About Us
Our Story
As stated in our letter, we met in church more than 17 years ago, and after a couple years of dating and engagement, we married in 2006. We were both intrigued by our common interest, looks, and the general warmth we both had towards others and one another. All these things lead to us being a great team.
As mentioned in our profile, we are Christian, and our faith is both real and important to us. We are not perfect, but we strive to live this life in hope of the One who gave His life for us. We are Protestant and non-denominational. We serve in leadership capacity at our local church (pastors); Stephenie sings, our daughter is gracefully advancing on the piano, and we are in church (online via Zoom or in person) multiple times per week. We have family times of prayer and devotionals where Donovan leads the family in a biblical teaching or passage that is applicable to all of us. Our daughter is homeschooled right now, but prior to COVID, she attended the private Christian school about a mile away.
Our Home
Our home. purchased as a new development in 2008, is an approximately 2,000 square foot, single-family home. It has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The prospective child (or children) would sleep in a room that is vacant and currently used for storage. Our surrounding community is a quiet, suburban neighborhood with various amenities nearby. There is an elementary school, a middle school, and two high schools within a 3-mile radius; there’s also a private Christian school that is walking distance. Additionally, we have a grocery store that is also walking distance. Our community, as evident from my nearest neighbors and the local school, is diverse in ethnicity. The diversity correlates with the heavy government and military presence in the community that is typical of Northern Virginia. Additionally, our community has a homeowner’s association (HOA), and there are various community events, especially in the summer. We have a pool, basketball court, playground, and tennis court in our community as well.
Donovan
This is tough--it's hard to talk about one's self. Traits that make me a good partner would probably be having a considerate nature and being diligent in *most* things. I think these traits allow me to (1) think about others, in particular my wife and daughter, ahead of myself, and (2) finish tasks that I start, even if those tasks are challenging or time consuming.
As for traits that'll make a great parent, honestly, I think it's my faith in God and the Scriptures. I certainly haven't mastered parenting, but being willing to communicate and apologize/own one's mistakes when an offense is committed models proper behavior for children to imitate. Additionally, being willing to invest in a child through "teachable moments" while practicing what one preaches is helpful and enables children to see consistency from their parents.
Stephenie
Hmmm, what makes me a good partner? I am an honest and hardworking person that strives to meet established goals. I do not make risky or ill-advised decisions that have consequences or will cause negative impacts on my relationships. What makes me a good parent? Parenting is held in high-esteem and I strive to be serious and yet fun-loving. There is a conscientious effort in communicating and teaching to ensure transition in phases as our child grows. Honesty, communication, and love will always remain constant to stay relatable and encourage openness.
