Matt and Brenda

Hello! Thank you for choosing to learn more about us! We know you must have many questions in mind as you think about a family to raise your precious baby. We want to share with you a little about each of us, the things we enjoy doing, and give a glimpse as to what your child’s life will be like if you choose us to be parents.

We have the utmost respect for the difficult decisions you are dealing with, and we admire you for your strength and courage. Our commitment to you is to love and cherish your child for who they are while nurturing and guiding them to reach their dreams. Your child will always know what a loving mom you are and how much care went into the decision of choosing adoption. We will keep in contact with you through letters and photos and welcome the opportunity to develop a relationship with you, if this is your wish too.

It is impossible to explain in a short letter how much we have to offer as parents or how much love we have to give, but we hope something about us touches your heart.

A little about us
We are Matt and Brenda, born and raised Midwesterners, who now live in a very family oriented, sunny Southern California community just outside Los Angeles. We met during college over 15 years ago while working and taking classes together. Brenda somehow convinced Matt to go thrift store shopping for disco clothes to win a costume contest (which we won!). Matt, in turn, convinced Brenda to go midnight rollerblading in the middle of winter. Our adventurous and silly personalities were a perfect match and we have been inseparable ever since. We married on October 12, 2002 in a small Nebraska farm town surrounded by our family and closest friends.

While our infertility initially caught us by surprise, it did not deter our desire to become parents. We want to give your child the best possible experience and feel it is so important for us to be very involved and available parents. We have been preparing for parenthood long before we were ready to be parents. We attended college in Nebraska and then went on to earn advanced degrees in California. We now both work as engineers in the aerospace industry. This has afforded us the opportunity for Brenda to stop working and be a stay-at-home mom when we adopt.

Brenda… by Matt
Brenda is a caring, kind, strong, patient, devoted wife, and all around goofball. She is the most upbeat, happy person I know. She can turn any negative situation into a positive experience, making getting lost into a game of adventure or using a flight delay as the opportunity to make a new friend. She’s always putting others first, whether holding a friend’s hand at the hospital or helping them pack for a move. She sees the best in everyone and is never quick to judge.

Our young nephews always “call” who gets to sit next to Aunt Brenda at dinners or in the car. Kids are naturally at ease with her and she is going to be an amazing mom. Whether it’s taking a child to little league, science camp, or dance practice I know she will support their interests to explore everything life has to offer.

Matt… by Brenda
Matt is a wonderful husband and my best friend. He has a great sense of humor and is known for his quick witted one liner jokes. He is a kid at heart and enjoys playing as much as the kids do, from a game of catch in the park to riding go-carts with his nephews. I am proud of his generosity and the volunteer work he does for our local search and rescue group. At work he takes time to mentor junior engineers, always encouraging them to do their best. He is honest, hard working, and never afraid to stand up for what he believes in. Matt is protective and supportive of those he loves. He always takes time for household responsibilities including laundry, dishes, dog care, and cleaning. I know he will also share in parenting duties being a hands on father from diaper changes to late night feedings. He is going to be an amazing daddy.

Family and Childhood… Brenda
Brenda is the younger of 2 and grew up in a tiny Nebraska farm town that has just one 4-aisle grocery store. Her childhood was spent riding her bike everywhere and swimming at the local pool during summer to building snow forts in the front yard during winter. While she had fun celebrating cabbage patch doll birthdays with girlfriends, she was just as likely to be found playing football or kickball with the neighborhood boys. As a teen she babysat for many different children throughout her town. From newborns to pre-teens, she was widely sought out by parents for her patience and level-headedness and loved by kids for her ability to create some fun. She is still in contact with many of those kids (and their parents) today.

Brenda’s dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was just 6-months old and began using a wheelchair during her early childhood. Sadly, he passed away in 1999, but his sense of humor and the lessons he taught continue to inspire how we live our lives. Her mom was a stay-at-home mom and full time caretaker for her dad. After his passing, her mom started a house cleaning business which she successfully continues to this day. She is a very involved get-on-the-floor to play kind of grandma to Brenda’s two active nephews. Brenda’s nephews are the sons of her older brother and sister-in-law who are looking forward to having another baby in the family.

Brenda has a large extended family including 6 fun-loving uncles who keep the entire family on their toes with unending practical jokes. Her family is very diverse and blended and is so excited that Matt and Brenda are adding another child into the mix.

Family and Childhood… Matt
Matt grew up in a larger more suburban Nebraska city. He was a bit mischievous as a child and his mom loves to tell how he climbed to the top of the refrigerator before he was even 2! When he wasn't saving the universe with his Star Wars, GI Joe, or Transformers, he could be found outside playing baseball, soccer, or football. He was also an avid skateboarder and even had the regrettable bleached flop haircut to prove it.

Matt is the youngest of 4 with 2 sisters and 1 brother. All are married and we have 4 nephews and 1 niece between them. Matt and his brother both share a love of Nebraska football. When they can't watch games together they can be found texting and talking on the phone throughout the game doing some extensive armchair quarterbacking.

Matt has fond memories of taking his oldest nephew and niece trick-or-treating at Warren Buffet's house. The line was always blocks long, but the giant candy bar made it worth the wait! Two of his younger nephews like to put together a schedule before Uncle Matt comes to visit to make sure they can do as many fun things with him as they can. Board games, fishing, and a trip to their favorite restaurant always make the list.

Matt's parents live in Colorado where they enjoy camping and spoiling their 2 small dogs. His mom is a retired nanny and his dad a recently retired software engineer. We think his mom is almost as excited about the nursery decor as she is about being a grandma again.

Our Home
We chose the city we live in based on the sense of community, highly rated school system, and low crime. Being an hour from the beach, mountains, and desert was just an added bonus! When our realtor first pulled up to the end of our quiet cul-de-sac 8 years ago, Brenda almost asked to skip it simply because it was down-pouring rain. She only went inside because she knew how much Matt loved Spanish style houses with red tile roofs. It took about 30 seconds inside the house for both of us to be sold! It has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with an open floor plan that flows to several “outdoor rooms”. There are 3 neighborhood swimming pools and we are walking distance to a main shopping center, Movie Theater, medical facilities, and several restaurants. There is a nature trail and a great park that we walk the dogs to everyday. We cannot wait to have a child to play with on the amazing playground! One of the favorite things about where we live is our neighbors. We know everyone who lives on our street and get together with several of them for backyard barbecues, birthdays, holidays, our annual cul-de-sac Halloween costume party, and most any other excuse we can find.

Our Pets
Our home is filled with the amusement and constantly changing expressions of 3 lovable dogs. Molly, at 13, is the old lady of the trio. She is a German shorthaired pointer who loves nothing more than a soft place to sleep and someone to give kisses to. She likes to keep things on schedule and is sure to let us know when it is time for our daily walk to the park. Moose (almost 2) and Paris (1) are English Mastiffs who are true to their breed description as gentle giants. Moose is a sweet big teddy bear who insists on being as close to us as humanly possible. We often call him the “fun police” because no laughing can happen in our house without him finding a way to join in. Paris is a social butterfly who is easily distracted by anyone who happens to glance her way in hopes of getting her belly rubbed. They all love our nephews and we know they will easily welcome a baby in our home.

Life, Laughter, Fun… by Brenda
I love life and all it has to offer. I hike. I kayak. I climb mountains. I rappel. I run... okay, only if I am chased. I am 5-feet tall - no more, no less. I have dark brown hair and very blue eyes. I love to smile and to make others smile. I sing made-up songs to our dogs. I have a huge snake phobia, but am not fazed by spiders. I buy my Chuck Taylor sneakers in the children’s department. I have the greatest girlfriends of all time. I think mayonnaise should be banned from the planet. I am a bargain shopper extraordinaire. I belt out the CHiPs theme song whenever I see 2 motorcycle cops on the freeway. I am beyond excited to share my love of life with a child!

Life, Laughter, Fun… by Matt
I'm a huge sports fan and outdoor enthusiast (except for camping). I am full of random useless knowledge when it comes to sports, often narrating vintage games from memory play by play seconds before they happen. I am 10 inches taller than Brenda, with brown hair and blue eyes. I enjoy playing guitar and fishing, even though I’m not that great at either one. I like to joke around and make people laugh, though sometimes at my own expense. I own more shoes than my wife. I cannot wait to help a child explore the world!

7 Promises to Your Child
We promise:

1. That you will always know your adoption story and how loving and strong your Birth Mom is.
2. To support and encourage whatever your dreams may be:
1. Future athlete? We will cheer on the sidelines of every little league game.
2. Rock Star Visions? We will hire a voice coach and be there to clap after each and every song as you learn to play an instrument… even the drums.
3. Chef Extraordinaire? We will help you create culinary masterpieces, no matter how much you spill in the kitchen.

The sky is your limit!!

3. To teach you
1. By our own example (not long boring lectures).
2. Through exploration (not everything can be learned from a computer or book!).
4. To always be open and honest with you, no matter the question or subject and to always listen to what you have to say while helping you find your voice.
5. To sit down for family meals, play silly games, make pancakes in fun colors and shapes, and chase any monsters out of your closet.
6. To instill in you the value of education and a strong work ethic.
7. To laugh with you and love you with all that we have every minute of every day.

In Closing
We have done our best to show our personalities and give you a little glimpse into how we live, what we love, and the type of environment your child would be raised in. We may appear silly at times, but want you to know how serious we see our role as parents. Your child will always come first, will always be supported, and will always know how much they are loved by both us and by you. Our greatest wish is for them to look back on their childhood one day and remember just how incredible it all was.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us and consider us as part of your adoption plan. We would love to talk with you and get to know one another.

With gratitude,

Matt and Brenda

If you have an 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.

Contact Us

View Other Parent Profiles