Manuel and Angelica

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From Us To You

We are open to having a positive, respectful relationship with you, the expectant parent, and we want to ensure that you feel supported throughout this journey. We believe that all things in life happen for a reason. While we can’t fully understand the depth of your emotions, we acknowledge the strength and love that it takes to make such a significant decision. Your journey may be long and with many questions ahead, and we hope that you see us as that one answered question. Please know that we promise to care for your child with all the love, respect, and attention they deserve.

When talking to your child about you, we will speak with the utmost love and gratitude, sharing the story of how they were lovingly chosen. We will always emphasize how much you are loved and respected for the choice you’ve made. We hope to share your pregnancy journey from the moment you choose us to the moment you bring your child into this world. We are grateful to you for this decision you are taking and journey that you are allowing us to start together. Thank you for considering us. We are excited and hopeful about the future, and we want you to feel reassured that your baby will grow up in a safe, happy, loving and nurturing home.

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Lifestyle

We strive for a healthy balance between an active lifestyle, relaxing at home and enjoying our hobbies, while also making time for restful days. Each morning begins with a walk around the neighborhood with our two dogs Harley and Quinn, and some quite time helping us start the day on the right note.

On weekends, you’ll often find us working in the yard, exploring new restaurants, or indulging in a sweet treat. We cherish family gatherings, dinners with friends from church, and hosting the occasional game night. Sundays are reserved for family and faith, where we attend services and volunteer often in countless ways.

Dinner around the table is our favorite time to unwind and connect with the boys. While only one of us is a seasoned chef, we both enjoy learning in the kitchen. Regardless of the meal, whether it’s a home-cooked dish or pizza night, we always make time to sit together and enjoy each other’s company.

We encourage each other a lot to keep motivated for our next goal. We really enjoy family vacations with our boys, planning that next big adventure is always fun. Right now, we are planning to rent an RV and visit some special places along the Oregon trail. Next up, a family cruise and then some theme parks in Florida!

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About Manuel by Angelica

I love that Manuel doesn’t give up when a door closes. His motivation and perseverance is encouraging to see. He knows when to ask if I want help or just need a shoulder to lean on. Manuel has always been the calming soul to my extroversion, and the guide in our family. His military service background has instilled many admirable values in his life, and I adore that those values grew in the lives of our boys.

He looks forward to sharing sporting events and hobbies with our boys, and I love seeing his eyes shine when he looks at them. When we travel and explore new things he is always sure to never leave me behind on any adventure. When we get together with smaller cousins or our younger nephews, he is always trying to make them laugh and is so playful. Recently we took our nephew to an arcade and the way he helped him reach and play on the motorcycle ride was adorable, and he even won 1st place! Although he can be quite, he has a huge heart for helping his friends, coworkers and family.

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About Angelica by Manuel

My wife is a woman of remarkable strength, dedication, and perseverance, qualities that she demonstrates daily in every aspect of her life. Her unwavering Christian faith is the foundation of her character, guiding her in her roles as a wife, friend, and volunteer. She is passionate about serving others, having gone on multiple mission trips to Ek-Balam, Mexico, where she helped build a church and contributed to the development of the local community. In addition to her mission work, she is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration, showing her commitment to personal growth and her drive to create a positive impact. She also has an incredible love for running and has completed the Chicago Marathon twice, even running one of them with a fractured pelvis, a testament to her unyielding perseverance. Beyond her professional, academic, and athletic pursuits, she is a loving aunt who cherishes spending time with her nephew, always eager to interact with him and offer both joy and wisdom.

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Family Traditions

We are huge on Christmas! And not the gift giving, but everything that comes with the holiday. We’ll make a traditional Puertorican meal on Christmas Eve and spend the night at the table sharing a meal and playing card games, usually UNO. Every year we’ll make huge batches of ‘coquito’, a Puertorican version of an eggnog, we bottle it up with a small note and we share with friends so they learn a bit of our culture. Recently from making this with the boys, a girlfriend has joined our tradition. Christmas day is to be with family, we’ll choose one home and make sure to eat, laugh and play games. During the year of the pandemic, we couldn’t get together, so we visited some relatives homes and did caroling right outside! Spanish style too!

Once a year we try do an adventurous family trip. Our first was at a log cabin in the Carolina woods, to camping in the hills of Wisconsin, some of the best trips ever!

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Our Home and Community

We live in the suburbs of Chicagoland Illinois, so we get all the seasons here which means year-round adventures inside and out. We very much enjoy our home and the spacious backyard; our dogs Harley and Quinn love going outside. Harley will sunbathe while Quinn plays and runs. Our neighborhood is quiet, and our neighbors are nice and helpful, which we love. We live right across a forest preserve that has quite a few walking and bike paths that reach the next state. When our youngest is with us, he’ll go fishing and we’ll take some camping chairs, a book and breathe in the crisp air. During the summer we’ll take long walks or ride a bike to the park and back. We hope to teach your child to ride a bike or learn to fish in that same park one day. Every year, our neighborhood does an apple cider pour during halloween, so we take turns manning the candy at home and sharing a hot cup of cider with a neighbor. When we’re feeling adventurous but don’t want to travel too far, we’ll take a drive down to Chicago and visit the Zoo or try a new restaurant.

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Our Kids

Alejandro is 23 and enjoys sharing a hobby with his dad. He has a helpful heart and enjoys spending time at home. He is a very hard worker and likes doing things in the yard that involve getting his hands dirty. He’ll try something new at least once.

John is 15, and is such a bright kid. He really loves spending time outdoors, fishing and hunting. He is learning how to cook, and likes going to church and youth group.

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Our Extended Family

We are a huge Latino family who speaks a ton of Spanglish. We both have a parent who is an immigrant who now live in Puerto Rico and have so much love to give. Every year they either fly out to meet us or us to them. We have brothers and sisters, and two nephews. There is a lot of blended family life in our background, and in this mix we all make it work. Love, people and memories will not be missed in your childs life.

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Racial and Cultural Diversity

We want to express that we are open to adopting a child of any race or ethnicity. We believe that family is defined by love, care, and the bond we share, not by race or background. Our hearts are open to welcoming a child of any race into our family, and we are committed to providing an environment that celebrates and honors their unique cultural identity. We understand the importance of recognizing and respecting a child’s heritage, and we promise to support them in embracing and taking pride in who they are. We are eager to learn and grow alongside our child, ensuring they feel loved, supported, and valued for who they are—both as an individual and as part of our family.

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Why We Want To Adopt

We are excited and grateful to begin our adoption journey. After 10 years of marriage and getting to share more memories with our boys and each other, we feel the time that we will be called into the life of a child and to grow our family is now. While we’ve faced some challenges along the way, we believe that becoming parents through adoption is a beautiful and meaningful way to expand our family. We look forward to sharing the next adventures and making memories with your child.

We look forward to introducing our senior dog and younger rescue puppy to another family member that will join us on our daily walks. We can’t wait for the next family gatherings to see the love continue to grow and the smiles they will bring to our lives. We are filled with joy and anticipation as we move forward and look forward to the day when we can welcome a child into our hearts and home.

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Our Pets

We have a 10-year senior English Bulldog full of rolls and lazy joy. Even with age and weight, we’ve taken him on hiking and swimming adventures, he even has a backpack we carry him in! We recently rescued a lively English Pointer mix puppy who is full of life and even goes out for runs. At night you’ll find them cuddled up together in one of their many beds.

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Our Faith

In November 2013, we got baptized in the Caribbean ocean of Puerto Rico by our pastors. A moment that marked our lives. We later found an amazing church in Illinois where we have created community, friendships and volunteer regularly. We have danced, sang and served in VBS (vacation bible school) and Fall Festival. We have shared our faith with family and friends and look for opportunities to invite them often.

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How A Child Will Enrich Our Lives

We always enjoy doing activities during the day and are always looking for things to do near our home and in our neighborhood. We know a child will bring nourishment and more joy to our lives. We have so much love, fun and guidance to give, we know this journey will bring us closer. We hope to continue to display the blessing of a family unit with unconditional love.

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Our Promise To You

As we begin this incredible journey toward adoption, we can’t help but imagine the joy and love a child will bring into our lives. We dream of building a warm, nurturing home where laughter fills the air, and every day is an adventure. We look forward to being there for every milestone – from first steps to first words – and teaching our child the values of kindness, respect, and perseverance. Parenthood to us is about more than just providing a home. It’s about creating a space where a child feels deeply loved and supported, no matter what. We want to share our passions, explore the world together, and encourage our child to follow their dreams. Our hearts are open and eager to embrace the joys and challenges that come with raising a child, and we are so excited to begin this new chapter in our lives. Above all, we want to offer a child a future full of possibilities and unconditional love, where they always know they are cherished and valued.

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In Closing

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you for taking the time to learn about us. We understand the incredible responsibility that comes with choosing an adoptive family, and we are truly honored by your consideration. If you choose us to be part of your child’s life, we promise to provide a loving, supportive, and secure home filled with encouragement, laughter, and endless opportunities. We will be dedicated parents, guiding and nurturing your child as they grow into the person they are meant to be. Our promise is to offer unconditional love, stability, and a life full of joy and possibility. Though we are moving forward with a closed adoption, please know that we will always hold the utmost respect and gratitude for you and the decision you’ve made.