We are Stefanie and Derek. We are from sunny California. Both of us were born and raised here and currently live in the community where we grew up. We would like to tell you how caring and courageous we think you are for considering an adoption plan for your child. Understandably, it is a difficult and selfless decision that is made from love. By considering us, you are giving us the possibility of the most precious gift and will make our dreams of having a family come true.

We hope that you will see something special in us that you connect with and will reach out to us. Thank you for taking the time to get to know and consider us to love and care for your child.

We met at a mutual friend’s birthday party when we were in our twenties, but we had known of each other since high school. Soon after reuniting, we went on our first date, which entailed some Peruvian-Japanese food at a local restaurant. We instantly felt so comfortable with each other and began spending more time together. Then four years later, we got married in front of our loving family and friends at a beautiful golf course that overlooks the ocean, which was one of the best days of our lives.

After being married for a few years, we decided to try to have a family since we had always envisioned ourselves with kids. We were disappointed when we weren’t able to conceive and have a family on our own, but soon became so hopeful that we could build our family through adoption. There are so many adventures that we would like to explore with our child and we are so excited to start this journey.

We can’t wait to be parents and take our child to our favorite vacation spots, Hawaii being one that’s at the top of our list. But we are also very fortunate that we don’t have to travel all the way to Hawaii to get to the beach. Living by the beach in southern California is one of the best things about our community, so we expect there to be many trips to the beach to build sandcastles and splash around in the ocean.

We also live close to parks where you can ride bikes, play on the jungle gym, or have a picnic on the grass. Disneyland is also less than an hour away, so we’d like to create memories there, just like we did when we were kids.

From the start I knew that Stefanie was the woman that I had been waiting for. Her thoughtful and caring nature was apparent from the beginning. As an elementary school teacher, she spends endless hours mentoring young minds and demonstrating the patience and compassion needed for such an honorable profession. Each school year, she spends extra time with particular students that are struggling in certain subjects. She is not required to tutor after school hours, but she always makes time for the kids that need it.

Her generosity doesn’t stop once she has left her school. She does all of the little things that show she cares. Whether it’s delivering a gift to her numerous nephews and nieces every Easter or doing the weekly grocery shopping for her 95 year-old grandma, she has her way of showing her love for you.

Through the years she has been supportive, caring, and inspirational. She has taught me how to love and what it means to be loved. I and looking forward to seeing her pass that along to our child.

Who doesn’t like to laugh and have a good time? Derek can be a big goofball, which is something that first attracted me to him. He passed the test on our first date when he started awkwardly dancing to a dance video in my living room. I knew we would get along just fine from that moment. Sure enough, he’s proven to be one giant kid at heart with a great sense of humor. Our nieces and nephews gravitate toward him because he’s fun “Uncle Derek,” who you will always catch playing with the kids. Sometimes I wonder who is having more fun, the kids or him!

But behind his silly exterior, he is a kind-hearted, hardworking, and trustworthy guy. I love seeing his softer side when he hangs out and watches YouTube cooking videos with my 95 year-old grandma. You get to see the more serious version of Derek when he’s busy with work. He’s a certified public accountant and has excelled in his career because of his strong work ethic.

He is going to make an excellent dad to our child because he can teach him or her his strong values and he has the special, natural gift of relating to kids.

Family is one of the most important things to us! We are so fortunate to live close to each of our families, and they play a huge role in our lives. Every major holiday is spent with our extended families, so we celebrate Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas together. One side of the family has a lunch and the other side of the family has a dinner, so it works out perfectly to see both sides on the same day.

Derek’s parents still live in the same house where he grew up, which is just 20 minutes away from where we live now. His sister and her family, including two young kids, live just 10 minutes away from us. We see them for birthdays and dinners. Playing games at family gatherings is one thing that all the cousins love to do when they get together.

Stefanie’s mom lives just 7 minutes away and visits regularly. She also works at the same school as Stefanie as a 2nd grade teacher, so they are extremely close. Her dad and stepmother live nearby and so do her brother and his family with two young kids. We see her family almost weekly for dinners and backyard BBQs.

Going to her grandma’s house in Dana Point is where the extended family often gathers regularly. One of Stefanie’s first cousins was adopted at birth and currently lives in Hawaii, but it’s always great seeing him and spending time together.

We absolutely love where we live! It is in a safe, family oriented neighborhood in Torrance, California where the sun shines 90% of the year.

Torrance is a suburb located in Los Angeles county. We are just a few miles from the beach and can’t wait to take our child there to ride bikes along the walkway or play in the ocean. There are always kids playing outside, people walking their dogs, or riding bikes in our neighborhood. The school district is excellent, which is why it’s such a desirable place to live.

Our home has a good-sized backyard with lots of grass to run around on with our dogs. It also has a long driveway that is perfect for learning how to ride a bike or jump rope. We also enjoy spending time in our family room, which we can foresee being taken over by tons of toys, so it would make the perfect playroom for our child.

Meet Bailey and Kobe! Bailey is our little pup who loves to go on walks and cuddle with you on the couch when watching TV. Kobe is a Labradoodle puppy that absolutely loves kids and everyone he meets. He enjoys being outdoors on walks and playing catch in the backyard. We are dog lovers and our child will always have a puppy pal to be best friends with.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us! We admire your courage and strength and promise to love and nurture your child unconditionally. Please reach out if you have any questions for us.

Stefanie and Derek