SEARCH RESULT
We have been married for 12 years, and we have two amazing, biological daughters. Kenlee is 8 years old, and Taylor is 6. We have always dreamed of having a house full of kids, but when we tried to conceive our third child we began suffering recurrent miscarriages. We have endured 7 miscarriages in the last 2 years with the latest being at 14 weeks gestation. We’ve sought treatment from fertility doctors, but the cause of our losses remains a mystery. Our infertility journey has been heartbreaking, but we believe God has good plans for our family (AND FOR YOURS TOO)! We feel strongly that God has led us to adoption to grow our family.
This Is Us
We met at a time when neither of us was fully expecting love, but God knew exactly what we needed. Through friendship, laughter, and honest conversations, we built a deep connection. Our relationship is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a desire to build a life and a family founded on our shared faith.
We’ve been married for just over three years now, and throughout life’s challenges, we’ve learned to lean on each other, to hold space for sorrow and for hope, and to find beauty even in the unexpected turns. We now stand in a place of deep gratitude for each other, for the life we’ve built together, and for the opportunity to grow our family through adoption.
Our story began when we were living on opposite sides of the country. Cathalina had recently moved to the United States and was living in New Jersey, while Joseph was in his home state of California. We spent months getting to know each other and building a strong friendship before finally meeting in person.
Over the following year, our relationship continued to grow, and we both chose to move to Washington State, where we lived about 30 minutes apart. Later that winter, in 2012, we were married and began building our life together. We worked hard, saved for our first home, and filled our lives with meaningful memories, family traditions, and adventures. Joseph introduced Cathalina to his family, and Cathalina brought Joseph to Colombia to meet hers, blending the cultures and families that have become such an important part of our lives.
From early on, we shared a clear desire to build a family together. In 2022, that hope became a reality when we welcomed our daughter, Sofia, through adoption—an experience that has deeply shaped our lives and strengthened our commitment to growing our family.
A quick snapshot of us:
• We live in rural Iowa.
• Bryan is a pastor of a Reformed Presbyterian Church.
• Olivia is a homeschool mom.
• We value: faith, joy, and love.
• In our home, kids are safe, wanted, guided, and deeply loved.
How we met:
Bryan is from Southern California, and Olivia grew up in Ohio. We met at a Christian student conference in Virginia while Bryan was serving in the Navy.
Why Adoption:
It's been a long-held desire since we were both kids.
We want an expectant mother to be able to choose adoption with real hope, knowing her baby will be safe, cared for, and deeply loved in a stable home with open hearts and open arms.
Our faith shapes this deeply. In the Gospel, God welcomes those who were not His children and makes them His beloved children through Jesus. We see adoption as a reflection of that love.
