Travis and Leslie
Dear parent(s) of our future baby. We want so much to share the life of our (meaning yours and ours) baby with you as we raise him or her. Your family and hearts mean so much to us and we want you to know our hearts are open to sharing moments and memories with you. We would love to know more about your family, any traditions, things you love to do that we can share with the baby as they grow.
We are very excited as parents to raise another child and our daughters are very excited to grow with another sibling. They are old enough now to understand and desire for themselves this adoption journey. Each one expressing an eagerness to grow our family through adoption. This isn’t just Travis and I’s heart’s desire but theirs as well. We long to see our family grow and be transformed by this baby’s home coming. We know the Lord is ordering our steps. We long to hold our child with confidence that God brought us here to you and you to us.
The Story of Us:
Leslie’s and my love story is my favorite story to tell! We met at church when I was 11 years old, and over the next few years became close friends. Feelings for each other began to develop early on in my teenage years, although she was unwilling to admit it at first (haha). Leslie’s a couple years older than me, and she would constantly be teased as a “cradle-robber.” Eventually she couldn’t help but fall for this young teenage boy who loved music and Nascar, and who was obviously very attracted to her. Other than being incredibly beautiful, what initially attracted me to her was her passionate love for Jesus, and the fact that she actually gave me the time of day and seemed interested in my life. I’ve never met someone who genuinely loves people the way Leslie does, and she’s been this way since I first met her. We courted and dated throughout my high school years and into college, and married young at 19 and 21. We’ve been married now over 18 years, and have 3 beautiful daughters! She refuses to watch Nascar with me, but I truly love her more now than I ever have!
Our marriage is strong because of walking with Jesus. Keeping him at the center of our marriage is so important to us. We nurture our relationship by going on date nights a few times a month. It is important to us to have daily intentional conversation and connection time. We love to have fun together, just the two of us. We tell our girls the reason for our date nights or times away are for them as much as they are for us. If we are healthy as a couple our family is healthy. Our dreams for the future are to bring grow our family through adoption and continue to follow Jesus lead. We would love to write worship music, create more spaces for people to gather to meet Jesus and travel.
Meet Travis
I love home! Enjoying our beautiful home with Leslie and my girls is what fills me up. Whether it’s eating meals together, playing in the yard, swimming, hiking, fires in the fireplace, playing board games, or watching movies…I love home.
I am more of an introverted “quiet-type” personality. I love being with people, but time alone restores me. I especially enjoy quiet time in the mornings with Jesus, and coffee of course!
I love date nights with Leslie. Something else that breathes life into me is time with Leslie, so we schedule regular date nights and are intentional about quality time together. Thankfully we’re blessed with many family members and close friends who love our girls while we’re out!
Music is my love language. When I listen to and play music it’s like I’m being transported to a different world. I believe music is a gift the Lord has given me, whether it’s hearing, playing, teaching, or creating. I love worshipping Him through music! Music speaks and expresses emotions in ways words cannot.
I like going slow. As pastors our lives can easily become overwhelmingly fast-paced, trying to be all the places with all the people (which is usually all good things). I like slowing down, trying to be present to the moment, and taking in the Lord’s goodness that is all around me all the time.
Favorites TV show – Everybody Loves Raymond Movie character – Captain Jack Sparrow Vacation spot – Southport, NC Color _ Navy blue Food – Good Italian (especially spaghetti) Animal – Small dogs Hobby – Playing music Holiday – Christmas, or anything Fall (Autumn) related
Travis loves completely. He is so peaceful to be around, he is kind and incredibly patient and he smells good! Travis loves to make memories as a family and couple and is intentional about playing with our girls. He loves to learn and teach and his musical gifting is off the charts! When He sings…it melts my heart.
~Leslie
Meet Leslie
I love to decorate my home and help others with theirs. It inspires me to see pretty spaces and create what I see. I think this fills me up because I love seeing with my eyes beauty from ashes. I feel like it is my story.
I love coffee!! Not because of the caffeine so much as the flavor and warmth. I look forward to the hot cup first thing in the morning.
I am a feeler. I know the Lord has made me this way for a purpose. Tears are not far away from flowing. I love with all that I am. I know this is because of how loved I am by Jesus. He causes me to hope and believe even when things don’t appear good.
Being in Nature restores me. I love hiking, walks, and adventures in Amish country. I feel healed looking at the rolling hills, the beauty of God’s creation. I’ve learned that I need this.
I chose my occupation because I felt called to it. Being a pastor wasn’t exactly what I thought my calling would look like. But I know it is what the Lord made me for. I love working with, teaching and leading God’s people. It is the greatest gift to do what I do. I have learned that if I am being led by Jesus, then I can lead well. I have to follow his lead.
I love being a mom. I can’t believe God chose me to be Natalie, Brielle, Ezekiel and Eliza’s mom. Walking through motherhood has taught me so many things and makes me excited to continue this journey. The days can be hard and a lot of the time I have now idea what I am doing. But that is where the Lord shows up.
I love to decorate my home and help others with theirs. It inspires me to see pretty spaces and create what I see. I think this fills me up because I love seeing with my eyes beauty from ashes. I feel like it is my story.
I love coffee!! Not because of the caffeine so much as the flavor and warmth. I look forward to the hot cup first thing in the morning.
I am a feeler. I know the Lord has made me this way for a purpose. Tears are not far away from flowing. I love with all that I am. I know this is because of how loved I am by Jesus. He causes me to hope and believe even when things don’t appear good.
Being in Nature restores me. I love hiking, walks, and adventures in Amish country. I feel healed looking at the rolling hills, the beauty of God’s creation. I’ve learned that I need this.
I chose my occupation because I felt called to it. Being a pastor wasn’t exactly what I thought my calling would look like. But I know it is what the Lord made me for. I love working with, teaching and leading God’s people. It is the greatest gift to do what I do. I have learned that if I am being led by Jesus, then I can lead well. I have to follow his lead.
I love being a mom. I can’t believe God chose me to be Natalie, Brielle, Ezekiel and Eliza’s mom. Walking through motherhood has taught me so many things and makes me excited to continue this journey. The days can be hard and a lot of the time I have now idea what I am doing. But that is where the Lord shows up.
Favorites
1.Fixer Upper – Chip and Joanna Gaines 2.Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail 3.The Beach, Southport North Carolina 4.Teals, blue/greens 5.Italian Food 6.Kitties 7.Decorating 8.Christmas
Leslie loves with all of her heart! I love the way she she loves to cultivate home (i.e. decorate, garden, cook, bake). Her heart longs to see justice for the hurting, broken and vulnerable and she makes you feel like you can do anything! 5. She is the most incredible mother to our girls! Physical health is very important to her (exercise, healthy nutrition, rest, ect.) and she loves she loves classic movies, especially classic Christmas movies. Leslie will watch football with me, even through she has no interest in it. haha. I love her her love for Jesus, and to see his love transform people’s lives! She makes me the best version of myself.
~Travis
Meet Our Children
We have 3 beautiful daughters. Each on carries her own unique personality, sense of style and expression of love. Natalie is our oldest and she is bold, confident and is a born leader (she may not know it yet). She loves to sing, play with her sisters, be with friends, and go to youth group. Yes, she is on the verge of her teen years. It is wild to have watched her grow and become who God has made her to be. Brielle Joy is just that, joy. She loves to laugh and make people laugh. She feels very deeply and cares equally as deep. She is spunky and will surprise you with her wit. At the same time she loves her alone time and thrives on being at home. She is an excellent student and loves helping others at school, home and church. Eliza is our youngest. She is strong, bold, and knows what she wants. I call her our little negotiator. She is persistent and deeply loving. The beauty of her love for her sisters makes us so happy. Eliza has lots of energy and loves to jump on the trampoline. She loves school and being with friends.
A Little About Us
Our hearts desire is to have a home filled with peace and joy. We love hosting and celebrating life. We especially love family dinners. Sitting, eating together at the table most nights is an important time for us. We protect dinner at the table because life can get going too fast. Eating together at home most nights helps us slow down. Invest in each other and rest. We also love taking walks, hiking, playing games, playing in the yard, swimming, going on vacation to the beach, playing in the snow and watching movies together. Music is a big part of our life. We are usually jamming in the car together anytime we go anywhere.
We have the privilege of being surrounded by many families who have adopted, are working in foster care or have been adopted. The amount of support we have received in this journey has been priceless.
We are so thankful you are holding our book in your hands right now. It is an honor to open our hearts to you. We are Thankful for who you are and your incredible heart for your sweet baby. We know that this decision is extremely difficult and we consider it to be the most selfless act. We are praying for YOU on this journey. We hope to walk with you in life as we raise this beautiful child. You are so important to us and we believe God has brought us to this moment of adoption. Our journey has been one of grief and waiting and much joy. We have been waiting to adopt for many years. Knowing it is time. We can’t express in words how you are blessing to our family allowing us to raise your child.
