Meet Chris & Isabel
A video message from Chris & Isabel
A Letter from Chris & Isabel
Hello from the Mitten state! We are fun-loving college sweethearts, and after accepting God’s will for our infertility, we are excited to respond to His call to become first-time parents through adoption. Thank you for considering us as you discern God’s plan for your child.
We can’t wait to share with your child our Catholic faith, our love of music, and summers at the family cabin on the lake. We will raise your child in a stable, nurturing environment that fosters their growth into the person they have been called to be by the Lord. We will encourage them to discover and pursue their talents and interests, but more importantly, their relationship with Jesus and compassion for others.
We look forward to getting to know you, and based on your comfort level, we are open to photos, letters, and visits.
About Us
We met in our college choir 10 years ago. It was love at first sound! We were first drawn to each other through our worship together in prayerful song. After journeying through infertility for 4 years, we felt convicted that now is the right time to pursue adoption. We are especially looking forward to sharing our faith, reading bedtime stories, having family dinners, and visiting our families with your child.
Some of Our Favorite Things:
- Praying together
- Singing together
- Summers at Isabel’s family cabin on the lake
- Exploring nature on walks/hikes
- Visiting our alma mater for Homecoming Weekend
- Dancing, including swing, merengue and rumba
- Puzzles and board games such as Farkle, Isabel’s Grandma’s “31” card game, and Scrabble
- Road trips
- Reading together
About Isabel
According to Chris: Isabel is the most contagiously fun and fiercely loyal person I’ve ever known. I was first drawn to her by her boldness in confronting difficult challenges and her big heart, especially for the Lord. She is all about making time for experiences that bring us closer together. She’s always finding the fun in the most mundane tasks, even things like cleaning up after a meal.
As an assistant teacher with the infants and toddlers, she is IN LOVE with the children she cares for at her Montessori school because it is such a joy for her. Isabel also has a soft spot for the elderly, and she has enjoyed entertaining them by singing oldies on the guitar.
Isabel can’t wait to share her love of wholesome movies, such as “It’s A Wonderful Life”. She can’t wait to sing and play the guitar and piano for our child, to teach them how to make her Mary Engelbreit “signature cards,” and to just be on “lake time” with them.
Some Things Isabel Likes to Do:
• Singing and playing guitar and piano
• Going to musicals such as Wicked, Les Misérables, etc.
• Walks in the park
• Watching movies/shows such as Up, Little House on the Prairie, and Soul Surfer
• Traveling
About Chris
According to Isabel: Chris is an amazing man whom I have been blessed to have had in my life for more than 10 years now. He has the kindest, purest, and gentlest soul I have ever known. He has such a strong, solid faith in the Lord and his bold, child-like spirit just exudes from everything he does. He also works so hard to provide a good, comfortable life for me and our future family. Everything he does is out of great love, and he can’t wait to finally be a daddy!
Chris is a client solutions specialist in the automotive industry. In this role, he grows relationships with his car dealer clients and helps manage their wholesale inventory. He is so incredibly hardworking and has been very calm and patient in the midst of some difficult situations. In how he is at home and at work, I know he will be an incredibly kind, gentle, but strong, and patient, loving father. He is looking forward to reading to your child, having races, and singing together with them.
Some Things Chris Loves to Do:
• Running
• Singing
• Cooking
• Gardening
• Riding roller coasters
Our Family
Isabel’s Family: Isabel’s parents live in Upstate Michigan on a lake in the summer and in Florida for the winter, so anytime we visit, it’s a vacation! She also has two brothers and many aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby in Michigan. It is easy to keep in touch through visits and weekly phone calls, as well as big family gatherings.
Chris’ Family: Chris comes from a big family scattered across the country, but many of whom still live in his home state of Nebraska. We love to visit his home for family gatherings, and we keep in touch via weekly calls/Skype.
Our whole family is excited for us to adopt! Chris has 2 cousins who were adopted, so his side is already familiar with the beautiful way adoption can grow a family. Isabel’s parents can’t wait to become 1st time grandparents!
Our Michigan Home
We live in a 2-bedroom apartment in a beautiful suburb. We enjoy sitting on our balcony and enjoying the woodsy view, as well as playing board games and the Wii, doing puzzles, and watching movies in our family room. We love going for long walks through our pond-filled neighborhood. We also have nice pools and a playground we can’t wait to spend time at with our child.
We enjoy visiting many nearby parks and museums, especially The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. We also love attending classical music concerts. Being on the fringe of town also allows us to take advantage of farmer’s markets, apple/cherry picking, and the Michigan State Fair.
Our Promise
We promise to provide a loving, safe and laughter-filled environment for your child to thrive in. We will share our love of God and our strong community of faith, family, and friends. We look forward to sharing our great love for music, spending time outside in nature, and visiting family, especially Up North at the lake.
We promise to lay down our desires and put your child’s needs first in everything. We promise to promote the free exploration and development of your child’s natural gifts and desires. We promise to provide your child with a good Catholic education.
We promise to share with your child their adoption story. We will teach your child to honor you for the special, irreplaceable role you have in their life. We would love to make you part of the family through pictures, letters and occasional visits, whatever you’re comfortable with. We’d love to talk. Please call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.
Learn More About Chris & Isabel
| Chris | Isabel | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Education | MA in Philosophy | BA in Sacred Music Voice |
| Our Professions | Sales, wholesale automotive industry | Assistant Montessori Infant/Toddler Teacher |
| Stay-At-Home | No | Yes (once a parent) |
| Our Racial Background | Caucasian | Caucasian |
| Some of Chris & Isabel's Favorites | ||
| Book | "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis | "Arms of Love" by Carmen Marcoux |
| Movie | Lord of the Rings | The Sound of Music |
| Vacation Activity | Mackinac Island-biking through the state park | Mackinac Island-Demitasse at the Grand Hotel |
| Food | Lasagna | Indian Butter Chicken |
| Family Tradition | Family reunions in rural Nebraska - one big party! | Annual Pierogi making |
| Childhood Memory | Christmas Eve homemade chili and crib blessing at Grandma and Grandpa's | Spending most of the summer Up North as a family |
| Flowers | Knockout Roses | Pale pink roses |
| More About Our Family | ||
| Our Special Interests | Isabel has had a love for music from a young age. She took piano lessons starting in 2nd grade and formal voice lessons starting in 8th grade. She continues to sing and play the piano and the guitar to this day. She especially loves to sing for church events, including weddings and funerals, and for young children and the elderly. It gives her the greatest joy! She loves sacred classical music, opera and praise and worship. Chris also grew up surrounded by music. He has sung in choirs consistently since 3rd grade. He also loves exploring new recipes through cooking. He has made tasty dishes ranging from Polish potato soup to the best-ever gluten free fudge brownies! Long distance running has been another favorite hobby of his since college. Chris has been a garden lover since childhood, and he always nurtures our flowers with the utmost of care. | |
| A Picture of Summers Up North | We spend as many weekends up North as possible in the summer with Isabel's family! Some of our favorite activities include: | |
| Our Favorite Traditions | - Isabel’s family makes her great-grandma’s homemade pierogies every year for Christmas | |
| Fun Facts About Us | Fun Facts About Chris Fun Facts About Isabel: Fun Facts About Us Together: | |
| We Prefer a Child Who Is... | ||
| Age of Child | Newborn-3 months | |
| Twins | Yes | |
| Gender | Either | |
| In Closing | ||
We are so excited that God's plan for us is becoming first-time parents through adoption! We promise to give your child a Christ-centered family modeled after His unconditional Love for us. We will share with them our strong community of extended family and friends and our love of the outdoors, cooking, and summers at the lake. We will teach your child the value of their own dignity and foster their growth into the person God has called them to be in this world. Lastly, you will always be a special part of their story. We are open to letters, pictures, and visits with you, whatever you are comfortable with. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us! Know of our daily prayers for you and your child. We can’t wait to meet you. Ask Lifetime about us if you’d like to set up a phone or video call. |
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