Hi there! We are Jacob and Angela; thank you for taking the time to get to know us! Our story began at a time when neither of us were actively seeking a long-term relationship. Jacob was finishing graduate school in Nebraska and Angela was working in higher education in Colorado. By mere chance, we were matched over a mobile game of Words with Friends. After playing many games together, a natural friendship emerged, and we began to communicate. With bravery, curiosity, and faith, we made plans to meet in Nebraska and after that visit, the relationship grew.

A year into dating long distance, Jacob accepted a job in Colorado, packed up his things, and moved to start a new chapter with Angela. After seeking permission from Angela’s parents, Jacob planned a surprise proposal through a game of Scrabble, gluing “Will You Marry Me” in tiles on the board. Of course, Angela said “Yes!” A year later, we were married with friends and family at our side.

Some people are called to adoption, and that’s us for sure. We have been touched by it through our families’ journeys with adoption. We were also blessed to have a glimpse into our future as parents, when we fostered a four-month-old baby.  We are so hopeful to welcome a “forever” little one into our family through adoption!

If it’s possible to be 100% completely and totally in amazement of someone, that would describe how I see Jacob. Jacob is truly a gift to this world and has the talent and drive to make a true difference. He is the smartest person I know and uses his abilities in the classroom as a college chemistry professor. He is an amazing educator who wants to give others an opportunity to learn and grow.

Jacob not only teaches, but also cares about his students. He enjoys working alongside them doing research and helping them realize their dreams. I cannot count how many letters of recommendation Jacob has written over the years for his students, making it possible for them to go on to achieve those dreams.

Jacob is a tremendous human being and husband, and I know he will be a wonderful father someday. I saw Jacob take such good care of the baby we fostered. I was amazed at all the times he made the baby smile or laugh, which told me he is a natural. Jacob is always telling me how he looks forward to building memories with a child such as teaching them to ride a bike, building forts, and most importantly how to use their creativity and imagination. I can’t wait to see Jacob as a father when we welcome a child into our family.

Angela is the love of my life! I knew from the moment I met her that I had found my soulmate. She has the most compassionate, selfless, and generous heart of anyone I know. She always makes me laugh with her witty sense of humor and her intelligence amazes me.

Recently, Angela was overjoyed to discover she has an older sister who was placed for adoption before Angela was born. Through a twist of fate, they were reunited, and continue to grow their relationship.  With the love and support of Angela’s sister, we feel reassured that adoption is our calling!

Angela is an amazing professional. She serves as a director of human resources in higher education and demonstrates incredible patience and compassion when dealing with constant chaos. Her coworkers constantly tell me how amazing she is and how lucky I am to be married to her. And I agree with them! 

I have no doubt that Angela will be a wonderful mother. Her dedication to taking care of her family, providing support and endless love will allow any child to thrive in our home. I truly feel that she is my life partner through thick and thin and I am so thankful to have her by my side through this journey.

We live in a four-bedroom home built in 2020. During our first year living here, we landscaped our yard ourselves, which included installing a large flagstone patio, a pergola, a fire pit and a grilling area. With all of that, there is still plenty of room left to run around and have fun! We enjoy our outdoor space with frequent BBQs and the company of family and friends. We also finished our basement, which includes a home theater.

Our neighborhood is quickly growing with new families and children. It has many parks with playgrounds, an outdoor swimming pool, and miles upon miles of trails nearby. We have community-organized BBQs, outdoor movie nights, concerts, pool parties, lawn games, and holiday festivals, making our neighborhood a fun place for a child to grow and thrive. We even have a new Pre-K child enrichment center within walking distance.

In the fall, our community puts on a pumpkin patch and hayrides for kids. At Christmas, our neighborhood offers horse-drawn carriage rides to see the beautiful Christmas lights throughout our community.

Living in the Denver metro area comes with so many fun things to do. We enjoy attending sporting events, live concerts at Red Rocks amphitheater, and going to museums and zoos. We also live close to the mountains which affords numerous outdoor activities we enjoy such as kayaking, hiking, and geocaching. We can’t think of a better place to raise a child!

Jacob is the oldest and has three younger brothers. His parents have been married for 33 years and are a beautiful inspiration for us. They live a short drive away in South Dakota. His extended family is very large with lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins who are all supportive and excited for us to adopt.

Angela’s parents live close, and we visit them often. Angela is the youngest of four and has an older sister and two older brothers, all of whom have been very supportive and can’t wait to welcome a child to the family. One of Angela’s brothers and his wife lives nearby in the mountains, and we try to visit as much as possible to enjoy hiking, fishing, and just sitting on the porch or in front of a big fire pit looking up at the stars. Making time to share special occasions with family is a priority for us.

When talking about our family, we can’t forget our animals! We have one dog and two cats. Justus is our seven-year-old dog. He’s a little 20lb. rescue dog and is a loveable mutt who gets lots of love and attention! Then there’s Linus, our ten-year-old cat. He likes to play fetch, cuddle with Justus on the couch, and constantly purrs. Ava is our other cat—she’s six years old, the shy cat of the house, and can often be seen sitting on Angela’s lap. Lastly, we have a small 36-year-old mud turtle named Myrtle. Myrtle comes with a story, so ask Angela about her.

We love to spend time together as a family. We enjoy taking Justus to dog parks or on hikes in the mountains. We like kayaking, fishing, boating, camping, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing—really anything outdoors. But we also like to stay home and watch movies or play video games in our home theater. We love playing board games, cards, and trivia. We also enjoy traveling, sightseeing, cruises, and vacations.

Jacob is an avid reader and loves woodworking in his shop. He is also a wonderful cook, plays piano, and paints. Angela likes baking, making soy candles and home crafts for friends and family. She also enjoys decorating the house for any holiday season, singing at church, playing with animals, and taking care of others. We both love to spend time with extended family and make it a point to celebrate holidays together, as often as possible.

In the summer and fall, we like to go to baseball games (Go Cubs) and football games (although we are a bit divided as a household…Jacob is a Packers fan and Angela is a Broncos fan). You can often find us watching college football games, especially Husker games on Saturdays, during the season.

We are actively involved with our church, which we attend every Sunday. We have made good friends through church, and they are also supportive and excited about our adoption journey. Our spiritual connection and faith have afforded us the strength to overcome many challenges and has strengthened our union. We believe we can get through anything together.

Adoption represents hope and new beginnings. Although we may not know one other yet, we are in awe of the person you are and the incredible decision you are considering.

If you invite us to walk this road with you, we will represent the faith, hope, and love you and your baby deserve. Adoption is a brave choice and a selfless act. We would like to continue that bravery and selflessness as part of a lifelong journey, as adoptive parents. We want to honor you, as you consider honoring us.

We cannot say thank you enough for reading and learning a little about us. We hope you have learned a little more about us that you will want to meet us and ask lots of questions. We are an open book and happy to share more. We are comfortable with any level of openness you desire in adoption. We would love to get to know you and understand what is most important to you and your wishes for your baby.

With humble blessings and love,

Jacob and Angela