Ashley: I have always had a huge heart for kids. I began working with kids at a young age as a babysitter and from there I was a lifeguard. I taught swim lessons, I was a nanny in college and then I became an educator.
I’ve spent most of my career (just over 9 years) teaching in underprivileged schools (but now I teach in a private Christian school). I frequently made the comment to my fellow teachers that there were some kids I wish I could adopt and take home to show them what true love and family looks like.
My aunt adopted my two cousins. We grew up like blood relatives. We never knew any different and so I that experience helped me realize that my family would truly accept our decision to adopt. I look at my nieces and nephews and the love I have for them, it shows me that I was meant to be a momma, through biology or adoption.
Nathan: Adoption means to me the ability to give a loving, caring home to a child who God has chosen me to father. Unfortunately this is the only time that adoption has been prevalent in my life. But I can say that throughout my life my father has taught me valuable lessons on how we are all God’s adopted children. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8: 14-17. Lessons like this remind me that adoption is in God’s design for us. So, for me and Ashley to be able to give that gift to a child would be incredible.
