Hello. Since we live in Texas, maybe “howdy” is more appropriate. It’s been said that the best way to know someone is to find out where they come from. Sharing some details about ourselves will hopefully give you an idea of how our experiences have molded us and will influence how we will provide for and nurture our family.

Jen was raised in a small college town in Montana with her five sisters and two brothers. Her Dad was a university professor and a rancher who, with Jen’s mom, were highly commited to their children. Jen acquired her Dad’s incredible work ethic, and her Mom’s love for children and her charitable heart. Whether she is participating in charity works, traveling the country to spend time with her extended family or helping out a friend, Jen is always looking for ways to share what she has. Every child on the block knows her by name because she always has dessert to share or a fun activity prepared. I like the homemade ice cream, but the chocolate chip cookies are always a big hit with the kids. Jen is an avid runner, enjoys cooking, and it turns out she really talented seamstress.

I was raised along with three sisters and five brothers in a small town in southern California far enough from the beaches to avoid becoming a “beach bum” but close enough to Los Angeles to experience its crazy culture. My Dad and Mom worked hard to provide a comfortable lifestyle while always placing their marriage and children over many pressing issues. Our home was welcoming to friends and family, and it was rare to find the dinner table without at least a few extra chairs taken by neighborhood kids. My family has a strong work ethic, likely attributed to my Mom’s German heritage, and a love for laughter and stories which can only be the result my Dad’s Irish heritage. Needless to say, Oktoberfest and St. Patrick’s Day always make for great parties and fun at my house. I like to play rugby (like football without pads) and just about any team sport, write and illustrate children stories (I’ll send you a copy if you are interested) and love a good party.

Jen and I met at a small university in Texas where we began dating our senior year. After dating for a few years and finishing graduate school we married in 2004. Fortunately we have wonderful parents who were able to provide Jen and me with a great example to try to emulate in our marriage. Together we like to travel, especially internationally or to the beach, spend time with family and look forward to a good game of cards or “slapping bones” (Dominoes). It is great to spend a weekend alone with our family or to enjoy a fun-filled activity with friends and family. Spending time together as a family is the most important part for all of us.

Our son, Noah, was born in the summer of 2005. Noah is tall and slender, has Jen’s hazel eyes and a few freckles sprinkled about his nose, just like his Daddy. He has a ton of fun traveling, especially when he visits his grandparent’s ranch or his cousins, and he really enjoys the Montessori school he attends. Jen is a volunteer teacher at the school, so he gets the best of both worlds. He spends much of his time volunteering with Jen including working at the library, cooking meals for families, and spending time at church. When not busy with school or helping out, Noah and his mom enjoy checking out museums, visiting zoos and having playdates with friends. There are many things he enjoys, but above all he wants to share. Ironically, being an only child we thought he may be challenged by sharing, but he wants to share everything. Above all he wants a sibling to share with and prays nightly that God will bless us with another child.

We live in a wonderful neighborhood located just a few miles from a major metropolitan district which is full of young families who have made the area safe, clean and attractive. There are creeks with dense woods that add to the many parks and playgrounds throughout the community. Noah and I really enjoy exploring the woods together and occasionally are lucky enough to spot wildlife. Nearly every weekend there are activities including festivals, shows, and parades that take place nearby to create a fun culture for families to enjoy.

We are looking forward to sharing more with you! Check out our profile with Mary if you want to learn more about us.

– Jacob, Jen and Noah

Dear Birth Parent,
We prepared this letter in hopes of providing you with information that will help you get to know us. We think that a child will bring completeness to our family. Bert and I have known each other for more than 13 years and have been married for eight. We are ready to become a complete family with a child that will bring more happiness to our lives.

About Bert
Bert is very compassionate and giving. He is very well liked by his High School students and peers. As a High School teacher he is patient and always takes his time to make decisions. He is also very artistic and plays a great variety of instruments. He plays in a band that performs all around the Kansas City area. He also enjoys the outdoors, especially fishing.

About Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a hardworking individual. She enjoys working with people from other cultures and ways of thinking. She speaks five different languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and basic Arabic. She is also very determined and persevering and those are some of the qualities I really admire about her. She is compassionate and likes to help others.

About PETS
We have a little Shih Tzu dog named “Kahlua”. He is six years old and very friendly, especially with children. He is a great dog and an important part of our family.

Home/Neighborhood
We live in a split level home in a great family oriented neighborhood in the Kansas City area. Our house is located in a quiet area with plenty of children to play with. We are close to several parks and recreational areas as well as a sports and aquatic center with several kids’ pools for entertainment.

About Family
Most of Elizabeth’s family is in Honduras; her father (Manuel), two brothers (Edwin & Alexander) and their wives (Estela & Anna) and two little nieces (Alexandra and Estefania). She also has her grandmother, several aunts, uncles, god-children, cousins, etc. Unfortunately her mother passed away five years ago.

On the other hand, Bert’s family all live in the Kansas City area. Both maternal grandparents are still alive they have been married for more than 50 years. Bert’s parents are also in town and they have been married for more than 35 years. Bert’s brother, Matt, is married and has two children, currently seven and four years old. Several uncles, aunts and cousins also live nearby. They are all very supportive and willing to help baby-sit if necessary.

About Hobbies
Bert’s hobbies include traveling, especially to Mexico, Central and South America and fishing; he goes fishing with his friends and family in Missouri and Arkansas. Bert also has a music group. They play folk music from South America.
Elizabeth’s hobbies include drawing, swimming, and walking her dog “Kahlua”. Elizabeth also enjoys going to the movies and getting together with friends.

To summarize, we would like to thank you for taking time to read this letter, and we feel privileged that you would consider us as potential parents for your child. May God guide you in every step you take to make the best decision for your baby.
Bert & Elizabeth

We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to tell you about ourselves and considering our home for your child. Our experience Lighthouse began five years ago when Chris served this ministry for three years, long before we realized we were called to adoption. Now, we feel the Lord has placed on our hearts that we should expand our family in this manner. We wish we had words to share with you that would bring you comfort in making this decision; but what we can offer is prayers for you and the little one you are carrying. Placing a child into an adoptive family is an incredible act of love and selflessness. We stand by you and hope that we can earn your trust and faith to raise your child in a way that would make you proud. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.

Our family
Chris and Rose met in 1998 at a young Catholic group’s happy hour. We were married in 1999. Chris is an attorney and Rose is a finance manager with a large company. We had two biological children: Samantha who is 7, and Sabrina who is 6. The girls are the best gift God has ever given us. They are energetic, active girls that love school and are virtually inseparable. They are excited to expand our family! We have a large extended family, and our daughters have 13 first cousins. Our family is very involved in many church ministries, whether it is marriage enrichment, women and men’s groups, parenting circles, bible studies, community service, etc. We have many things to offer a child: a stable and nurturing environment, the love of two older sisters, a strong community of friends, educational opportunities, and most of all unconditional love.

Our neighborhood
We live in a two-story, four bedroom home in a wonderful neighborhood. Our children attend a Catholic school that is less than a mile from our home. We have a locked fenced back yard that backs to a pond and our home is on a cul-de-sac that is filled with children biking, walking along the nature trail, and playing all summer long.

Our parenting philosophy
If you desire a family where both parents are extremely involved in your child’s life….look no further! We don’t consider ourselves a “traditional” family in that sense of the word, but a twenty-first century family. Chris and Rose made a decision before our first child was born that we BOTH wanted to actively parent our children as much as we could, and believe that is the best environment to raise our children. We think a Father’s active role in raising children is as important as the Mother’s. We accomplish this by both working part-time, so that we can also both be at home to parent our children equally part-time. We both go to school events during the day, take the kids to lessons, host playgroups and playdates, etc.

Our day to day lives
We are very blessed to have the resources to give your child a private education and send them to college, if that is their desire. Life in our family would mean your child is exposed to many things. We love to take our children to shows/plays, cultural events, visits to zoos, children’s museums, circuses, magic shows, and open gyms. Our children participate in summer camps, vacation bible schools, swimming, gymnastics, girl scouts, dance, soccer, softball, skating, golf, skiing, etc. We also LOVE to travel, especially internationally! We make many weekend trips to visit family and friends, and a separate family vacation with “just us” yearly. Our girls also learn to serve others, as we prioritize volunteering individually and as a family, as well as charitable giving.

What you can expect from us
We want you to know that if you entrust us with the privilege of raising your baby, we will give the baby all the love we possess in our hearts and help him/her grow into a wonderful Christ-loving young man or woman. Your child will always know that you loved him/her no matter what, and that this type of sacrificial love is the greatest a mother can give their child. He or she will be reminded that you allowed us to make our family’s dreams come true, and in return we hope to offer your child a home that would fulfill the goals and dreams of your child. For more information and to see our full profile and more pictures, please contact Lighthouse via Mary Opie; her contact information is listed on this site.

In God’s love….Chris, Rose, Samantha and Sabrina

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

Dear Birth Mother,
I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to choose a family for your baby. But as you read over this letter, know how much my husband and I love being parents. We were so lucky when we found each other, but when we became parents, it was even better.

The little things they bring to each day are amazing. We cherish every kiss, hug and giggle we get from them each day. We always try to teach our boys to treat others as you want to be treated and to always try their best. As parents we think it is very important to travel to see new places and people. To learn about life by doing and by interacting in life’s adventures.

Please know how much we look forward to another child. Know how much we will love your baby. Between their loving cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandparents they will be blanketed with hugs, kisses, giggles, laughs and caring. Our sons, Max, 7 and Jack, 5 cannot wait to have a baby brother or sister. Jack asks me almost on a daily basis, “When is our baby coming?”

As far as, education and raising our children we have set up college funds for each of our children as not to burden them with college student loans. Currently, Max is going to a private Catholic school and Jack goes a couple of days a week to a Christian preschool. It is important for us for our children to have a good education and be surrounded by positive, Christian teachers.

Even though Max and Jack are very healthy, if they get sick or need immunizations, we have a great pediatrician. But lucky for us and the new baby, we have a doctor in our house and we call him daddy.

Always know that the love we give to the baby, we will also send to you. We thank you for considering us as parents and brothers to your sweet baby.

About Us

In February 1999, Jason and Mary Lou met on a Christian website.  Mary Lou was in her first year as an Occupational Therapist in the school system working with kids with special needs.  Jason was working in telecommunications in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Right away we knew God brought us together and after a short engagement, we were married October 15, 1999. Mary Lou continued to work in the schools until our first child was born November 25, 2000.  It was a long, difficult pregnancy, labor and emergency c-section delivery.  The Lord blessed us with a beautiful baby boy, Zachary.  Mary Lou was able to stay home with Zachary his first year and enjoyed watching him meet every milestone.  When he was 13-months-old, we found out we were expecting another baby.  Unfortunately the 2nd pregnancy was just as rough as the first, but this time Mary Lou had a scheduled c-section which seemed like a breeze compared to what she experienced with Zachary’s labor and delivery.

Zachary Paul

When Zachary was 16-months-old he had his first grand mal seizure.  Despite being on several anti-seizure medications, he went on to have 4 to 5 life-threatening seizures a year until he was 5-years-old when he had major brain surgery.  On November 16, 2006 Zachary had a right hemispherectomy (removal of one side of the brain) and, praise the Lord, has been seizure-free ever since.  He went through intense Physical, Occupational and Speech therapies for a year to learn how to walk, use his left arm and talk again.  We know that it is by the complete grace of God that Zachary is medication-free and doing very well.  Zachary is a very active and loving child.  He enjoys going to school, church and playing basketball and bowling with Special Olympics.  He has such a sweet spirit; he rarely has a bad day.

Alexandra Faith Lexi

Lexi was born on September 20, 2002.  Zachary and Lexi are about as opposite as siblings can be.  We joke that Zachary is our medically-complex, compliant child while Lexi is our healthy, strong-willed child.  When Lexi was born the doctor said she had never seen a baby so pink and healthy.  She was precocious from the beginning, walking and talking at 9 months of age and speaking in 2 to 3 word sentences before she turned 2!  Lexi is currently in the 1st grade and loves school, playing with her friends, going to AWANA at church and trying different sports.  Her teacher said she is a natural leader.  She played soccer last spring and while she did well with it, she decided she was ready for something else.  She is cheerleading this winter with Upward and is having a lot of fun with it.  We also take both kids to swimming lessons every year and we all enjoy swimming together in the summer.  She loves her big brother and longs for a little brother or sister she can help mommy with, although she has already stated she is not going to change any diapers. 

Why We Want to Adopt

As we mentioned, adoption is something that was put on Mary Lou’s heart long before she met Jason and underwent two very difficult pregnancies.  Another reason we feel led to adopt is due to the fact we are pro-life and feel it is Biblical to adopt, as we are adopted sons and daughters of God.  The Lord has blessed us and we have so much love to share and believe we could give another child a good home and future.  We have always wanted more children and said that if and when God healed Zachary of his seizures, we would adopt.  Our children are very excited about having a new brother or sister, too.  They pray almost every night that God would give us a baby soon.

Our Neighborhood, Jobs and Activities

We live an hour from Kansas City.  Jason was the general contractor for our house built in 2006 and it sits on 2 acres about 10 minutes from Zachary and Lexi’s school, major shopping, and local hospital.  Jason works for an employee owned company that sells stainless steel pumps to food processing and pharmaceutical companies.  Mary Lou works part time as an Occupational Therapist for the school district and a nursing facility.  We are active members of our church.  We both teach Sunday school and we lead a small group Bible study in our home on Tuesday evenings.  Jason is the missionary team leader for national missions at our church.  We are both interested in doing missions trips and are praying for God to open doors for us to do mission trips in the future.  Mary Lou enjoys taking Zumba classes and we both enjoy helping with our kids’ activities.  Mary Lou is Lexi’s Upward cheer coach this winter and having a blast with it.  God has given us a great core of friends who have children who are close in age to Zachary and Lexi.  One of our favorite things to do is have friends over for dinner and play various board and Wii games.  We also love to travel and try to take a trip every summer.

We are praying for you and all the women at the Light House, for healthy babies, easy deliveries and for God’s will in all of your lives.  We know that if you choose our family, the Lord will help us give your baby a good life, future and most importantly, a home filled with the love of Jesus Christ.

Hello,

We are Mike and Rose, best friends, and proud to be Jack’s mom and dad. We would love to share our love with another child and hope to be blest by adoption once more.

Our journey to starting a family has had its ups and downs. And, although the unknowing has been difficult, we know that God had a plan for us from the beginning. Sometimes His blessings just take a while to unfold. We have struggled with infertility foryears. But God heard our prayers. A couple of years ago, we met a special, young woman who was looking for a special couple for her child.

Jack’s birthmother made a selfless decision when she chose adoption. She wanted a mother and father for him. We have a wonderful open relationship with Jack’s birth mother and her family. Jack is blessed to have two mothers who think the world of him and love him very much.

About Jack
Children are an incredible blessing from God. Jack has brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. He isenergetic and friendly. He loves playing with other children. He also loves books, balls, dinosaurs, trucks and anything that makes noise, like Grandpa’s tractor.

About Mike
We are both blessed to have jobs we love. Mike is a Systems Analyst for a local hospital. He has been there several years and enjoys technical challenges and “computer geek speak.” Mike is an energetic man who adores his son and loves to wrestle with him. He is a devoted husband and father. He and Jack are like two peas in a pod.

About Rose
Rose is in the communication field and produces stories that promote government programs and activities. She loves being creative and enjoys meeting new people. Rose is an upbeat person who looks for the positive in every situation. She loves that Jack is a “mommy’s boy” and enjoys doing everything with Jack like blowing bubbles, throwing balls and reading. Rose is a devoted wife and mother.

Family and Fun
During the weekends, we enjoy visiting our families and doing those things we always said we would do when we had children. We take Jack to swimming lessons or city events, such as the local train show, Itty Beach Party or county fair. There are so many activities and events for children where we live so there is always something fun to do. We love experiencing the world through Jack’s eyes.

Neighborhood
We live in a small community, minutes from two larger cities. Our home is in a small subdivision with young families and is close to the neighborhood park. We have a nice yard with plenty of room for Jack to run around and play.

Education
Naturally, we want the best for Jack and our future children. Education is very important to us. We both attended private elementary schools. We also have taken college courses. Rose completed two undergraduate degrees and received her master’s degree in public affairs. We are also book worms. Rose’s dad built a book shelf and we are busy filling it with children’s books. We read to Jack every day in the hope of instilling a love for reading and a passion for discovery. We will help our children reach their full potential by providing the resources and the education they need to succeed.

Adoption is a loving choice
We believe open adoption is best for children when this arrangement works best for the birth parents and adoptive parents. However, we want an arrangement that you feel comfortable with and would like to discuss the ideal situation for you. Regardless ofwhether you would like an open or closed adoption, we will always tell your child that you made a loving, selfless decision when you made an adoption plan. And we hope that seeing pictures of your child through the years will show you how much we care andlove your son or daughter and bring you peace.

We realize that if you are reading this, you may be making one of the most difficult decisions of your life. We can’t imagine the feelings you must be going through as you consider the options for your child. However, we hope you will consider adoption and the incredible blessings it can bring.

Thank you for taking the time to read our profile. We hope this has offered you a glimpse into our lives and hearts and the love that we can offer a child. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you are interested in speaking with us, please contact Mary Opie at 816-361-2233, ext. 203. You may also visit our Web site, www.adoptionblessing.blogspot.com.

May God’s blessings and peace be with you,

Mike, Rose and Jack

When a couple starts their adoption journey, the process is overwhelming (to say the least). First a couple must choose an avenue to adopt. My husband and I chose domestic adoption, so our next step was to find an agency. This was no easy task. Many agencies’ fees were too high, their practices unethical, and their staff not prompt or friendly. After a lot of research, many phone calls and e-mails, and prayer, we decided to adopt through The Light House for several reasons.

First, the agency promotes Christian beliefs. To minister to women and their babies, in our opinion, requires an understanding of a person’s deepest need: a relationship with Jesus and the abundant life He offers. Furthermore, to adopt requires a lot of faith and prayer, and we are thankful these actions were encouraged by our social worker and the agency’s director.

Second, the agency is ethical, believing that life matters. This includes not just the life of the baby but also the lives of the baby’s birth parents. Our experience with Light House has shown us that the agency believes in the respect and privacy of all parties. We feel that how the agency treats the expectant parents and birth parents is an indicator of the agency’s heart (what they truly believe).

Third, Light House’s fees are reasonable when compared to other agencies. This was and still is important to us as we plan to grow our family through adoption again in the future. With the current financial crisis in our country, an affordable adoption process is crucially important to most families.

Finally, Light House’s staff is professional, friendly, and available. It has been over a year since we adopted our daughter, and we feel welcome to contact our social worker at any time, and we do! Whether we have a question or a concern, the agency is supportive of us and responds in a timely and sincere manner. Though our daughter’s adoption is finalized, it is likely we will have a life-long relationship with Light House as they continue to assistance us in communicating with our child’s birth mother.

We look forward to working with The Light House again in the future, and we often recommend the agency to friends, acquaintances, and strangers. We are honored to be a part of the Light House family, and we ask that you prayerfully seek God’s will for you and your spouse as you decide if adoption is right for you, and if it is, where you will put your trust.

Thank you for viewing our profile. We hope that through these few short words that you may be able to see a little about our family.

Jamie and I have been together since high school. We met at church in the youth group, his best friend and my best friend were brother and sister, therefore we spent much time together. We have been together since the age of 15!! We married right after Jamie finished college and just love living life together.

Jamie works for a television station and has for 10 years. Jamie enjoys fishing and spending time with our son, Mason.

I have worked part time for the school district for 14 years, I work in the Elementary School our son attends, it’s only two blocks away from home ! Childcare has never been something we needed. We only needed care 4 hours a week and on those days, Mason spent them with his grandparents. Both sets of grandparents live less than 10 miles away; it’s great for all of us.

We adopted Mason December 24th, 2003. He was our amazing Christmas gift that year!! Our story on how God sent us Mason is amazing!! We have that on dvd; just ask Mary for it.

We are thrilled about the oppurtunity to adopt again! While we are waiting, our family has had the pleasure of fostering a few children; one from the Lighthouse. Those are sweet babies that we pray for daily.

What do we do???
Going to the lake in the summer; we have a small lakehouse and love spending weekends there together, surrounded by friends and family.

We also love to travel! Last January we went on our first cruise; 10 of us went. It was so much fun, my dad turned 60 and we surprised him, he thought it was just him and my mom. When he got there we were all sitting there on the cruise ship; SURRPRISE! We are returning to Disneyworld for the second time since we recieved Mason in September 2010.

We are very invlolved in church, I sing in the praise team at church and Jamie is in a mens quartet. We are at church every Sunday and a lot of times on Wednesday nights too. I lead a womens bible study group on Wednesday mornings for all the stay at home mom’s from our community.

We love going to the movies, out to eat, and just spending quiet nights at home,ordering a pizza and watching a movie; always Mason choice of course

We have been praying for our next child for over a year, but so you are aware, not only have we been praying for our next child, but we have been praying for you! Yes, for you. We pray that God has put people in your path to help you through this time. We pray that you are healthy and that you are too being blessed by this choice. I do pray is that the moment you find the family for your baby, God gives you a peace about your choice.
The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future” This message is to all of us. God’s plan was for us to adopt Mason on Christmas Eve. His plans are for us to adopt again.

His plans are not to harm us; you either. He has a plan for your child, He has plans for you, He has plans for us.

His plans, they are full of HOPE!

God Bless- Jamie, Shelley, & Mason

Thank you for taking the time to look through our family profile. We pray that you will see God’s love in our family and how much we have to offer a baby. We pray for you as you make difficult decisions and hope that you know how much you are loved by the Lord who made you.

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Darren:
I am 39 years old and work at a large company as a finance manager. However, my most important job is as a daddy to my three sons. I am blessed to call Kelly my wife and love her more each day. I was adopted by my parents at three weeks old, and I know firsthand the blessing of adoption. I am excited about adding another child to our family by way of adoption.  Our children bring us joy that pales only compared to God’s love for us.  We can’t wait to share that love with our baby brought to our loving family through adoption.  I love to coach our son’s soccer team, play outside with the kids in the snow sledding in our back yard or throwing the football around. I believe that being a “hands-on” daddy is the most important thing I can do in creating a loving and lasting relationship with our children.

Kelly:
I am a 37-year-old stay-at-home mom. I was an elementary teacher for 6 years and decided to put teaching on hold while the boys were still at home. I love photography and writing, but my first priority is raising my children. I am blessed to be in love with my best friend, and our marriage is strengthened by keeping God at the center. Holidays and birthdays are a BIG deal in our family. I love to go all out and make them special memories every year.  I am an active mommy who loves to do crafts with the kids, take them on hikes and walks around the neighborhood and organize our swimming play group every summer.  The children and my husband are my number one priority, after the Lord. Adopting another baby into our family will be just another way of God showing us his grace and love by blessing us with another beautiful life to love.

About our sons:
Ethan is 8 years old and in second grade. He loves science, outdoors and reading non-fiction. He is very devoted to being a big brother and quite protective.  Seth is 6 years old and in Kindergarten. He wants to be an artist when he grows up and is a tender-hearted, creative soul. Aidan is 3 years old, attends preschool two days a week and LOVES to play in his room with his toys ALL the time.  He has the best imagination. One night at dinner Seth said thoughtfully, “I already love our new baby and I don’t even know them yet.”  He just summed up how we all feel, really.

Why we want to adopt:
After the birth of our youngest son, we still felt like someone was missing from our family.  When we found out that the doctor recommended that Kelly should not get pregnant again, we prayed, and God put the desire to adopt on our hearts.  With Darren being adopted and knowing the joys and blessings that his parents have brought to his life, we knew this was what God wanted us to do… and what we wanted to do with all our hearts.