marriage length

7 Years

State Location

Tennessee

Church Denomination

Catholic

pets

1

About us

Greg and I always enjoy our time together. We like to spend time outdoors, on a kayak or paddleboard, and are always up for a competitive driveway basketball game! We also like working in our yard. I plant flowers and watch them grow, and Greg keeps them watered. Together we make a great team! We love grabbing ice cream with our nieces, cheering on our favorite teams, and watching funny movies together. Christmas movies are in season all year! Whether we’re at home on game night or out sharing a pizza, we always have fun laughing together. 

Our love story:

Greg and I met through my younger brother, Will. Will and Greg met shortly after Will graduated from college. Years later, Will bumped into Greg at the grocery store. He told Greg he should give me a call. Will had never set me up on a date before, so I knew this guy must be someone special! I agreed to go out with Greg, and we have been together ever since.

We dated for one year before becoming engaged. On a cold New Year’s Day, Greg and I went on a romantic walk along the riverfront in Nashville. We were on the beautiful pedestrian bridge overlooking the city when snow began to fall and music began to play. A man on an electric keyboard was playing Ed Sheeran’s song, “Thinking Out Loud”— a beautiful love song about growing old with your true love. I looked at Greg and he was down on one knee. He told me how much he loved me and asked me to marry him. I enthusiastically said, “Yes!” I complimented Greg for having the musician play the lovely music for the proposal, but Greg said he had not hired him. The musician just happened to be on the bridge performing the perfect soundtrack for our engagement! Every time we pass the pedestrian bridge, we remember the wonderful night we promised to belong to each other forever.

Our wedding was a dream come true! The fun began at our rehearsal dinner. Instead of a traditional dinner, we invited the wedding party to a baseball game. We enjoyed the fireworks display over the ballpark that night—it was as if everyone there was celebrating with us. Our wedding was held at the Nashville Symphony Center. The wedding was a family affair. All our siblings, their spouses, and their children were included in the wedding party. We had an amazing band and everyone danced all night! Our wedding was a joyous event and a true celebration of God’s promises.

Children

Ali

20 yr

Ali:

When I married Greg, I not only became a wife, but I also became a stepmom to Greg’s beautiful daughter, Ali. I’m so blessed to have Ali in my life. Ali and I have a special friendship and have developed a close bond. Ali, her friends, and soccer teammates spent lots of time in our home laughing, making pizzas, and creating sundaes with homemade ice cream.

 When I met Ali, she was a cute 12-year-old girl. Today, she is a confident and optimistic college student! She is a dedicated undergraduate whose hard work in high school earned her several academic scholarships and made her an award-winning member of her varsity soccer team. We are so proud of our Ali!

 

Balee Kate

2 yr

Letter to you

Dear Birth Mom,

Thank you! Of all the many things we would like to say, what we really want is to express our sincere gratitude. Thank you for having the courage to read this letter from us, Katherine and Greg.

Creating an adoption plan takes a huge leap of faith! It’s also a step towards a new beginning in your life and the life of your baby. It is a loving and selfless act that demonstrates your inner strength and compassionate love for your baby.

Sometimes, the very first step is the hardest part of any journey. But thankfully, God doesn’t ask us to walk this journey of life alone. We believe the courage inside of you, helping you to read our letter, is the very same courage that is helping us write this letter to you!

Life is all about timing! We waited a long time to find each other and get married, but we tell our friends and our family that it was worth the wait! After a long time of being on our own, each of us praying for God to send the right person, He finally brought us together! It wasn’t easy being alone. And waiting on God is hard sometimes, but when we wait on God, He always provides! We believe we were meant to find each other at the perfect time.

Following three years of much prayer and discernment, we knew we were being called to adopt a baby and to open our hearts and our home to a birth mother. We learned to trust in God’s perfect timing as we waited for our adopted daughter. We believe God has awesome things planned for our daughter’s life and the life of her birth mother too. Our adoption journey has given us a unique perspective that allows us to remain grateful for the honor of being chosen to be her adoptive parents. We believe the gift of adoption is working to fulfill God’s purposes in all our lives. We are praying that He will bless our family with an adopted baby who needs a loving home and a forever family. We are hopeful that our daughter will soon have a little brother or a little sister to adore! We are excited for her to experience the joy of sharing her life with a devoted and faithful sibling.

We understand that this might not be the right time for you to raise a child, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the right time one day. Maybe we are being called to help each other now?

But surely you are asking yourself, “Who are Katherine and Greg”? So, we have each tried to capture for you a glimpse of who we are to each other.

From Katherine:

“When Greg and I were first dating, we loved to go to out to eat on the weekends and explore different restaurants. One frosty winter day, we were leaving a new café. I quickly ran to Greg’s car parked on the street. I got in and sat down, but Greg didn’t get in the car. I looked around for Greg and saw him back on the sidewalk talking to a young man with a little girl with blond curly hair. I watched as Greg spoke with the man and the little girl and suddenly, they all began to laugh and smile. Greg handed the man a few dollars and then he took off his coat, a brand-new Christmas present, and handed it to the man with a smile. The man put on Greg’s coat and gave Greg a hug! It was the nicest thing I had ever seen, but I wasn’t surprised. That is Greg!

When Greg got into the car, he told me that he had stopped the man because he noticed he didn’t have a coat and looked cold! The man told Greg he didn’t have a coat, so Greg literally gave him the one off his back. Greg does this sort of thing all the time. He looks for opportunities to help others and for ways he can be good to people every day.

I knew in that very moment Greg was the man I had been praying for and that he would always provide for me and keep me warm. Greg is the most Christlike person I know, and I am beyond blessed to be his wife and forever partner in life! You should also know that Greg is an amazing father and would raise your baby to be as kind, honest, and generous as he is.”

From Greg:

Every day, Katherine lives out her faith and puts God first. Her life exhibits the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that reside in her heart. She is the life of every party and wants to make the most of each day. Her love and enthusiasm for life are contagious, causing people to gravitate towards her. Katherine lives happy and her joy is irresistible. No one has a bigger heart than my wife! Each day she goes out of her way to make our daughter and me feel special, important, and deeply loved.

Katherine is beautiful on the outside and even more so on the inside! Katherine has made our house a beautiful home. It is a warm, peaceful, and joyful place. It’s a home where a new baby will thrive! Katherine had a successful career as a city planner for many years, but she ultimately felt God was calling her to resign and become a mom. This was a big leap of faith, but we know it was the best decision for our family. Katherine brings beauty to everything around her, but mostly she sees the beauty and the best in people. We all need someone like Katherine in our lives.

I was a single father to my daughter, Ali, for many years. During that time, I was often lonely and prayed that I would meet a special person who would not only be a good wife but would also be a loving stepmom to my daughter. When the time was right, God answered my prayers and sent Katherine to us. I believe He will answer your prayers too.”

From us:

We have been blessed in many ways and want to share these blessings with a child by giving them a loving home and a forever family. We have a wonderful support system nearby with a loving extended family, many friends, and a devoted church community. Your baby will be adored by so many caring people!

In our family, we celebrate everything! We celebrate big wins, small victories, and everything in between! And we invite you, if you would like, to be a part of this beautiful journey with us! You will always have our love and support. Two of Katherine’s grandparents were immigrants to America and became proud citizens of this country. They were both adopted as infants, creating a special place in her heart for adoption. Adoption is an important part of our family history, and we will make sure it’s an important part of your baby’s history too.

When we think about the future, we picture our home filled with children, laughter, and joy! We strive to make sure our home is always warm and inviting. It’s important to us that no one leaves our home hungry or unloved!

Working for the family business, Greg is fortunate to have a lot of flexibility with his schedule. This allows Greg to be a hands-on Dad. We are grateful that we both get to be home with our family and enjoy doing daily activities together.  

We believe God is bringing all of our lives together at the perfect time! We are praying for you as you make the best decision for you and your baby. We humbly ask that you please pray for us too as we prepare to adopt a baby and share our lives and love with the right mother at the right time. Hopefully, you are the mother we’ve been praying for, and we can be the forever family that you and your baby need right now.

With sincere hope and love,

Katherine and Greg

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Greg's testimony

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” ­-Hebrews 11:1

This scripture helps to summarize the testimony of my faith in Jesus Christ.

I was raised attending church on a regular basis with my family.  My brother and I also served as altar boys from 3rd to 12th grade and we had a monopoly on the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.  Being in a small parish in Northern Virgina, we also participated in funerals, weddings, and special masses as altar boys.  After high school I fell away from church for many reasons.  I would not say my faith wandered; I would say my intentional practice of it did.   I believe that all things happen for a reason and that even this part of my journey was put in front of me by God.

I was a single father to my daughter, Ali, for many years. During that time, I was often lonely and prayed that I would meet a special woman who would not only be a good wife but would also be a loving stepmom to my daughter. I knew God did not want me to travel life’s journey alone, so I hoped, and I waited on the Lord. When the time was right, God answered my prayers and sent Katherine to us.  In the blessings above all blessings, Katherine entered my life!  Our relationship grew quickly as she brough me back to church and helped strengthen my faith. Now we enjoy attend mass weekly as a family and leading adult Bible Study classes together.   

Every day, Katherine lives out her faith and puts God first. Katherine goes out of her way to make sure you feel loved and special each day. Her loving example inspires me to be the very best husband and father I can be. I thank God for blessing me with a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters. I pray that God will continue to bless me with wisdom to lead our family in His ways of righteousness.

 

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Katherine's testimony

Growing up I always knew that one day I wanted to get married and have a family of my own, but I never felt rushed into that decision. In my heart, I wanted to wait for the right man for me. Clearly, I remember being in a girls’ Bible study in 8th grade when our leader told us to start praying for our future husbands. That sounded crazy to me at 13! Our leader taught us that we should never look for a man to complete us, that only Jesus could do that for us. She also taught us that until we gave our hearts to Jesus, we could never really commit to loving another person forever. I did not understand it then, but later it became clear to me, and I still believe it to be true!

Although some of my boyfriends over the years were long-term, I never felt like I had found the man I was supposed to marry until I met Greg. My friends would tell me that maybe God wanted me to be single, but I would always disagree. It was a desire of my heart to be a wife and a mother, and I still believe that those desires were placed in my heart by God Himself. I remember exactly where I was driving on the highway headed to work one day when I prayed to Jesus and told him that I would stay married to Him in my heart if that is what He wanted for my life, but that I really would love a husband. It was shortly after that prayer that I met and fell in love with Greg.

I had been waiting for my wedding day for so, so long. 41 years! Over those years there have been some very lonely times, especially when my younger brother Will got married and I was still single and waiting on God to answer my prayers for a husband. And then there were more lonely times when my brother and his wife had their first baby… and then their second baby while I, still single, waited on God. And waited. And waited. I was lonely at times, but always hopeful! I remember asking God “why”? Why did I have to be single when all my friends and family were beginning to have families of their own. And I remember God clearly speaking to my heart and telling me that “It takes longer to create a bigger masterpiece”. I held onto that promise and God has never let me down! Greg was worth the wait and I know our adopted child will be worth the wait!

For years, my wonderful mother, and many other people I love and respect most, has been praying for me to meet the right man. Over those years people would tell me that there wasn’t a man “good enough for me” and that God was still working on my future husband. I think I believed that in a very shallow way. Then, out of nowhere, I met Greg. He is the kindest, most gentle, most Christlike man I’ve ever known. He makes me better in every way!  He would never intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings for any reason. He has such a beautiful heart! The Holy Spirit shines in his eyes! And I know I’m not the only one who sees it! People are drawn to him because of it.

When I finally met Greg, I realized God wasn’t working on perfecting a man for me, God was working on me all those years! God was making me into the right woman for him! God was preparing me to be the right woman for Greg. I was the one that needed work. God was weeding me! God was making me worthy of Greg’s love and preparing me to be a loving wife and mother to his children. I’m so blessed to have found him and honored to take his name as my own. One of my very favorite scriptures is Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. Greg is the total embodiment of this scripture for me. He is more than I could even imagine or even hope for! Someone recently told me that I had met my soulmate in Greg. Although I love Greg more than I knew I could love anyone, I know in my heart that Jesus Himself is my soulmate. I am whole and one hundred percent complete in Him, but I thank God every day that He’s brought us together. I wake up excited every day to see the awesome things He has planned for our lives! I believe He has a baby waiting for us!

about Greg

About Greg by: Katherine

Greg enjoys family cookout, exploring the hardware store, coaching soccer, and getting together with the guys for some friendly basketball.

Greg is warm, loving, and accepting—he is the most Christlike person I know. He has an amazing way of connecting with people. No matter where we go, he always leaves with a new friend. Greg makes people feel important because he really

listens to them. A natural problem solver, Greg is always looking for something to fix or improve. If something is broken, my family will say it needs to be “Gregorized.” Our nephews even gave him a T-shirt that says, “Keep Calm and Let Uncle Greg Fix It!”

 Greg is also protective, insightful, and focused. He anticipates our family’s needs before we have them. Greg takes excellent care of everything in his life including our home, our pets, and especially our family. He is a wonderful father, is naturally patient and mild-mannered. Greg is a good teacher and an excellent soccer coach. He is Ali’s biggest cheerleader and sees endless potential in her. His support and encouragement gave Ali the confidence to graduate high school with honors, receive an academic scholarship to college, and pursue her dreams.

about Greg EXTENDED FAMILY

Our family traditions:

 In our family, we celebrate everything! We celebrate big wins, small victories, and everything in between! Christmas is always a busy and exciting time for our family, but we make it a priority to enjoy the preparations as much as we do the celebrations on Christmas Day. We go see Christmas lights, watch endless Christmas movies, have dance parties, and attend our goddaughter’s performance of The Nutcracker with the Nashville Ballet. Our families are a melting pot and we like to incorporate special foods and traditions from all our different heritages, including Mexican, Spanish, German, and Irish. On Christmas Eve, we go to church as a family and open one gift when we get home—always a new pair of Christmas pajamas! On Christmas morning, we open our stockings from Santa first. Every member of the family has their own handmade knit stocking with their name on it. The tradition of knitting these stockings will soon be passed down to me and I can’t wait to create a one-of-a kind stocking for our little one!

 We spend time every summer at a lake in southern Maine swimming, canoeing, mountain climbing, and picking blueberries for blueberry pancakes. We roast hot dogs on the campfire and enjoy s’mores under the stars. The very best part is enjoying the beauty of God’s creation together. I have happy and carefree childhood memories of summers in Maine, and we are excited to experience this with our children. We also look forward to our summertime beach get-a-ways. Our favorite spots include the Outer Banks in North Carolina and the pier in Naples, Florida.

about Greg work & education

about Greg HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Fun facts about Greg:

1. Greg is an amazing piano player and can play most songs on request.

2. Greg was the University of Tennessee mascot, Davy Crockett, when he was in college.

3. Greg is a huge LEGO fan and is always looking for a larger, more complex project.

4. Greg knows all the words to any song that comes on the radio at any time on any station.

5. On University of Tennessee football game Saturdays, Greg only eats orange food on his orange plate including carrots, orange slices, Cheetos, and pimento cheese sandwiches.

6. Greg plays in a weekly men’s basketball game, but I always seem to beat him on weekend games in our driveway!

7. Greg was 6’3” by the age of 16.

8. Greg enjoys romantic walks through the hardware store.

9. Greg’s favorite superhero is Captain America.

10. Greg’s favorite food group is chocolate.

 Katherine:

1. Katherine eats very healthy, but she can’t resist Rice Krispy treats!

2. Katherine’s best friend is her mom. They often show up places dressed in matching outfits just by accident.

3. Katherine is a big sports fan and loves watching college basketball.

4. Katherine’s favorite food is an Egg McMuffin.

5. Katherine collects all things Wonder Woman!

6. Katherine is an avid list maker. Her “hot lists” can be found throughout the house.

7. Katherine dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but she became a city planner instead.

8. Katherine and her father have fun going to painting classes together.

9. No boys are allowed in Katherine’s closet! She is very strict about this rule.

10. Katherine’s favorite movie is Back to the Future and she can recite all the lines to The Princess Bride movie from beginning to end.

about Katherine

About Katherine by: Greg

Katherine enjoys creating art, gardening, baking sweet treats, yoga class, and going out for breakfast,

Every day, Katherine lives out her faith and puts God first. Her life exhibits the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that reside in her heart. She is the life of every party and wants to make the most out of every day. Her love and enthusiasm for life are contagious, causing those around her to gravitate towards her. Katherine also has a generous spirit. On one of our first dates, I noticed that she keeps a stash of dollar bills in the console of her car so she can help people she sees in need. She has a wonderful sense of humor and is always quick to make a funny joke. Katherine had a successful career as a city planner for many years, but she ultimately felt God was calling her to resign and become a mom. This was a huge leap of faith, but we know it is the best decision for our family.

 Katherine has lots of energy and it always amazes me to see how children are naturally drawn to her. She is an awesome stepmom to Ali and they have a wonderful relationship. Our nieces adore Katherine and love visiting “Aunt Kath” to bake cookies, work on art projects, or have a home spa day. Katherine lives happy and her joy is irresistible! No one has a bigger heart than my wife. Each day she goes out of her way to make me feel special, important, and deeply loved.

about Katherine EXTENDED FAMILY

about Katherine work & education

about Katherine HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Fun facts about Katherine:

1. Katherine likes to eat very healthy, but Rice Krispy treats are her favorite dessert! She can’t resist them!

2. Katherine’s best friend is her mom. They often show up places dressed in matching sweaters just by accident.

3. Katherine is a big sports fan and loves watching college basketball.

4. Katherine’s favorite food is an Egg McMuffin.

5. Katherine loves all things Wonder Woman and collects Wonder Woman memorabilia.

6. Katherine is an avid list maker. Her “hot lists” can be found throughout the house.

7. Katherine dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, but she became a city planner instead.

8. Katherine and her father enjoy attending painting classes together at an art studio near our home.

9. Nobody is allowed in Katherine’s walk-in closet. She is very strict about this rule!

10. Katherine’s favorite movie is Back to the Future and she can recite all the lines to The Princess Bride movie from beginning to end.

about Children Ali

Ali:

When I married Greg, I not only became a wife, but I also became a stepmom to Greg’s beautiful daughter, Ali. I’m so blessed to have Ali in my life. Ali and I have a special friendship and have developed a close bond. Ali, her friends, and soccer teammates spent lots of time in our home laughing, making pizzas, and creating sundaes with homemade ice cream.

 When I met Ali, she was a cute 12-year-old girl. Today, she is a confident and optimistic college student! She is a dedicated undergraduate whose hard work in high school earned her several academic scholarships and made her an award-winning member of her varsity soccer team. We are so proud of our Ali!

 

about Children Balee Kate

about our home

There's No Place Like Home!

 We live in a two-story, red brick home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a large playroom. We spend lots of time in the playroom with our family and friends playing games and watching sports or funny movies. The kitchen is our “command center” where we create our list of goals for the day—“fun” is always at the top! Our kitchen features artwork from Ali, our nieces, nephews, and our friends’ children. These treasures bring us joy every day! Greg’s office is on the first floor of our home, and I have an art studio upstairs where I work on my art projects. Upstairs, we have prepared a beautiful nursery for our future baby. It’s a warm and cozy room where a baby will thrive and grow. The nursery is next to the master bedroom, which will be very convenient once our baby arrives. We strive to make sure our home is always warm and inviting. Everyone has a room to call their own and it’s always safe to be yourself and share your feelings. It’s important to us that no one leaves our home hungry or unloved!

 Our backyard is our favorite place to sit, relax, and make s’mores. It’s surrounded by a wooden picket fence and features a swing set with an adorable treehouse, a large mature black walnut tree, and lots of colorful maple trees. We know it will be a fun place for our children to run around and play. Our backyard is the perfect spot for hosting cookouts, playing soccer, and having family free-throw contests. Winner gets to choose dessert!

 We are blessed to live in a small, close-knit neighborhood where kids love to ride their bikes and play together in the open green spaces. A lovely private school is located directly across the street from the entrance to our neighborhood, so many kids walk or ride their bikes to school. Many of the families in our neighborhood also attend our church. Our home is located within walking distance of several city parks, a greenway, and a bike path along the banks of a river where we enjoy kayaking. My brother and his wonderful family live in the same neighborhood, so we get to spend time with them often. We are grateful for the nurturing environment and the strong sense of community that our neighborhood provides.

about our world