marriage length

16 Years

State Location

Wisconsin

Church Denomination

Catholic

pets

1

About us

We have know each other since the late 90's through mutual friends. We started dating in 2005, were engaged in 2007, and got married in 2008. We are active and enjoying the great outdoors. We especially enjoy getting out to do some fishing and atving when we get a chance.  

We adopted our son in 2020 and have an open adoption with his birth family.  This includes in person visits, video chats, and messaging back and forth with pictures/videos and updates.

Children

Jackson

3 yr

Jackson is an active little boy who loves learning, chasing his dog, and telling us all about his friends from daycare.  He reads books every night before bedtime.  One of his favorite things is spending time with his cousins, grandmas, and papas.  Jackson is excited to sharee the things he has learned with his new brother or sister.

Letter to you

Dear Birth Family,

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us a little better.  As you make your adoption plan, we hope you consider our family.

Your child will grow up in a loving family that in addition to Jackson and us, includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  We offer a stable home and family life, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.  We would love to welcome you and your child into our family.

We understand this is a very difficult time for you, but we want you to know that you are not alone as you make a very emotional and hard decsion.

Thank you for looking at our information, 

RJ and Elisia

 

"

Raymond (RJ)'s testimony

I am newer to the church and will continue growing and learning. My family will grow up knowing church and faith.

"

Elisia's testimony

My testimony is to be strong in my faith and continue my growth. I will raise my child(ren) in the church knowing they are child(ren) of God.

about Raymond (RJ)

RJ was raised in Chippewa Falls, WI, where he spent his childhood playing baseball, fishing, and riding bikes with his friends.  

RJ is thoughtful, caring, intelligent, and always willing to lend a helping hand.  He enjoys spending time with his family, especially at the hunting cabin in the Blue Hills.  He is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying activities such as fishing, hunting, boating, and more, and also is a member of a local bowling league.

RJ and Stella enjoying a boat ride.

RJ and Stella enjoying a boat ride.

Enjoying sushi.

Enjoying sushi.

Checking out a lake in the northwoods.

Checking out a lake in the northwoods.

RJ and baby Jackson.

RJ and baby Jackson.

Putting a puzzle together.

Putting a puzzle together.

about Raymond (RJ) EXTENDED FAMILY

Elisia is the oldest of four siblings, with two sisters and a brother.  Her siblings and parents all reside within 25 miles of us and we enjoy getting together as often as possible.

RJ has one younger sister who lives in our neighborhood with her family.  His parents live a couple of miles away from us.

We love spending time with our nephews and niece (and Jackson loves being with his cousins)!

Elisia with her siblings.

Elisia with her siblings.

Elisia with most of her immediate family.

Elisia with most of her immediate family.

Us with RJ's immediate family.

Us with RJ's immediate family.

RJ's immediate family at Jackson's adoption finalization.

RJ's immediate family at Jackson's adoption finalization.

about Raymond (RJ) work & education

RJ graduated from Chippewa Falls High School and then earned an Economics degree from UW Eau Claire, in 2004.  This ultimately led to his career in commercial banking for a local financial institution.

Elisia graduated from McDonell High School and then earned a Bachelors Degree in Human Resources from UW Eau Claire in 2005.  She has worked in Human Resources at manufacturing facilities since graduating. 

about Raymond (RJ) HOBBIES & INTERESTS

RJ is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying activities such as fishing, hunting, boating, and more, and also is a member of a local bowling league.

Elisia enjoys spending time on the boat, with family at the cabin, and has a passion for music, gardening, and volunteering.

about Elisia

Elisia grew up on a dairy farm in Tilden, WI, which has been in her family for over 100 years.  Milking cows, raising calves, unloading hay, and picking rock were only some of the many duties she was responsible for.  Elisia is a kind, fun, hard-working individual who loves helping others.  She enjoys spending time on the boat, with family at the cabin, and has a passion for music, gardening, and volunteering.

Going out on the boat.

Going out on the boat.

With some buffalo in Yellowstone.

With some buffalo in Yellowstone.

Out catching fish.

Out catching fish.

Enjoying summer and watermelon.

Enjoying summer and watermelon.

Getting in cuddles.

Getting in cuddles.

about Elisia EXTENDED FAMILY

about Elisia work & education

about Elisia HOBBIES & INTERESTS

about Children Jackson

Jackson is an active little boy who loves learning, chasing his dog, and telling us all about his friends from daycare.  He reads books every night before bedtime.  One of his favorite things is spending time with his cousins, grandmas, and papas.  Jackson is excited to sharee the things he has learned with his new brother or sister.

Jackson with his dog Stella.

Our family!

Jackson having fun at the Children's Museum.

about our home

We live in a smaller sub division that is full of kids to play with!  We have lived in our home since 2008.  

We love Christmas and decorating our house for the season!

We love Christmas and decorating our house for the season!

about our world

We live in a smaller community in west central Wisconsin..  We both work full time jobs and Jackson attends daycare.  He loves his teachers and has made many friends at daycare.

In 2017, after trying for years to get pregnant, we found that we had fertility issues that would be an obstacle to us conceiving.  After a lot of thoughts and prayers, we felt our hearts being pulled to adoption.  We filled out the application in November 2017 and began the process for our first home study.  After almost two years of hoping and praying, our son's birth mother reached out to us and we were matched.  We were blessed to be there for his birth and start building a relationship with his birth family.  We have an open adoption with his birth family that includes in person visits, video chats, and messages back and forth.  In 2021 we felt the call to try adopting again and started the process.  We love the family we have grown through adoption and are hopeful to continue growing our family through adoption.

Our son Jackson has become our world.  We are so greatful for the miracle of being matched to be his parents.  We have learned so much about adoption on this journey and continue taking classes, listening to podcasts, and soaking up all of the knowledge that we can about adoption to help him better understand as he grows.  We are also fortunate to be part of a local group of families that were created through adoption.  This has been great for us as parents and Jackson is making friends in this group as well.

We would love for another child to join our family and are open to however the birth family would like the adoption to look with regards to openness.  

Taking a break from dying Easter eggs to take a family pic!

Taking a break from dying Easter eggs to take a family pic!

Jackson is excited for a family pic here!

Jackson is excited for a family pic here!