Dear Birth Parents,
We want you to know that we will do all we can in our efforts to raise your child properly and respectfully with love and caring in a nurturing environment. Know that we are kind, good, fun and loving people, and your decision to place your child in our home will make us eternally grateful.
How We Met . . .
She Said: The way that Rich & I met has two conflicting stories. So I will share my version which is the true story of course. He was on a date with a friend when I met Rich. He claims that they were just hanging out, but we know the truth. It was a quick introduction and then days later we were introduced again at a singles family home evening group. Who would have thought that I would meet a potential husband there? I guess these kinds of group gatherings do work. Anyway, he asked me out and we went to a restaurant in West Seattle at Alki. It wasn’t a fancy place or anything spectacular, but we had a wonderful time talking and laughing. There was a definite attraction. From the very beginning of our courtship, Rich has always made me feel comfortable and at ease to speak my mind and be open about my feelings. He has always treated me with kindness, love and respect.
He Said: We were just hanging out. I might have been interested in this girl, but she had her eye on someone else. And the Truth is, she is the one who helped set me up on my first date with Bernie. After that date I just felt we belonged together and couldn’t wait to see her again. Although we may disagree on how we met, we do agree on our love for each other and our love for children and how much we would cherish the opportunity of raising one.
Our Family
We have two adorable dogs, a Pomeranian which Rich got from the humane society and presented her as my birthday gift. (We had been looking for a dog for a while and it was just pure luck that I happened to find her on my wife’s birthday.) The dog was not in the best health and we knew she would need the proper name to realize her value to us. We named her Ku’uipo, which is Sweetheart in Hawaiian and she sure lives up to her name. Next came Tyson, a big name for a little Chihuahua. We got him from a family friend who fosters dogs. Tyson is very calm and patient around children and loves to be petted.
Our Family Mission Statement
When we first got married, it was a new chapter in our lives. We wanted to create good and happy memories in this new beginning so we came up with a “Family Mission Statement” for our home. It’s a statement to help remind us of how and what we desire our home to be. It begins with ‘We Desire a Home . . .’
* Where feelings of love pervade; * Where the Holy Spirit can be felt;
* Where all may feel welcome; * Of laughter and good humor;
* Full of Service to one another; * Of comfort and safety.
Bernie
Rich & I come from two completely different backgrounds. He grew-up in the Seattle, Washington area and I come from the Hawaiian islands. He has three sisters and I have six sisters and five brothers. Growing up in a big family was fun, busy and exciting.
I attended BYU-Hawaii for a few years and even danced in the Polynesian Cultural Center. (Those were fun and memorable days) I served a full-time church mission in Tempe, Arizona and later moved to Orem, Utah for ten years. I then decided to make a change and moved to Seattle, which my best friend from childhood encouraged me to do. Shortly after my move here to Washington, I (finally) met my true love.
Rich
I attended BYU-Provo for one year and then served a church mission to the Arizona Phoenix Mission. I had the privilege to serve among the Navajo people and really learned to love them and their culture. The Navajo people are some of the funniest and most spiritual people I have ever met. After returning home from the mission I survived 3 more years at BYU and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications. I never found use for my communications degree in Utah, so I moved back to Seattle and went back to school and got a two year degree in Occupational Therapy. I found a new job in the Seattle School District and have been working for the past six years with kids with special needs. It is very rewarding to work with children and see them make progress. I enjoy coming up with creative ways to help them reach their goals. Another benefit to my job is that I get to be silly and clown around on a regular basis.
Together
We enjoy going to the movies, camping, sporting events, the theatre, cultural festivals, traveling, and much more. Each year we plan a trip, which for the past few years has been to Hawaii to see our extended family. We are blessed to have all of Rich’s immediate family nearby and we get together often especially to celebrate the holidays. One Holiday tradition we enjoy is “The 12 days of Christmas” where we anonymously provide small festive gifts for a family. We also sponsor a neighborhood Pumpkin Carving Party each Halloween. During the summer we “have” to go to the local 4th of July parade and see the Blue Angels for SeaFair. We enjoy getting together with our friends having BBQ’s, playing games, laughing and having lots of fun.
Thank you for taking the time to read our profile. After years of not being able to conceive we continue to hope that someday we may be blessed. We pray that you will consider us in your adoption plan and give us the opportunity to love, care for, and nurture your child. Our home is filled with faith, laughter, love, respect and honesty. Rest assured that we would give your child a strong O’hana (family) unit and he/she will know of your deep love in making an adoption plan. You will be remembered and loved.
Rich & Bernie
Please feel free to contact our adoption case worker Nickie Wood anytime by phone or email. She can answer any questions you may have. Phone 425-228-0074 Email
fam-wa-seattle@ldschurch.org
