Aaron and Susan

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From Us to You

Welcome and thank you for considering our family to love, nurture, and cherish your child! It is our intention to teach all of our children that it is love, not blood or genetics, that makes a family. We welcome you to be part of our family, to whatever extent feels comfortable. We believe that each child thrives best when surrounded by as much love and as many loving people as possible, while also understanding and honoring that we each have a unique journey in life. We intend to share with your child how much we admire your courage and strength to imagine a better life for your child, to make difficult sacrifices and decisions with grace. While we were not lucky enough to have your child born to us, we hope to be fortunate enough to nurture and raise your child, and to share our family with your child and you. Your child will always be an incredible gift to us. We honor this gift by ensuring that your child has the best education, the greatest opportunities for growth and development of their talents and interests, with loving role models to comfort and guide them to live their best possible life. We hope you will partner with us. We can’t wait to meet you!

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Why We're Choosing to Adopt

We both come from families of three children and have the perfect role models in our parents inspiring us to create a large family. From our first date, Aaron made clear his desire to have children born to us and for us. Aaron has enjoyed becoming a father figure for Rachel upon our marriage, and has demonstrated how warm and loving this relationship with a child of choice can be. We have also witnessed the beauty of a blended family as Aaron’s sister was the birth mother of twins who were adopted to a wonderful couple that have become an integral part of our family over these past 12 years and remain close. Additionally, Aaron’s sister and her partner fostered and then adopted 2 teenage boys who have been a wonderful part of our family too. After our daughter Miriam was born, we wanted to have more children as soon as possible, as we saw the incredible joy that she brought into our lives. After trying for over 3 years on our own and with medical assistance, we were unable to have more children. Our dream of a large family is thus best lived through the gift that adoption can provide for us, for you and for your child.

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Our Lifestyle

We are a family that enjoys getting out and about. Whether stopping to smell the roses on our daily stroll through our neighborhood, hiking beautiful nature and beach trails bathed in Orange County, California sunshine, or enjoying our annual trip to at least 1 National Park, we find spending time in nature to be healing. We visit our local parks and libraries several times each week. On weekends we love to visit family and friends all over Southern California, which gives our children the gifts of joy and connection with a large and supportive family and friends across generations. We are Jewish, and we enjoy gathering with our family and friends each week to celebrate the Sabbath, as well as to celebrate our many holidays, with festive meals, songs, love, laughter, and amazing food from all over the world as a reflection of our diverse backgrounds. We are Jewish and our people are from all over the world.

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About Susan

Susan is the warmest, most loving and generous wife and mother I could ever hope for. She wakes up every day ready to be there for our children in every way possible. Whether it is preparing healthy meals for our family, arranging flowers and coming up with fun art projects for our youngest daughter, being a sounding board for the trials and tribulations of our teenage daughter, she always keeps a cheerful attitude and strives to do her best. From the first day I met her, Susan has sought a partner with the same desire to grow and nurture a family together. She is ready to see the next chapter in our family begin and we both hope that will start with you and your child.

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About Aaron

Aaron is the most wonderful husband and father. He has a warm smile, great sense of humor, and genuine love of people. An introvert and an old soul, Aaron understands the needs of others and delights in developing their inner potential. Whether reading to our children, planning the perfect vacation, grilling by the community swimming pool, or just relaxing and playing games at home, Aaron brings out the lighthearted laughter in all of us. He told me on our first date that he had always wanted to be a father, both of children born to us and children born for us. He was thrilled to become a father figure for Rachel when we married. Aaron exemplifies the warm and loving relationship possible with a family of choice. I especially adore how well Aaron and I partner together as equals to set the tone for our family.

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Our Home

We love spending time together as a family. We read books with Miriam, help Rachel with homework, practice karate, and cuddle under large blankets as we eat popcorn and watch movies. We also play a trading card game of strategy with Disney characters, and even attend tournaments. We share our meals together every night and openly share the highs and lows of our days, seeking one another’s advice and problem solving together. We enjoy gardening together, and are now planting seedlings which our children sprouted from their favorite fruits and vegetables. As we live in Orange County, California, we have wonderfully warm summers which are perfect for beach adventures, barbecues, and swimming in our community pool. The mountains are an easy hour drive to beautiful snowcapped peaks. We are also very close to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, SeaWorld, and the San Diego Zoo, and feel grateful to live in a year-round vacation destination.

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Our Family

Aaron’s family includes his parents who are college sweethearts married to each other over 51 years and living in Ventura, California, his older sister and her partner with 3 children of whom 2 are adopted and living on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, and his twin brother and his wife living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Aaron’s sister is also the birth mother of twins living in Huntsville, Alabama, and their entire family are an extended part of our family, and regularly visit.

Susan’s family includes her parents who have been married to each other over 46 years, Susan’s younger brother and his wife who live in Baltimore, Maryland with their 3 children, and Susan’s sister who lives in Redondo Beach, California with her husband and 4 children. Susan also has a large extended family with her aunt and uncle and many cousins living in Arizona, and some cousins scattered across the county in various states including Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Racial and Cultural Diversity

We are open to a child of any race and gender. We are Jewish, and our people come from all over the world, representing all different cultural backgrounds, unified by our faith which teaches equality, justice, and The Golden Rule. We look forward to welcoming your child and you with open arms.

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Our Faith

We are proud of our Jewish faith. Judaism is unique because it is a religion and a way of life, not a race. Jewish people are diverse. Our synagogue community in Orange County, California, has members who have grown up on 6 different continents, with various racial and ethnic backgrounds, united by our shared values, traditions and beliefs. Our Judaism inspires us to work hard, to continue to grow, to heal the brokenness in the world, and to lift up others.

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Our Children

Rachel is 14 and a Freshman in High School. She is Susan’s daughter from a first marriage. Rachel is a black belt in Karate and teaches younger students including her sister Miriam. Rachel plays the flute in the high school marching band. She is wise beyond her years, a voracious reader, and an independent thinker. She looks forward to showering your child with love, mentorship and guidance to bring out the best in your child.

Miriam is 4 and loves being a highly extroverted girlie girl. She loves watching Disney movies, singing all the songs, and dancing like no one is watching, especially when everyone is. She is creative and insightful, inventing very complex social games that involve all of her family and friends, and looks forward to including your child.

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Traditions

Sunday breakfasts We go out for breakfast every Sunday at different restaurants, chosen by a different family member each week. We enjoy relaxing together over a great meal with even greater enjoyment of each other.

Sabbath on Friday Evenings We honor our Sabbath on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings in synagogue. We pray, sing, and celebrate with our extended Jewish community, who have known our family since before our daughters were born.

Nightly walks in our neighborhood Our nightly walks in our neighborhood give us time to connect, wind down from the excitement of the day, enjoy the legendary California sunsets, the beauty of the park a few houses away, and our community of friendly neighborhood dog owners and their pets.

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Our Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading and taking the time to get to know more about our family. We hope this brief glimpse at our lives inspires you to partner with us as we dream together about the extraordinary life made possible for your child through adoption. We hope to embrace your child with love, guidance and support, to help them live their best life. We look forward to providing your child with the opportunity to develop the beautiful gifts inside of them. We will always treasure them.