ParentProfiles.com

Don & Marsha are hopeful adoptive parents from Virginia waiting to adopt a baby.

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

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to get to know our family. We are an active family that enjoys doing things together. We believe in making every minute count, whether it is working, playing or spending quality time with friends and family.

We always had imagined ourselves as a foursome. When we learned that we were not able to have any more children we decided to grow our family through adoption. We are very excited about welcoming a new child into our family!

We hope that the pictures and words in this website will give you a glimpse into our lives so you can imagine what life would be like for your child, should you choose us as parents.

######## Check out our voice introduction on the Media page! ########
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About Us About Don
On any given night you might find me rocking out in the garage tinkering with my Mustangs. I enjoy paddling my kayak down the river and racing my mountain bike through the woods. Recently I bought some metal-working equipment and I am figuring out how to build metal sculpture.

I get excited when I think about our children joining me in sports and recreational activities. I look forward to teaching my kids many of the lessons life has offered me, from Calculus to religion to how to adjust the valves on an old Ford V8.

I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science. For many years I taught programming classes at local colleges in addition to my full time job. I hope one day to get back to teaching when I retire. Currently I manage a team of report developers for a bank. I feel fortunate to have a great job that also allows work-life balance.

What Don Says About Marsha
One of the things I like about Marsha is she is willing to take on a challenge. Whether it is crawling under our old house or figuring out how to rewire a light fixture – she has the confidence that she will figure it out. Marsha can spend hours researching vacations or laying out designs for our latest house project. She is not afraid to ask questions or speak up – and tends to take problems head-on. She has a dry sense of humor and will keep you laughing if you are paying attention.

About Marsha
When I attended college at an urban university I fell in love with historic architecture and hoped to one day have my own old house. I love to admire old houses on our vacations, and learn about architecture and restoration. I like doing detailed work, such as refinishing hardware and woodwork. I also enjoy creative arts such as stained glass, pottery and sewing. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s in business administration. I design and build computer systems. Like Don, I also work for a family-friendly company that allows me to take time off or work from home when needed.

My favorite times of the day are the mornings when I rustle Kyle out of bed and the hour before bedtime when he snuggles next to me to read book after book. Rediscovering life through a child’s eyes is so rewarding. I can’t wait to see what kind of people Kyle and his new sister or brother will grow into, and I intend to nurture and encourage them along the way.

What Marsha Says About Don
I love that Don is enthusiastic, outgoing and optimistic. Don is game for just about anything. Don is always “Go! Go! Go!” and thinking about the next thing he will be accomplishing. He doesn’t like sitting around planning details and that’s where I come in. He is pretty easy going and will go along with most things that I plan. Don and I are alike in that we are both people who are not afraid to take on a challenge. When I am feeling unmotivated Don always gives me the little push I need to get back in the game.

How We Met
We met 14 years ago through a "Just Friends" personal ad. Don’s impression of Marsha was that she was intelligent and had her act together. Marsha found Don energetic and easy to talk to. After talking on the phone several times we decided to go to a concert together. One night Don came over to Marsha’s apartment to cook Jambalaya and help her repair a broken window. After working together Don commented, “We make a good team.” After several months we decided we were more than “Just Friends.”

Our Wedding
We were married October 1997 at church surrounded by family and friends. We spent months practicing our dance steps so we could dance the cha cha to "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" at our reception. After the wedding we took off in Don's 1966 Mustang -- which he has had since high school. We are a bit rusty on the cha cha these days, but we still like to swing dance to a good jazz or blues band.

Family Life Vacations
We take a big vacation every year. When we visit family we like to take in the local sites. We try to plan destinations that have something for everyone: historic architecture and museums for Marsha, recreational activities for Don and children’s destinations for Kyle.

Our Home
We own a 107-year old Victorian house surrounded by other turn-of-the-century homes. We have spent 10 years restoring every room doing much of the work ourselves. Our house has 4 bedrooms and a large yard. On a typical evening neighbors will gather on our front porch while kids play with basketballs, sidewalk chalk and wheeled-toys on our driveway. We are within walking distance of a library, ice cream shop, park, train station and community pool.

Neighbors
Just about every weekend we get together with our neighbors for an impromptu potluck dinner. For about six years now we have been co-hosting a crawfish boil together. Friends and family bring a dish to share and enjoy Virginia mudbugs. The party gets bigger every year. Some people say they know it’s the beginning of Summer when they get the invite to our annual party.

About Kyle
Hi! I'm Kyle. I am three years old. I love trains and books. I especially like books about trains. I know all of the Thomas the Tank Engine characters and I can “read” many of the books by heart. I have lots and lots of fun with Mommy and Daddy. I am super-excited about being a big brother!

Our Pets
Elizabeth is our 20-year-old cat Marsha has had since she was a kitten. She is a friendly lap-cat that never lets you forget when it is dinnertime.

Sam is less than one year old. He wants to be the center of attention and barks when we pet Max. He is full of energy and very sweet.

Max is the neighborhood ambassador. We’ve had him for 10 years. When we are home you will find him milling about our front yard and greeting people as they walk by. If he is missing we know we can find him at our neighbor’s house getting treats at his second home.

Family Time
We try to do something together as a family every weekend. Sometimes we go to our local airport and watch the small planes take off and land. Other weekends we might take a drive to a small town to check out the old houses, antique stores and trains. We try not to miss local festivals, fairs and outdoor concerts. We like to ride our bikes, fishing, canoeing and camping. When nothing else is going on we’ll head to a museum or park.

Our Church
We are members of the Christian Church. It’s a small church – the kind where everyone knows your name.

Don's Family
I have an older sister Lisa and a younger sister Lori. My parents adopted my sister Lisa a year before I was born. Everyone thought we were twins. I never really think of Lisa as being adopted – I just think of her as my sister. I talk to my Dad almost every day. Lisa and Dad live in Florida and they come visit in the Summer – Dad says it’s too cold any other time of the year. My little sister Lori lives just a few hours away. My mother passed away a few years ago and we really miss her.

Marsha's Family
I have two younger sisters Marla and Marian – who are identical twins. They both live about three hours away and we try to see each other as often as we can. I talk to my sister Marla all the time on the phone. My Mom lives in California. She loves to travel and makes it through Virginia several times a year. We can generally count on her company for Christmas. My Dad lives a few hours away and he really enjoys cutting it up with Don when we visit.

Our Promise If you decide we are the right parents for your child, our promise to you is that:
* We will love him/her unconditionally and equally.
* We will nurture his or her confidence and self-esteem through praise, honesty and encouragement.
* We will encourage learning and pay for a college education.
* We will have fun together as a family.
* We will foster independence and responsibility.
* We will teach Christian values.
* We will provide a safe, secure & loving home.
* Your child will know his or her birth story and the wonderful way we became a family.

Please Send us a message so that we can answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Marsha and Don