Jason and Laurin

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From Us to You

We cannot even begin to understand the feelings that you may have surrounding your situation, but we do understand difficult and unexpected situations. We understand that you are in a position looking for a forever home for the beautiful child growing inside you. Though we have 2 children, we are hoping for just one more gift from God to complete our family unit. Your child will have a loving and supportive home where they will have family and friends, safety and nurturing. We are currently a family of four and are all out of this world excited to grow our family just one more time.

The decision for us to adopt was simple; it is close to home as we have other adoptions in the family and we desire to give your child the best life they could have. From the moment he or she enters our hands they will become our family. They will be treated as if we gave birth ourselves. They will be taught our traditions and lifestyle. Not only will they learn about our family tree and where we came from, but also where they came from. We will share our loves and passions, we will teach them about life. They will be provided a beautiful, and enriched education.

We have wanted more children since the day we met, we tried for years with failed success at getting pregnant. Then last year we were blessed with a true miracle child. God has plans for us that we could never begin to know. We are so happy that our lives have brought us to you, where we are able to bring another child into our home and love them as our own. It has been a long road and we have had some difficult days, some painful days. But now we feel nothing but excitement surrounding where we are.

We have a 13 year old son who splits his time evenly between our home and his mother’s and he is so excited to be a big brother again.

“I’m so excited to have a sibling and make new memories together. I can’t wait to teach him or her how to play games, try unique food, learn new sports, and maybe show him or her how to play piano and guitar. Thank you for giving my family and I this opportunity” – From Tyler.

We could not be luckier to have such a sweet and thoughtful boy in our lives. He is great with children and is instinctively nurturing. We also have a baby boy who is less than one, he is full of joy and laughter and will make a great big brother!

This journey has been years in the making and being so close to actually holding your baby feels like an out of this world experience. We pray every day for you and your child. We thank you for the gift that you are considering giving our family and hope that, in your special way, you will become a part of the family too.

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About Jason, by Laurin

The day I met Jason is one I will never forget. I was in a place in my life where I was focused on growing as an individual and growing my business. God had another plan for me. It was a feeling I simply cannot explain. We met and we knew we were going to be together forever. He is charming, creative and intelligent. The man I met that day, in so many ways, is the same man I know today, but together we have grown so much. Jason has taught me about love and life. We complement each other’s traits, some of which we share while others we balance. In terms of profession, Jason takes his job very seriously and strives every day to do better than the last. His employers love this trait as he works so hard and is extremely reliable. These traits also carry to his role as a father. He makes sure his relationship with Tyler is a priority, he is nurturing and playful, yet firm with where boundaries lie. I love this about him. As a husband, Jason is supportive and understanding. We communicate well and know that compromise is part of what makes us so strong. I wouldn’t say he is the most handy guy, but he makes up for it with all the other assets and skills he has. If I were to be a fly on our wall, I would say that we work together like a song, harmonizing and balancing, but always having an important role. I love Jason both as a husband and father. He is an asset to the family and I could not pick a better sole mate.

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About Laurin, by Jason

The day I met Laurin was a breath of fresh air. We are both somewhat shy at times, but when we connected, it just clicked. It was a feeling I had never had before. Though there is a small age gap between us, Laurin is very mature, which is another thing that attracted me to her. Her drive and passion for life is energizing and addictive. That was a draw to me. Laurin is very career driven, which has always been important to me, but is also family driven. When Laurin and I met, I had a 2-year-old. The amount of love and support she had for Tyler was amazing. She instantly connected with him. Through the last almost 10 years, they have grown to have an unbelievable bond and connection. He looks up to her. Her love for children is amazing, and her desire to have children just comes naturally to her. Her desire to bring another child into our family is something we share. Laurin naturally is a mother at heart. She has so much love to give. That desire shines through her every day in everything she does.

Laurin has taught me many things in my life, and what stands out the most is helping me to be more patient and to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. She is an inspiration to me, I hope that one day soon we can bring a child home and continue to grow our family.

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Our Families

We were both raised in Michigan and our roots are still there. Jason was adopted at the age of one. His birth mother has been a part of his entire life, but his dad raised him and his three siblings. His relationship with this father is very special to him. His father and uncle were also adopted at a very young age. Jason has a sister, Nikki, who is married with three boys, 18, 17, and 11. She served in Operation Iraqi freedom and is now a 911 dispatcher. His brother, Brandon, a machine builder, is not married but has one daughter, 16. His brother Brent, a robotics engineer, is a widower and has two children, a son 15 and daughter 12. Jason’s father and his wife, Linda, are retired and really close to all the kids and grandkids.

Laurin is the youngest of three girls. Blair is married and has three kids, daughter 26, sons who are 19 and 18. She is a dance instructor. Her daughter, Mileea, just had a baby girl, Odette. Laurin’s sister Michelle is mentally handicapped but functions well. She lives with her boyfriend of 11 years where they raise chickens, grow as many crops as possible and enjoy a life of solitude. Her parents are ‘snow birds’ spending their summers in Michigan and winters in Florida. We are very close with them and spend many weekends together. We enjoy visiting our families on our trips to Michigan and also enjoy hosting them here or meeting somewhere in-between. We have friends across the country. Of course, this makes it difficult to see them often, but we plan times to see each other throughout the years. It’s incredible to keep in touch virtually with our friends, but nothing compares to the face to face interaction when we do finally get together. Our friends have provided support during the journey to adopt while we have also have supported them during their life changes and families growing.

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Our Sweet Pup

We currently have one dog. We recently lost our old boy, Coach, but he was the entire reason Nixon came about. You see, Coach had a rough start to life. He was abused and insecure. When we moved to Florida and found our home, we felt Coach would do well having a furry companion. Coach was extremely gentle and was so sweet with Tyler, but we were gone at work and school during the day. We began the search for a dog buddy for him. We wanted another rescue dog and had Coach meet several doggy friends before Nixon came along. Coach wasn’t sold on the idea of Nixon on their first meeting, but Nixon’s human parents were desperate to find him a new home and we knew if he ended up at a shelter as a sick, unfixed, pit-type puppy, his future was grim. So we took a chance and welcomed him into our home. Nixon came with no manners, a skin infection, anxiety and several other issues, but over time, we got him all fixed up and he became a part of the family. Nixon is now 10 and, though he still has some special needs, he is the sweetest, most gentle and loving boy. Our dogs are a piece of our puzzle and always will be. When our son, Parker was born, Nixon was not sure what his new world would look like, but with the addition of a new baby he has never enjoyed walks so much! He enjoys having a buddy on the floor with him and a new set of hands and a face to lick!

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Our Home

We fell in love with our neighborhood on our first visit. When we were looking for a home it was important to us to find a place catering to children and families and offering a great school district. When we pull in the gates to our neighborhood we feel like we are back up north. The trees are developed and hang over the street, the road twists and turns as we drive by two lakes leading to our home. There are two parks, a pool pavilion, tennis courts and a large field for sports and play. We have completely, floor to ceiling, inside and out, renovated our house in a comfortable, contemporary style. The front of the house has an office and sitting room with a piano. Then you enter the open concept kitchen, dining and living area. Off the kitchen is the primary bedroom, laundry and garage. Down the hall from the living room are three additional bedrooms and a bathroom. Through the living room is a screened patio which then leads to an outdoor patio. We use these outdoor spaces for a variety of things such as games, outdoor dining and bonfires. This is a large neighborhood and we have neighbors on both sides but we are fortunate to be situated where we do not see either home from much of the house. Our yard has palm trees and backs up to a nature preserve were we see wildlife and we can go exploring. This is our own private oasis.

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How a Child will Enrich Our Lives

Children have a very special place in our hearts. We adore them and love to watch them grow and teach them along the way. Adopting a child or children will enrich our lives. It is important to us to teach in a way that is most nurturing, and that we shower your child with love and compassion. We believe that some of the most important lessons that can be taught are often taught by experience. Respect is taught but also earned and our child(ren) will learn this skill by observing and explanation. Responsibility is a role in our household that is important as your child grows, so will their responsibilities. Along the same lines is the importance of hard work. Any hard work does have a reward and we work hard to host a lifestyle that rewards good behavior and hard work. Individuality is one of the most important lessons to us. We believe that anyone can achieve anything they set their minds to, so giving children the assets to follow their dreams and passions is important. Our children will learn to have self-confidence and an opinion. We also want to teach about faith, building an understanding of their beliefs. All of these things we will teach your child while showing clear boundaries and parameters, what is acceptable and what not, and what it is to respect and appreciate. We do not believe in physical discipline but discipline that children can comprehend. When your child is small they will start with things being taken away, as they grow older time outs will be added. Children have to understand their boundaries in order to learn right from wrong and also to understand what it is that was wrong. Because we already have Tyler, we have already followed these steps and learned what works and doesn’t. We also realize that each child is different and will react differently to discipline and will adjust to the most beneficial tactics.

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Our Lifestyle

We, and our boys, Tyler and Parker, live a comfortable lifestyle and are very close. We are hardworking and organized, but thoroughly enjoy each other’s company. We enjoy doing anything together. The typical week includes work and school (for Tyler) during the day, then we prepare dinner, often together. We plan all our dinners together in advance. Food is a passion of ours so every dinner is a production. We make everything from traditional staples to branching out to try new foods and techniques. Often after dinner, when time allows, you’ll find us playing a game, or on special occasions, watching a movie together. Tyler is currently on a competitive swim team and takes guitar lessons. It is a focus of ours to support his passions and talents. He also enjoys playing school sports, singing and playing piano. On the weekends we do chores and tackle projects, but also find time to visit with friends and family. In the summer you will find us by the pool on a hot day and in the cooler months enjoying local parks. We all love adventure and activity so, though the family is busy, we prioritize time for this regularly. We all attend and participate in church weekly. We also enjoy going out to dinner and taking family trips.

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About Us

We met at a function back in 2011. Laurin was assisting in the business side of her sister and brother-in-law’s new venture, a custom longboard company. The company was opening a brick and mortar location and one of the out-of-state investors came for the opening. This happened to be Jason. He had gone to school with Laurin’s sister and brother-in-law, keeping in touch over the years. The connection was immediate and undeniable. We dated long distance for just three months before Laurin sold her house, packed up her dog and belongings and moved south. We purchased our current home just one year later and were later married. The wedding was a beautiful outdoor ceremony on a friend’s property where that friend also officiated the wedding. Then the reception was held at Laurin’s parents’ property, also outside. We all enjoyed wonderful food and live music. Truly a magical day. We are both devoted to our jobs. We are passionate about food and traveling and our lives reflect that. We are actively involved in our church. Oddly enough we both love cleaning, organizing and yard work, so the house is always put together. We believe everything has a place and live a very structured life. That being said, we are also spontaneous, love to travel and create adventure. We can often be found out back by the fire or at the table testing our competitive nature in playing games.

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Racial and Cultural Diversity

Admittedly, we grew up in a small, relatively wealthy town. We would both consider it ‘white bread.’ We each left that town to pursue education and careers and now find ourselves in a very cultural, diverse part of the country. Though Central Florida is probably not going to be our forever home, it has opened our eyes to the importance of cultural diversity. We make a conscious effort to ensure that we surround ourselves with like-minded people. When encountering situations where race plays a factor, we speak up and try to raise awareness. Though there are skin colors, hair textures and religious differences, we believe that all should be treated equally. We enjoy learning new cultures, trying cultural food and understanding cultural traditions. If matched with a child of different ethnicity, we will study their culture and work to embrace it as part of your child’s upbringing. We would also love to be yet another family breaking the barriers of racial equality.

Our Careers

I, Laurin, went off to college with many passions. I took a variety of classes my first two years and discovered my love for a career in design. Before I graduated I had many clients and had started my own successful design firm. When I moved to Florida, a designer I found a position at an art firm, and have become an integral part of the company over the past 10 years. I am the Creative Director at an art advisory and gallery. I oversee the entire creative vision of the company, working with artists across the globe, initiating marketing efforts and designing projects across the country. I use my education in design, art and construction to develop beautiful spaces and love the opportunity to have a position to do so.

I, Jason, developed a love for the culinary arts at a young age with the help of my grandmother. Through high school I worked in several restaurant kitchens. After graduating I went on to get his associates degree. Then I set off to Florida where I worked as a chef in several hotel restaurants. Each step taught me new skills which led me to the next step in my career. After Tyler was born I was a private chef and consulted for some private entities until I found my passion and became the operating partner and manager of a local butcher shop. I spent several years there honing my knowledge and skills. Then, a couple years ago I was presented the opportunity to work in a different niche of the food industry. I am now the “protein specialist and center of plate buyer” for a national food supplier. This is a wonderful role as my true passion is in the main course and it is a standard office job allowing me to work normal business hours with benefits, holidays and vacation.

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On a 3-Day Weekend

We love our home and all there is to do around it, but when given the opportunity to get away for a few days we jump on it. Currently, Laurin’s parents live just over two hours away, so a long weekend is often spent visiting them. We enjoy the change of pace and scenery by going to the beach, on boat rides, enjoying local foods and shops. Occasionally, we take an adult weekend where just the two of us find a concert or attraction within a few hour drive and spend the weekend some place new. It’s an opportunity for us to get away and enjoy some quiet time together.

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Our Family Traditions

We embrace many traditions. A few existing traditions were brought to the marriage, and we have enjoyed creating new ones.

Laurin’s family Christmas is a major tradition that has been a part of her family for almost 50 years. The entire family, (6 aunts and uncles, 8 cousins plus their spouses and, currently, 11 second cousins) get together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The gathering is not about gifts and things, it’s about the gift of family, health and our ability to come together. Over the years this celebration has incorporated an age range of over 95 years. Because of this tradition we make the trip to Michigan each Christmas. We spend time with all of our Michigan relatives and enjoy winter activities together. Sledding, snowball fights, snowman making, skiing and snowboarding are always staples in this trip as long as the weather permits!

We also make an annual trip each summer where we enjoy family time, boating, the beach, local favorite foods and visiting with friends. When we can, we plan this trip over Laurin’s family’s annual camp weekend. This is a short weekend where the entire group goes up north and camps. Meals are split up and prepared by family and the entire weekend is spent outdoors telling stories, playing games, hiking, searching for Petoskey stones and swimming in the often cold lake.

We have also made a tradition each summer to make the drive to North Carolina where Tyler attends camp. This is an exciting time for Tyler when he spends two weeks outdoors exploring and learning about God’s word. While he is at camp, we and Parker rent a house and spend time enjoying mountain life. Oftentimes we are joined by out-of-town friends or family. We explore local eateries, shops, hike daily and just simply enjoy each other’s company in God’s beautiful creation.

Finally, a bi-annual tradition has begun where we select a location that none of us has experienced. We rent a large house and explore all there is to explore in one week. This is a very special bonding time for all of us, since we live apart and have busy work and family lives. This provides a staple in keeping us close. We enjoy down time at the house as well as try new things as a group.

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Why We are Choosing to Adopt

When we met it was clear we wanted more kids. Jason came to the relationship with a two-year-old son that he shares custody of. We both love Tyler and Parker so much and having more children is not about the children we have not being enough. We still have so much love to give and are so excited to share this with your child. Laurin has always dreamed of being a mother. She wanted to have many children and realized this at a very young age. When we got married we tried to conceive for several years. We sought the help of a fertility doctor who performed procedures on both of us to heighten our chances of natural conception. Eventually we realized that our plan was 20202/not God’s plan.

However, adoption has always been near and dear to our hearts. Jason was adopted, his father and uncle were adopted, and Laurin’s grandmother and her sister were adopted. We can provide your child with a family and a strong future. We will give your child more love than anyone could dream of: cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, an education, experiences and so much more. Our decision to adopt was not difficult; the journey to get there had its hard spots but we know this has been God’s plan since day one and we are so happy to embrace the gift of adoption.

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Raising Your Child

We adore children and love to watch them grow and to teach them along the way. Adopting a child will continue to enrich our lives. It is important to us to teach in a way that is most nurturing, and that we shower your child with love and compassion. We believe that some of the most important lessons that can be taught are often taught by experience. Things such as respect are taught but also earned and your child will learn this skill by observing and explanation. Responsibility is an important role and as your child grows so will their responsibilities. This is important because it is a requirement in being a successful adult. Along the same lines is the importance of hard work. Any hard work has a reward and we work hard to host a lifestyle that rewards good behavior and hard work. Individuality is one of the most important lessons to us. We believe that anyone can achieve anything they set their minds to, so giving a child the assets to follow their dreams and passions is important. Our children will learn to have self-confidence and will feel free to express their opinions. We will teach all of our children about faith, progressing as they get older, and give them an understanding of their beliefs. We will teach all of these while showing clear boundaries and parameters. What is acceptable and not. What it is to respect and appreciate. We do not believe in physical discipline but discipline that children can comprehend. When your child is small it will start with things being taken away, as they grow older, time outs will be added. Your child will learn to understand their boundaries in order to learn right from wrong and also to understand what it is that was wrong. We have followed these steps with Tyler and learned what works and what doesn’t. However, we also realize that every child is different and will react differently to discipline and will adjust to each child’s personality.