Welcome! Meet:

Pat + Laura

Higher Ed Administrator / Assistant Dean

Missouri

Caucasian

Christian

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

All About Pat & Laura

After nearly 20 years together, we have become closer friends than ever. We love to spend time around the house, but we also love to go exploring. We enjoy cultural events and art fairs, museums and theater. We are active in our church and enjoy spending time giving back to our community. There is no one else we'd rather do life with.

In February of 2022 we were blessed to bring home our son James. He is an engaging and inquisitive little dude who always wants to be part of the conversation. He is healthy and strong. He loves to laugh. We have no doubt that he will be a protective and loving big brother.

Why Adoption?

We discussed adoption on our first date. At that time we didn't know our relationship would last, we didn't know we would marry, and we didn't know we'd struggle with infertility. Nevertheless, we both felt adoption was a beautiful and life affirming way to grow a family and hoped to pursue adoption in the future.

Since then, a lot of life has happened. We have been blessed by adoption along the way as we've welcomed adopted cousins and friends. In 2018 we decided to start a family and found that having bio kids was not an option for us. Looking back, we now know that adoption was always on our hearts for a reason.

Family & Home

We live on a quiet street in the suburbs of a large city. Our neighbors are friendly and there are plenty of parks and a recreation complex within walking distance. We have a large back deck and patio. We enjoy hosting barbeques and spending time outside as a family.

Laura has a space downstairs to work on her clay projects, and upstairs there are crayons, paints, and craft supplies. Pat is a sports guy, and there is often a game playing on the television. He looks forward to coaching our kids' teams in the future.

How others describe me

From Laura: Pat is a resting place for the people in his life. He has a calm presence and he makes people feel safe. In the challenges we have faced navigating career ups and downs, personal disappointments, and the death of his father, Pat's faith and optimism have never waivered. He is a joyful person who can always make me laugh.

From Pat: Laura is the smartest person I know. She's a born leader and problem solver who takes care of our family. She is able to understand and empathize with people. Since becoming parents, her confidence and grace under pressure has been invaluable. She's also hilarious and way out of my league.

How We Met

We met while attending college in Kansas City. Pat was the president of his fraternity, and Laura was most often found in the ceramics studio. Opposites attract! We appreciate one another for our differences and believe this makes us stronger.

After a two year friendship, we started dating. We graduated and spent time traveling before moving back to St. Louis. Shortly after starting graduate school, we married. By current social standards, we married young, but we knew that the triumphs and challenges of our lives were best weathered as a team.

Advice to Future Child

You are loved. You were wonderfully made for this place and this moment; you are exactly who and where you were meant to be. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh and who encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Work hard, and be kind. Have grace with yourself, and try to find joy in the dark places. Life is hard, but we're in this together.

Perspectives on Open Adoption

All children deserve to know and understand where they come from. We plan to talk openly about adoption as our children grow and encourage them to ask questions. We plan to share pictures and letters with you over the years, and we are open to meeting before the birth. We hope to have a relationship that grows over time to include direct contact and in-person meetings.

No matter the level of openness you request, our children will always know they come from a place of selfless love and were born of parents who want the best for them.

Favorites

Pat

Favorite Movie: Anything Marvel
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: Halloween because of costumes and candy!
Hobbies/Interests: reading, chess, Fortnite, baseball, football
Dream Vacation: exploring a historical city
If I Could Choose a Superpower: flight

Laura

Favorite Movie: Psychological Thrillers
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: Christmas because of family and cold weather!
Hobbies/Interests: ceramics, logic puzzles, helping others
Dream Vacation: remote beach vacation
If I Could Choose a Superpower: reading minds