Hello!

Amidst the celebration, we struck up a conversation and both felt an instantaneous connection. We went on our first “official” date (the bar didn’t count) the very next day. Afterwards, it was clear it would be the last “first date” either of us would ever go on. Since then, we have been inseparable!

Over the years, we feel grateful to have experienced more “ups” than “downs” in life. Though difficult at first, we realize now that our struggles trying to conceive are just part of God’s plan for us starting our family. We have fully embraced the journey and feel blessed to have the opportunity to expand our family through open adoption. In our hearts, we know the best – and the ultimate “up” – is yet to come!

• Welcoming furry pets into our home (including Steph’s first dog)
• Getting married
• Traveling
• Spending time with those we love

(according to Steph…)

John is my best friend. We do a lot of things together because we have similar interests. We like going for motorcycle rides in the summer, fishing, seeing movies, helping out family and friends, and working on house projects.

Not only is he very smart, John is also a great teacher. Whenever I ask “Do you know how to…” (of course he does know), he always helps me figure it out and is patient with me while I learn! Now, if only I could return the favor and teach him to change the empty toilet paper roll…

I am always impressed because John seems to know how to do everything. From fixing cars to replacing a water heater, he figures out how to do any maintenance or house project himself.

1. He is extremely loyal, dependable, and trustworthy.
2. He makes me laugh (and “gets” my sense of humor).
3. He is very, very smart.
4. He is good at what he does, no matter what he does.
5. He is supportive and encouraging.

Book: Prey book series
Movie: Star Wars series
Song: Anything Motley Crue
Food: Mexican
Color: Green
Animal: Dogs
Hobbies: Yardwork
Ice Cream Flavor: Rocky Road

(according to John…)

I feel blessed every day to have Steph as my wife. She is smart, quick-thinking, loving, caring, and always there for me. We always laugh together, and I love that she can be a total goofball. Simply put, she is the person I love to love. She loves to travel as much as I do, is an amazing cook, and is one of the most organized people I know. She keeps our home and our lives running smoothly.

As a (step)mother she defines the word selfless. Though my children from a previous marriage are all adults now, Steph played a big role in raising my youngest daughter. Not a day went by that Steph didn’t give all of herself and do everything to be the best mom she could be!

1. Her sense of humor.
2. Her endless compassion and sensitivity to others.
3. Her ability to love with all her heart.
4. Her family values.
5. Her complete selflessness.

Book: VC Andrews series
Movies: Tommy Boy, Elf
Song: My House
Food: Brownies
Color: Blue
Animal: Dogs
Hobbies: Baking and cooking
Ice Cream Flavor: Birthday cake remix from Cold Stone (it has brownies in it????)

Our family believes in having fun. You will hear a lot of laughter in our home. We love with our whole hearts. We say our prayers at night. And most of all we always give thanks for how lucky we are to have each other.

We live in a quiet rural neighborhood, but extended family is within walking distance. Our 5,600 square foot house is situated on a large area of family-owned land with gorgeous views. We are nestled between farms and green pastures sprinkled with cows, horses, deer, wild turkeys and cute little rabbits. The schools are about 5 miles away.

Hudson and the surrounding area is family-friendly and very safe. The parks are always occupied with children playing, people walking their dogs, and older couples out for a stroll. Youth sports abound and facilities are always booked with some kind of practice or event.

In summary, Hudson is a vibrant community, perfect for a growing family like ours.

• The Lutheran Church where we are members.
• The St. Croix River where we love to walk.
• The many Sports Fields and green space (from soccer to hockey, Hudson really supports youth sports!)
• Shopping – pretty much everything is near by!

The Sisters are John’s three adult children from a previous marriage.

Brandee (26) and her boyfriend live in Minnesota with their two young children. She is a devoted, hard-working mother.

Ashly (21) also lives in Minnesota and is big into fitness. She currently works at a nursing home and attends college.

Amanda (20) is the “baby” of the family. She works in the food industry and attends college in Minnesota.

The Brothers (our three dogs) still live at home because they refuse to get jobs…

Buster is an 11-year-old Chinese Pug. He has the personality of a cat and his favorite past time is sleeping in the nearest lap he can find. Don’t ask him to do any tricks because it’s just not going to happen.

Jax is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever. He loves everyone almost to the point of being obsessive and will pout if you tell him to go lay down. Jax is the smartest of the brothers. Unlike Buster, Jax likes doing tricks and he loves to be outside.

Rocky is a 2-year-old German Shepherd. He is the biggest of the three but don’t let his size fool you; he is a big baby. Like Jax, Rocky loves everyone. He will fetch all day long if you have the time, so if you throw the ball expect to be playing for a while!

Each day we pray that our lives will be enriched with a child to whom we can give our love and affection.

We have both worked very hard to get where we are personally and professionally. While we will continue to work (and play) hard, we know changes and concessions must be made as our family expands. We look forward to child-friendly vacations, planning play-dates with other young families in the area, and generally opening our home and our hearts to all the joys and new experiences each day will bring.

Our hope in writing this letter was to convey our deep commitment to raising our children in a loving, safe, fun, and happy home. We hope that in reading this letter, you are able to picture what life would be like for your child, and that it eases your worries for him or her.

Thank you for taking the time to read about us and get a glimpse into our lives. We look forward to meeting you and starting an amazing journey together. Though our life has been a great journey thus far, we truly believe the best is yet to come.

If you are interested in connecting with us, please contact Allison Kunkel at Catholic Charities (akunkel@cclse.org, 715-832-6644) or fill out the contact form below and John and Steph will be in touch with you directly.