Our Letter to You
"They may not have my eyes, they may not have my smile, but they have all my heart." - Author Unknown
We hope this letter gives you comfort and hope for the future. We know that this is not an easy decision nor is deciding the future of your child. We hope in the next few minutes you get a small glimpse into our life and pray it gives you hope and peace.
Please know that you and your unborn child are prayed for on a daily basis. Thank you for making the brave decision to choose life.
About Andrea
I am the youngest of three with two older brothers. Family has always been a big part of my life. We spent many holidays with my dad's side of the family that lived in the same town. Fond memories as a child are going tubing at the lake and camping with my family, visiting my grandparents on the family farm, going to the county fair and having cousin time.
My adolescent years were tough as my parents filed for divorce when I was 13. After my youngest brother graduated high school, my mom and I moved to be closer to her parents. The move was a blessing in disguise as I flourished in school, made good friends and learned the beauty of living in a small town.
After high school, I attended college and graduated with an Associate of Music.
I am excited to bring a baby into our home to love and care for. I look forward to watching them grow and develop into who God wants them to be.
Things Andrea enjoys:
- Singing
- Helping in Sunday School at Church
- Being a barista in our stores' coffee shop
- Animals
- Attending sporting events and musicals
About Chris
I am the youngest of three with two older sisters. I grew up playing baseball, basketball and football. My Dad was my baseball coach growing up and my biggest cheerleader. Both my parents instilled a good work ethic in us kids and raised us to never give up. My Dad and Mom are good parents and have been married for 51 years.
In high school, I continued my passion for competition, playing in various sports but focused in on cross country and track. I earned a scholarship to run in college after graduation. I earned a bachelor's degree in health and human performance at Fort Hays State University in 2014.
I own our local grocery store and operate it with my wife Andrea. We took ownership four and a half years ago. The doors will never close as long as people need food on their tables.
I plan on being a hands-on parent. I look forward to teaching our child about life, all things sports, how to ride their bike and watch them grow up into the person God has called them to be.
Things Chris Enjoys
- Grilling, smoking meats and cooking
- Reading or listening to audio books
- Coaching junior high football
- Attending musicals
- Attending baseball and football games
Andrea's Family
My family consists of my mom, my dad, two older brothers and their families. Both my parents are remarried. My mom lives nearby as does her parents and my oldest brother and his family. My oldest brother has four kids, and we get together when we can. My dad lives in Texas and comes up to visit us kids a couple times a year. My middle brother lives in Colorado with his wife and two kids. I feel blessed to have my maternal grandparents living nearby.
My extended family gets together for special occasions and holidays, and we always have a lot of laughs. The house is usually noisy with kids running around or sitting around the table conversing. My family is in full support of our decision to pursue adoption, and they cannot wait to welcome another grandchild, niece or nephew into the family!
Chris's Family
My family consists of my mom, dad and two older sisters. I have one nephew from my oldest sister. My oldest sister has her doctorate in theology, and her husband is an active Army chaplain. They continue to move around every two or three years. My middle sister is married with no children, and they live in Missouri. We go up to see my parents a few times a year. Getting the whole family together is difficult but it happens about once a year.
My extended family has a different dynamic as there is quite an age gap between me and my sisters. My parents have been supportive through our journey of adoption, and they are excited to add another granddaughter or grandson into the family!
Our Adopted Mom
Brenda is the former owner of our grocery store and when we purchased it from her four and a half years ago, little did we know we would be gaining a second mom. She has been our mentor throughout ownership and our advocate in life. She is not just an employee, she is our friend and one that we look up to. She is praying on a daily basis for our family and cannot wait to hold our little one in her arms!
Our Pets
We have two dogs and one cat. Tucker, the black lab mix, is a gentle, old soul and the protector of our home. His favorite past time is playing ball. We rescued Tucker when he was about 6-months old. Lucy, the golden retriever is energetic and such a sweetheart. She loves her brother, always has a toy in her mouth and loves to snuggle in the evenings. Our cat, Wall-e, is the newest member of our family; we adopted him this past March. He is full of spunk and loves affection.
Our home
We live in a small town in northwest Kansas in a house with a basement and a large fenced-in backyard. Our home is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with an office and a detached 2-car garage. Love makes our house a home and we are ready to start our family in it.
Small town life
Living in a small town offers numerous advantages. Many individuals often hold misconceptions about life in rural areas. Andrea and Chris have both experienced living in both large cities and small towns and there is something to be said of the small-town life.
A few of the benefits
- Low cost of living
- Pleasant sense of community
- Successful independent businesses
- Low crime
- Minimal traffic
- Slower pace
The best thing about a small town is how everyone looks out for each other. Kids get to enjoy a sense freedom, riding bikes with friends on the sidewalks, heading to the pool, or walking to the local grocery store on their own to grab a piece of candy, a soda, or an ice cream cone.
Our small community features a family-owned and operated grocery store, a local pool, a community foundation that significantly benefits the surrounding rural areas, a K-12 school with exceptional teachers, and a diverse population.
Looking for a quick escape? The nearest big city is about three hours away, making it perfect for a weekend trip filled with shopping, entertainment, or a convenient airport stop.
Foreign Exchange Student Experience
In 2022, we opened up our home to our first exchange student Chiara who was from Italy. She came to America as a junior in high school and made friends easily. She participated in volleyball, basketball and track. At the end of the school semester, we were able to host her parents and brother for a couple days. They were such kind people and loved having the chance to see where their daughter had been. We try to stay in contact with Chiara still, but it seems more difficult.
Rafael was our second exchange student from Brazil. He came to the United States in August of 2023 and stayed the full school semester. He participated in football, basketball and track, his favorite sport was basketball. We had the pleasure of hosting his parents at the end of the school semester and showing them what life in our small town was like for Rafael. He will always be a part of our family, and we look forward to one day visiting him in his hometown.
Our adventures
We love traveling and exploring new places, cheering on our favorite football team at games, musicals, checking out new Major League Baseball stadiums, and catching the occasional concert! We’re so excited to become a family of three—or maybe four—and create lasting memories together!
Christmas
Our favorite holiday is Christmas. We attend Christmas Eve service at our church, make chicken noodle soup for dinner, open one gift and gather with family. We enjoy sleeping in on Christmas Day and making a nice breakfast. Once we add a new baby to our family, we plan on keeping the same traditions but also making new as a family. We enjoy giving gifts, but we love spending quality time together most of all.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is another favorite holiday that we spend with family. We alternate which side of the family we spend time with. Traditionally we eat a nice breakfast Thanksgiving morning and prepare the Thanksgiving meal to eat late afternoon. We’re so excited to welcome a baby into our home and have one more reason to be grateful.
In Closing
Dear Birth Mother, we want to thank you again for taking the time to check out our profile. Even if we are not the family for your unborn child, we pray that God leads you to the perfect match. We continue to pray for you daily over your health and your precious baby.
We will treasure every moment and ensure a nurturing home filled with love, security, and comfort. We look forward to the opportunity, at the appropriate time, to meet in person and establish a meaningful relationship, allowing us to share this journey together.
Becoming parents has always been our dream, and we’re thrilled to be opening our hearts and home to a child through adoption. We can’t wait for that day to come! We have so much respect for your choice to explore adoption for your child and wish you all the best as you navigate this process and make the decision that feels right for you and your child.
We will continue to keep you in our daily prayers and look forward to meeting you someday soon!
With love, Andrea and Chris.
If you are interested in reaching out, please contact our sweet social worker, Lori Titsworth through Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas. She would love to connect with you and guide you through your journey. I have attached a link below to her contact information.
Credits:
Created with images by Max Maximov - "Saline County, KS USA - Aermotor Windmill in the Prairie at Sunset" • jakkapan - "Christmas lights bulb frame decoration on white wood. Merry Christmas and New Year holiday background. top view" • RomanWhale studio - "Happy Thanksgiving day concept - traditional holiday food with pumpkins on old wooden. "