My Family

I marry my best friend, Luke, on a gorgeous summer day.

I receive my Master’s degree in Teaching ESL.

Luke and I move back Guatemala where I teach English during the week in Antigua, and spend weekends providing respite care at orphanage.

We move to New York. Royal, our first foster son moves in with us.

Our first biological daughter, Sophia, is born.

Royal leaves our home and we lose touch with him.

Our second biological daughter, Eleni, is born, and we move to Portland, Oregon.

Our foster son, Micah, is placed with us, and we begin developing a relationship with his biological mom, Jennifer.

Micah’s younger brother, Elias, is placed with us in foster care and then returned to his bio mom, Jennifer, later that year.

Micah’s adoption is finalized.

Charlie is placed with us in foster care as a newborn from the hospital.

Embrace Oregon founded

Charlie’s adoption is finalized.

Elias is placed in foster care with us again and returned to Jennifer nine months later.

Luke nearly dies participating in an Olympic Triathlon.

Theo the Labrodoodle joins our family.

We reconnect with Royal in NY after years of zero contact.

Luke and I fly across the country on Mother’s Day to support Royal when he is released from jail. Then Royal, his girlfriend and their kids move to Portland, OR, to be with us.

Full life as a family

After meeting in juvenile court in 2008, Jennifer and I remain in relationship to this day and often co-speak together.