One of the things that makes our partnership strong is how our individual strengths balance and support each other. Lisa is independent, creative, and resilient—she brings big ideas, thoughtful planning, and a sense of fun to everything she does. She loves both structure and spontaneity, which makes life with her both grounded and full of surprises. Brian always knows when a new adventure is on the horizon when Lisa starts a conversation with, “So, I’ve been thinking…”.

Brian is a problem-solver by nature—logical, calm, and reliable—and someone who shows up for the people he loves without hesitation. His quiet strength and grounded presence make him a natural source of comfort and support. He also thrives on new challenges, whether he’s playing sports, tackling a new assignment at work, or taking on a weekend project. Lisa admires his tenacity; he sticks with a challenge and pushes forward, long after most people would have given up.

Together, we’re a strong team. We bring out the best in each other and look forward to creating a home where our child can feel secure, inspired, and celebrated for their own unique strengths.

Our three pets are beloved members of our family. Cooper, our gentle older hound mix, and Benny, our playful shepherd-terrier mix, are joined by Puddles the cat—who lives life on her own terms and is definitely the boss of the group. Benny and Puddles have become the best of friends, and the three of them are always nearby, keeping us company and hoping for a snack!

They bring us daily joy, laughter, and unconditional companionship. Over the years, they’ve also helped us grow in patience, flexibility, and empathy. Each of them came to us with a unique story, background, and personality, and learning to meet their individual needs has enriched our lives in the best ways. Whether we’re going for a walk with the dogs or hanging out with all three pets for family movie night, they make every day interesting and fun, and we are so grateful to have them in our lives. 

We both believe in living a full, balanced life—and our hobbies reflect that! Lisa is an avid runner, cyclist, and swimmer, and competes in triathlons and races throughout the year. Brian’s favorite sport is golf, and in the summer he plays in weekend tournaments. Lisa has even started joining Brian on the course, but really likes driving the cart more than the golf ball.

We also enjoy winding down with quieter activities: Lisa loves growing vegetables in her garden, cooking, crafts, and jigsaw puzzles out on the porch or next to the fireplace. Brian is a talented woodworker who’s built everything from picture frames to custom furniture. At the end of the day, we love sitting out on the patio by the fire pit or curling up on the couch to watch a favorite show with our pets. Together, we love being active and exploring new places. Travel has been a huge part of our relationship, and we've visited many U.S. states and over 15 countries. We’re also lifelong readers and plan to share our love of books early and often with our future child. Whether we’re at home or out in the world, we’re excited to share the things we love—and discover what lights up our child’s imagination, too.

We’ve called a small community in the western suburbs of Chicago home for the past 15 years. We chose this area because it’s a welcoming place to raise a family, with great schools, beautiful outdoor spaces, and easy access to downtown Chicago.

We live five minutes from our town’s downtown area, which is full of local shops, restaurants, parks, and playgrounds. The community regularly hosts holiday parades and events, including an annual Christmas Tree lighting and visit from Santa that brings everyone out to celebrate. One of our favorite weekend traditions is walking to the farmer’s market for fresh produce—and donuts from our favorite stand!

We recently moved into a larger home within the same community and are excited to grow our family here. We’re located in at the end of a small cul-du-sac, surrounded by friendly neighbors and kids of all ages. The house has plenty of space for a child to play, grow, and explore—as well as room to welcome grandparents, cousins, and friends. There’s even a bonus room just waiting to be filled with toys, games, and lots of laughter.

Our fenced backyard is one of our favorite parts of our home. The patio is surrounded by a large yard, trees, a vegetable and flower garden, and gives our two dogs lots of space to run and play. We also have private access to a nearby nature trail, which we love using for family walks or bike rides.

Our extended families are an important part of our lives, and we stay closely connected through phone calls, weekend visits, and holiday traditions. Both of us were raised in Michigan, where our parents still live, along with Brian’s brother and his family. Lisa’s brother lives in downtown Chicago, and Brian’s sister and her husband are in sunny Los Angeles. Though our grandparents have passed, their influence lives on through the strong values and traditions we carry forward.

When we’re together with family, we love cooking and sharing food and stories around the table. It’s not unusual for a competitive game of “Spoons” or “Farkle” to break out after dinner, or for Lisa and her mom to take on a tricky new jigsaw puzzle. We also come from very active families – Brian still skis with his family, and Lisa and her dad run races and triathlons together at least once a year. Our families are incredibly supportive of our adoption journey and can’t wait to welcome a child into the fold.

In addition to our relatives, we have a close-knit circle of friends who truly feel like family right here in our community. We’ve had the honor of being part of their adventures in parenthood, and they are eager for us to begin our own journey. We know they will be a constant source of encouragement, laughter, and support for years to come.

Thank you for considering us as potential adoptive parents. We understand the weight and difficulty of this decision, and our hearts are filled with deep respect for you and the love you have for your baby.

Our names are Brian and Lisa, and we have been married for 16 years. Although we were born in other parts of the Midwest, we have spent over a decade building a life together in the western suburbs of Chicago. We enjoy cooking and dining out together, taking walks with our two dogs, biking on the trails near our home, and competing in various recreational sports. Our home is a place where we love to gather with our extended family and close circle of friends, and we are so excited about the possibility of including a child as part of the memories we make together.

As we think about our future family, we often talk about the kind of parents we hope to be. We will provide a solid foundation, built on love, trust, open communication, and respect. We will offer the stability and opportunities a child needs to be successful, balanced with the flexibility and encouragement a child needs to thrive. Empathy, integrity, faith and resilience are core to our family values, and we take the responsibility of instilling those values in our future child very seriously. We are also naturally curious and creative people, and enjoy learning about everything we can, traveling and experiencing diverse cultures and geographies around the world.

We also know that it ‘takes a village’ to support a child in their path to adulthood, and we consider ourselves lucky that our ‘village’ is full of families, friends, and neighbors with strong values and children of all ages who are ready to walk alongside us in this new chapter of our lives. We have close friends who have grown their family through adoption and understand the unique dynamics that it presents for the child, birth parents, and for us. We are fortunate to have a dedicated support system as we navigate this journey and could not be more excited to build our family.

Although we were not destined for a traditional path to parenthood, we have come to adoption with open hearts and ready to honor you and your baby’s story - how they were a gift and a blessing from the very beginning, how much courage and strength you showed in choosing this path, and how grateful we are for your choice every single day. We look forward to a lifelong relationship with you and commit to providing an inclusive environment that honors your choice with compassion and understanding of the relationship you want to have with your child. We also commit to regularly sharing photos, letters, and emails throughout your child’s life, with the potential for more contact and communication as we continue to build our relationship together.

Thank you for considering us to be your baby’s adoptive parents. We promise to give everything we have to be the loving, devoted parents your baby deserves and to honor the incredible gift you have given to us.

Brian & Lisa