Family is our number one priority. And our child will be our number one priority within that.

There is no work event or other obligation that will ever come in the way of needing to be there for our child. Making sure our child has everything they need to be healthy and happy will always take precedent over anything else.

After family, our friends are extremely important to us. We are always there for them, as they are for us.

We feel as if having a community is very important as you start a family and grow a family, and there is nothing more important to us than our community. 

Some of Kate’s favorite childhood memories include:

• Eating dinner together every night with her family
• Playing catch with her dad almost every day
• Cooking with her mom
• Sleepovers with friends
• Playing on her softball team
• And playing racing video games with her brother

Marissa grew up with horses in her backyard, and a lot of her childhood memories are different activities with her neighborhood friends that she would take care of the horses with. Whether that was riding horses, or running around the fields pretending to be horses, Marissa spent a lot of time outside.

Marissa also played basketball every year in the local rec league. She also enjoyed baking cookies with her step-mom, and helping her dad fix things around the property with her brother. 

Marissa is on the board of a non-profit organization that supports foster children and families.  Outside of that, she enjoys lifting weights, going to concerts, reading, watching TV and playing board games/cards.

Kate volunteers with charities that support bringing clean water to communities who may not have it. Outside of that, she enjoys playing video games, running, reading, and doing arts & crafts.

Activities we look forward to sharing with a child include reading to them, playing outside, doing puzzles and board games, going hiking, and showing them from an early age the importance of giving back to their community. 

Marissa has 2 parents, 2 step-parents, 1 brother, sister-in-law and nephew. She is close with her entire family and has a loving relationship with all of them. Marissa's father and stepmom live 1 hour from Kate & Marissa on a farm they built, and her mom and stepdad are a short flight away.

Kate has 2 parents, happily married for 40 years, and 1 brother. She is incredibly close with her family, communicating with all of them daily. Kate's parents also live 1 hour away from Marissa & Kate's home.

When our family and friends are around, we enjoy playing board games and cards, and sitting around chatting - always with a good meal!

We enjoy family food traditions around certain holidays; chili for Halloween, turkey and the usual for Thanksgiving, and Gumbo on Christmas Eve.

Our family is unique because we're very close, and we have 6 parents who all really love us. We're also very communicative and good about sorting through any conflicts.

Our family couldn't be more excited about our adoption plan, and are ready to have a grandchild/niece/nephew to love!

We live on a cul-de-sac of a family-oriented, safe, and diverse neighborhood in Tennessee. We have wonderful neighbors who are always there for us (taking in the trash when we're out of town, sharing herbs from gardens, etc.)

Our neighborhood has great sidewalks and many kids! For example, at Halloween, we'll see around 30+ Trick-or-Treaters! There are several parents that walk around with strollers, so we know there will be many children in the neighborhood who would grow up with our child.

Our home is a two-story home and has 4 big bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Our favorite place in our house is our large family room because it has a big cozy couch and a big TV! There are several parks within walking distance, as well as a community pool that will be great for swimming lessons! We look forward to walking or biking to the local neighborhood park, or driving 10-20 minutes to the larger city parks!

First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to learn more about us as you make this decision.?There is nothing that we want more in life right now than to?adopt and raise a child. Our hearts feel so full of love to give.

A bit about our relationship: We met on a dating app, Hinge, in 2019. We were fascinated with one another from the start - and both felt an instant connection. With a shared love of music, trying new restaurants, working out, being outside, and being with friends, we slowly began to merge our lives. In 2021, we moved in together. We learned how to better communicate with one another. We learned how to handle disagreements, and how to show up for one another in our day-to-day lives. In 2023, we bought a home together and got engaged. We got married in April 2024; it was the best day of our lives so far.

From early on in our relationship, we both decided that we wanted kids. Between the two of us, we feel we have so many skills that make up good parents - from being caring, patient, kind, empathetic, and having strong communication skills. Outside of our skills, we also feel as though we're in a really strong position mentally, emotionally, and financially to give a child the life of their dreams.

There are a few things that will be very important to us as we raise a child: 1) Teaching them about good morals and values, 2) Always be kind to people, 3) How to take care of themselves and their health, 4) How to grow up feeling comfortable financially and save for the future, and 5) Most importantly, always provide a good example of a loving relationship.

As it pertains to our relationship with you, the birth parent(s), know that we are very open. We understand the value of a child having a birth parent in their life, and we also understand there are situations where that may not be possible or the right thing for the child. The most important thing to know is that we're both very open communicators and want you to feel safe to share what feels right, as it pertains to the openness of our arrangement. We want to honor the fact that we would not be in this position without you, should you choose us, and we'll always be forever grateful. We will of course send letters and pictures, and outside of that, we want to work with you on what feels best as far as the frequency of photos, updates, visits, etc. if requested.

Becoming parents has always been our?dream, and we’re so excited to provide a?loving home for a child. Adopting is a?journey we’re thrilled to embark on, and we?have so much love to give as we grow our?family. Please know that we will?unconditionally love and cherish this child,?ensuring they feel proud of their adoption?story. We hope this has given?you a glimpse into our lives, and we look forward to the potential opportunity to meet you.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this.

Marissa & Kate