Our Story

We met in Austin, TX, in 2011—just one day before Julia’s birthday—and got married five years later, right after David’s birthday in 2016. When we first started dating, David’s mom knew we were in love just by the way we looked at each other. We live in South Minneapolis with our friendly and gentle 9-year-old dog, Hank, who absolutely loves people—especially kids who sneak him snacks. We are all excited to welcome a child into our family!

We deeply value education and have always supported each other’s dreams. When we met, David was finishing his PhD in graduate school, and later David supported Julia as she returned to school to become an occupational therapist. Today, David works from home as a partner in a consulting firm, doing research and helping nonprofit organizations make their communities stronger. Julia has her doctorate in occupational therapy and works at a public hospital, providing care for families from low-income communities.

Meet Julia

Julia grew up in Houston, Texas, and is the kind of person who instantly makes others feel at ease. Her background in theatre and acting—spanning from Texas to New York—reflects her curiosity, creativity, and openness. Julia now works as an occupational therapist, a role that showcases her patience, warmth, and natural ability to nurture and support others—qualities she’ll carry into parenting. She loves spending her free time volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse and Friends & Co, baking delicious treats, or chatting with neighbors on her daily walks. Julia is someone who brings humor, compassion, and a genuine love for people to everything she does, and she can’t wait to share those qualities as a parent.

Meet David

David grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and has been making music his whole life—from marching band as a kid to playing guitar in garage bands during college and beyond. He’s the kind of person you can count on for stability and support, whether it’s volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse and the Rose Garden or being a dependable friend and listener. David loves tending to houseplants, experimenting in the kitchen, and gathering friends for weekly music sessions. His easygoing nature makes him flexible and open to whatever life brings. These qualities—dependability, openness, and warmth—will serve him well as a parent, providing a child with comfort, stability, and lots of laughter and love.

Our Community

Friends and family are incredibly important to us. We’ve built a close-knit community in Minneapolis that feels like family, ensuring that any child we welcome into our lives would be surrounded by people who love and support them.

Just down the block from us live our closest friends, who have two wonderful kids adopted from different racial backgrounds. We spend lots of time together—walking the kids home from school or around the lake, playing silly games like keepy-uppy, practicing shoe-tying, and enjoying meals and music together. We’re deeply committed to supporting each other and creating a sense of family between our two households.

Every Sunday night, we gather with another dear friend to share dinner, trading off cooking duties and trying out new recipes. These regular dinners are a comforting tradition and a way to stay connected. Our friend is excited to set another place at the table.

Each year, we look forward to a joyful (and slightly chaotic!) beach vacation with David’s extended family, planned by David’s mom. The house fills up with siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandparents. It’s a time for epic sandcastle building, board games, laughter, and making memories that last.

Our family goes beyond biological ties—it’s about the bonds of love, support, and commitment we’ve built with people around us, all of whom are excited and ready to welcome a child into our lives.

Our Values

Curiosity

We are lifelong learners and deeply value curiosity, exploration, and creativity. We believe reading is essential—it opens doors to growth and understanding. We also love creating art and music, experiencing the creativity of others through museums, theater, dance, and live music. We hope to pass this sense of wonder, creativity, and curiosity on to our child.

Community

We believe in the importance of community—both in building tight-knit, supportive relationships and in giving back to others through work and volunteering. Our lives are richer because of the friends and neighbors who feel like family, and we strive to contribute positively to the wider community around us.

Honesty and Communication

Open communication and honesty form the foundation of our relationship. As parents, we plan to carry that forward by always being open with our child, celebrating their adoption story, and helping them understand and embrace who they are and where they come from. We want our child to grow up feeling secure, supported, and proud of their identity and history.

Our Message to Expectant Families

We are excited to become parents and welcome a child into our family. We won’t pretend to know what you are thinking or feeling as you’re considering whether to make an adoption plan, but please know that we will always honor your place in our family’s story and welcome a connection that feels right for you.