7
Washington
Catholic
None
0
Thank you for looking at our profile. We have longed to be parents for quite some time now and hope to give a good home and a vibrant upbringing to our adopted children.
We are active, outdoorsy, faith-filled people. Our house is always open to friends and free of most technological distractions. We are uncomplicated, adventurous and joyful as we take on the challenges of this life together. We share a love for God and our Catholic faith, which is the foundation of our marriage. Another unique thing about us is that Ivana is an immigrant from Switzerland. A lot of our travels include visits with relatives in Europe, and sometimes we speak German to each other.
We hope this profile will give you an insight into who we are and what our life is like.
Marc is excited to show children the beauty of God's creation and to teach them how to love and respect themselves and others. Marc loves to be outdoors doing things: hiking, skiing, hunting, and many other outdoor activities. Marc was born in Arizona and spent much of his childhood exploring the American West with his family, and hopes to do the same with his children. He gets excited about raising children when he thinks about teaching his children to ski, make pancakes while camping, and ride bicycles. He believes very strongly in teaching his children to respect everyone around them and see others as God's creation.
Marc works at a major railroad company where he supervises a large number of employees, and loves being in an active industry that gives him an opportunity to mentor younger employees starting their careers.
My parents live in Nevada and I have one older sister who lives fairly close by and is recently married. While my parents are some distance away, we see each other several times a year. They are very excited about being adoptive grandparents! Our adoptive children will certainly spend a lot of time with their randma and grandpa riding bikes, camping, and celebrating Holidays together.
My Dad is a generous, faith filled man who loves the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. From my own childhood, I remember my Dad always spending a lot of time and effort on what was important to me. For a while, I loved basketball. My Dad doesn't know much about basketball, and he wasn't very good at it. However, he spent hours playing with me in the driveway because what was important to me was important to him. I know that as a grandpa, he will devote himself to his grandchildren the same way.
My Mom is active and driven. She has bicyled across the United States once, and is planning to do it again! She always pushed me to be my best, planned our vacations, and created many of our family traditions. My Mom especially values education and learning. I once asked her why she kept all my children's books even though I was an adult, and she told me it was so she could read them to her grandchildren. I look forward to seeing her to read those books again, sharing her Thanksgiving recipes with our adoptive children, and seeing the cross-stiched artwork she will make for their bedrooms.
My older sister and her husband live nearby and keep a small "hobby farm". They keep bees, ducks, and are hoping to expand to sheep. They make their own jam, honey, and grow a large garden. My brother-in-law fixes up antique engines and is the national expert on a few specific tools! While many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins live across the country, we enjoy seeing each other when we can.
I have worked for a national freight railroad for ten years. I am in charge of a freight railyard and supervise a large number of employees. My job suits my natural skill set, and trains are cool! It's fun to be out and about and work in a dynamic industry.
I have had the opportunity to mentor a number of new employees starting their careers and it's very meaningful for me to help guide those individuals.
Before starting with the railroad, I worked briefly in mining at the same company as my father. I went to Boise State University (where I met Ivana!), and later received a Master's Degree in Transportion & Logistics from the University of Washington.
I love to be active and adventurous! I hike, camp, hunt, ski, among other outdoor activities. I am excited to teach our children to appreciate God’s creation and challenge themselves. I love taking on new challenges and experiences, such as climbing Mt. Baker or learning to whitewater kayak. I led Ivana on the adventure of remodeling the entire basement in our first home, and I take pride in his house and all that I do being well-taken care of.
I love learning about history, geography, and parts of the world that are off the beaten path. I am fascinated by learning about the world around me, and then going to see it if possible! That interest has taken us to Armenia, Slovenia, South Africa, and many other places.
Ivana is cheerful, outgoing and caring. She values meaningful conversations and maintains close, long-lasting friendships through phone calls and visits.
Her passions include the Bible, foreign languages, teaching her high school students and chocolate. From time to time, she dabbles in baking, knitting and other creative projects. She recently started oil painting and is always up for learning new things.
Ivana comes from a very international family. She moved to the US from Switzerland at age 11 and has relatives in eight different countries. Ivana grew up speaking German, and Marc has learned enough to communicate with the extended family in Europe. Ivana recently became an American citizen and looks forward to passing on her cultural heritage (and dual citizenship) to our children.
I am one of five children, and three of my siblings are married with children. We currently have seven nieces and nephews and are expecting two more! My parents are loving grandparents and a great model of marriage and faith-filled life for us. I grew up in a warm, close-knit family, and we continue to stay close. While most of our family lives several hours away, we make it a point to see each other throughout the year, like on the family camping trips in the picture above.
My closest cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmother still live in Switerland, and we often go to visit them in the summer.
I teach at a small, Catholic classical high school that just opened its doors a few years ago. I like being part of a new project, and I love my students and coworkers! I also enjoy getting to teach a variety of subjects, including theology, Latin and art. I often find myself learning right alongside the students.
I studied English-Linguistics and Music in college and Biblical Languages in graduate school. I loved my years at school! Some highlights from my college days included playing trombone in orchestra and studing in Haifa, Israel for 6 months. Marching band and the Catholic Student Center were also important parts of my experience, not least because these are the places where I got to know Marc!
In graduate school, I lived and worked with immigrants from Central America and Mexico, teaching English classes. I loved the experience and have remained in education throughout my career.
Like Marc, I enjoy being outdoors and exploring the world around me. This year, my goal is to walk, run, and hike 1000 miles, and so far I am on track! I also enjoy baking, knitting, jig-saw puzzles, and sitting on the couch with my Bible, my journal and a cup of coffee. I am also a fan of trying new things. Last summer, I learned more about rowing, and this fall, I started taking oil painting classes. There are so many amazing things we can explore, and I am grateful whenever I get to enter into a new world.
Our little home is nestled in a quiet neighborhood. We enjoy taking good care of our home and frequently make DIY upgrades to ensure we and our guests can feel comfortable. Some of our favorite features are the open floor plan and our big backyard, which are great for hosting firepit nights and small gatherings. We have friendly neighbors and are close to beautiful nature. In the warm months, we enjoy dinners on our deck and planting a few easy crops in our garden beds.
ONE TIME, AT BAND CAMP... two trombone players met on the first day of their college experience. Neither of them knew that seven years later, they would be married. We started out as friends for two years and then dated for a long time, including several years of long-distance. We tied the knot in 2018 and have been very happy ever since.
Our year is ordered by the seasons of our faith. At Christmastime, we decorate the house, cut down our own tree, bake cookies and sing carols by candlelight. It's also a time for Ivana to make some special crafts, like putting Christmas scenes in our windows. Every Easter, Ivana bakes croissants for a special breakfast after going to the beautiful Easter Vigil Mass at church.
The summer is one of our most active seasons. One of our favorite camping activities is hiking to a lake with an inflatable raft so we can explore the mountains by boat. We also enjoy exploring the world on international trips whenever possible.
For Thanksgiving, we love to get together with the extended family. The 4th of July is usually a time to go to the lake with close friends.
All throughout the year, we value staying away from too much technology, making home-cooked meals, sharing our home with good friends and serving at church and elsewhere.
