waiting families

Terry & Delaina

Thank you so much for considering us as adoptive parents. It is wonderful to know that we both share a very special value—the love of children. We cannot begin to understand how difficult this must be for you, and truly admire the strength and courage you possess. Your decision to share the gift of life shows how much love you have for your child.

We have long felt a strong desire to become parents. For the past several years we have been preparing our lives for the blessing of children by moving closer to family, establishing our home, and securing our careers. While our infertility has changed our path, we are filled with joy and expectation to welcome the child that God has chosen for us. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to become parents, and promise to love and nurture our child every day of our lives.

Our Relationship

We met in medical school and our friendship grew over time until we went on our first date—pizza and a movie, The Lion King. At Christmas several years later, Terry surprised Delaina with a very romantic marriage proposal. We were married in September 2000, one of the happiest days of our lives!

We are lucky to be married to our best friend and can always make each other laugh. Some of our favorite times are simple things like renting movies and walking our dog. We have fun getting together with friends for a concert or to cheer on our favorite sports’ teams. We spend our vacations having outdoor adventures such as hiking, photographing wildlife, or playing on a beach.

Of course, life isn’t always a vacation and when faced with hard times we are each other’s support. Our marriage is even stronger today, and we would not feel complete without one another.

Terry’s Thoughts About Delaina

Delaina is the love of my life. She is beautiful, intelligent and funny. The good times in my life are better because of her, and the bad times are made easier knowing she is by my side. Delaina has a genuine affection for kids and there is a special joy in her eyes when she is caring for children. She will be a wonderful mother, and looks forward to reading stories, playing games, and helping with homework.

Delaina is very active in volunteering, focusing on charities that support children and our environment. Caring for those in need is a true passion of hers, and I am very proud of her kind spirit and generosity.

Delaina’s love of children led her to become a pediatrician. However, she is not currently practicing medicine in order to focus on starting a family. Once we become parents, Delaina plans to stay at home and may return to part-time work in the future.

Delaina’s Thoughts About Terry

Terry is my hero, and he is going to be a fantastic father. He is the most loving and kind-hearted person I know. Terry’s generosity and compassion are seen in his work as a physician. One of his passions is helping people who lack proper health care. In addition to volunteering at an African hospital, he has donated his time and resources to this very important cause.

Terry always puts family first, and he helps tremendously in caring for his younger sister who has Down syndrome. He is also a wonderful role model for our nephews, who think he is the greatest uncle. He is still a kid at heart and truly loves children. Whether playing catch or going to a dance recital, Terry is excited to be a hands-on dad.

When we become parents, Terry will take time off so we can be together and bond as a family. He gets a lot of vacation, and his group is very family oriented.

Our Home

We chose our home because we think it is the perfect place to raise our family. We live in a pretty neighborhood near a small lake with a beach and wooded nature trails. The back deck of our house overlooks the lake, and we have a beautiful view of the changing seasons. Our neighborhood is very safe and friendly, with quiet streets great for bike riding. There are many family activities in our neighborhood including ice cream socials and playgroups. Our home was built with kids in mind. It has a giant playroom with built-in toy boxes, and a big backyard that makes a great sledding hill in winter.

Our Family

Delaina has a close family with one younger brother who lives in Boston with his wife and 2-year-old son. Her parents live nearby and we spend many summer weekends barbequing and playing Bocce ball by their pool. The whole family gets together for several long visits each year. Christmas is a special time in Delaina’s family with many traditions. We listen to childhood Christmas albums, play board games, and watch favorite Christmas movies. Our newer traditions are making fondue and eating oysters from Boston.

Terry is the middle child between two wonderful sisters, and we visit with his family often. His older sister has two sons through adoption, and we have so much fun with them. They love to visit in winter for sledding, skiing and snowboarding. We have taken some special trips with them to Yosemite National Park, Lake Michigan, and Cubs games.

We also have a large extended family. Most of them live nearby and we get together for holiday dinners and summer parties. We are so lucky to have such wonderful families and everyone is excited to welcome the newest member!

Our Promise

One of the most important questions you may have for us is how we intend to raise our child. The answer is a reflection of our values. Faith in God should not only be a deeply held belief, but a way of life. We will encourage treating everyone with respect and compassion, and helping those less fortunate. We believe that we are called to be stewards of the earth, caring for nature and our environment. The importance of education will be emphasized, and we will provide every opportunity for our child to reach his/her full potential. We also strongly believe that kids should get to be kids—having fun, playing and exploring their world. Most importantly, we will love our child with all our hearts and share how much he or she is also loved by you.

May God bless and guide you.

 

Call Adoption Associates, Inc. at 1.877.314.2367, email adopt@planadoption.com, or request a free adoption information packet to learn more about making an adoption plan for your baby.