Dear birth parent(s) 

If you’re reading this, we know you’re considering making a difficult decision that will have a huge impact on so many people’s lives, including yours. We understand this is an incredibly difficult decision, and we can only imagine the struggle you must be experiencing with the choices before you. We want you to know that if your child were to be placed with us, they would be incredibly loved and well cared for not only by us, but also by our two very supportive families. We care about you, we are on your team and we are on your baby’s team. If you were to choose us to be your child’s family, we promise we will do all we can to ensure your child is given the best life we can give them. Thank you for taking the time to read this and considering us to be the parents for your baby; we are humbled and honored.

Before my husband and I got married, we discussed the idea of adoption and we decided that adoption should be one of the ways in which we build our family. 

Adoption has never been our backup plan, it’s always been a part of our “Plan A”. For me (Rachel) it’s been something I’ve thought about since I was a teenager. I’ve always thought adoption was such a beautiful thing. The idea that two families who might have different cultures, upbringings, religious practices, races, political views, or are from different places, are coming together to give a child the best opportunity at life is truly something to be celebrated. You, your bravery, and your selflessness are at the heart of this celebration. 

About Us

Matt and I met sometime around 2010 through an organization called Young Life. Young Life is a Christian organization that we both care about, deeply. Its’ mission is to share the love of Jesus with teens and young adults by building relationships and working hard to earn the trust of the students (and their parents) who are involved. When we met, I was working for Young Life part time, and Matt was a volunteer. The group we were working with was specifically for students with disabilities. I remember noticing how much Matt cared about getting to know the students; my romantic feelings toward him wouldn’t develop until later, but I noticed his character early on and knew he was someone different and special. A few years later we ended up in a bible study together. We had a few mutual friends that were also in our group and we began spending time together as friends within the group. About a year later we started dating and the rest is history. We were married in October 2016 with our family and friends in attendance. We’ve moved around south Orange County, CA,  but this past October(2020) we were blessed to be able to buy our own home in Ladera Ranch, CA. 

We love where we live. It’s very family friendly, with lots of children playing out front daily. Matt and I both have family members who live close by. We have a wonderful support system and they all cannot wait to have a new little life come into our family. We have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends who have supported and encouraged us during this journey. Any child would be blessed to have all these wonderful people in their life.

Matt and I have a wonderful marriage, we are so thankful to have friendship as the foundation of our relationship. We truly enjoy each other, not just as husband and wife, but as friends. Healthy and regular communication is very important to us. We do our best to address conflict quickly, calmly, and respectfully. We don’t believe in sweeping issues under the rug, we believe open communication is the best way to keep our relationship healthy. Our household chores are split between us so that one person doesn't feel overloaded, however we are also quick to help with each other’s chores when it’s needed. We enjoy spending time  outside, whether that means we’re camping, traveling the world, going to the beach, or just going on walks. We look forward to implementing these aspects of our relationship into parenthood. 

About Rachel 

I was raised in a loving home where we learned about Jesus and went to church weekly. My dad is from Egypt and moved here with his mom and siblings when he was about 12 years old. My mom is from the U.S. and she is from Scottish and Irish descent. We moved a few times during my childhood but settled in southern Orange County, CA when I was about 8 years old. I had a wonderful childhood, for which I am very grateful. I was able to see my grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins on a regular basis once we moved to Orange County. After I graduated from high school, I attended college nearby and lived at home while I went to school and worked. During that time is when I met Matt. 

I currently have two part-time jobs and plan to reduce my hours when our family grows. I’m a teacher at Saddleback College in the Adult Education department, specifically working with adults who have disabilities and are looking to expand their home and community skills as they move toward independence. I’m also a photographer and mainly shoot portraiture for weddings, engagements, families, and sometimes photograph food for local restaurants. While photography is part of my job, it’s also a hobby I enjoy when I’m not working. Cooking is another one of my favorite hobbies. Not only do I enjoy the creativity in cooking, but I love that it’s something I can share with others. Preparing a meal for someone is one of my favorite ways to show others that I care for them.

About Matt 

I grew up in south Orange County with my parents and two siblings. My father was the pastor of the church we went to growing up. I continued going to my parent’s church on occasion through high school and some college, but when Rachel and I got married, we decided to find a church that was a little closer to our home. After high school I earned  a bachelor’s degree from ASU online, while I continued to work. I was able to finish my degree about a year after we were married. 

I work for a software company called LINQ. I am a Quality Assurance Automation Engineer which means I write code to test computer and phone applications. I have been working at Linq for a little over 2 years now and really enjoy what I do. Currently, our weekends generally involve spending time with my family and my in-laws, which I really enjoy, and spending time working on my hobbies. One of my favorite hobbies is woodworking. I have built many different items for our home that we are able to enjoy. I also love to swim and surf. The ocean is one of my happy places, where I feel the most connected to the outdoors. I also enjoy traveling and exploring with my wife. Since we have been married, Rachel and I have been to Canada, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. We appreciate exploring new places whether it’s around the world or around the corner, and look forward to sharing these travels with our children.

With Love, 

Rachel & Matt