ABOUT US
HOW WE MEET
Our story is actually pretty cool, might sell it to Hollywood someday. (Might help pay for the adoption!)
Ben’s first Chapel service at Lee, a beautiful young woman walked on to the stage, sat down at a grand piano, and began to sing. At that moment Ben knew that was the woman he was going to marry. For the next few months Ben will admit that he actually stalked her. Somehow he convinced her to date him.
Now here is where the story gets funny. (Maybe this could be a romantic comedy.)
After six months of dating, Brooke dumped Ben. Yup, the perfect life Ben had planned didn’t seem to work. It wasn’t a bad break up or anything, and we actually remained decent friends. After awhile we even talked on a regular basis. Both of us tried to find that special someone, dating a lot of trash in the process, but neither really found anything serious.
OUR MARRIAGE
After nearly six years of being “friends” we finally found each other again. After a friendly visit, and a ne
w years kiss, things moved quickly to the altar. By March of 2010, Ben was taking a knee on the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, (I know he’s awesome right?), and the wedding was being planned for June in Mississippi. Now I know what you’re saying, “Mississippi in June, are you crazy?” And the answer would be YES!
We actually had a beautiful indoor wedding with a small group of close family and friends. Brooke’s Aunt & Uncle were kind enough to open up their gorgeous home to us, and on June 5th, 2010, we were united in marriage. PARTY TIME!
The next day we departed for a week long Caribbean cruise before we headed back to the real world to start our lives together. For Brooke, that meant moving across the country and starting her Masters program, for Ben this meant finding a new job and making room for all of Brooke’s stuff in their small one bedroom apartment.
That apartment didn’t last long, in November of 2010, we purchased our first home and moved from Tacoma WA to Olympia to work at a church there as Worship Pastors. In June 2011, we started a Youth Ministry there which is now thriving, and we’re watching the church explode with growth.
In June 2012 we celebrated our two year anniversary, and started the adoption process for our first child.
OUR FAMILY
After a very short time on the waiting list we we’re blessed to be chosen by an incredible family, and on September 2nd, 2013, we welcomed Brynlee Eden into the world. It was an absolutely life changing event, check out our blog to learn more.
Over the last 17 months we have learned what being a parent really means, diaper changes and all, and our head over heels in love with this kiddo. (She has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger btw)
Both Brooke and I came from very close families with siblings, and it has always been our heart to have multiple children. We can’t wait to meet the other children God has in store for our little family!
WHY ADOPT
EXPAND OUR FAMILY
The impact adoption has had on each of us has been incredible. We have both learned so much about love, and how God can make ALL things work together for GOOD!
Both Brooke and I have desired a large family
from even our early conversations about having kids, although we aren’t sure how many we will have, we know that it’s time to get on the waiting list, and be ready for Gods timing.
As we entered into 2015 we really felt God was stirring in our hearts to start the process again and be ready to add another child to our lives. God has blessed us with the opportunity to adopt, and we are thrilled to step out in faith and see God perform another miracle.
CHANGE A LIFE
The opportunity to adopt is a passion that we both share. Before ever meeting each other we both had a desire to adopt and change a life. Little did we know that it would be virtually the only way for us to ever start a family. (MORE ON THAT LATER.)
When we think about the millions of children around the world waiting to be adopted it breaks our heart. To think that a child is either sitting in an orphanage, or being passed around from foster home to foster home, it makes us want to fix the problem. These kids need love, they need parents, they need a family.
Its amazing the difference that a family makes in the life of a child. Some of us were raised in great homes like we were, while others might have not been so lucky, and the effect that has on a child is immeasurable.
Our heart is to bring a child into our home, and change their life. Not only with our love and care, but with the love of Christ. We know the impact that God has had on our lives, and what a wonderful way to share His perfect love, to adopt a child, and change a life.
TRANSPLANT
With Brooke’s transplant, we had to face an additional challenge in starting a family. Here is the transplant story from Brooke’s perspective:
At age 20, at the end of my sophomore year of college, I got sick very rapidly. What started as autoimmune hepatitis quickly turned to liver failure. I received ridiculously high doses of steroids for a few days to see if my liver would “reboot.” After the liver biopsy, it was discovered that the internal cell structure of my liver had completely collapsed and would not be able to repair itself. It was then that we began to discuss the daunting “t” word: Transplant. Once I found out that I might live a week without a new liver, I was onboard. I got on the transplant waiting list on June 21, 2010. Three days later, June 24th, I received that life-saving liver transplant.
I am, for the most part, a healthy 27-year old. Though I battle fatigue and migraines, and the occasional sickness contracted from being on immunosuppressive medications, I am able to work, take care of my house and my family, and spend time doing things I love.
The side effects of some of my immunosuppressant meds are birth defects if I were to get pregnant. Because my liver is most stable on multiple medications, it would be risky for my health to wean down to just one medication. After talking to my transplant team, Ben and I decided it would be safer for me and for our child if we pursue adoption as our primary means of growing our family.