We are Ryan and Shay. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce our family to you. Adoption is something we had always hoped for; it is a huge part of both of our families as we have siblings and cousins who have been adopted. We have witnessed firsthand the joy and beauty of adoption through the adoption of our second and third sons and we would be honored if you would choose us to be your baby's family as well.

We live in Arizona with our three sons and dog. We met while attending the same college. Ryan was a junior majoring in accounting and playing baseball, and Shay was a freshman majoring in liberal studies while playing volleyball. We were friends for a year before we started dating, but once we did, we fell completely in love! We got engaged after one year and were married just six months later in 2015.

Our hope is that as you flip through these pages you will be able to picture what life for your baby would look like. But before you start, we just want you to know that we see the selfless decision you have made to have your baby, and deeply admire the strength and love you have shown by simply considering adoption.

I had just arrived at college and one of my teammates told me about this guy who I just had to meet. His name was "Ryan". From the moment we connected, I could see how joyful and lighthearted he was. As we continued to get to know each other, I saw how loyal he is to the people he cares about. He would do anything for them. I also noticed his incredible work ethic and how when he would put his mind to something he would master it. It only took a few dates for me to realize that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

Ryan's loyalty, "down for adventure" attitude and love and desire to grow in his relationship with Christ are what initially drew me towards him. Now that we have become parents, I find myself falling more in love with the little things, like his joy when playing backyard sports with the boys or how he always calls me when he is super excited about something that happened during his day.

I could not have asked for a better husband dad for our children. He is so excited for us to adopt. I recently overheard him talking to the boys about adopting a baby, which just melted my heart. I love that our children have Ryan as their dad and never will question how much they are loved, protected, cared for, and prayed for.

More About Ryan:

• Age: 31-years-old
  
  
• Occupation: CFO and Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  
  
• Hobbies: Working out, going to sporting events, playing basketball, golfing, skiing, and reading

There are so many wonderful things about Shay but the one thing that has always stuck out to me is her deep love and ability to nurture and care for others. She has demonstrated this consistently in all areas of her life. When someone is in need or hurting, she is the first person to offer help. Her innate wisdom and sweet demeanor allows her to provide valuable counsel to everyone in our lives, including those in need through various church ministries.

Shay also sacrifices her time and energy to make sure that our kids are cared for, and developing in their learning and character. She cares deeply for our boys, and is truly the heart and soul of our home. The boys and I just adore her, and it's not because she is an incredible cook (making the best homemade bread); it's because Shay is the ultimate joy to be around. I couldn't ask for a better friend than her. I'm so lucky to have Shay in my life, and I can't wait to see her love this next baby. She loves deeply, and cares for others selflessly. She is all any child could want for a mom.

More About Shay:

• Age: 29-years-old
  
  
• Occupation: Stay-at-home mom, previously worked at a school
  
  
• Hobbies: Reading, working out, cooking, walking, trying new restaurants and shops, skiing, and going to the beach

Our oldest son, Rhodes, is five years old and has been one of our greatest joys in life. Rhodes graced our lives with an extra chromosome (t21-Down syndrome) and has changed us for the better. We want to be honest with you, when we received his diagnosis, we were scared and hurting. However, we wish we knew then what we know now. He is not a burden. He does not make our lives harder. In fact, he is the sweetest, most happy, and easy-going kid ever. It has been such a blessing to be his parents and experience firsthand the joy he brings to all our family and friends.

In May of 2020, we got one of the best telephone calls of our lives! Our family was growing and we got to experience the sweetest blessing of adopting our son, Turner, who at the time was just shy of one years old. Turner is a tender-hearted, loyal, intelligent, and the sweetest four-year-old. His drive, focus, and determination to learn new things amazes us constantly. Turner's story of adoption is not one we could have written, it's beyond anything we imagined. We love getting to talk about his sweet life and how the Lord knit him perfectly into our family just like his brother.

We had hoped and prayed the Lord would continue to grow our family and after a few years of waiting, we got that phone call we had been hoping and praying for. Rhodes and Turner were about to become big brothers to a sweet baby boy, Hansen. In July 2022, we brought our third son home and witness the blessing and beauty of adoption again. We had seen the indescribable bond between Rhodes and Turner, and then to add another brother was incredible. The love the boys have for each other wasn't something we had to teach. It was immediate from the start. Watching their relationships grow has been one of our greatest joys as parents.

We live in a wonderful, spacious home in a suburban community in Arizona. It's the perfect place to raise a family. We love having a big yard for the kids to run around and play. Plus, we have a full garden with fruits and vegetables and lots of citrus trees that the boys like to pick from whenever they want fresh fruit!

Our community is one of the main reasons we chose to live here. It's the kind of place where everyone wants to raise their family. We have an incredible church that we go to, and the boys attend a Christian preschool. There are lots of extracurricular opportunities for kids here, too, from sports to the arts and beyond! We also have a great aquarium and zoo in town, which we love to visit.

Family is very important to us, but so are our friendships. We have a great community of friends who support and encourage us, and we are so excited for our family to grow.

We cannot wait to share both our home and our community with another child. This is such a great place to grow up. We love that the kids have the opportunity to explore and learn about all different kinds of things and simply experience childhood in a safe, supportive, and welcoming community.

Ryan's Family: I am the oldest of my siblings. I have four brothers and one sister who is adopted. My parents raised my siblings and me to be hard-working, loyal, and kind. We have loved all things sports since we were little. To this day, when we are all together we play basketball, pickleball, or volleyball in my parents' backyard. I have grown closer and closer with my siblings as we have matured and now enjoy raising our kids together.

Shay's Family: I was raised by the most caring and loving parents, who have transitioned into the role of Papa and Mimi to their grandchildren whom they adore. I have two older sisters who are twins and both are married with kids of their own. I also have a younger brother and we are all very close. I come from a family that is very supportive, encouraging, welcoming, and loving; my hope is that I as a parent can model those same qualities. I am so thankful to my parents for setting such a strong foundation in my life.

Adoption has been a part of both of our families since we were little. Ryan's younger sister was adopted, as well as some of our cousins. We have been able to witness the beauty of adoption firsthand and experience all the joy it brings. We are so looking forward to experiencing that joy again as we walk through the doors of adoption to grow our family.

Time at the Cabin: Every summer, we go to our cabin and spend time boating, fishing, riding horses, and hiking. In the winter, we'll visit and go snow-skiing! The boys absolutely love being at the cabin. Their favorite thing to do there is to hike around our property looking for animals, cool sticks, and rocks.

Visiting the Beach: We all love the beach! Who doesn't? We try to make one beach trip each summer. There's nothing better than spending time in the sun, building sandcastles, and playing in the water!

Aquarium and Zoo: We have passes to the aquarium and zoo, so we regularly meet family and friends there. Rhodes' favorite animals are sharks, rhinos, and zebras, while Turner is fond of lions and giraffes, Hansens' favorites are TBD... We can't wait to show this next child all the cool animals that we like to visit!

Travels: We enjoy traveling and adventuring to new places with the boys and learning about those places. We enjoy trips to Hawaii, Disneyland, and road trips through the mountains to our cabin.

Playing with Judge: We have the sweetest dog named Judge. He is an Australian Labradoodle. He entertains the boys as much as they entertain him! They have started to take over the responsibility of feeding him and they find so much pride in that.

Thank you so much for flipping through these pages and getting a peek into what our lives are like. As we have been preparing to walk the road of adoption again, we have had the unique opportunity to talk with Turner about adopting another baby. The pure joy is all over his face when he says "we are gonna adopt another baby, just like I was adopted, I can't wait!" We feel the exact same way... we can't wait either!

"Adoption" is a very special and wonderful word in our home. We talk about adoption with the boys and talk about Turner and Hansens' birth mommies all the time and pray for them daily. They are always celebrated in our home. We want you to know it would be the same if you chose us, you will ALWAYS be loved, prayed for, and celebrated too!

Please know that we are praying for you and your sweet baby. Mama, you are loved and supported; we want you to know that we know this is not an easy decision for you and that you love your sweet baby so much. Thank you so much for the selfless and loving care you are giving to your baby every day. Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents.

Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents.

Love,

Ryan, Shay, Rhodes, Turner, Hansen, & Judge