Hello!
It is
impossible to convey all that is in our hearts. All we can do is to
share a little bit about our family and hope you can catch a glimpse
into who we really are—both as individuals and a family.
Andy and
Mary have been married for 13 years. We met in high school and formed
a lasting friendship that endured beyond our graduations and into
college. Though we didn't see each other very often, since we were
attending different colleges, we always seemed to find our way back
to each other when we were home for the holidays or summer break.
Snowmobiling in the mountains, trips to West Yellowstone to see a
play, and just hanging out watching movies—it was years of building
a foundation of trust and love. Mary says, “Andy was the one person
I couldn't do without. So many of my friends lost touch, but I never
could let go of Andy.” Six years after our first meeting, it
occurred to each of us that maybe there was more going on that just
friendship. If our love story were made into a romantic comedy
(starring Amy Adams as Mary and Hugh Grant as Andy), it would be
called “DUH!” because everyone saw it but us. We were married in June of 1999, and it's
been a wild adventure ever since! Working through college, moving for
jobs, and the journey of adoption for our two amazing kids, Nate and
Lizzie—it hasn't always been easy, but there isn't anyone else we'd
rather have by our sides.
Andy (Mary
says) is the sweetest guy you'll ever meet. That is what drew me to
him most and made Andy so special to me for so long before we began
dating: he is genuinely kind and thoughtful to everyone around him.
Andy's been through a lot in his life. Surviving cancer as a
teen-ager made him strong and determined, but he has managed to
retain a love of life and a wicked sense of humor. Andy loves playing
practical jokes and telling a good story. He teaches me that there is
hope and humor in everything. He is my harbor in the storm, my best
friend. As a father, Andy excels at tickle fights and making waffles
on Saturday mornings. He and Nate always have a blast building
Pinewood Derby cars, and he is Lizzie's preferred companion for just
about everything. What a kind, patient, devoted father he is!
Mary
(according to Andy) is really passionate about life—it must be the
red hair! She lives her life joyfully and thoughtfully. Mary really
loves music. She says she wakes up sometimes in the night with songs
running through her head. She shares this love with our kids, and
it's always fun to hear them start sining for no reason; Mary and
Lizzie do that all the time. She's a good writer and dreams of
someday writing a book; I think she should! Our kids can count on
her, no matter what. She's the one who takes care of them when
they're sick, helps them with homework, and advocates for them at
school.
Nate came
to our family in 2002. A chunky little three-month-old wasn't what we
had planned for, but the best parts of life can't be planned! He is
tall and lanky now, with an athlete's build. He loves playing sports.
His favorite is baseball, and he likes basketball, too. He likes
jumping on the trampoline, building with his Legos, and drawing
comics of our daily adventures. He loves visiting his many cousins.
Nate is really excited to adopt.
Elizabeth
(Lizzie) is all about moving. Dancing, running, jumping,
climbing...she's our extreme sports fanatic in the making! Lizzie
somehow ended up with Andy's sense of humor and loves to laugh. Mary
sometimes says, “Lizzie laughs and angels sing.” One of her
favorite past times is bugging her big brother, of course, which is
kind of a six-year-old little sisters' job (at least, that's what we
tell Nate).
Our life
together is spent swimming at the Y, camping in the nearby mountains,
and taking road trips to visit our extended families. We throw
fishing in there sometimes, with mixed results. We are a family who
reads (“They get that from Mary,” says Andy.) and listens to all
types of music. We love family movie nights, snuggled together on the
couch with a big bowl of popcorn. We are a religions family, and
attend church regularly.
Where
and to whom this adoption journey will lead us next, we do not know.
We are excited to see what is in store for our family, just around
the next bend. We hope it's you!
Love,
Andy, Mary,
Nate and Lizzie
406-498-0839
406-498-0839
