Choose A Family : Parent Profile
HELLO!
We are Derek and Nancy, a fun and loving couple living in Northern California. Our life is blessed in countless ways and it is our greatest desire to share these blessings with another child. When we learned we would not be able to get pregnant again our thoughts immediately turned to adoption. We know our family is not yet complete and we long to share our love and our home with another child. Our hearts and arms are open to welcome a new love into our life.We have a four-year-old son, Jack, two great dogs and a home full of laughter and joy. We’re a family that loves spending time together, always jumps at a chance to go on an adventure and makes the most of every day. With everything that we are, we are committed to being the best, most loving parents. We hope in sharing our story with you, you will feel confident that we will provide your child with endless unconditional love and every opportunity to grow and develop into the person he or she is meant to be.
OUR STORY…
Nancy lived in Northern California and worked for a technology company. Derek was a contractor living and working in Southern California. When a work project brought the two of us together we had an immediate connection. The 400 miles between our homes didn’t stand between us and we were soon flying up and down the state on weekends to see each other. Derek moved to Northern California in 2005 and the rest is history. We are truly best friends. We have a deep respect for each other and a strong, committed marriage. We’re casual and easy-going and we love to travel, be outdoors and entertain. Our life is full of friends, family and many blessings.
MEET NANCY
“Go into the world and do well, but more importantly go into the world and do good.” This is one of my very favorite quotes and is how I try to live my life. I’m happy, open-minded, organized, genuine and kind. I love to host a party and fuss over every last detail, from cutting out animal-shaped sandwiches for a zoo birthday party to decorating juice boxes like ghosts for a Halloween lunch box surprise. I enjoy adventures with the boys and always have a camera in my hand to capture the memories. I like hiking, baking, volunteering at Jack’s school, getting a pedicure with my girlfriends and I just started training for my first half-marathon. But, above all else, being a mom is definitely my life’s greatest joy. Spending time with Jack is truly a gift I treasure every single day.
Things that make Nancy happy:
- Brownies
- Movies on a rainy day
- A great book on a sunny chaise lounge
- A bubble bath
- Snuggling with Derek and Jack
ABOUT NANCY, WRITTEN BY DEREK
Everyone that meets Nancy falls in love with her. She’s patient, caring, confident and light-hearted. She easy-going with positive attitude and doesn’t over-react to things. Her support and belief not only in me but also in her friends and our family is unwavering. I love that she’s athletic and loves to watch football and other sports. I love that Nancy loves nice things but is not at all materialistic. She is very humble and would give the shirt off her back for someone in need. She’s an amazing wife, my best friend, the love of my life. I am so grateful for the life she has helped create for us.
After having Jack I love Nancy more than ever for the way she takes care of him. She’s a great mom. Everyone that knows us knows Jack is the luckiest kid alive. She is nurturing and loving and puts our family needs and welfare above all else. I love the fact that she loves kids…and they love her! She is warm and welcoming and makes our home the one everyone wants to be at. She reads with Jack every night before bed and ends his day with prayers of thanks, helping to instill in him gratitude for how lucky we are. I love that about her.
Things I LOVE about Nancy:
- She’s level-headed and can maintain her composure in a crisis
- She keeps us organized
- She’s easy-going and humble
- She’s a great cook
- She’s adventurous and fun
MEET DEREK
I’m a fun-loving, hard working guy that wants the best for my family. When I have free time I love to play golf and am drawn to all things outdoors – camping, fishing, dirt bike riding, boating and scuba diving. I’m funny and passionate; a guy that my friends and family can count on. I have a high standard for myself and all I do. I enjoy having a date night with Nancy or loading the family into the truck to find an adventure.
I’ve always had a natural way with kids starting with my nieces and nephews and our neighborhood kids. Being a dad to Jack has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love teaching him and showing him how to play sports, help with projects around the house, sneak a cookie without getting caught. He’s given me a whole new outlook on life and an appreciation for so many things.
Things that make Derek happy:
- A weekend nap
- Playing golf with my buddies or my dad
- Date night with Nancy and a great meal
- Playing hide and seek with Jack and the dogs
- Our family tradition of watching Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving night
ABOUT DEREK, WRITTEN BY NANCY
Derek is the love of my life and my best friend. I would not be who I am today without his unwavering support, encouragement and love. He is loyal and caring and the best husband a woman could ask for. His combination of compassion, integrity and thoughtfulness make him an amazing partner and an amazing parent. (And 10+ years later we’ve never had a fight…really!)
Derek is a father with high family values and strong morals. He’s patient, fair and always up to some kind of shenanigans with Jack, the dogs or the neighborhood kids that makes me laugh. He makes family a priority and has an easy, natural way about him. He’s truly one in a million.
Things I LOVE about Derek:
- His compassion and consideration for others
- How wise and insightful he is with f the things he says to Jack
- How he has to sort his Frosted Mini Wheats sugar side up before he can eat them
- His love of adventure and the outdoors
- He can fix anything!
OUR FAVES
NANCY
- Smell – Fresh cut grass
- TV Show – Modern Family
- Food – Mexican Food
- Time of year – Who can pick just one??!!
- Sport – Watching 4 year olds play soccer…hilarious!
DEREK
- Time of year – Summer
- Dinner – Homemade barbequed cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes
- Smell – Fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies
- Place – Tahiti
- Car – Audi R8
OUR WORK
DEREK
I’ve worked in the energy conservation industry my whole career. I’m passionate about what I do. It brings me satisfaction knowing I’m working with green technology to help my customers save money and conserve energy. After being an employee for 20+ years, I took a leap of faith several years back and opened my own business. We’re fortunate it’s been so successful. It has allowed me flexibility with my schedule and has afforded our family the things necessary to provide a stable and comfortable lifestyle.
NANCY
After working in the technology and construction industries, a few years ago I decided to align my professional life with my values and took a job at a non-profit overseeing a camping program for children with chronic and life threatening illnesses. It has been an amazing and humbling experience. I recently reduced my schedule down to one day a week so I can be home more with Jack and with our new child.
OUR HOME
We live in a family-focused community with lots of nearby parks and trails. The schools in our neighborhood rank in the 94th percentile in statewide testing and over 90% of graduating high school students go on to college.
Our home is comfortable and casual. While we (well, Nancy) likes to keep things organized, there are always toys or games out or left-over evidence of a fort or backyard art project. We love to work in the yard and it’s not uncommon to hear music pouring out of our house on a Saturday morning. We have a large backyard full of toys, two playrooms (full of more toys!) and a spare bedroom just waiting to be turned into a baby’s nursery.
OUR BEAUTIFUL SON JACK
Our lives changed forever for the better the day Jack was born. He is a smart, funny, happy little boy and has brought us immeasurable joy. At four years old he is full of life. He has endless energy and loves going to preschool, playing soccer, riding his bike and hanging out with his cousins or friends. He LOVES playing Mario Brothers on the Wii and he’s better than both of us…seriously! He’s very social and goes into the world as if it’s full of friends he just hasn’t yet met. He loves to help mommy make daddy his favorite cookies (chocolate chip, no nuts) and, of course, loves to help eat them.
Jack often asks for a baby brother or sister. He understands the concept of adoption and knows that one day a baby will come “from another mommy’s tummy but will be in our hearts and our family forever.” We have no doubt he will be a fantastic big brother.
OUR WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Your child will be welcomed without hesitation by our wonderful family and friends! With Nancy the oldest of six and Derek the youngest of three, your baby will have 13 aunts and uncles; 14 cousins (and still growing!) and three sets of grandparents that will most certainly spoil him/her rotten. Our family is in both Northern and Southern California, and we make a point to see each other often. With both friends and family, when we get together its lots of food, lots of kids, lots of chaos, lots of fun and lots of love! Our holidays are always extra special with activities like a gingerbread house competition at Christmas and meeting at the zoo for a picnic and egg hunt at Easter. We are surrounded by wonderful people who are supportive of our decision to adopt. As much as we do, they look forward to welcoming a little one to the family!
THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US
“Derek and Nancy are a wonderful, loving couple who extend their love and friendship to all around them.”
“Derek and Nancy are honest people with the highest integrity.”
“Derek and Nancy are warm and loving parents and great role models to our two girls.”
TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
We have a love for adventure and travel that gets us out-and-about trying new things and seeing new places. We’re always looking for a weekend or vacation destination we haven’t yet been to or a fun activity we haven’t yet tried. Whether we’re in some far-away place or around the corner from home, we always find the fun in what we’re doing. A few of our favorite vacations have been to Italy, St. Lucia, Maui, beach camping in Pismo and a Disney cruise. We make it to Disneyland several times a year and look forward to an African safari someday.
Northern California is the perfect place to live with lots of local fun within a few hours’ reach. We’re within a short drive to the city, the beach or the mountains. We could be building sand castles one day and making snow angles the next. It’s a perfect place for an adventure-loving family like us to live.
ON PARENTING
We love being parents! Seeing the world through a child’s eyes truly gives us an appreciation for so many things. As parents we are nurturing, patient and fun. We take the time to slow down and enjoy the little things. With a laid-back style, we love to create learning experiences, from trying a new food, to visiting a new place, to being challenged with a new toy or game. We hover enough for safety but we leave enough space for mistakes to be made and lessons to be learned. We work hard to provide an environment that stresses the importance of education and good manners and one that will foster a child’s confidence and self esteem.
THANK YOU!
We realize it’s difficult to choose a family for your child by looking through a few pictures and stories. Please know, we promise in our family your child will be forever loved, cared for, nurtured and encouraged and will be given every advantage a parent would want their child to have. We will let your child know that your love and sacrifice allowed him/her to be a part of our lives and how eternally grateful we are to you for that. Adoption is a gift, and your beautiful gift will make a family’s dreams come true. If you think we’re that family, we would love the opportunity to speak or meet with you.
Warmly,
Nancy and Derek
If you have any questions for us, or would like to talk to us about adopting your child, please contact an AdoptHelp advisor by Calling 1-800-637-7999 or clicking the "Contact Us" button below.
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