Welcome! Meet:

João + Lorena

University Researcher / University Professor

Virginia

Caucasian

All About João & Lorena
Why Adoption?
Gallery
Family and Home
How We Met
Advice to Future Child
Perspectives on Open Adoption
Favorites

All About João & Lorena

We’re Lorena (loh-REH-nah, Spain), João (zhoo-OW, Portugal), and Dexter (a Florida rescue).

Our home is a mix of international flavors, books, toys, and the quiet truth that family is made solely by love. No fairy-tale spin—just a warm, messy space with sturdy hearts and a shared certainty: we’re ready to welcome a child through adoption.

We’re real people with a full life, and we have a lot of love waiting.

Why Adoption?

We always knew we wanted to build our family through both biology and adoption. While not being able to have biological children was a profound loss, we faced it together, knowing our dream wasn't over.

We see adoption as a profound privilege and a conscious choice. We are so grateful for the chance to become parents and welcome a child who will enrich our lives. This is our hopeful path to family, chosen with open eyes and full hearts.

Family & Home

A house is made of walls and windows, but a home is made of something else entirely. For us, our home includes Dexter. He’s the Floridian mix who turned our house into the home it is now. His specialties are serious squirrel chasing, kitchen supervision, and professional napping.

Our home is a cozy nest in Virginia’s mountains, built for love. It’s the fire in the chimney on a winter night and the glow of our projector on the wall. The heart of the home is the kitchen, where we prepare meals under Dexter's watchful eye. Friends and family are always here, from our local tribe to our international family who visit all the time. It’s a place where love is served as generously as the food and drinks, and where Dexter’s wagging tail says everyone is welcome.

How others describe me

João by Lorena

João is a deeply good and just man. The best things about João are his good heart and his strong sense of fairness. He's a genuinely good person who is also full of joy, whether we're on a hike or just at home. He makes every day happier.

And because he's always eager to learn and grow himself, he'll be a great father, ready to raise a happy, confident kid with all the love and support needed. I cannot wait to see the kind, curious person our child will become with his guidance.

Lorena by João

Lorena is the hardest-working, fair, and most loving person I know. I admire her calm strength and the gentle care she shows Dexter, noticing his every need. When she reads, she goes into other worlds; when we travel, she helps me see ours with new eyes. She turns everyday life into discovery.

Lorena is my anchor, and in our home, a special place is already waiting for a child.

How We Met

We met during pandemic times and our first date was in the late spring of 2020 at a park in Gainesville, Florida. Both new to the area and feeling the weight of uncertainty, lockdowns and distance from our families, we decided to enjoy sunshine and agreed to meet at the park just to breathe the fresh air and feel a sense of life around us. Lorena arrived by bike, and João broke the ice with, "Oh, that's a cool one!" We started talking and never stopped, spending the whole afternoon discovering how much we had in common. And that was that—the beginning of everything.

Advice to Future Child

Our greatest advice is to embrace your unique story and love what makes you, yourself.

Explore the wide world we share with you—a world where Spanish lullabies blend with Appalachian sunsets, and the cheers from a soccer game are as familiar as the quiet wonders of a museum. And always remember, you carry inside a whole past and world of stories that began long before you. This is your heritage; these are the roots that will let you grow strong and reach far.

Because you now have a home and families that span continents, you will always be supported and loved. Let that be your strength, let that help carry you further. The beautiful complexity of your story is your superpower. So be brave, be bold, be good, and be wild. With this foundation, you can belong anywhere and be anything you want to be.

Perspectives on Open Adoption

We believe your child's story begins with your courage. We welcome you into our lives in whatever way you are most comfortable with. If you would like a connection, our hearts and home are open. If you prefer privacy, we will respect that completely, and we will always share your child's story with honesty and love, helping them understand and value every part of who they are. Our most important promise is that your child will be deeply loved and supported to follow their dreams. If you choose us, we will always be grateful for your trust. Whatever you decide, we wish you and your child peace and light. Thank you for taking the time to learn about us.

Favorites

João

Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: Cooking on Christmas and Thanksgiving for a lot of people and, of course, treats and meals for Dexter, who also gets his special food on Holidays! Food is one of my many love languages :)
Hobbies/Interests: hiking, cooking, reading, computer games, soccer, movies
Dream Vacation: beach, no internet, no communication with the outside world
If I Could Choose a Superpower: make everyone laugh and have a better day!

Lorena

Favorite Movie: The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: My favourite tradition centers around Christmas, and of course, it stars Dexter. Every year, we get him his very own Advent calendar with treats and toys. Starting on December 1st, each night after dinner, we make a little show of it. We'll hold up the calendar, and he immediately knows what's coming, his tail starting to wag with anticipation. We'll open the little door together, and he gets his special daily treat. As the month goes on, his excitement builds and builds. But the real highlight comes on Christmas Eve. Because Dexter loves surprises and "opening things," by the moment Santa “arrives”, he goes absolutely bananas. Watching it is pure joy!
Hobbies/Interests: In no particular order: live music, yoga, hiking, reading, movies, spending time with family and friends, exploring
Dream Vacation: An endless vacation!
If I Could Choose a Superpower: the ability to speak “dog”