Clay & Mindy
Marriage Length
14 Years
Home State
Texas
Denomination
Baptist
Pets
2
Children
Emmalee
7 yr
About Us
We met in 2008 when Facebook had apps that became the precursors to today’s dating apps. After chatting online for a few weeks, we decided to meet for dinner after church. I (Mindy) spent the whole service praying Clay wouldn’t show up because I was so nervous. But he did show up, and we had a great evening. We talked for hours over queso and tacos. I was disarmed by his lack of pretense, his willingness to show me who he really is and not cover up rough patches in his life. We hit it off that night and began dating exclusively. A few months later, Clay wanted to be baptized at our church, and he asked me to do it. That afternoon was the first time our parents met each other, and it is a wonderful memory. After dating for about a year and a half, Clay proposed and we were married just three months later.
When we met, I had a degree in counseling and was working for Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. I felt called to teaching though, and shortly after we began dating, I accepted a position to teach 5th grade at a private Christian school. Sixteen years and so many good memories later, and I am still here and now our daughter attends as well. Clay was working for an accounting firm when we met. He has continued to work in office administration and finance, while also getting his master’s of education.
Our life is focused on our faith in Jesus and love for one another. We are surrounded by family and friends who love and support us and have fun with us. We are active in our church and school, and both of these communities are extensions of our family. We still eat lots of tacos and queso, and we are thankful that we both stepped out in faith through what seemed to be just a chance meeting online.
We are looking forward to growing our family through any of the following adoption opportunities:
Type
Open , Semi-open , ClosedGender
Any genderRace
Circumstances
Clay's TESTIMONY
Mindy's TESTIMONY
Letter to you
Read MoreOur Christian Commitment
We are so thankful for our church and the community we ahve through it. Mindy has been an active partner in the church since 2004 and Clay became a partner in 2008. We have both served on the welcome team and extensively in the children's program. We have enjoyed being active in small groups, and for a season co-hosted a group with friends in similar life stages. Emmalee loves the children's program and looks forward to it each week. Many of the families that attend the school Mindy teaches at also attend our church. This makes holidays like Christmas and Easter even more special as we are celebrating with a wide community.
Vision For Raising A Child
ABOUT Clay
Favorite color: yellow
Favorite food: fajitas
Favorite animal: honey badger
One word that describes you: Honest
Fun facts:
A military kid, I lived in Germany and all over the Eastern seaboard growing up.
I started playing soccer when I was 5 and had the opportunity to play in college for Southwestern University.
I am a runner and I aim to run 2-3 miles every day. I also enjoy working out with Camp Gladiator.
My favorite movie is Caddyshack.
I have been sober for 19 years.
EXTENDED FAMILY
Our entire family is close, as Mindy & Clay's parents have become good friends. We share holidays and take vacations often with the whole crew, including Mindy's brother's family.
Momma Jo & Bubba (Clay's parents) are retired from life in the military. Bubba served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force before retiring to Houston so that Clay could spend all four years in the same high school. Momma Jo served as a military spouse, homemaker, and stay-at-home mom to Clay. All four are active grandparents and looking forward to a new baby to love.
WORK & EDUCATION
I have a Batchelor's degree in Communication from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State University. I currently work in finance for a construction company.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
- Playing Nertz! It’s like combat solitaire. We play every time we are with Clay’s mom and our friends.
- Hanging out at the ranch. When we work at the ranch, it’s for fun. Mindy usually picks an area to start clearing, and the whole family goes out with clippers and the tractors. Emmalee loves to get out and help with our projects. She has learned to safely use different tools and usually ends up picking flowers or playing in the creek. In just a couple of hours, it is so satisfying to see the changes!
- Attending A&M & UT sporting events. We love going to football, basketball, and baseball games with family and friends.
- Slipping, sliding, and tubing at Schlitterbahn! In 2023 we got the family season tickets and managed to go 22 times! Emmalee is fearless and loves all of the rides. Mindy grew up with Schlitterbahn as a yearly family vacation destination and loves sharing this with E. We were able to make several trips with friends and family.
- Watching plays. Emmalee spends hours watching the high school kids rehearse their plays each semester and has a blast watching the final production both from the audience and special seats backstage. She feels like a part of the big kids’ world, and even gets a chance to be onstage occasionally.
- Traveling the country and world. We are attempting to visit all 50 states as a family and with close family friends. We enjoy mapping out places that are unique to each state, and finding fun roadside attractions along the way. As a couple, we have also traveled to Rwanda, Italy, and Israel. We look forward to taking our children to all of these places when they are older to enjoy the rich heritage and culture that each has to offer.
ABOUT Mindy
Favorite color: pink
Favorite food: cheese enchiladas
Favorite animal: kittens
One word that describes you: Loyal
Fun facts:
I love traveling! I like trips that are packed with museums and site seeing and I love vacations with a slower pace, laying on a beach or holed up in a mountain lodge.
I love acting and directing students in plays at school. I miss being on stage myself.
I can run a backhoe - I'm not great, but I can dig up stumps and knock down trees.
Some of my favorite mornings are when Emmalee comes in to snuggle and doze on the weekends.
Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia are some of my favorite literature. I also really enjoy Jane Austen and the Outlander series, which I started reading in 2001 long before it was a television series (but I am very happy with how the producers brought the story to the screen!).
EXTENDED FAMILY
Honey & Poppi (Mindy's parents) are semi-retired and still enjoy traveling the state while Poppi teaches heavy equipment classes. Honey is retired from working in finance, and Poppi is retired from TXDOT.
WORK & EDUCATION
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
- Playing Nertz! It’s like combat solitaire. We play every time we are with Clay’s mom and our friends.
- Hanging out at the ranch. When we work at the ranch, it’s for fun. Mindy usually picks an area to start clearing, and the whole family goes out with clippers and the tractors. Emmalee loves to get out and help with our projects. She has learned to safely use different tools and usually ends up picking flowers or playing in the creek. In just a couple of hours, it is so satisfying to see the changes!
- Attending A&M & UT sporting events. We love going to football, basketball, and baseball games with family and friends.
- Slipping, sliding, and tubing at Schlitterbahn! In 2023 we got the family season tickets and managed to go 22 times! Emmalee is fearless and loves all of the rides. Mindy grew up with Schlitterbahn as a yearly family vacation destination and loves sharing this with E. We were able to make several trips with friends and family.
- Watching plays. Emmalee spends hours watching the high school kids rehearse their plays each semester and has a blast watching the final production both from the audience and special seats backstage. She feels like a part of the big kids’ world, and even gets a chance to be onstage occasionally.
- Traveling the country and world. We are attempting to visit all 50 states as a family and with close family friends. We enjoy mapping out places that are unique to each state, and finding fun roadside attractions along the way. As a couple, we have also traveled to Rwanda, Italy, and Israel. We look forward to taking our children to all of these places when they are older to enjoy the rich heritage and culture that each has to offer.
Emmalee
Emmalee is full of life, joy, and pizazz! She cares deeply about others and is fiercely loyal to her family and friends. She loves singing and dancing and often makes up her own routines. Emmalee is excited to become a big sister!
ABOUT OUR HOME
We love our home! In 2021 we were blessed to move closer to school and friends in town. We have fantastic neighbors who share our faith and care well for our family. Everyone stops to talk when out for a walk, and we trust several to take care of our home and pets when we are away. We have a great mixture of young families with children and empty nesters who ‘dote on the kids. One of the best parks in the city is within walking distance, and we have access to a pool in the adjacent neighborhood with close family friends. School is just a 10 minute drive for Mindy and Emmalee, and the preschool Emmalee attended is just four minutes away.
Our living room and den are where we spend most of our time. We enjoy dinner together every night either in the breakfast nook or the dining room. We often call our parents to catch up on the week while we eat. We also love hanging out on the screened in porch where Emmalee and the cats like to play and Clay watches sports. Emmalee's room has been recently redecorated, and we are currently updating our nursery! Our home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an office, living room, den, breakfast nook, and formal dining. The front yard is perfect for climbing trees, swinging, writing with sidewalk chalk, and playing in the grass.
Our home away from home is the family ranch. It is about two and a half hours away from our house. When we’re there, we play cards, ride tractors, splash in the creek, and watch beautiful sunsets. The ranch is a gathering place for our immediate family (including both sets of grandparents), as well as extended family for holidays and birthdays. We are thankful for this place to slow down and unplug.
