Waiting Family Profiles

Home Location: Twin Cities Metro

Family Status: Couple without children

Children in Home: None

Child Ethnicity: African American, Asian, Caucasian, East Indian, Hispanic/Latino, Native American

Hello! Thanks for taking a glance at our profile. Hopefully it gives you a sense of who we are and what kind of parents we want to be. We are excited for this adventure and excited to share it with you!

About Us

We first met on a backpacking trip with mutual friends in the Goat Rocks Wilderness in Washington state. Sparks didn’t fly, but by the time Jake asked Emily out 10 months later, it was a whirlwind romance and we were married within a year! We are both originally from Washington and moved to Minnesota so Jake could pursue his PhD in Theatre, which he will finish in 2020. Emily is a nurse working in post-operative care at the University of Minnesota hospital. We currently live in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, a diverse neighborhood in the heart of the Twin Cities and love living here. Eventually we hope to move back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family, but for now Minnesota is home.

What Building a Family Means to Us

When we imagine parenting, we always imagine the joy and adventure of raising a child—something active, exciting, and, at times, challenging. We don’t just want to be parents, but parent. We’re excited to sit around the dinner table helping with homework; to dance our sillies out at bedtime; to swim at Grandma’s lake; to visit the art museum and do craft projects; and to walk together through our neighborhood counting bunnies. We’re excited to create a loving and supportive environment where our child feels safe to discover who they are and what they have to offer the world. We want to give them the opportunity to be confident and take risks, have tons of fun, always know they are loved, and be prepared to navigate the joys and challenges of life. In all things, we will strive to model our values in action: kindness, compassion, generosity, curiosity, and creativity. Finally, we look forward to having you with us on this journey as a valued part of our family.

We Love

• Our families (incl. 14 nieces and nephews)
• Traveling near and far
• Camping and hiking on the North Shore
• Dancing in the kitchen to Lizzo or the Beach Boys
• Our Life Group at church
• Watching University of Minnesota volleyball
• Theatre, live music, and art museums
• The Minnesota State Fair
• Scrubs, This Old House, & the Great British Baking Show
• Evening walks through our neighborhood

About Emily (by Jake)

I love Emily. Her smile is infectious, her spirit is adventurous and open, her loyalty is fierce, and her dance moves when doing the dishes are top notch. She brings joy wherever she goes and loves her friends and family deeply. She always strives for excellence, whether she’s at work or at home mastering her pie crust or decorating cakes. She is compassionate and kind with a strong sense of empathy, but she’s not afraid to call me on my BS and stand up for herself. She is way too good at Qwirkle (a board game) and easy to have fun with. We’ve been through a lot together and I couldn’t ask for a better partner in life. I can’t wait to see her as a mother, she will be spectacular.

About Jake (by Emily)

Jake is hilarious. His keen wit and endless supply of cheesy jokes make me laugh like no one else can. He approaches everything with a positive attitude while always looking for the best in others. He is steadfast and earnestly devoted to the things he cares about, whether it be friends and family or Gopher volleyball. He is easy-going and fun, singing made-up songs all day and showing off his impressive cooking skills. Jake is incredibly smart and inquisitive, never losing a game of Trivial Pursuit and always seeking to engage with the world around him. He is thoughtful and kind with the ability to make anyone smile. Adventuring with Jake has been the highlight of my life and I can’t wait to embark on the journey of parenting with him.

Our Cat

We adopted Amal Jr. in 2017 and he is the best cat ever! Every night he sleeps between Emily’s feet and first thing every morning he and Jake play fetch. He is very social and can often be found following us around the house just to be part of the action. He loves chattering at the birds out the window, exploring the hallways of our apartment building, doing tricks for treats, and sleeping in cardboard boxes.

Our Families

Each of us has three siblings and seven nieces and nephews aged 1-13 years old. Unfortunately, none of our family lives near us, but we visit them as often as we can. We love spending time with our families, but since we are currently spread across six states, it can be difficult! Family gatherings are filled with long conversations, side-splitting laughter, games, big meals, and little kids running all over the place. With Jake’s family, it might be a game of pinochle, “Randy’s salmon” on the grill, or a dip in the lake. With Emily’s family, it could be listening to her dad’s endlessly surprising stories about his childhood, picking raspberries in the garden, or taking Rusty (the dog) and the kids down to the creek. Both our families are eagerly awaiting the next addition!

If you are interested in knowing more about us, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!

Instagram: @emilyandjakeadopt

Facebook: fb.me/emilyandjakeadoption

Email: emilyandjakeadopt@gmail.com

Our social worker:

Katie Diaz
651.255.2254
katie.diaz@chlss.org