ParentProfiles.com

This entry is from our good friends, Bryan and JaNan.

"We've been friends with Neal and Brenda since we were both newlyweds and it's been fun to see the changes happen over the years, from the time when they only had Charlie (their cat) to when they headed to California to pick up their daughter Halle. We enjoy getting together to play games and dinner and even go camping when time permits. Neal and Brenda are great parents and have so much love and adoration for Halle. We know they will be great parents to a second child and Halle will be such a great big sister because she is so sweet to other children.

Sincerely,
JaNan, Bryan and Aedin. "

This entry was sent by Emily, married to Neal's youngest brother, Dave.

"I have had the opportunity to watch Neal and Brenda through the ups and downs of the adoption process as they searched for their daughter Halle and watched them grow as a couple and as parents as Miss Halle has helped teach them the ins and outs of parenthood.

They have a great love for their beautiful daughter and so much more to share. They are understanding with her when she needs a love and a kiss, but Halle is also learning that rules are set in their home and she will be expected to obey. Neal and Brenda truly are loving and devoted parents to Halle and I know they have just as much love and devotion to share with another child."

We have decided to invite family members and friends to share their impressions and thoughts of us as they have watched us through the process of adoption of one child and now as we prepare for a second.

This message is from Neal's mom.

"Children add such a wonderful aspect to our lives. They help us relearn what it was to be a child ourselves. We get to see through their eyes pure excitement over a baby kitty, a butterfly, or playing in the sand. Neal as a child loved to build, to explore, and to experiment with his hands.

He loved to play with the children that wandered in and out of our home and accepted all as equals. New babies were a delight to him. He loved the neighbors new baby, the babies of friends, and the new babies at church. When his last little brother was born, Neal was six years old. He wanted every other turn to hold him. Waiting for five others to have turns was very hard for him.

Neal and Brenda have always enjoyed the children of their brothers and sisters, and while they waited for their first child, they shared their love with them. They were also asked to be Sunday School teachers to a group of nursery children. While at first they thought, "maybe that isn't for us," they came to love and enjoy that calling. They loved the children and the children showed their love in return.

Neal and Brenda are wonderful parents, giving Halle just the right balance of parental love, discipline, and encouragement. She has such a big heart for anyone who will return her love. She has thrived in their home and we can't imagine life without her now."

Our journey with adoption began a couple of years ago when Halle first came to us. We have learned and grown so much from our first experience that we are excited and ready to do it again with new understanding. We learned first hand that it is possible to have room in our hearts to unconditionally love a child even though our physical bodies did not give them life. I don't know how, but it just happens. And then even though we didn't know much about what to expect the first time, we found we have a special connection with her birth parents that is also hard to explain. We now have a much deeper appreciation and admiration for anyone who decides to place a baby for adoption, simply because we have seen how such a tough decision can bring new hope to everyone involved.

We do have a family blog where you can see more about what our life is like on a daily basis. Just send us a message and we will send you the link. Thank you for taking the time to read more about us and we look forward to hearing from you soon!