To the Brave Woman Reading This
If you are reading these words, we want you to know this first:
you are seen, and you are not alone.
We understand that considering adoption can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply emotional. You may be holding many feelings at once—love, fear, grief, hope, uncertainty—and all of them are valid. There is no timeline you need to follow, no decision you need to rush, and no expectation that you have everything figured out right now.
Whether you choose adoption or not, we believe you are already showing incredible love by thinking carefully about your child’s future. Nothing about this moment defines you as weak or strong, right or wrong—it simply means you care deeply.
Please know that no matter where you are in this journey, you are not walking it alone. Our faith is at the center of our lives, and we are praying for you—for strength when the days feel heavy, for peace in moments of uncertainty, and for clarity and comfort as you discern what comes next. We pray that you feel supported, surrounded by care, and reminded that your life and your story matter deeply.
When we think about adoption, we begin with deep respect for you. We believe adoption starts with love, courage, and honesty. Your child’s story does not begin with us—it begins with you. If we are ever given the honor of becoming parents through adoption, we want your child to always know where they came from and how deeply they were loved from the very beginning.
Adoption will never be a secret in our home. We will speak openly and gently about their story in age-appropriate ways, always honoring you with gratitude and respect. We believe a child can be deeply loved by more than one person, and we hope to create space for that truth to be lived out with care and humility.
Our heart for openness comes from that same place of respect. To us, openness is not a requirement or a box to check—it is a relationship rooted in trust, communication, and mutual care. We understand that comfort levels and needs may change over time, and we are committed to honoring those changes with grace. Our hope is that openness would feel safe, welcomed, and human—never forced.
If you choose to learn more about us, we want you to feel no pressure—only honesty, patience, and respect. We would be honored to listen, to answer questions, and to walk thoughtfully in whatever way feels right to you.
Our Story
Our story began well before we ever met.
Before finding one another, we were each on our own journeys—learning, growing, and searching for work that felt meaningful and aligned with our faith.
Natalie began her career in marketing and sales. After a season that left her feeling burnt out, she chose to slow her pace of life and seek what might come next. That season of reflection eventually led her to work at a nonprofit, where she felt called to serve in a new way.
Ben graduated and began his career in banking, but soon found himself longing for something more—work that allowed him to make a deeper impact. That desire led him to step away from the corporate world and pursue missionary life through the same nonprofit.
For a time, Ben was placed in Berkeley, CA, and eventually found himself working at the nonprofit’s headquarters—where Natalie would also find her way. At first, our paths crossed quietly: passing each other in the halls, sharing small talk, and slowly building a friendship. Over time, those brief moments turned into longer conversations in the breakroom—conversations where we’d lose track of time, sometimes even missing a meeting or two.
That friendship grew over a couple of years. When Natalie later left the nonprofit to return to marketing, we stayed in touch. Around that same time, Ben was also discerning his next steps and leaned on Natalie for guidance, which naturally led to more one-on-one time and deeper connection.
When Natalie moved out of state, we continued to stay close. During one visit back home—which happened to fall on Ben’s birthday weekend—we decided to meet for what was supposed to be a simple breakfast. That morning turned into a twelve-hour day together, filled with conversation, laughter, and Ben finally sharing his feelings. From that moment on, everything changed.
Because our relationship was built on a strong foundation of friendship, closeness came easily. We had already learned so much about one another in a safe, unhurried way. We spent time long-distance for a season, which only drew us closer—talking late into the night, sharing our days, and learning how to love each other intentionally, even when apart.
After fifteen months, Ben proposed. Six months later, we said “I do.”
We often say we wish we had met sooner, because it never feels like there’s enough time. But we also know we would choose our paths all over again if they led us back to one another. As corny as it may sound, we are truly best friends, and since saying “I do,” we’ve spent no more than ten days apart.
Who We Are
First and foremost, we are best friends. Long before our relationship turned romantic, we chose one another as friends—learning each other’s hearts, building trust, and sharing life side by side. That foundation continues to shape our marriage today. We choose one another daily, and we choose to experience life together with intention, curiosity, and a lot of laughter.
At the center of our lives are our faith, our families, meaningful conversation, adventure and good food. Food has always been one of the ways we connect. From the beginning, our date nights often involved trying new restaurants—whether that meant a small hole-in-the-wall spot or a fun, special-occasion dinner. What mattered most was sitting across from one another, sharing a meal, and getting so caught up in conversation that time seemed to slip away.
Family has always been deeply important to both of us. While we come from different backgrounds and ethnicities, we found strong common ground in the value of family connection. Ben is one of nine siblings, and Natalie is an only child, but her extended family is uniquely close—especially the bond she shares with her seven cousins. From early on, family felt like home to both of us.
For the first part of our marriage, we lived in Washington, D.C. It was an exciting season, but we felt the absence of family. With Natalie’s family more spread out and us being the only ones not living near Ben’s hometown, we felt drawn to settle in Nebraska. Because we both work from home, we were able to make that move. Today, we gather with Ben’s family every Sunday for dinner—something we cherish deeply. We love the idea of a child growing up surrounded by cousins, grandparents, and extended family who show up consistently and lovingly.
Adventure is also a meaningful part of our life together. Because our early relationship was long-distance, time spent visiting one another naturally became time spent exploring. That love for adventure carried into our marriage. Together, we built out a camper van and designed it with extra seating—always hoping that one day we would have little ones along for the journey. The van has allowed us to explore national parks and nearby states at our own pace, creating space for shared experiences and connection.
When time allows, we also love traveling internationally, and Italy has become especially dear to us. We’re drawn to its culture, history, and the way meals and relationships are shared so thoughtfully. Wherever we go, one constant is our pup, Luna. Natalie adopted her in 2020, and she has been an important part of our family ever since. Luna brings so much joy into our home, she has a gentleness with children and we love imagining a child growing up alongside her.
Our path to adoption has been shaped through seasons of hope, loss, and deep reflection. We desire to grow our family, and over time, we learned that pregnancy is not the way our family will be formed. Natalie has struggled with fibroids and endometriosis, which led to miscarriage and required surgery. Even after medical intervention, pregnancy has not been possible for us.
Through prayer, healing, and many conversations, we came to understand that God was gently guiding us toward a different path—one that feels deeply aligned with who we are and how we love. Adoption is not a second choice for us; it is a calling we embrace with open hearts.
We have so much love to give, a strong and supportive community of family and friends, nieces and nephews eager to welcome another cousin, and a home prepared with care and intention. More than anything, we hope to offer a child a life rooted in safety, openness, and belonging—a place where they are celebrated for exactly who they are and always know how deeply they are loved.
What Life With Us Looks Like
Our home is one rooted in consistency, warmth, and presence.
Monday through Friday, our days begin quietly and intentionally. Mornings often start with the gym or a walk with our dog, Luna, followed by prayer and preparing for the day ahead. We both work from home—Natalie downstairs and Ben upstairs—which allows us to be present and available throughout the day. We value shared rhythms, even in simple moments, and we make space for prayer in ways that are personal and meaningful to each of us.
We pray before meals, and mealtimes are something we hold sacred. We sit together at the table without devices or distractions, simply enjoying one another and the gift of conversation. There is plenty of room at our dining table for a child, and we look forward to the laughter, questions, and connection that will come with that.
Our home sits in a quiet, close-knit neighborhood where neighbors know one another and children play outside. A neighborhood park is just a few blocks away, and we are within walking distance of Ben’s childhood home. Many of our relatives live just minutes from us, and being surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends is something we love.
Built in the early 1920s, our bungalow has a lot of character and warmth, and it has been thoughtfully cared for over the years. Safety has always been deeply important to us, and we’ve been intentional about creating a home and choosing a community where we feel grounded, at ease, and supported.
Our evenings are slow and unhurried. We make dinner together, take Luna for another walk, and spend time simply being present with one another. Bedtime stories, quiet conversations, and a sense of calm are the rhythms we hope to offer a child at the end of each day.
Our faith shapes how we live and how we parent. We attend church every Sunday morning at our parish, which is within walking distance of our home, as is the school we hope our child will attend—a place that has been part of Ben’s family for generations. Faith, to us, is not only something we practice, but something we live out through love, patience, and gratitude.
Weekends invite a little more adventure. Sometimes that looks like taking our camper van out for a short trip, exploring a nearby town, or attending a local event. Music is also an important part of our home—Natalie has a deep love for music and live shows, and we hope to bring a piano into our home so music can be something we share together as a family.
We end each week gathered around the table with family. Sunday evenings are spent at Ben’s childhood home, sharing a meal with grandparents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. These nights are filled with good conversation, laughter, and the joyful noise of children running around.
We hope to raise a child in a home where they feel safe, known, and deeply loved; where questions are welcomed, emotions are honored, and love is shown every day—in both the big moments and the quiet ones.
Contact us
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