thinking to herself, “All this child needs is a comforting shoulder to lay on and a steady, reliable source of love and support. I know how that feels, and I can give that. I should give that.” We love the idea of setting an example of acceptance and compassion by living out our values and can hardly wait to welcome another beautiful baby into our family.
Fun Facts
About Michelle
| Occupation | Digital marketing |
|---|---|
| Education | BA in public relations & advertising |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Long distance running |
| Favorite Movie | Hoosiers |
| Favorite Sport | Basketball |
| Favorite Music Group | Rascal Flatts |
| Favorite Book | To Kill A Mockingbird |
| Favorite Subject in School | Journalism |
| Favorite Tradition | “Secret Special Surprises” w/ Dad |
| Dream Vacation | Visit our ancestors’ countries |
About Dan
| Occupation | Professional services director |
|---|---|
| Education | BA in business administration |
| Race | Caucasian |
| Favorite Hobby | Woodworking, house projects, golf |
| Favorite Movie | The Matrix |
| Favorite Sport | Baseball |
| Favorite Music Group | Florida Georgia Line |
| Favorite Book | Lone Survivor |
| Favorite Subject in School | Science |
| Favorite Tradition | Mom’s Christmas lasagna |
| Dream Vacation | Visit our ancestors’ countries |
Contact Michelle & Dan
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!