Education is important to both of us. We both have teachers in the family who instilled in us a lifelong thirst for learning. The school district we live in is one of the top school districts in the state, and there are several other high-achieving schools in the area. We plan on enrolling our future children in these schools to establish a firm foundation for them to build on as they move towards high school and beyond.

We understand that a lot of learning also happens outside of the classroom. We will encourage our child to try new things such as various sports, learning to play musical instruments, participating in faith-based youth groups, or engagement in other activities or organizations to see what they might like. We strongly believe that a good education and the ability to explore other interests will only help our child develop a strong sense of confidence and independence as they grow.

Christie About Blake: Blake is such a handsome, caring, patient, and thoughtful man. I discovered all of those things immediately on our first date, and they all hold true today. He has a resilience about him that is very admirable. He also has a strong work ethic which helped carry him through dental school into his career today. Even though he is incredibly intelligent, he is humble and very down-to-earth. He can strike up a conversation with anyone, and is passionate about his faith, his family, and his hobbies.

Blake About Christie: Christie has to be the most genuinely caring, most generous and giving person I know. She feels true empathy for people going through a hard time in life and has the most incredible ability to comfort them and help them through to the other side. She does not hesitate to "go the extra mile" for someone in need, oftentimes depriving herself of something she might like herself in the process. She is a wonderful listener, is very understanding, and gives wise advice on a host of different life topics. Her word is good and she can be relied upon. She is beautiful inside and out.

We both grew up in the Christian church. Over the years we have both been members of different Christian denominations, but are currently members of a Presbyterian church.

We have many fond memories of involvement in Christian circles including vacation bible school, youth groups, and young adult ministries. Christie has been on several international mission trips and is very thankful to have had those opportunities to grow and share her faith.

Faith is a large component of who we are. It is the foundation for our marriage, and we each have individual walks with Christ that have molded us into who we are today. Our plan is to raise future children within the Christian faith and encourage them to develop their own personal walks with Christ.

We live in a very kid-friendly, cozy suburb of a large city in Tennessee. We are able to get out and enjoy all of the things that large cities have to offer and then come home to a beautiful community that is full of southern charm. There are several museums, restaurants, theaters, music venues, sports teams, a zoo and outdoor recreational activities that make this area a wonderful place to live.

We love our home and cannot wait to raise a family in it! Our house is a two-story brick house that has room to live and play in. It has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bonus room, and a backyard to run around in.

Our neighborhood is full of diverse families with young children. It is located in an excellent school district with the elementary school and middle school close by, and even has a large park that we can walk to from our house. The park has several baseball, soccer and recreational fields, along with a water spray park and large playground. It also has a nature center with boardwalks and ponds. Our community is a wonderful place to raise a raise a family and we look forward to exploring it all with a child!

Christie is an only child, and Blake has a younger brother and two step-siblings.

Christie's parents are both retired and live nearby. We enjoy seeing them regularly for family dinners and lively conversation on topics such as sports and world events. They are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to babysit and spoil future grandchildren!

Blake's family lives about three hours away, and we get to visit them several times throughout the year. Blake's dad is a counselor and former tennis pro who loves to stay active. Whenever we get to visit with him, either a tennis match or a round of golf will be on the agenda, along with several board games. Chess is an all-time favorite, but Risk and Ticket to Ride are close seconds. Blake's mom and stepdad live on a ranch where they breed dogs and enjoy life outside the city. Many Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends have been spent there relaxing by their pool, grilling out, and playing bocce ball in the yard.

Everyone is very excited and supportive of our adoption plan, and cannot wait to be a part of the child's life. This includes our four-legged children, Peyton (dog) and Annabelle (cat) who love children and can't wait for our family to grow!

We are honored and thankful that you have taken the time to learn more about us. While we can't imagine the difficult decisions you are having to make, please know that we are praying for guidance and peace for you and your baby on this journey.

Throughout the years of us trying to conceive biological children and having a miscarriage, we were praying for God's wisdom and guidance on His next step for us on this journey. We finally got His answer after meeting with a fertility specialist who recommended that we quit trying to get pregnant due to Christie's blood clotting disorder. While there was sadness in that door shutting, we both had peace knowing that God was pointing us in the direction of adoption. We started reading books about adoption and researching adoption agencies, and then began the process of making this dream become a reality. We are excited about growing our family through adoption, and cannot wait to provide a loving home to a child.

We plan on raising a future child in the Christian faith, as that is important to both of us. We also value the importance of receiving a good education, developing good moral character, and fostering the exploration of their passions outside the classroom. Our goal for the child is to grow up into a well-rounded adult who makes wise decisions, has a good moral compass, is compassionate, responsible, hard-working, contributes to society in a meaningful way, and understands the importance of helping others. While everyone is given different paths to take in their lifetimes, we want to help the child flourish wherever they go.

We have been married for over 5 years and have had many fun times together, but we are thrilled to grow our family and share our life with a child. Our family members and friends are also excited to have a child join our family so that they can love and support them as well. We have several friends with young children who will be eager to have a new friend to play with.

We promise to share pictures and letters with you so you can see how your child is growing and what they are doing over the years. We also promise to be open and honest with your child about adoption, and will speak favorably of you to them. Your child will know how much you love them and how hard the decision was for you. You will always be an important person in our lives, and we will forever respect you for the difficult decision you made.

You are so incredibly brave. We know that you have many difficult decisions ahead, but please know that we admire your courage and selflessness. Both you and your baby are important and loved.

Thank you for considering us to be potential parents for your child. We are excited to grow our family through adoption, and we will love, support, protect, and raise your child to the absolute best of our ability. We will be praying for you as you navigate this journey.

Sincerely,

Blake & Christie