Hi! We are Joe and Bethany

We love you. Even though we don't know you yet, we admire and love your heart for putting your child above all else. We love you for who you are as a human being, for where you've been in your life, and where you are going. We want to ground everything we say, and more importantly, everything we do, in the love we have for you, your baby, your family, and your culture. Know that regardless of your decision to choose us, choose someone else, or to parent, we continue to love and hold you in our hearts and prayers.

If chosen, know we will love your child abundantly. They will be grounded in faith, they will know and enjoy the love and companionship of older siblings, they will live a calm and quiet life in a welcoming small town, and they will have every opportunity for a quality education, sports, and activities.

We want to have an open, honest, and transparent relationship that is centered on love and your child's best interests. We can't wait to include you in our family!

About Us

Joe was my (Bethany's) first crush, but we didn't date until 7 years later. Our first date was meant to be a fast catch-up over coffee, but become an 8 hour date that never ended. We knew we wanted to be married and have a family by date number 3. We got married in a little country church a year after we started dating. We joined the Army together, went to Afghanistan together, and lived in Georgia, New York, Arizona, and Tennessee before moving home to Minnesota and starting a family.

Joe's adventurous spirit and Bethany's curious nature have given us a love of sharing experiences, whether it's travel, hiking in the woods near our home, or teaching our children about the joys of everyday living through discovering the world around us.

Beckett (5)

Beckett has a big personality, and thrives on attention but has a love of leadership. He shines when he gets to be a helper. He loves animals, is empathetic, and enjoys focused activities like bike riding, rock climbing, and fishing.

Ivy (3)

Ivy is a quiet artist who loves creating things and caring for her baby dolls and stuffies. She is a nurturer at heart and loves the natural world. She has strong opinions, knows her mind, and will not be persuaded easily. Ivy is a joyful little soul who cannot wait to be a big sister!

Our family also includes two dogs (Thor), (Lumi), a cat (Rogue), and a handful of fish.

Our heart for adoption begins with Joe. I (Joe) am an adoptee.

My brother and I were both infant adoptions from different families. We knew this since we were little and understand a lot of the experiences of growing up as adopted children together. Both of our adoptions were closed adoptions, but I have connected with my biological family on both sides in the last few years and it's been a wonderful blessing. My adoptive parents gave my brother and I an amazing life and Bethany and I have always felt that adoption would continue to be part of our story.

Home sweet home!

Whether we're doing family hikes or bike rides after dinner, discovering outdoor adventures, or having fun baking something together, our family values experiencing life together.

We live in a newer home in a subdivision across from dirt roads and farms. We have a one-story, four bedroom, three bath home with an open concept upstairs and a below-ground basement with a family room and bedroom/office and bathroom. We were drawn to our house's open kitchen and light-filled rooms! We have a fenced in backyard with a small patio, lots of young trees, and live within short walking distance to parks and playgrounds.

Our town is a welcoming small town that is growing in diversity. We still have a historic downtown with rows of family owned businesses in beautiful brick buildings from 150 years ago. We have a river walk, a farmers market, two colleges, tons of parks and greenspace, an amazing library, and a community that values art, creativity, and education. There are always fun activities going on throughout the year– in the summers it puts on live music in each park for families, and in the wintertime the town has a Christmas Market with horse drawn sleigh rides.

Our Favorite Things

• Travel, especially exploring the woods in Northern Minnesota and the Lake Superior area

• Cooking and baking new foods together

• Hiking wooded trails near our house

• Family bike rides around our neighborhood

• Photography and making art projects at home

• Going to our local library to pick out books and play toys with other kids

• Splitting and stacking firewood together in the Fall

• Going to Bethany's Family Cabin

Our Favorite Holiday Traditions

• Baking 100 year old family cookie recipes at Christmas

• Watching The Grinch

• Driving along the Mississippi river towns during peak Autumn colors

• Family Easter Egg hunts at Joe's family's country home

• Christmas and Easter Eve Church

• Big family dinners for birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter

In Closing

We would absolutely want to have an open adoption with you, and, if that is something you would like as well, we would love you and your child as part of our family. We have found so much love and inclusion in building a relationship with my birth family. It has been the most wonderful blessing.

Lastly, as an adoptee, I (Joe) have a tremendous amount of respect, gratitude, and awe for you in considering to place your child with us. You are truly a very strong person and you reflect so much grace in the love you have for your child.

We love you and are holding you in our hearts as you make a decision. We support whatever decision you make– you know what is best for you and for your child.

We are so grateful that you already love your baby and are grateful for you for taking the time to read about our family.