As a Couple
We met in Guanajuato, Mexico on a study abroad program for Big 10 schools. Justin had applied for a different program, but there was a computer error, so he ended up going to Guanajuato. We started out as friends, but over the course of our 2-month stay, we started spending more and more time together. We decided to see how it went when we got back to the US, and we never looked back from there.
We maintained a long-distance relationship as we finished our undergraduate degrees, and Kirsten moved to New Mexico for grad school. Justin later moved to California for his first job. Despite being apart, we continued to spend time with each other, and our love continued to grow. Justin proposed to Kirsten on the banks of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, with a piece of her favorite Ghiradelli chocolate with the words "Kiwi, will you marry me?" written in phonetics.
We got married in 2012. We had the ceremony in the church that Kirsten attended growing up, and we had the reception at a country club on the same lake that Justin grew up swimming in. It was great to have all of our family and friends with us on our special day! We went on a Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon, then settled into married life. After a couple years in California we took an opportunity Justin had to transfer to Colorado and have never looked back.
We maintained a long-distance relationship as we finished our undergraduate degrees, and Kirsten moved to New Mexico for grad school. Justin later moved to California for his first job. Despite being apart, we continued to spend time with each other, and our love continued to grow. Justin proposed to Kirsten on the banks of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, with a piece of her favorite Ghiradelli chocolate with the words "Kiwi, will you marry me?" written in phonetics.
We got married in 2012. We had the ceremony in the church that Kirsten attended growing up, and we had the reception at a country club on the same lake that Justin grew up swimming in. It was great to have all of our family and friends with us on our special day! We went on a Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon, then settled into married life. After a couple years in California we took an opportunity Justin had to transfer to Colorado and have never looked back.
Kirsten
I was born and raised in a small town near West Palm Beach, Florida. I enjoyed going to the beach, going to Disney World, and swimming in our pool. I was a competitive gymnast and a Girl Scout. My dad was a commercial airline pilot, and we enjoyed many family vacations over the years. When I was 13, my family moved to Michigan. I got to spend summers at the lake with my extended family and learned to play lacrosse.
I went to Michigan State University for undergrad and then the University of New Mexico for grad school in speech/language pathology. I currently work as a speech/language pathologist with kids in grades preschool-6 at a local elementary school. I love my job because I get to work with a variety of kids and teach them how to communicate. I love hiking, reading, animals (especially sea turtles!), watching football and hockey, playing on our rec kickball league, and anything to do with Harry Potter.
I went to Michigan State University for undergrad and then the University of New Mexico for grad school in speech/language pathology. I currently work as a speech/language pathologist with kids in grades preschool-6 at a local elementary school. I love my job because I get to work with a variety of kids and teach them how to communicate. I love hiking, reading, animals (especially sea turtles!), watching football and hockey, playing on our rec kickball league, and anything to do with Harry Potter.
|
|
|
Justin
I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. My mom was an elementary teacher and my dad worked in the auto industry. My grandparents lived in the same subdivision, a 2 minute bike ride away. I spent my summer breaks with friends or cousins and my mom at the neighborhood beach. During the school year I played a variety of sports including baseball, basketball, and soccer. Often my dad was the coach, including for two Little League baseball state championship teams.
I went on to attend the University of Michigan as it was reasonably priced (yay in-state tuition!) and one of the best engineering schools in the country. After graduation I headed off to the Bay area of California for my first job. While it was fun I was glad to escape the crazy costs and busyness of living and working in Silicon Valley and head over to Denver, Colorado. In many ways it is like Michigan, just without the lakes and more sun in the Winter.
Growing up with 2 siblings and lots of extended family I always knew I wanted to have a family. I'm looking forward to the day when adoption makes this dream can come true!
I went on to attend the University of Michigan as it was reasonably priced (yay in-state tuition!) and one of the best engineering schools in the country. After graduation I headed off to the Bay area of California for my first job. While it was fun I was glad to escape the crazy costs and busyness of living and working in Silicon Valley and head over to Denver, Colorado. In many ways it is like Michigan, just without the lakes and more sun in the Winter.
Growing up with 2 siblings and lots of extended family I always knew I wanted to have a family. I'm looking forward to the day when adoption makes this dream can come true!
|
|
|
Sierra's Adoption Story
In the summer of 2009 Kirsten was getting ready to move from Michigan to New Mexico for grad school. One day, she came home to find a tiny chocolate kitten in the bathroom. Kirsten's dad had found the kitten outside and brought her inside. The neighbors had seen another kitten by their house, so we assumed that someone had dumped a box of kittens in the neighborhood. The kitten that Kirsten's parents had found had a chunk taken out of her shoulder, like something had attacked her. Within hours of Kirsten meeting the kitten, she was sleeping on Kirsten's stomach. Kirsten had planned on adopting a cat once she got to New Mexico, but it was pretty obvious that this kitten chose her. She brought the kitten, named Sierra, to New Mexico, and they became best friends.
|
|
Our Son's Adoption Story
Note: For privacy reasons we do not mention our son's name or show his face on this website.
After connecting with the adoption agency in the Summer 2018, occasional possibilities happened but it never fully worked out that child made it to us. Our son found his way to us rather suddenly in the Spring of 2019. We learned that a baby had been born and that the mother wanted the child to be adopted on a Thursday. We said we were open to this situation and on Saturday were told the child's birthmother had chosen us. On Sunday we started the drive to another state to go meet him. A couple days later we were able to go get him. After a week of living in the hotel as the paperwork was processed by his birth state and Colorado we were finally able to begin the journey home and start our new lives as a family back home.
After connecting with the adoption agency in the Summer 2018, occasional possibilities happened but it never fully worked out that child made it to us. Our son found his way to us rather suddenly in the Spring of 2019. We learned that a baby had been born and that the mother wanted the child to be adopted on a Thursday. We said we were open to this situation and on Saturday were told the child's birthmother had chosen us. On Sunday we started the drive to another state to go meet him. A couple days later we were able to go get him. After a week of living in the hotel as the paperwork was processed by his birth state and Colorado we were finally able to begin the journey home and start our new lives as a family back home.