Welcome! Meet:

Zach + Matt

Advanced Practice Nurse - Diabetes Specialist / Public Family Law Attorney

Minnesota

Caucasian

Spiritual

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

All About Zach & Matt

Thank you for visiting our profile and learning about our adoption journey! We’re eager to tell you more about ourselves and our vision for adoption and parenting.

About Zach: I am an Advanced Practice Nurse and visual artist. I grew up in Sioux Falls, SD and moved to Minneapolis for college at age 19. My work involves caring for hospitalized adults with diabetes complications. When not at work, I love making art, gardening, outdoor adventures, spending time with friends and family, exercise, reading and journaling. I have a mixed European and indigenous (Mdewakantonwan Dakota) ethnic/cultural background, and I love celebrating heritage in a variety of ways throughout the year. I speak English, French, some Spanish, and am learning Dakotiapi (Dakota language). I see myself as a lifelong learner, and I am constantly thinking about the healing and spiritual journey we are on as human beings in a challenging world. In adoption, I am most excited to be a caregiver, mentor and guide for a child, helping them see the beauty of our world, supporting their learning, and facilitating their growth into a unique and joyful adolescent and adult.

About Matt: I am a husband, relative, friend, and co-worker. I practice spirituality and do my best to treat people and the land with respect. My job is with the Hennepin County Self-Help Center. In this role, I provide legal information and resources to people who are representing themselves in family court cases. I love doing activities outside, being with our dog Rusty, cooking, watching TV, and reading. Spending quality time with family and friends makes me feel connected and whole. My ancestors were from western Europe, primarily Norway and Germany. I learn from and enjoy art and teachings from many cultures: Native spirituality, Asian film, Gospel music, Irish literature, Nordic crime drama, and more. I am most excited about adoption for the opportunity to create a deep human connection with a young person. I look forward to caring for a child from the vulnerability of infancy and helping them grow into an adult who cultivates healthy relationships with others.

Why Adoption?

Matt and I have always seen ourselves as dads - we feel that raising a child is one of life’s most meaningful experiences. We understand that the decision to make an adoption plan is complex and challenging. Whatever the scenario, we are committed to using our gifts and resources to nurture and support a child in our home and family community. Above all, we approach adoption and raising a family with love, compassion, and hope in our hearts.

"True love is made of four elements: loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. If your love contains these elements, it will be healing and transforming, and it will have the element of holiness in it. True love has the power to heal and transform any situation and bring deep meaning to our lives." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Family & Home

We live in south Minneapolis near Mnihaha (Minnehaha Falls) in a cozy bungalow of stucco. We enjoy improving our home and hosting gatherings. We especially love yard and garden activities - every year our vegetable garden provides produce for the growing season.

Community is our greatest asset. Our neighborhood has schools, parks, and childcare options. We actively maintain strong existing relationships and cultivate new ones. Friends and family members live nearby, and we are always looking for opportunities to connect with neighbors and our wider Minneapolis community.

Some of our favorite family and community activities:

Holiday celebrations: Halloween crafting, Thanksgiving, annual Norwegian lefse party, Christmas, New Years, Easter, etc.
Seasonal observations: solstice and equinox, planting and harvest celebrations
Summer reunions in familial spaces: Family farm near Owatonna, MN; family cabin in the Swan Valley in northwestern Montana; Hunting grounds near Park Rapids, MN.
Getaways for quality time with our “chosen family” of close friends
National Night Out and other neighborhood social events
Community and cultural events, such as wacipi (powwows) held by local indigenous communities, Cinco de Mayo, Friday Fish Fries, Open Streets, etc.
Weekly Lutheran church services and backyard hangouts with our church community

How others describe me

From Zach’s perspective: Matt is a thoughtful, kind, and spiritual person, who naturally cares for those around him. He is insightful, a skilled listener, and makes decisions carefully. Matt’s greatest joys are quality time with his nieces and nephews, building community, and enjoying delicious food!

From Matt’s perspective: Zach is driven and humorous. He uses his energy to set and meet goals, incorporating play and goofy antics along the way. Zach cares deeply about his relationships. He initiates communication and makes social plans. To unwind, Zach enjoys video games, podcasts, and art.

How We Met

We first met in October of 2015 through an online dating application, and we have been together ever since! Due to the pandemic’s gathering restrictions, we had two wedding dates! We were married in October of 2020, then had a larger ceremony and reception in October 2021. We adopted our “fur-baby” Rusty in 2019. Rusty is a medium-sized, terrier/labrador/chow mix. He is energetic, playful, and cuddly. Together, we love travel, camping, hiking, cooking, seeing friends and often just relaxing at home!

Advice to Future Child

Stay in a curious and open mindset - Letting your imagination run wild, always asking “why,” will lead you to unexpected and exciting places! Cultivating curiosity, going out of your way to engage with the world, helps us appreciate the beauty and abundance of existence.

Perspectives on Open Adoption

We are excited about open adoption! We both feel that the definition of “family” extends far beyond biological borders. We are already accustomed to viewing community as “family” and feel that childrens’ lives are enhanced when they have a larger network of adults to watch over them and help them grow. We are eager to develop an open and nurturing family system in collaboration with the child’s birth mother/family.

Favorites

Zach

Favorite Movie: The Lord of the Rings films
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: I love Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the traditions, ceremonies, food and celebration with friends. I also love celebrating Native American heritage through annual powwows and other cultural events.
Hobbies/Interests: painting, drawing, journaling, meditation, reading, video games, cooking, hiking, bicycling, weight lifting, nutrition, travel, podcasts
Dream Vacation: There is no single place I really want to go above others. Any vacation could be my “dream” vacation, as long as it involves a change of atmosphere, good food, good company, getting outside my “comfort zone,” and outdoor activities! Ideas on my short list are Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Iceland, Japan or Morocco!
If I Could Choose a Superpower: Flying!

Matt

Favorite Movie: Inside Llewyn Davis
Favorite Holiday/Tradition: One of my favorite holiday traditions is attending Christmas concerts and caroling events. I also enjoy making lefse (Norwegian potato flatbread) and baking and cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Hobbies/Interests: Outdoor activities - walking our dog Rusty, running, hiking; cooking; baking; spending time with family and friends; reading; watching tv; swimming; yoga
Dream Vacation: My favorite place to vacation is the North Shore of Lake Superior. I enjoy hiking, camping, walking by the lake, cross-country skiing, and enjoying good food. In the future, I would love to travel to Norway (again), Ireland, and Japan.
If I Could Choose a Superpower: Apparition (ability of wizards in Harry Potter to travel from one location to another)