Introduction
We truly respect the courageous and compassionate choice you are considering in exploring adoption for your child. If your child joins our family, they will be surrounded by a vast community eager to love and support them unconditionally.
Our Story
When we first met, we discussed our desire to adopt in the future. Our daughter was born when we were in our early 40s, and now we are eager to welcome another child into our home. With abundant love to offer and a life full of opportunities and adventures to share, we are excited about expanding our family. We have been happily married for over five years, and our family currently includes our nearly two-year-old daughter, Genevieve who we call Gigi, and our five-year-old French Bulldog, Atticus. We met in 2019 through Bryan’s father, who had previously worked with Jenn before she went to college. A casual drink quickly blossomed into marriage in just over 90 days, as we felt an immediate connection and bonded over shared values and life goals. Shortly after, Jenn moved to Canada, and six months later, we relocated to Switzerland with Bryan’s work. Initially unsure about our ability to have children, we were blessed with Gigi in 2022. Having relocated from Switzerland to Illinois last year, we now reside a two hour drive to Bryan’s family who live in the suburbs outside Chicago. Living in a vibrant neighborhood with blended families, we have witnessed the joy of many friends who have embraced adoption. We cherish the belief that every child is a precious gift, and our decision to adopt stems from our desire to extend our love and life to another child.
Five Shared Values
- Love
- Peace
- Compassion
- Patience
- Integrity
Meet Jenn
From a young age, I knew I wanted to adopt. This dream has only intensified over the years, particularly after my experiences traveling, living abroad, and starting a family. I grew up in the Northwest, without knowing my father, while my grandmother played a significant role in raising me. Her influence has shaped who I am today, instilling in me a passion for learning, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to self-improvement. I have been fortunate to live in several countries, including Italy, Germany, China, Canada, and Switzerland. I have a degree in Economics and an MBA in International Management. My career as a private flight attendant in California exposed me to a lot of global travel, and I would often be gone for three weeks out of each month. However, after losing my partner to cancer in 2017, I found myself lacking hope for the future. I chose to return to the Northwest to be with my grandmother, the most important person left in my life. During this time, I met Bryan, who transformed my life once more.
Witnessing the special bond between Bryan and Gigi has been incredibly healing for me. He is an outstanding father—patient, calm, and loving. Our shared values center around family, faith, and well-being. I am grateful to be a stay-at-home parent while Gigi is young, with plans to transition to part-time work (with no work travel) once she or another child begins school. Having a family after experiencing loss was unexpected, and I am thankful every day for this new chapter. I treasure each moment, recognizing how fleeting life can be and that nothing is guaranteed. I try to make the ordinary every day aspects of life more magical, whether it’s decorating the house for the holidays with Gigi or taking her on daily nature walks to visit the horse, Nicholas, who lives down the street. Every day holds the potential for a beautiful memory to be made. Above all, my family and loved ones hold the utmost importance to me. Being a mother brings me so much joy and has given my life its greatest purpose.
Bryan’s description of Jenn:
- Compassionate
- Diligent
- Trustworthy
- Gracious
- Nurturing
Meet Bryan
I feel truly blessed to have an amazing family that I hold dear and wish to share with others. I have three siblings and nine nieces and nephews, all residing in Illinois. My parents separated and divorced when I was just five years old. My mother raised us with limited financial support and minimal involvement from my father. Her sacrifices, working multiple jobs to provide for us, have given me a profound understanding of what it means to have a servant’s heart for others. Throughout my childhood, my grandparents played a vital role, often visiting to help pack our school lunches and teaching us handy skills around the house. When I entered high school, my mom married a remarkable man named Alan (Al). His patience, joy, and embodiment of God’s love have been a guiding light in my life, inspiring me to emulate his example as a father and husband.. I played basketball in college and earned a degree in business operations. While I formed invaluable friendships during this time, I yearned to return to my core family in the Chicago area. Eventually, I moved back and took a position with a large manufacturing company, which led to several relocations over eighteen years—from Illinois, Colorado, Canada, Switzerland, and now back to Illinois. The arrival of Gigi has been a tremendous blessing for Jenn and me, prompting me to reflect deeply on my childhood. I remember the painful emotions from my parents’ divorce, but more importantly, I cherish the relationships that grew stronger as a result. This realization has underscored the incredible foundation of family I have, and I am dedicated to supporting my loved ones while hopefully expanding our family.
Jenn’s Description of Bryan:
- Patient
- Kind
- Loving
- Hardworking
- Amazing father
Our Loving Home
We live in central Illinois, renowned for its excellent schools, minimal traffic, friendly residents, and abundant wildlife. Our neighborhood boasts daily sightings of deer, bunnies, and foxes, making it an ideal environment for children. It is a diverse community, with families from various backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities. We love joining the neighborhood BBQs and spending time with the other families.
Our home is nestled in a charming neighborhood, surrounded by vibrant trees and lovely ravines. With 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, there’s plenty of space for another child. Most of the places we take Gigi to learn and explore are just a 15-minute drive away, including the zoo, Children’s Museum, local parks, and more. We particularly enjoy visiting the local orchard in the fall, where you can explore exciting corn mazes, play in a gigantic bounce house, enjoy train rides for kids, interact with goats, llamas, and chickens, and pick your own apples in the orchards. There is an abundance of family-friendly activities to enjoy here! We plan to remain in the US to be close to our families.
Our family and friends play a significant role in our lives. Jenn has made friends worldwide through her travels and has five godchildren. She has a sister who lives in Washington with her husband and their 2 month-old-daughter. The rest of her family lives in the Northwest, and we visit them several times a year. Bryan comes from a large, closely-knit family just two hours away, and we celebrate birthdays, holidays, and other events together. With three siblings and nine nieces and nephews, Bryan’s family bonds over sports, cooking, games, and lots of laughter.
Our Support System
We are truly fortunate to have Bryan’s mom, Nancy, and stepfather, Al, deeply involved in our lives. They are instrumental in helping with Gigi, and she adores them. We make it a point to visit them every few weeks, and they come down and stay with us often. They prioritize their grandchildren and actively participate in family events and sports activities across the state. Their boundless energy is admirable, and we are immensely grateful for their presence in our lives. Our circle of friends is broad and diverse, encompassing individuals from various races, nationalities, beliefs, and lifestyles. We have close relationships with families who have fostered and adopted children, and we have witnessed firsthand the happiness that blended families can bring. Additionally, we receive support from our church community, which offers varied activities for young ones, mommy groups, and opportunities for fellowship.
Our Passions and interests
We enjoy reading, learning, hiking, traveling, and fully experiencing diverse locations and cultures. Embracing an active lifestyle, we are always on the lookout for new hiking trails, enjoying daily walks in our neighborhood, running, and practicing yoga. Since relocating to the suburbs, we have also been focusing on improving our golf game. We cherish moments with friends and family, whether it’s cooking together, celebrating birthdays, or providing support when needed.
Our Promises as Parents
As parents, our aim is to create a safe, loving, and supportive home environment centered on education and empathy. We are committed to providing your child with the tools to pursue their interests, whether in sports, dance, music, or art. They will have the chance to explore different cultures, languages, and beliefs through travel and exposure to diverse ideas. They will live in a home where they always feel safe, accepted, and loved. We will make sure they know it is ok to make mistakes and that their parents are there to support them and their learning every step of the way. We promise to honor your role as birthmother. Here are five things we would teach your child: Encouraging curiosity about the world and its diverse people. Promoting tolerance and the courage to stand up for what is right. Fostering care for family, friends, and the community. Respecting the earth and all its creatures. All about you (whatever you wish to provide or however much you wish to be involved).
Atticus absolutely loves to follow Gigi wherever she goes, especially since she has a talent for dropping food. He is the sweetest dog, seizing every chance to cuddle with anyone willing to let him sit on their lap. With his playful nature, he spreads joy and laughter, particularly during his zoomies, as he races around the house and grabs Gigi’s toys along the way. Gigi, nearly two years old, is bright, playful, adventurous, and curious, eagerly looking forward to becoming a big sister. Her favorite animals are lions, and we make weekly visits to the zoo to say hello to them. She enjoys art, music, and dancing, treasures her stickers, loves coloring, collects acorns during walks, always chooses the tallest slide at the playground, plays with her neighborhood friends, and relishes story time with her Mama and Dada.
Thank you for taking the time to read our profile and consider our family. We know this is not an easy decision, and we would like to provide you with all the information you need to make the best choice for your child. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. We wish you all the best on this journey and encourage you to be as involved in your child’s life as you desire. We promise to support and care for you during this process. Your child will undoubtedly be a wonderful blessing to any family you choose!
Thank you for considering us. We promise to provide a life filled with love, learning, and laughter!
With love,
Jennifer and Bryan
