A Letter from Don & Jen
Hi! We are a grounded, fun-loving couple who enjoy camping, hiking, or talking about our day on the back patio. We’ve always hoped our story would include children and it would be an honor to be a safe, loving family for your child to grow up in. Our journey to becoming parents has had its challenges and through it all we’ve always talked about adoption as a way to grow our family. We are so thankful to be considered as adoptive parents!
Our Story
How we met, as told by Don: Jen’s little sister set us up on a blind date 12 years ago. We met at a local breakfast place and I talked Jen’s ear off. I was smitten right away with Jen, but Jen took a few months to win over. (She says eventually she was charmed by my kind heart and loving nature.) We got married a month before our dating anniversary. Now we’ve been married almost 11 years!
Activities we love as a couple:
• Family dinners
• Camping (preferably by a river in the Colorado mountains!)
• Reading (especially when we’re camping)
• Doing chores (it’s always more fun and faster together!)
• Fly fishing
• Hiking
About Jen
Don says: Jen is a very caring and thoughtful person who always puts deep thought into all she does, especially when it involves family and friends. She loves caring for children and was even a special education teacher and behavior therapist in her previous career. Jen is always there for me, no matter what life brings. She will be an amazing mother who will show our child love, patience, and understanding.
Jen enjoys:
• Being in nature
• Reading and learning new skills
• Knitting
• Trying new foods
• Finding trails that have never been hiked
About Don
Jen says: Don has a gentle spirit and a generous heart. He greets everyone like they are a long-time friend. He’s great with people and has served in the hospitality business much of his life, from running fine dining steak houses to managing a food service company for large corporations. Don is even-keel, no matter the situation. I know he will love our child unconditionally and teach him or her how to navigate the world with compassion and dignity.
Don enjoys:
• Being outdoors, whether it’s hiking, fishing, camping, cycling, or snow shoeing
• Fly fishing with my dog
• Working in our yard or garden
• Neighborhood walks with Jen
Our Home in Colorado
We live in a cozy four-bedroom home with an apartment downstairs where Jen’s mom lives. The backyard is relatively large and has a covered patio and a flower garden filled with peonies (Jen’s favorites!). We look forward to converting the room next to our bedroom into a nursery after we adopt. Our neighborhood is quiet and a mix of retired people and families. We live on a cul-de-sac where all the neighbors know and watch out for each other. Plus, we love being close to the mountains! There’s also a lot of local green space and state parks nearby, so we have plenty of chance to enjoy getting outdoors.
Our Black Lab, Ripley, is a puppy at heart and full of energy. She loves to go fly fishing with us and even help find the fish (or scare them off!). Ripley is such a good dog and is great with anyone she encounters.
Family Life
We have family in Colorado, as well as in Tennessee and Texas. Jen’s younger sister comes over on Sundays to go to Korean church with their mom. We often have dinners and spend holidays with both of Jen’s sisters and their families. We have three nieces and three nephews, as well as a grandniece and grandnephew, who we love to spend time with. Our families stay in touch and keep up with what’s going on in each other’s lives. We are there to celebrate and support one another through anything.
Favorite Traditions:
• Annual week-long camping trip, during which we love to binge-read books in our tent at night or relaxing by the river during the day
• Going on our “Christmas Tree Hunt” every year
• Korean American Thanksgiving with our family
From Our Hearts to Yours
We promise to provide a stable, loving home where we can support your child as they grow and learn. In our house we treat each other with dignity and respect and believe that together we can work through anything. As parents we will model a God-centered life, healthy boundaries, kindness, compassion, love, and connection. We will raise them to have confidence to speak up for what is right or good, and to be self-aware and responsible for their own actions too. We will also support and encourage them to make the most of their education and help guide them as they think about long-term goals and what they want to do in the future.
It would be an incredible honor to be chosen as adoptive parents for your child. We will always talk openly with him or her about how we came together because of you and adoption. This child will hear us talk about you and our adoption story with grateful hearts. If you’d like to stay in touch with us, we’re open to annual visits and sharing photos with you as your child grows up.
We’d love to talk or answer any of your questions. To connect with us call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.
Thoughtfully, Don & Jen
Learn More About Don & Jen
| Don | Jen | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Education | Some College | Master's Degree in Special Education |
| Our Professions | Customer Service Manager | Staff Affairs Specialist |
| Stay-At-Home | No | Yes |
| Our Racial Background | Caucasian | Korean |
| Some of Don & Jen's Favorites | ||
| Holiday | Christmas | Christmas |
| Vacation Spot | Frying Pan River | Colorado Mountains |
| Season | Winter | Autumn |
| Hobby | Fly Fishing | Hiking |
| Thing to do at home | Gardening | Being at home with my people |
| Dream Vacation | Fly Fishing in New Zealand | Maldives |
| Rainy Day Activity | Hanging out with my wife and dog | Time on the back porch with Don and our dog |
| More About Our Family | ||
| Why We are Hoping to Adopt and Our Plans for Childcare | After many infertility tests and failed treatments, Jen was diagnosed with severe endometriosis. Through every effort to get pregnant, we kept adoption in the discussion. After much research and prayer, we took a leap of faith and began the adoption process. God has provided for each step, and we know this is the path we’re meant to be on to become parents. After we adopt, Jen will work part-time and during the days she is working, her mom will watch the baby. | |
| Things that Matter to Us | • Following through on promises | |
| Fun Facts About Us | • When he was little, Don wanted to be a Wildlife Biologist or a Park Ranger. • Don has his desk set up for fly tying and likes to create the latest fly patterns for his fishing trips. He's still a beginner at fly tying, but it brings him a lot of joy and satisfaction to catch a fish with a fly he has tied. • When she was little, Jen wanted to be a travel photographer. • Jen used to rock climb in the rock gym and go trad climbing. Recently she even used this hidden skill to belay Don while he trimmed trees in the yard! Jen is also known for being blunt and having a dry sense of humor. | |
| Diversity in Our Family | We are a multigenerational and multicultural family, which comes with joy and unique challenges that many families may not understand. There is strength in diversity that makes us special. Because of our experience as a family, we look forward to giving our future child the opportunity to know what life is like for people of differing backgrounds, ages, languages, and cultures. Our strength as a family has the potential to help our child embrace their uniqueness and find a supportive, loving place where they will always belong. | |
| We Prefer a Child Who Is... | ||
| Age of Child | Newborn | |
| Twins | Yes | |
| Gender | Either boy or girl | |
| In Closing | ||
Thank you for learning about us and the life we'd be honored to share with your child. We've dreamed of becoming parents for many years and welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the hopes you have for your child's future. We're ready to do everything we can to be the parents our future child needs us to be. Family is a priority to us and we will make sure your child has the love and support to become who they are meant to be. We welcome an open adoption too, if you'd like a connection after the adoption. Hope to hear from you! |
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