First and foremost, thank you for considering us as a possible family to place your child in. We can only imagine how hard this decision may be, and we honor the courage, love, and complexity that goes into making it. We want you to know that we are open books, and we truly welcome any questions you may have as you move through this process.

We also recognize that your hopes and dreams for your child may not lead you to us, and we respect that completely. Still, we would be honored to be people you consider, and we are grateful for the possibility of getting to know you.

If you do decide to share your child’s life with us, our hope is that you feel confident and at peace with your decision. We want to be what you and your child need, and we are open and excited to learn what that might look like. Most of all, we want you to feel good about who we are as people and as future parents.

Our hearts are with you as you look through prospective families, and we truly hope you find the parents who feel right to you, whoever they may be.

With Love,

Joshua & Amanda

To be absolutely honest, we don’t necessarily have an amazing story about how we met. That being said, when we did finally cross paths in life, we knew pretty quickly that we found our home in each other.

We met in 2016 via a dating app. On our first date, Amanda was driving down to Mexico to connect with her family during her Holiday Break from school, and she stopped to have coffee with Joshua in Grants Pass, Oregon.

We both shared some immediate similarities and loves–nose rings, tattoos, music, and travel. Then, after a couple of hours of coffeeing followed by Joshua meeting Amanda’s other love: her hound dog Romeo, Amanda was soon very late getting back on the road south.

One fun fact is that we found out on that first date that we also have the EXACT same birthdays!–What?! Joshua freaked Amanda out by demanding to see her driver’s license before leaving.

After our first date, we were inseparable, and Joshua accompanied Amanda on her next trip down to Mexico just a few months later for Spring Break to meet her parents.

We have always wanted to be adoptive parents. Amanda grew up in a big, complicated family full of foster aunts and uncles, step-siblings, ex-step-siblings, half-siblings, an adopted sibling, etc. Family has always felt more open than biological. We have both also devoted our lives to giving back to others and opening up our world to many people that we call family.

That being said, Amanda also had medical difficulties that ultimately led to a hysterectomy in 2020. While Amanda is no longer able to become pregnant, we have always felt that adoption and/or foster care would be our path in life, so not much has changed!

We also helped raise Amanda’s niece, and found so much joy in seeing her grow into a beautiful adult. The house is now empty, as she graduated high school last year and is in college for nursing. She’ll likely play a big role in our future child’s life–meet Marrhiana in the pic to the right ❤️

I am a school counselor, teacher, tia, athlete, dog mom, and future mother.

I grew up in Oregon and have lived here my entire life. I am a third-generation Mexican-American. My Granmamá first came
to the US at a young age and was raised in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, where she met my Granpapá. Fun fact: they are both featured in the museum at the Grand Canyon. I come from a very large family, as my grandparents were foster parents to over 10 children throughout their lifetime, and also had six of their own. I also have a very large sibling group. My family has a deep history of military professions and has lived all over the world, but our roots are still mostly in Arizona, the West Coast,
and the Pacific Northwest.

Professionally, I was drawn at a young age to education. School was a place where I found safety, friendship, and positive adults who helped me develop resilience and strength. Education has also helped me learn about myself and others, as well as overcome an early life of poverty and hardship. I have mostly worked in alternative education supporting kids who may struggle in a traditional school setting. I began my journey as a teacher, but now work as a school counselor.

I also found purpose and meaning in life as a runner and athlete. Running has gotten me through some hard and traumatic life experiences, but has also led to fulfillment in health, self-confidence, and personal strength. I started running as a kid with my mom, and it has been a gift that has allowed me to travel and have access to more than I could have dreamed of back when I first laced up my running shoes, thirty years ago.

Joshua’s Amanda

Amanda is so many things, and I’m thankful every day she came into my life. She’s the first to say being bored is for boring people, and she really means it. She’s always thinking, always planning, always moving toward something. She shows up for her people and follows through. When she commits to something, she’s steady and all in. She’s practical, capable, and naturally takes the lead when something needs to get done.

She’s a teacher by profession, but even more by instinct. She cares deeply about kids and believes in education, healthy habits, and staying active (she even got me to start running). She loves track and field, being outdoors, and getting lost in literature —
especially Shakespeare. She has a curious mind and enjoys digging into the details, whether it’s a new training plan or something she wants to better understand. She loves animals, loud music, and everything Harry Potter, and she’s recently stepped into her role as our new resident artist. Snakes don’t bother her, but spiders absolutely do. More than anything, she’s genuinely excited to be a mom and to build a family rooted in love, learning, and adventure.

Most Likely to…
…Eek! at the sight of a spider
…dream up a spontaneous adventure
…blast music and dance while cleaning
…go down a deep rabbit hole researching something random
…know all the old movies
…say yes to trying something new
…step up and lead when it matters
…bust out a board game

My Amanda Fav’s:

• her love for life
• her eyes and ears
• her dedication
• her thirst for knowledge
• her drive and passion for running
• her never-ending pursuit of hydration (“have you seen my water bottle?”)
• how she can get completely lost in a good story
• her constant, contagious energy

I am a planner, artist, husband, dog dad, athlete, and future father.

I was born in Alaska and moved to Oregon with my family when I was 10. I come from a fairly large family spread across the United States and abroad, with my immediate family, including grandma, parents, brother’s family, and sister’s family, all located between Oregon and Washington. I’m the youngest sibling and a proud uncle to eight wonderful nieces and nephews. I’m fortunate to have grown up in a tight-knit family, and we make time throughout the year for get-togethers, especially during the holiday season.

Growing up, I loved working with my hands and building things, and over time that curiosity expanded into an interest in maps and planning. After high school, I began working for my dad and started a career in the glass industry, where I spent the next decade learning the trade and contributing to projects of all sizes. That time shaped a strong work ethic that continues to guide me today. While working in glass, I went back to school to focus on urban planning and development. For the past eight years, I’ve worked in the field helping shape rules, policies, and local communities, emphasizing partnership, advocating for minorities, and striving for equity. During that time, I’ve stepped into leadership roles providing mentorship and support to
employees. It’s been rewarding to see people grow, succeed, and find inspiration in their work.

I’m an animal lover (mostly dogs) and appreciate Mother Nature, music, art, building, and sports. Basketball (Go Blazers!), surfing, snowboarding, kiteboarding, e-foiling, and hiking are some of my favorites. Growing up in Oregon, with everything it offers, shaped that connection to the outdoors. I also love to travel and have visited many states and countries. Music has been part of my life since I was a kid. I’ve played trumpet, bass, guitar, drums, and piano — and I’ve been known to sing a tune or two. Some of my closest friendships have grown out of making music together, and in recent years I was part of a local music group. I’m always up for a museum or concert, and I appreciate art in all its forms and the way it shapes the world around us.

Amanda’s Joshua

Joshua is one of the most hard-working and skilled humans I know. When I first met Joshua, he was working in construction. He and I shared a joy for our accomplishments and work ethic, but Joshua has also brought an extra level of fun to all that we have decided to pursue. People gravitate toward his energy and laughter. He is always willing to join the action wherever he is, and this was one of the first things that drew us both together. We love exploring, experiencing new places, and
genuinely having fun together.

Joshua is also a very handy and creative man. He is naturally musical and plays the drums and guitar, and sings. He is also very capable around our house. He fully remodeled our entire house over the last five years, including rebuilding our three decks–all with very little help from his teacher/counselor wife, who is more of the reader/writer type. I literally married my lead-singer dream-boy who I still get googly eyes over. He also makes me laugh more than anybody else because of his goofiness and Peter Pan-like joy for life.

Most Likely to…
…fall asleep 10 minutes into a movie
…get hangry and deny it
…wake up first
…be the first on the dance floor
…trip over nothing
…randomly break into song
…start a hobby & keep that hobby
…kill it at karaoke

My Joshua Fav’s:

• how he’s Rosie’s favorite
• when he says he’ll cook
• his beautiful blue eyes
• his cute hipster/punk style
• his “brotalk” with his boy-friends
• his “girltalk” with me
• that time he ran a half marathon!
• his silly mouthpiece kisses b4 bed

We promise to love your child unconditionally while honoring their story, heritage, and the many connections that are a part of who they are and who they will become. We promise to nurture their sense of self and to care deeply for who they are, where they are from, and where they are going.

We promise to always speak of you with warmth, respect, and gratitude. And we promise to make sure your child always knows how deeply they are loved and where they came from.

We also promise to hold this same warmth, love, and appreciation for you in our own hearts. No matter what path you choose, know that your courage and your story are meaningful and powerful. It will change our lives forever, so your honor and respect will live deep in our hearts, actions, and daily words.

-Joshua & Amanda