T
hank you so much for taking some time to get to know us better. We are excited to be able to share more about ourselves with you.
We have been together as a couple since 1998 and happily married since 2004. Our individual careers in Law Enforcement are what brought us together. The experiences we have had, in life and in our careers, the differences between us, and things we have in common, have created a very strong, unique bond between us. We have created a loving, trusting family accompanied by Melissa’s only daughter in those years. In our relationship our serious consideration of adoption began primarily due to infertility. That being said, adoption has always been something we’ve considered even before we knew we didn’t have a high chance of having a biological child together. We are blessed with Melissa’s daughter and very proud of her, our desire to adopt has, if anything, intensified because of her.
Melissa is lovingly supportive of me and is my best friend. She likes to cook with things she grows in the garden. Within her career she teaches and trains new recruits. She is often looked up to as a mentor and called upon even after training has completed, for guidance and advice. She also has one daughter, Shayna. Melissa and Shayna have a very open and honest relationship; they look to each other for support and have daily contact. Melissa and Shayna share a creative/artistic sense; they often help each other with projects. When life throws Melissa a curveball or presents a challenge, she is easily able to adapt and find a way forward. She has shown this throughout raising Shayna and with our attempts to start a family. If someone needs a helping hand, Melissa is always there willing to do whatever it takes, expecting nothing in return.
I was first drawn to Eric’s smile and sense of humor. I fell in love with his caring, hard working, and loving personality. He is dedicated both at home and work. At work he takes on extra responsibilities and is also a trainer for new recruits. He takes pride in preparing new recruits for a long, safe career. He moved into the role of Dad with ease with Shayna, who was a preteen when they met, and I didn’t know how much I loved him until, I saw how much he loved her. Actually, most of the time they were more like, partners in crime than anything, playing practical jokes and keeping things interesting around home. When Eric finds time for himself, you can find him preparing food plots for wildlife, tending to bee hives to provide pollination for the many fruit trees on the land or taking a walk with the dogs.
We live in a rural community a few miles from both the Lake Michigan and Bay of Green Bay shorelines, where the fishing is fantastic and the sunrises and sunsets couldn’t be more beautiful. For the past 12 years we have lived on 40 wooded acres, which is also home to a variety of wildlife such as deer, pheasant, and a various waterfowl. We could go into a very long list of things we like to do, both individually and together. Although we treat ourselves to some of those things occasionally… a great show, a weekend motorcycle ride, a fun concert, and trips. Hunting, fishing and a love for the outdoors are our passions. These are the things we love and have settled into as a couple and a family. We have a pond that has a lovely beach and shallow sandy swimming area that is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. The pond is stocked with perch and bluegill and is a favorite fishing destination for our family and friends along with their children on a warm summer evening. We hope to be able to share these passions and pass along a respect for nature with a very special child in the future.
We designed our dream home ourselves with the intention of filling it with laughter, love and security. We completed much of the work ourselves, along with the much appreciated help from our family and friends. Melissa is very creative and loves to personalize our home with hand crafted items she designs on her own. One of the most rewarding things is the evenings, sitting in front of the fireplace with the dogs, relaxing after a long day, looking out over the yard, watching for deer and ducks going to the pond.
Our extended family is close in nearby communities. We have daily and weekly contact with them. We get together for holidays, birthdays and mostly “just because”, (those are the best visits!) They are all excited about our plans to adopt.
Expanding our family has always been a dream of ours and through adoption; we hope we can make that dream a reality. We realize how unique our individual passages have been, and are thankful that they have come together here. We admire you for your selfless act of love and courage as you consider making an adoption plan for your little one. We hope that you find peace and comfort as you continue on your personal journey.
Sincerely, and with much gratitude,
Eric and Melissa