Quote

"Where there is great love, there are always miracles" - Willa Cather

Thursday, October 14, 2010

About Us...

IMG_5638.jpg picture by jessw91788


Our Story
Doug and I met at Church.  The first time we talked he was saying to me, "I heard you play the piano.  I have a musical number to play in about 20 minutes but I don't have a pianist.  Do you think you could play with me?"  Of course I said yes and somehow we pulled it off.

I learned that Doug was an orchestra teacher in the small town I grew up in.  He learned that I planned to go to college in the town he grew up in.  I soon realized that we were headed straight into a long distance relationship but I didn't care!  So we decided to keep dating and swapped families for a few months.  I visited with his while up at college and he visited with mine while he continued to teach.

When I had completed that semester of college, Doug came to drive me home.  Along the way he proposed at the Salt Lake Temple, where we were later married and began our life together.

Fast forward 3 years and we are still happily married and more in love than ever!  We have enjoyed our time together and are excited to begin expanding our family.


About Us
Doug is an orchestra teacher at the middle school and plays the violin.  He was raised with music in his home from the time he was a baby.  It is a very big part of his life and he enjoys sharing his talent each day.  I love that he LOVES his job and comes home happy every day!!

He loves to be outdoors.  Hiking, camping, and rock climbing are some of his favorite activities during the summer time.  In fact we went on quite a few hikes this summer!  He also enjoys playing games, spending time together as a family, and of course playing with our dog, Burley.

I'm a piano teacher.  I got my degree in piano so together we make a pretty musical family.  Being a piano teacher allows me to be at home all through the day, which is exactly what I want for my kids.  I also love to quilt.  I recently began a little quilting/sewing business out of my home.  Its something I hope to be able to expand as time goes on.

I love the outdoors too!  Doug introduced me to rock climbing which has become one of my favorite activities.  I like to bake, garden, and decorate.  Reading and doing puzzles are some of my favorite pastimes.  I love our dog too and he has become such a wonderful part of my life!


Our Families
Hansenfamilygroup1-03.jpg picture by jessw91788
Doug's Family
Doug was born and raised in Idaho.  It was such a great place to grow up that we decided to stick around here.  He grew up in a great big musical family!  He has 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who all play stringed instruments.  His mom teaches piano and dad teaches orchestra (sounds kind of familiar).  They are a great family who loves to spend time together laughing, loving, and having fun.  Doug was raised with very good values and standards.  He learned how to work, love, and support a family from his parents examples and many growing up experiences.  

Today his family is still very close and involved in each others lives.  All of his siblings are married and pursuing education or careers.  He has 4 nieces and 3 nephews who we enjoy spending time with very much.

ChristmasFamilypic2008.jpg picture by jessw91788
Jessica's Family
I was raised in southern Nevada not far from Las Vegas.  I grew up in a wonderful family also.  I have 3 brothers and 1 sister who are all great examples to me.  My parents raised us to love learning, working, and the sense of accomplishment.  But life wasn't all about work we knew how to act a little goofy and have fun.  Playing games together, camping together, and just talking are all activities we love to do together as a family. 

Now we enjoy spending time together as a family more than ever.  Though we don't live as close, we keep in touch and enjoy seeing each other over holidays and vacations.  Two of my brothers are married and one is expecting the first grandbaby for my family! We are excited to meet him!


Why Adoption?
Well, Doug and I never wanted to wait too long to start our family.  So shortly after we were married we felt it was time.  It soon became apparent that getting our family here was not going to be an easy task.

We began fertility treatments, took supplements, and saw doctors, all the time praying for our baby to make its way into our arms.  After 2 1/2 years of trying different paths I had a surgery and was diagnosed with endometriosis.  A medical condition that runs in my family and can cause infertility.

Through all of this we continuously prayed for a child.  But I realized we weren't really asking for Heavenly Father to send us a child but rather to allow me to get pregnant.  We decided it was time to consider all options and turn our trust over to the Lord.  Instead we began to ask Him to send us a child in His way and His time.  With that prayer we knew adoption was the right path for us.

We pray for our birth parents, whoever you may be, and want to let you know the respect and love we already feel for you.  Your choices are hard.  Your path is not easy and your sacrifice is great.  We cannot imagine the courage and strength that it takes to choose life for your child!  You will bless the lives of so many and we want to thank you for that.


Our Faith
As you can tell we are very open about our faith and it is present in our lives daily.  Doug and I were both raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We have a strong belief in Jesus Christ and a love for him.  We know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us!  We have found peace and happiness in knowing that we are guided by Him.  We feel that adoption is part of the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us.  I believe that He is waiting to send us the children who are meant to be a part of our family.  They are just going to join us in a different way.

Thank you for visiting and please feel free to contact us if you or anyone you know is thinking about placing a baby for adoption.  We hope you have been able to get to know us a little better!

Jessica