Dear Expectant Mother:
“Gratitude” is a relatively small word but holds great meaning for our family. We are grateful to grow our family through adoption and that you are considering us as adoptive parents. In this short biography, we hope to express the depth of love and commitment we share for each other; the unity of our family; and our desire to enrich these gifts with an addition of a son or daughter.
About Kerri:
I was born and raised in Moline, Illinois, by two loving parents along with my older sister and my younger brother. When I was 20 years old, I moved to Fresno, California, where I was recruited to be a student/athlete at California State University, Fresno. While competing in softball, I earned my Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science.
For several years, I created and grew a successful personal training business. While working closely with others to improve their lives on many different levels, I soon discovered a deeper calling to give back and positively affect the lives of my family, neighbors and friends. I had always wanted to pursue a career that offered physical and mental challenges and that would create a financially secure foundation on which to build a family life. I was raised with the belief that making a difference in the lives of others was a gift, so I was deeply appreciative to fulfill my dreams when presented with the opportunity to work in the fire service profession.
Having always been a very focused and committed person, I promoted quickly through the ranks of the fire service. Today, I’m the co-number-two person in the Fresno Fire Department; the fifth largest fire department in California.
Through their example, my parents instilled in me a loving heart, cultivated integrity and a strong work ethic, and the desire to never stop learning. Last year, these lessons proved invaluable while I earned my Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership. I intend to pursue my Doctorate Degree in the near future, anticipating a college level teaching career upon retirement from the fire service.
I have always enjoyed the outdoors, a variety of sports, trips to the beach and working in the yard. I have also found great joy in coaching my nieces and nephews athletic teams.
About Laurie:
I was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised on a farm by my mother and grandparents. I was raised with three step brothers and one stepsister. Through the early school years, I participated in softball, volleyball, tennis and basketball. After high school, I entered college funded by an athletic scholarship; soon after, I decided to become a paramedic firefighter. In 1983, I began my career at the Longwood Fire Department, FL as the first female in the department.
Always having had a strong sense of fortitude and a passion for challenge, I quickly advanced through the ranks of the fire service. Today, after 26 successful years of community service, I have attained the highest rank in the fire service as the Fire Chief. In this position, I have the pleasure of assisting young adults in pursuing their dreams. I am grateful for the success of my professional career, having found great sense of purpose. My career has given me the opportunity to retire at a young age and the ability to provide financial stability for my family. Reflecting on my life, I find the time devoted to parenting has been my most fulfilling.
In 1999, I traveled to China and adopted Torie. The moment she was placed into my arms, my heart felt as if we were meant to be together forever. Being a parent has filled my days with a more meaningful purpose, far beyond anything else I have experienced. I have been truly blessed.
About Torie:
Torie became a part of our family in 1999 through an adoption from China. She has become a beautiful, healthy young girl who enjoys reading, playing guitar, participating in basketball and softball, swimming, snow and water skiing, and just loves scuba diving. Torie has a passionate curiosity about the world around her enjoying nature and different cultures. When Torie was very young she decided because of her interest in animals she was going to become a “peterinarian” when she grew up. Torie is very excited about becoming a big sister and is looking forward to reading to her little brother or sister and sharing everything she knows.
Our Family:
Family is a big part of our lives. In 2002, Kerri’s dad retired and moved the entire family to Fresno, including Kerri’s mom, her sister and her family, and her brother and his family. Today, we all live about eight blocks from each other! We are all dedicated to our family’s lives and invested in making the most of our time together.
Education, independence and stability are traits cultivated in us and we intend to share these virtues with our children. Kerri’s dad was a successful engineer for John Deere in Illinois, and her mom (now retired) and sister, Kelly, are pediatric nurses while Kent works for the City of Fresno.
Our family’s share birthdays, holidays, vacations, and school events, something which has given us memories to last a lifetime. The cousins, aging in range from 10 – 20; have a very close bond and welcoming hearts to all who are drawn into the family. Kerri, her dad and brother have shared coaching duties on Julie’s and Torie’s soccer and baseball teams for the past three years. We are all devoted to the academic and sports commitments of all children in our family. Two years ago, dad took the entire family to Hawaii for a vacation where we all had the opportunity to participate in many water activities and sightseeing expeditions. We all agree it was the best vacation ever and plan to return as a family again by 2013.
Our Home:
We live in a four bedroom home with a pool, green grass for playing around with our 2-pound dog Riley, and well suited for family barbeques. Our neighborhood has many families with small children. We’re located just a few miles from water parks, the city zoo and family fun. We live in the Clovis Unified School District which is recognized by both the state and nationally for it’s excellence in education.
Fresno is situated in the middle of the state, allowing easy accessibility to two mountain ranges and lakes, the coast, Disneyland, entertainment and diverse cultural activities.
Our Circle of Friends:
We’ve been given the blessings of many close friendships in our lives that continue to bring us laughter, peace and strength. We treasure our friendships as we do our family. In our free time, we meet with friends and host impromptu gatherings filling our home with noise, fun and laughter. Our close friends are looking forward to seeing our family grow.
Thoughts on Parenting:
(From Kerri:) My life has been greatly enriched by being deeply involved in my sibling’s families. I was present at the births of my nieces and nephews and have been an integral part of their lives as infants through to their teenage years. I love participating in their successes, joys and sometimes their disappointments. I feel that I have honed the art of being an aunt to a science. I’m blessed and honored to be a part of their lives.
Laurie and Torie came into my life at the perfect time and have added another dimension of balance and joy. On the foundation of the parenting skills I had cultivated with my nieces and nephews, Torie’s presence in my life brings me great excitement as a parent. With Laurie and Torie, we’ve created a safe, happy, loving home. We love Torie more than words can express and know we have so much more love to share with another child.
(From Laurie:)As parents, I believe we are the resource of strength for a child, providing stability while acknowledging a child’s instinctive desire to be heard, accepted and respected as a unique individual. Like many mothers, I’ve spent nights of worrying through childhood illnesses, willing a return to good health, sometimes desperately offering up my own to make it happen.
As a result, our home is built on a foundation of unconditional love and always an open forum to learn and experience the joys of life. From our experiences, we believe in cherishing a child’s moments of achievements, helping to pave a way to their independence, and doing everything in our power to see them develop into healthy and happy adults.
Without a doubt, we know that our hearts are big enough to embrace and love another child as our own, offering a lifetime of family and security.
In Closing:
In our lifetimes, we have achieved many personal successes and excelled in our chosen profession. As our family grows, we want to share the depth of our love with a child and fill our home with the laughter of children. Blessed with the gift of parenting a child, we know we will provide a child with a full and healthy life, one filled with love, devotion, and opportunity.
We wish you peace and strength as you consider the possibilities of your decision for you and your child. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about us. We look forward to talking to you and getting to know you. Please feel free to contact us TOLL FREE at 1-877-322-8180 or kerrilaurie@aol.com. You may also contact our adoption attorney, Susan Romer, at 1 (800) U-ADOPT-US (1-800-823-6788), or at adamsromer@aol.com.
Blessings,
Kerri and Laurie
