Hello
P
C
W
THANK YOU!
Hi!
e’re honored that you’re taking the time to look through our profile and considering our family for your precious child. We can only imagine
what you must be feeling and we don’t know what you’ve been through that’s led to this moment, but we want you to rest secure in the knowledge that your child will be embraced and
ABOVE
adored! He or she will be raised in a home of absolute love and
How cool is this Cadillac Ranch?
E
comfort, laughter and silliness, opportunity and encouragement, permanence and security, and, of course, family and friends.
RIGHT Rooting on our favorite team
Adoption has always been very close to our opportunity to expand our family in this way. If you would be comfortable, we would love to meet you, encourage and support you, and learn more about your hopes and dreams for this child!
B EF ORE
Our story
About
BEGINS O VER FOU RTEEN YEARS A GO WHE N WE WERE BO TH HIGH S CHOOL SOPHOM ORES
S jJ U S! V
hearts and we are beyond blessed to have the
W
e were best friends lucky enough to fall in love and have been married just shy of seven years
now. We knew we didn’t want to have children right away. Despite dating for such a long time prior to marriage we still wanted to have some time to enjoy, just the two of us.
This allowed us to travel and purchase our home and get settled before starting our family. Four years after ‘I do’ we welcomed our son, Mercer! At three years old he is the quintessential pre-
schooler, but brings us such happiness and joy every single day. Just three months shy of his third birthday we welcomed our second surprise boy, Boden, into the world! Regardless of whether or not we had biological children, adoption was always a part of our family plan. When we were in college we met one weekend and went to a natural spring pool to relax and get away from our studies for a bit. While we were there, we saw a couple with two white children and two black children. Watching them interact, and seeing the love and connectedness between them, was nothing short of life changing. It affirmed our feelings that love is not limited to genetics and blood; we don’t have to look like some one to love and cherish them and we knew we wanted that, the opportunity to provide a home for a child filled with love, mercy, and acceptance. T H E CORE OF ADOPTION NEVER CEASES TO OVERWHELM US! IT IS THE GIFT OF
M O R E T H A N A N Y T H I N G , W E WA N T T O S AY A H U G E T H A N K Y O U ! Seriously, from the deepest part of our hearts, thank you for being courageous and mindful of adoption, what a gift!
LIFE AND THE GIFT OF LOVE.
E
OUR
Faith j
O U R FA I T H I N J E S U S C H R I S T I S T H E K E Y S T O N E O F O U R L I V E S . It is the piece that holds all others in place. We believe faith isn’t just
something you have it’s something you do. We are not perfect
people, far from it. We need the love, grace, and mercy that only He can provide and because Jesus extended this love and grace to us, it is our goal to extend this grace to others and to teach our children to do the same as well. We are active members of our local church and volunteer and teach in the high school ministry on Sunday mornings.
W H AT S H E
L
yndsey is a loving, caring and Godly mother and wife. Her passion for life is overflowing and it shows in her contagious smile. Her positive attitude and outlook on life is refreshing and remains constant everyday. A S A S T AY A T H O M E M O M , S H E I S A L W AY S D O I N G FUN THINGS WITH THE BOYS, WHETHER IT TA K E S P L A C E AT H O M E B U I L D I N G A P L AY F O R T OR EXPLORING THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM. She loves taking them to the zoo to feed the giraffes and to story time at the library. When Lyndsey has time to herself she can be found reading a book, watching a classic movie, or her “pal’s and confidantes” the Golden Girls. To say she’s a fanatic would be an understatement. Lyndsey’s favorite time of the year is fall (main reason why we got married in October) and she is a lover of everything pumpkin flavored, especially pumpkin spiced lattes. She also loves Halloween and enjoys watching scary movies, one of her favorites being Rosemary’s Baby. She usually follows this by putting on the Golden Girls to make her laugh, smile and forget about the scary movies she just watched because she’s kind of a chicken.
j
F
GS N I H T
N c
Pool pals!
V
Jj
FULL-TIME MAMA, WHICH IS SUCH A BLESSING FOR US! Much like Jarrett’s job it can be stressful, and we have our share of busy, challenging days, but what a joyful experience to get to witness
E
our children learning, growing, playing, and exploring together.
We LOVE BIG! j
I love being a mama!
C
e t i r o av j
DoesS
I S T AY H O M E A S A
E Childhood Activity
We love to explore
E Hobby
Dream Job
Smell
Beach days on Galveston Island
Reading
Floral truck owner
Wild Jasmine
Holiday Tradition
Sword in the Stone
Movie
Place to Take a Child
Cartoon Character
Christmas Eve Tamales
App
Vacation Spot
Riviera Maya, Mexico
The beach
Ice Cream Flavor
Jeni's Goat Cheese with Red Cherries
Dee Dee from Dexter's Laboratory
Guilty Pleasure
Ice coffee and romance novels
V
C
j
Jj
E
E
Y
ou know that Irving Berlin song, “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun? Anything you can do, I can do better? That’s Jarrett, although he’d never admit it because he’s the most humble person on the planet. Jarrett is a renaissance man. He’s good at everything and good to everyone. H I S L A I D B A C K , E A S Y- G O I N G D E M E A N O R M A K E S H I M SUCH A JOY AND AN ASSET IN OUR, SOMETIMES, CHAOTIC HOUSEHOLD, N O T T O M E N T I O N AT H I S J O B A S A P O L I C E D I S P A T C H E R ! Jarrett is a godly man and a beautiful example of the fruits of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22. Though he tends to be more shy
and introverted than myself, he is a loyal and devoted friend who shows kindness and respect to all that he meets. He is a doting, hands-on father, actively participating in Mercer’s activities like swim lessons and library day. On nights he isn’t working he takes the lead with bath and bedtime routine and animatedly reads our children to sleep. Much like his father, Jarrett is a funny guy and jokester. When it comes to movie night he’s comedy all the way (The Naked Gun movies are his favorites). He loves all things home improvement the way I love The Golden Girls, and would probably be living in Lowe’s if I let him. He enjoys college football (primarily the Baylor Bears, because he married into it), cars, grilling, list making, and not asking for directions. Out to eat with Mercer
Admiring San Francisco trees
s
C
TOP RIGHT
Calm & patient da ddy and Mercer at a do c appointment
BOTTOM RIGH T
*Sniff sniff*
Saying hello to a Police Mounted Horse
N
Childhood Activity Playing Cops & Robbers
Holiday Tradition
Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
App
Weather
Hobby
Watching TV
Movie
The Little Rascals
Vacation Spot Turks and Caicos
Dream Job
Meteorologist/ storm chaser
Smell
Orange
Cartoon Character
Place to Take a Child The zoo
Bugs Bunny from Looney Tunes
Ice Cream Flavor
Guilty Pleasure
Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip
Shopping at Lowe's
e t i r o Fav THIN
GS
W H AT H E
Does
HE WORKS FULL TIME AS A POLICE D I S P A T C H E R and while it can be a stressful and busy job, with unusual hours, it is rewarding to see the positive impact he is making in our community. He was awarded employee of the month for our entire city in December 2012 and has been nominated three additional times since then for his outstanding service. We’re so proud of him!
V
Dorothy
E A L LY RE R E H T G H T; E. IT RI HOM HAD LIKE E T I E QU PLAC
IS NO
Traditional in February 2016 after quickly realizing our beloved Ranch-style would no
longer be able to accommodate our rapidly growing family. It was a tough decision at the time but we couldn’t be happier with our new home! It sits at the top of a quiet cul-de-sac in a beautiful, intimate neighborhood with nationally recognized schools just streets away. It is a very diverse area with a nice blend of both the young and old, which we think suits us well and will be
was born just after the celebration of our country’s independence from England. July 5th, 2013 at 11:38 AM this precious babe made quite a dramatic entrance earth side.
OU R
C
Boys
After an emergency cesarean
V
W
e bought this beautifully renovated 1990s
M E R C E R , A K A M E R C Y,
E
we discovered Mercer had a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy. At just four months of age he
Sweet & spunky Mercer
underwent open-heart surgery for a complete repair. Today, Mercer is a very affectionate, sensitive boy who loves books, soccer, and playing in the water and is chomping at the
Brotherly love
bit to have another brother or sister to love on!
beneficial for our children. While the neighborhood has
s ' e r e h T NO
C
e k i L e c Pla j
e m o H
Jj
j
Travel
Swim lessons at home
a great community pool and walking trail surrounding
B O D E N , O R A S W E L O V I N G LY C A L L
a large duck pond, our backyard is one of our favorite
H I M , B O D I E , was almost an April fools baby, born at
places. A large covered patio and refreshing pool and
7:24 AM on March 31st 2016. Although still tiny, Bodie is a
spa create a relaxing place to spend time with family
much quieter, more reserved boy than his older brother.
and friends. It's all tucked safely within our fenced in
But he also enjoys spending time
yard. Both of our dogs are runners so we built a little
in the water, taking long
dog path behind the pool to connect both side-yards together to allow them full access to the backyard. I T HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
naps, and flashing his dimples. A family photo before Bodie entered our lives
A N D M A K E S E V E R Y D AY F E E L L I K E S U M M E R . That, and the southern heat, of course! Newborn Bodie
Our pool and spa in our backyard
RIGHT
Exploring the ruins in Mexico
O N E O F O U R F AV O R I T E T H I N G S T O D O I S E X P L O R E ! Whether it’s around our town or
Our silly boys
around the country, we absolutely love to travel when we have the opportunity. 2015 was a fun year for us with trips to Taos Ski Valley for Spring Break and Disney World for New Year! We feel so fortunate to be able to show our children through first-hand experiences the joys and wonders this world has to offer. We especially love the beach and skiing. We can’t wait to get the kids on their own little skis when they’re ready!
Taos Valley snow tubing fun
Family C
T
thoughts
ogether we have a large family with a grand
V
WE ARE
S OU R jJ
A day at the fair
total of two grandmas (Gigis), one grandpa (Pa), seven aunts, six uncles, five nieces, two
nephews, two great-grandmas, and one great
village
from my childhood home to a neighborhood about
While it can be a joyous and immensely rewarding experience, parenthood is also intensely challenging.
ten minutes from ours! We love being so close to
Adoption comes with its own unique challenges, which we feel we
everyone and appreciate their involvement with and
to raise a child INTRODUCE YOU
J A R R E T T ’ S F A M I L Y R Jarrett is the middle
E
have done the best we can to prepare for. While it’s nice to take the easy way, as parents we want to do what’s right for our kids, not just
of our family weekly.
to our village!
what’s easiest. For us, this includes explaining adoption at a young, but understanding age. We want to be open and honest with our child, from day one, about their history and how they came to be a part of
child of Alan and Denise who have been married About to ride Everest at Disney!
DOBSON HAS A BOOK
I S T H AT T H E T R U T H !
minutes away from us. And my mom just moved
devotion to our boys. We’re able to see both sides
& AUTHOR DR. JAMES
F O R C O WA R D S , A N D B O Y
our families are very close. Jarrett’s parents
IT TA K E S A
F A M I LY T H E R A P I S T
T I T L E D PA R E N T I N G I S N ’ T
grandpa! Because we grew up together still live in the house he grew up in, only about thirty
Parenting
our family. We want to tell them about Y O U and what an incredible
twenty-nine years and together have seven children
thing you did for us! We will prepare our children for the challenges
(hence all of the aunts and uncles)! He has three
they’ll face being an adoptive family and teach them to respond with
brothers and three sisters, including a set of twins! His
understanding, and grace, and perhaps most importantly, patience.
two older brothers each have three children, which
We’ll strive to give each of our children the attitude and skills they need
includes another set of twins! Despite being a larger
to thrive! We want to be an encouraging, calming source in the midst of
family with a few out of state siblings they’re all very
an, often, chaotic world.
close and make a conscious effort to stay connected with one another. L Y N D S E Y ’ S F A M I L Y R Lyndsey comes from a small family of three. Her father died in a ABOVE
Lots of laughs with Pa
with Lyndsey's mom and twin sister
BELOW
RIGHT
Family BBQ fun
work-related accident when she was just three years old. Her mother, Carol, completely devoted to her husband, never remarried. Lyndsey has a twin sister
Cousins
C
Lauren (more twins!) who is married to Eric. Together, they have a little girl just six months older than Mercer and they’re the best of friends! Lyndsey has a very strong relationship with her mother and sister, who, second to Jarrett, would be her closest friends.
Jarretts family in matching t-shirts
OUR FOURLEGGED J
N j
F riends
v
ABOVE
Beans is an eight-year-old Bombay
cat who is by far the most relaxed livi ng creature in our ho use. He belonged to one of the receptio nists at our veterinary office who was looking to re-ho me him as a kitten be cause of an unfortunate relationshi p with a Chihuahua .
Stoney is a seven-year-old French
Bulldog and a comp lete loose cannon. He’s all over the pla ce! Fun, energetic, and fiercely loyal, his unwavering devotion to his fam ily makes him a fantastic guard dog. Not so great at the vet…
Fern is our baby, our biggest baby.
She is a five-year-old Great Dane and is easily the most do cile in our home. She truly is a gentle giant, great with children, seniors, an d other animals.
j
vJj O NE
j
C
Message S
I
n the book of First John, chapter three, verse eighteen says, “ L E T U S
NOT LOVE WITH WORDS OR SPEECH BUT WITH ACTIONS AND IN TRUTH.” We just want to take this time to tell you again how grateful and thankful we are for you and your courage and selflessness. You’re living out this verse! Your child will never doubt for one second of their lives how deeply they’re loved, by us and by you. We’ll tell them, of course, but we’ll show them we love them every single day, by listening to them, engaging them, supporting them, respecting
s
E N
v
them, affectionately disciplining
their limits, extending grace, and providing a safe place for them. Will we have challenges, tantrums, setbacks, and arguments? Absolutely. But we’ll work through them as a family. We’ll learn from each other and grow together. We don’t know who you are, or where you are, but know this: Our hearts are with you through this journey whether your child ends up in our arms or not. Thank you for choosing life. Love and blessings R, Lyndsey and Jarrett.