Michael and Christina
Dear family reading this book,
Choosing adoption is undoubtedly a complex and emotional journey, and we acknowledge the mix of feelings that come with it. While we may not fully grasp the complexity of your experience, we genuinely appreciate that your emotions stem from a genuine desire to love and care for your child.
We have so much respect for you, and we look forward to learning more about you. We pray for more than just our future baby, we pray for you. We pray that God will give you wisdom and peace like He did for us when leading us to adopt. We pray that God would lead you to the adoptive parents that He had in mind when creating your baby.
Should we have the honor of being chosen for this role, know that your child will be loved unconditionally no matter their race, ethnicity, or gender. Surrounded by a great support system of family and friends that will also embrace your baby with open arms. We desire to have an open adoption and will ensure that you are honored and spoken of highly and that your baby will always know they have a mother who loves their child.
Meet Michael
God gave me the best gift by making Mike my husband. From the moment I met Mike it was clear that he is selfless and that hasn’t changed since day one. He loves Avary (our daughter) and I so well and truly treats me like a queen and Avary like a princess. He is modeling so well for our daughter of how our heavenly father loves us and qualities she will want in the future for a husband (way future, she’s only 9). From his career in the Army to devoting his life to helping individuals experiencing homelessness. Mike initially seems like he is quiet but as you get to know him, his personality is full of humor and compassion. Both of our extended families will turn to Mike for wisdom and advice in times of chaos or trials, he has an ability to be calm and caring while providing truth. Mike loves to learn and is almost always reading 2-4 books at any given time. He is the absolute best father, watching his interactions with our daughter is an absolute gift, I can’t wait to see how this grows as we grow our family.
FAVORITE FOOD: Smoked Brisket!
OCCUPATION: Chief Operating Officer of a Homeless Shelter
EDUCATION: Master of Arts in Executive Leadership, Liberty University, Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Bowling Green State University
CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Going fishing in the Maumee River every summer growing up
BIBLE VERSE: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
HOBBIES: Hiking!
FAVORITE TRADITIONS: We have App Day, where on rainy days we lay an air mattress in front of the TV and couch, binge a movie trilogy, we make a ton of appetizers, and eat all day long as a family
Meet Christina
Christina is one of the most caring and giving people you will ever meet. Raised near Cleveland, Ohio, she grew up in a larger family of six where placing family first is one of the greatest values you can hold. With family at the heart holiday traditions, matching pajamas, fall neighborhood festivals, and group photos Christina loves to bring people together and put her heart into all of it. She is incredibly hard working and values education, earning her master's degree in Non-Profit Management while full time employed and home schooling! Christina’s faith in Jesus has led her to spend her whole career in service to other people first as a Speech Language Pathologist and later serving women and children experiencing homelessness. One of her greatest gifts is how strongly she loves and mothers our daughter. There is no “half-way" in her as she put everything into raising our daughter in the way God has shown us and will continue to as our family grows. Christina is my rock, and the best person God has put in my life.
FAVORITE FOOD: Sushi or Hamburgers
OCCUPATION: Executive Assistant to CEO at a homeless shelter
EDUCATION: Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management
CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Camping as a family and spending time with my siblings we would go fishing, explore and swim at the beach.
BIBLE VERSE: Ephesians 4:2 “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
HOBBIES: Crafting (I love to use my Cricut to make t-shirts), baking treats, spending time with my daughter
FAVORITE TRADITIONS: Christmas pajamas as a family we do a different pair every year!
Meet Our Daughter, Avery!
Avary is such a joy! She is full of life, outgoing, spunky and so funny. She is eager to be a big sister and will do a great job loving on a brother or sister. It has been fun to see her interact with all her baby cousins and see her love for them pour out while she interacts with them. Avary is creative and loves to spend time with us. She loves to make people laugh and is a little prankster (kind ones).
A Little About Us
Several years ago, we worked at a group home for teenage boys and girls removed from their homes for various reasons by Children Services. Many of our kids living with us had been in the foster care system and we got to experience first-hand with them the trials and complexities that families face in navigating these challenges. Overtime we had our biological daughter, but it had been deeply placed in our heart from God that we should adopt. Years had gone by as we faced several pregnancy challenges, but God intervened clearly showing us that he wanted us to grow our family through adoption.
