Dear Birthparent,

My name is Karen and my husband is Richard.  We are from the San Joaquin Valley here in California. Thank you for hearing our story.

I was born to two wonderful parents. My mother a housewife, who was respected by many, had a heart of gold. She was patient, kind, and so loving. She understood her calling was to be a great mom and raise up her children the best way a mother could. She went to be with the Lord 1 ½ years ago. Many have told me in our home town, “Now she was a Mom”.  My father is a fun loving, hard working man. The two together created a great home and childhood for me and my 4 sisters and 3 brothers to grow up in.  I was raised on a dairy farm and was raised in the Catholic faith. I’m so thankful for my childhood and the devotion my parents gave to us kids. I went to Beauty College in Los Angeles when I was 18 years old. I wasn’t ready to go small town just yet so I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where on the beach at a Young Life Camp I asked Jesus into my heart.

I told the Lord that I didn’t want to live a boring Christian life. I wanted it to be fun and adventurous. He does answer prayers. I then moved to San Diego with my 2 sisters. I felt the calling to go to Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I so desired to learn more about the Lord and grow in my walk with Him. I continued to work as a Hairstylist and ended up living there for 8 years. I was very involved in my church with the children and youth. That led me to France where I helped start a Children’s Church. I lived there for 1 year and then moved back to my home town. I’ve gotten to travel all over the United States and to other countries. I have friends from near and far and cherish my multicultural friendships.

My deepest desire since I was a child was to be married and have children. I have 22 nieces and nephews and am crazy about every one of them. Female issues, surgery and lots of fertility treatments seem to be a trial I never thought I would face. When my mother passed we tried a couple more times and I knew I just had to lay this desire at Gods feet, I had to let God heal my broken heart and be led by Him.

I met Rick from a cousin of his who I cut her hair. Rick and I have quite the family history. Our grandparents were friends when they came back from the old country. My mother and father were raised knowing Rick’s dad. I grew up with his cousins and aunts and uncles. Rick grew up in another town. They tell us we probably met when our fathers raced go-carts.

Rick and I have been married for 3 ½ years now and have been trying to have children ever since. Rick has a 15 year old daughter from a previous marriage. She’s a wonderful young lady who is crazy about her dad. I think the best quality about Rick is he’s such a great dad. She has attended a Christian School since preschool and has a great faith in the Lord. She lived with us 50 % of the time but chose a high school closer to where her mother lives.

My name is Rick, I am one of 6 children, I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers and 1 brother who is in heaven. (Joseph died at birth). My mom also was a stay at home mom who raised, entertained and kept us children in line. Our house was the fun house of the neighborhood where everyone felt welcome and parents knew where their kids were. My dad was a hardworking man who was a car salesman his whole life. He loved to come home to be with us kids and do the things that we wanted to do. I had a very good memorable childhood and am very close to my parents.

I was married before and my first wife and I adopted a beautiful little girl at the age of 8 months. Although the trials of life I’m so thankful for my daughter. Janel is a freshman in High School and has made leaps and bound in her relationship with the Lord. She is very well liked and fits in very well with Karen’s family. I believe Janel and I have a great father and daughter relationship with a lot of respect and lots of love.

I’m a General Contractor and Karen and I own a Hair salon, which we bought 2 years ago and I remodeled. We love to go to the beach as a family, ride quads and camp in our toy hauler. My parents live at the coast and Karen’s father has a vacation house there also.

I’ve always wanted to have children and do to life’s circumstances and God’s plans we are looking to adoption. We have 2 dogs and a cat. Karen has had Sophie, A Bischon-Frise for about 11 years now. We live in a nice house in a historic neighborhood. Our life is filled with our work and our family. Karen would make a wonderful mom, she loves to spend time with all of her nieces and nephews and baby sit. She cares for them as if they are her own. I look forward to God’s blessings and to what He has for us in our future!

There is so much to share with you about us if there is any more information please let us know. We know God has a special plan for your life and we’ll be in prayer about your decision and your future.

God Bless you,
Rick and Karen