Meet Jon & Erin
A video message from Jon & Erin
A Letter from Jon & Erin
Hey howdy hey from the Gem State – Idaho (ya it’s not all about potatoes)! We are Jon and Erin and are excited you are here to learn about us! We’re an energetic, adventurous, God-centered, Disney-loving couple excited to grow our family through adoption. We are open to sharing updates with you through letters, pictures, and visits.
Our Story
Having met through a friend, we came together across 1,500 miles and have been married for ten years. Within the first few years of our marriage, we struggled with infertility and found ourselves exploring other options, but even before we met, we knew adoption would have a special place in our family, given our faith and the fact that Jon’s grandfather was adopted. In 2016 and 2017, this desire came to be as we were blessed to adopt our son and daughter! Our entire family is supportive and eager to build upon this legacy by walking with us in raising our next child through adoption.
Together we enjoy:
- Being outdoors: camping, fishing, hiking
- Playing pinochle with grandparents
- Rodeos and County Fairs
- Going to the Oregon Coast and Walt Disney World
Meet Jon
I grew up in Iowa, spending my days helping on the farm or playing down the street. After graduating from college, I relocated to Idaho and work as a Program Manager, which means I organize things! I am excited to share my love for the outdoors with our children, from working in the yard to teaching them how to ride their bikes around our neighborhood.
According to Erin: Jon is my rock, always there to help around the house or take care of “guy” stuff like working on the car or building something (he really enjoys carpentry). Jon is spontaneous, outgoing, and organized; he is patient and always looks to do the right thing.
Jon enjoys:
- Playing Settlers of Catan!
- Going camping
- Helping with church programs and events
- Football and basketball
Meet Erin
I have lived in Idaho for most of my life. After earning an Elementary Education degree, I taught kindergarten and third grade before expanding my creative side by helping to open a craft store as the floral lead. However, missing the classroom and children, I returned to teaching before becoming a stay-at-home mom.
According to Jon: I love watching Erin as she teaches our kids everything from letters in the morning to imagination time and crafting in the evenings. She is a tender-hearted, caring person who loves all things Disney and can always be counted on to come through when needed.
Erin enjoys:
- Singing
- Golfing with Grandpa
- The ocean
- Crafting
Our Family
We are fortunate to have a large extended family that is uniquely tight-knit and are excited to give our child this same blessing. We live within walking distance or just a few minute’s drives from many family members who are commonly woven into our everyday life: going for a walk with cousins, watching the football game with grandparents or just dropping in on mom and dad to help in the garden. We feel called in our faith to have a large family and cherish the opportunity to follow the example of those who have come before us to leave a legacy of faith and family.
Our Kids: We were blessed to begin answering this calling for a large family by adopting our daughter Ada and son Dalen. Ada is happy, musical, fearless, and animal-loving. She loves playing make-believe, riding her bike, and horses. Dalen has a gentle spirit, always has a hug, and will make you giggle at every turn. He loves to read and play Mario and race cars.
As a family, we love:
- Cutting down our Christmas Tree
- Living room dance parties
- Racing Mario Kart
- Riding bikes around the neighborhood
Our Home in Idaho
When we decided to build our home, it was to put down roots and start a family. We chose our community because it was close to family, friends and has just a little bit of hometown charm. We love the smell of fresh-cut hay while driving on a cool night and watching sunsets over the mountains. And coffee – nothing says home like going to the local coffee shop to order “our usual”.
We have five bedrooms including a spare bedroom for visiting grandparents. Our nursery is fully furnished and decorated in a fun jungle animal theme. We have a well-established backyard with a patio, garden, and a few furry friends (dog, cat, and two bunnies).
Our Promise
We promise to deeply love and care for your child so that they will always know their value and self-worth. They will live the meaning of family and will experience a foundation of faith. We will help them strive to reach their full potential, gaining an education and reaching their dreams.
We promise to always celebrate the gift that is adoption and cherish you, the special one who made it all possible. We will always speak of you with love. We are open to having a relationship and keeping in touch with you through letters, pictures, and visits!
If you would like to learn more about us, please call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.
Sincerely, Jon & Erin
Learn More About Jon & Erin
| Jon | Erin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Education | Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor's Degree |
| Our Professions | Sr. Program Manager | Stay at home Mom |
| Stay-At-Home | No | Yes |
| Our Racial Background | Caucasian | Caucasian |
| Some of Jon & Erin's Favorites | ||
| Classic TV Show | The Dick VanDyke Show | Family Affair |
| Season | Green Sprouts of Spring | Baby Lambs in the Spring |
| State | Idaho - Mountains and Lakes | Florida - Disney World! |
| Instrument | Acoustic Guitar | Fiddle |
| Board Game | Settlers of Catan | Clue |
| Starburst Flavor | The Reds | Cherry |
| Breakfast | Biscuits and Gravy with Bacon | Cinnamon Rolls |
| More About Our Family | ||
| What We Value | First and foremost, we desire to live a Christ-like life and have a personal relationship with Jesus. We strive to invest in friendships, stay connected with family and connect with our community. We never want to “miss the forest for the trees” or not “stop to smell the roses” – meaning we always try to recognize the bigger picture and put things like making memories ahead of whatever circumstances the world is throwing at us. It is too easy to be "busy being busy" and miss those special moments together. | |
| Family Traditions | Jon’s family is mostly located in Iowa while Erin’s are all in the Pacific Northwest from just down the street to far away in Alaska! With grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, and cousins all living close any holiday or sporting event you can guarantee we will be with friends, family, and LOTS of good food! Beyond this regularly occurring tradition, there are a few others throughout the year that are extra special. • We celebrate our kids “Gotcha-Day” (the day we finalized each adoption) by going and doing their favorite things. | |
| Our Average Day | Most mornings start with the sound of our alarm clock or our daughter, the early-riser, ready to start the day. Jon takes the long eleven step commute from our bedroom to his home office (unless its Tuesday – then it is a more impressive 35-mile drive in rush hour traffic). By this time Erin is on the run: feeding animals, kids, grabbing coffee at the local shop and shuffling off to school or whatever activity the day holds. Minutes fly by into hours with errands to run, school lessons, to-dos, recess games, meetings, Bible stories, excel sheets and meals to prepare until we are all gathered back together for dinner at the dining room table. Most days we can sneak in a bike ride, dropping in to say hello to Grammy and Grampy, frozen yogurt, few episodes of Bluey or just play time before winding down. Once the kids are in bed it is time for some adulting, solving the worlds problems or just taking time out to enjoy a show or race Mario Kart together. | |
| Fun Facts | • Jon was a licensed tour guide in Washington D.C. | |
| We Prefer a Child Who Is... | ||
| Age of Child | Newborn to 12 Months | |
| Twins | Yes! | |
| Gender | Either gender! | |
| Siblings | Yes! We would love to welcome siblings with the oldest up to 3 years old. | |
| In Closing | ||
Thank you for taking the time to get to know us a little better! Our hope is to come alongside you in this special time and your child by raising it surrounded by the unconditional love of family and everyday adventures. When you are ready, we would love to get to know you and find out what hopes you have for your child's future. |
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