Elizabeth & Emily

Hello! We have so much respect and admiration for you. Bringing a life into the world takes real commitment. Regardless of what choice you make, your child will be a gift to us all.

We are looking to grow a family. Of course we love to play and watch children learn. But what we find most rewarding in our time with kids is helping them fall asleep, sharing traditions, and deepening our relationship over years. Children bring out our best qualities. This makes us realize we want kids around us full time. Perhaps we can help you fulfill your dreams for your child.

Adoption runs in the family! We want to start a family through open adoption because:
* When Emily's mother was in graduate school, she had an unplanned pregnancy and made an adoption plan. Years later, when Emily was eighteen, that daughter Lori found her birth mom. Lori has become a part of Emily's extended family—an open adoption. This has been healing for Lori and Emily's mom. Emily embraces Lori as her sister and Lori's kids as her niece and nephew.
* When Elizabeth's father was little, his mother died. He was adopted by an aunt, again with an open adoption.
* Elizabeth's sister has adopted two boys from Guatemala and remains in touch with one foster mom and one birth mom there.
* Among our close friends and neighbors, three have placed children for adoption and numerous families have been created through adoption.

Our family and friends are eager to welcome another adopted child into the fold.

Emily the dancer
"I love paddling a canoe, any movie with fabulous costumes, Harry Potter, and stilting with puppets. I have a reputation for eating many unusual vegetable dishes. As a dancer and teacher of traditional dances, I can (and do) find ways to work dancing into any occasion. I edit the newsletter and raise funds for a nonprofit organization that builds unity between Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith. I'm always reading or working on a project that reflects how I'm growing at the moment."

Elizabeth the writer
"I eat lots of popcorn. My most valued family heirloom is a collection of community theater costumes. I get jumping-up-and-down excited when the seedlings I plant sprout up. I love Jane Austen novels, malty malts, biking, and making up bedtime stories. In my next life, I'll be a folk singer. I teach creative writing classes and coach individuals in writing books. I enjoy my flexible schedule, the opportunity to hear people's life stories, and time to write. I've published three books and just finished writing my first novel."

Valuing Family and Friends
We have strong relationships with our parents and siblings, and travel often for long visits to New York, California, New Mexico, and Florida, where they live. In Minnesota, we've found a loving family of choice—our friends and neighbors. We babysit children, share meals and household projects, and help each other out in times of need. A small United Methodist church where Elizabeth is especially active and our sacred dance group are our spiritual communities. We're so grateful for the people in our lives!

Enjoying the Natural World
Some of our favorite memories are of time spent outside, canoeing, camping or taking a picnic down to our city lake. We care for our little bit of earth by composting and growing flowers & veggies. We appreciate knowing local farmers. We like fresh, wholesome, home-cooked food. We cook a lot and always eat dinner together.

Connecting with the Sacred
Throughout our days we take time to connect with the sacred through blessings before meals and private meditation practices. One night a week, we light a candle, pray, and sing our favorite songs as a way to honor life. We often ask ourselves, "How can we be open to all the love in the world?" We are eager to share this love with a child.

Keeping it Simple
We delight in living simply, riding public transit, being conscious consumers, and making things like sweaters, instruments, and gifts. This gives us hope in our future and time to connect with what is important to us. We both work part-time so we can do other things we love.

Fostering Creativity
We enjoy going to movies, concerts, & performances. We really like making our own movies, singing around the piano, and gathering our friends to dance! We can't wait to have a child join the circle.

Our nest is ready!
We have arrived at a strong sense of our identity—as individuals, as artists, and as a couple. Our home is cozy. We are blessed with financial stability. Our lives are chock-full of loved-ones. We want to become parents to share these many gifts.

Thank you for taking time to learn more about us. Please know we would welcome the chance to hear about your dreams, both for yourself and your child. If you choose, we're happy to consider an open adoption. We'd love to hear from you.    --Elizabeth & Emily

Reach us at 1-866-782-5939 or