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Richard & Michelene are hopeful adoptive parents from Illinois waiting to adopt a baby.

If you are pregnant and considering placing your child for adoption, please read the following Dear Birthmother Letter.

Welcome to Our Life! Thank you for your unconditional love of your unborn child and putting their best interest first. Neither of us can imagine what you must be going through having to make such a difficult decision. We consider it a privilege that you chose to read our profile.

About Us “We” are Richard and Michelene (pronounced Mike-a-lean). We met 6 years ago on-line, two and one-half years later we were married in Las Vegas with a reception for family and friends three months later. We have a marriage based on love, mutual respect, trust, support, and open communication.

We always wanted a family; however neither have children from previous marriages. We tried unsuccessfully for several years to conceive, and have chosen to adopt rather than undergo fertility treatments. We believe all children need loving homes and want to open our hearts and home to one. We are very loving and giving people who would love any child as if it were biologically ours. Adoption is not something new to us; Michelene has an adopted cousin and several friends also adopted. Richard’s cousin and his wife adopted a child and has a friend with adopted grandchildren.

About Richard
I knew Richard was “The One” on our first date when during dinner he got up from the table, leaned over, said "Happy Birthday," and kissed me on the cheek. Richard is a caring, loving, funny, and very intelligent man, most definitely the smartest person I know! He is as a good cook as he is handsome and has a fun loving personality. Richard enjoys entertaining our nieces/nephews at family events. Richard is one of the kindest hearted people I know. He thinks of everyone first and is always there when someone is in need. He loves taking pictures of everyone and everything. He started a dog walking group in our old neighborhood and on weekends goes back to join everyone. Richard’s parents were of Swedish and Russian heritage. He grew up in Syracuse, NY the middle child of three boys. He graduated from Syracuse University with two Bachelor’s degrees in biology and dendrology and after seven years, he obtained his Masters in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Tennessee. Richard has cloned a gene and taught graduate and first year medical students’ biology, biochemistry, and gene expression. Without a doubt, Richard will make an awesome father and he looks forward to being a stay at home dad.

About Michelene

The first time I saw a picture of Michelene, I thought she had the face of an angel. Michelene is a very strong, giving, and loving woman, and will make a great mother. Michelene is very affectionate, especially with our two dogs and me. She is extremely family oriented and would do anything for her family and friends. She also has very strong maternal instincts, which are apparent when around her nieces, nephews and our two dogs (her surrogate babies). Michelene is an avid reader and enjoys James Patterson and John Grisham books. She recently started collecting the Traveling Pants and Harry Potter books. Her interests also include traveling, playing Mah Jong on the computer, crocheting, and word puzzles. Michelene likes watching American Idol, Survivor, Big Brother, and America’s Next Top Model. Her parents are of Austrian and Italian heritage. Raised in Bensenville, IL, the eldest of five children, four girls and one boy, and has twelve nieces/nephews. Michelene has also attended some college at the College of DuPage where she was working on a teaching degree. Currently she is a Sr. Administrative Assistant and supports (manages) ten people ranging from Vice Presidents and Directors to Sales Managers. When blessed with a baby, she will take time off work and come home during lunch as we live three blocks from her office.

We live in a quiet suburb west of Chicago. The neighborhood is full of young children and near a park. Our back yard faces beautiful trees, creek and also has a swing set for children. We share with our two little Maltese/Shih Tzu dogs, Chin Chin and Macy, both 10 years old whom we adore. Michelene named Chin Chin after the dog on I Dream of Jeannie and Macy was born on Thanksgiving (as was Richard) after the Macy’s Day Parade. They go everywhere with us, where allowed, and even come on our trips. Friends kid us that we treat our dogs as if they are our children!

Family, Faith, and Traditions Michelene’s parents still reside in the house where she grew up, and her siblings live within thirty minutes of our home. We see them often. Richard’s parents lived in his childhood house until they passed away. His brothers, their wives and three nieces and one nephew still reside in upstate New York and have kept the family’s childhood home and summer cabin.

We were raised Catholic, Michelene as Roman Catholic and Richard as Byzantine (Ukrainian) Catholic. We feel a strong spiritual foundation is essential through a structured religion and will attend weekly services.

Keeping family traditions is very important to both of us. Michelene’s grandma passed down a Christmas tradition of baking raisin bread every Christmas Eve; while her father carries on an Easter tradition from his childhood tossing pennies at colored eggs, which the children love. Richard also celebrates a New Years Day tradition of washing your hands with a silver dollar and eating a decadent meal to ring in a prosperous new year, something his family always shared growing up. We feel customs and culture are an important part of who we are and that they are carried down through the generations. We look forward to sharing these traditions and starting new ones with a child.

Each year we take a vacation and this year went to the Black Hills area of South Dakota. Next summer we are planning another trip west, this time stopping in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

As nature enthusiasts, we enjoy visiting Brookfield Zoo (outside Chicago) taking leisurely walks, people watching, and seeing the beautiful animals. We especially enjoy being able to sit and watch the polar bears while having a soda and warm pretzel.

Our other interests include visiting state parks - Richard loves Mammoth Cave, and Michelene enjoys touring historical homes. Each summer we enjoy attending the Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin and recently attended the Michigan Renaissance Faire where our dogs were able to join in the fun. We are excited to soon be sharing these adventures with a new little addition and taking the baby for long walks in the local parks with our two dogs.

Our hobbies include antique collecting and exploring new places by spending time together. Michelene collects Eiffel Towers, Noah’s arks, and green Cameo Depression glass while Richard collects old plastic toys, watches, coins, and an assortment of other unique items.

Parenting and Adoption We feel, as parents, the importance of providing a positive learning environment for our child and help to find where their interests lie, encourage progress, and help develop the skills necessary to fulfill their dreams. We also believe in providing a caring and nurturing home, and feel children learn and respond better to positive reinforcement as opposed to reinforcing negative or inappropriate behavior. We expect to provide a supportive and stable home for our child so he/she will grow up to be a happy and emotionally secure adult.

To us, adoption is the most unselfish act someone can do for a child, thinking only of the child’s best interest and not one self's needs. The child we are blessed with will always know they were adopted. That their birthmother loved them but was not able to raise them herself so that is why she chose us to be their parents. We feel it is important for the child to know their individual “story” and speak openly about their adoption. We believe that the more open we are in answering questions, the easier it will be for them to understand adoption as a loving but very difficult choice that their birthparents made for them.

We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your desired adoption plan. If you choose to have a closed adoption, we would respect your wishes and promise that your child will always know of your love and sacrifice.

In closing
We want to thank you for the time you have spent getting to know us a little and for considering us. We wish you the best with your decision whichever way you decide, and look forward to possibly meeting. We are very excited to begin and develop a relationship with you.

Please know that you will be in our thoughts and you can find comfort in our promise to provide a loving, secure, happy future for your baby.

With love and respect,
Richard and Michelene

Cantact us at 877-507-5471 or Send us a message