We are Jared and Amanda, plus Lillian and Lyla from the Midwestern state of Iowa! We admire you for your strength during your adoption journey. We have such respect for you and the decision you make for you and your child. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.

We are High School Sweethearts: We met our freshman year of high school in Spanish class. Amanda was new to Jared’s school and sat next to him in class. We got to know each other and formed a strong friendship and relationship. We have enjoyed growing up together and creating such wonderful memories along the way. We have chosen to set clear goals together to build a successful and fulfilling life. We were married at Amanda’s rural church in 2012 and knew we wanted to raise our family where we grew up. We love where we currently live and plan to be here forever.

We have two great daughters, Lilly, and Lyla. We have decided that having another child is very important to us as a family.

Amanda and I have been together for 18 years. Amanda has been a wonderful partner to me because she cares so much about our family. Amanda has been involved in everything in my life. We attended high school and college together. Amanda has supported me throughout my career, and she always puts family at the top of her list. Amanda always wants to better herself by being a great mom, wife, and teacher. She truly loves me and our children. Amanda is passionate about adding another child to our family because family is so important to her. She will be just as awesome with your child as she has been with our children.

I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family. In the summer, I enjoy planning fun outdoor activities for us to do around Decorah and our home. I enjoy organizing and planning our vacations. This is something I look forward to every year. Another hobby of mine is learning new things. I take classes through Morningside University to grow my knowledge as a teacher.

Jared is my best friend. Jared is a devoted father and husband to our family. He is very committed and determined to succeed in everything he does. Jared calls his grandparents frequently to catch up and check in on them during his free time. He spends a lot of quality time with his father working outdoors on our 13 acres of land. He is great at offering a hand to help others in need. Jared supports his children any way he can. He often spends time checking in with them about their day and finds ways to support them with their academics. He teaches us to be positive in everything we do. Jared is and will continue to be a loving father to our future child, and I can’t wait to raise another child with him by my side.

I enjoy working on projects outside including making trails in the woods, mowing, and having campfires. I love playing golf with my grandpa. I have been playing golf with him since I was ten years old. I play tennis with several friends in our community. I love to spend time with my family.

Lillian, who goes by Lilly, is our oldest daughter. She is seven years old and is in first grade. She enjoys gymnastics, drawing colorful pictures, swimming at the pool, and biking at grandma’s house. Lilly loves being a big sister to Lyla and is looking forward to another sibling.

Lyla is our youngest daughter. She is six years old and in kindergarten. Lyla enjoys running through the sprinkler in the back yard, playing with friends at the park, having campfires with the neighbors, and baking with her sister. Lyla cannot wait to become a big sister to your child.

In 2019, we purchased and renovated our home with a much larger yard for our children to play. The home has 13 acres and is located 2 miles outside of Decorah, Iowa. We enjoy sledding, building snowmen, and having snowball fights during the winter months. In the summer, we have campfires, hike in the woods, and have water balloon fights.

Decorah is about 3 hours south of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city of Decorah offers many opportunities for outdoor activities. There are multiple biking trails, a local fish hatchery, and many scenic parks to enjoy. Decorah is one of the top schools in the state of Iowa and offers many opportunities for future success. Decorah is a great place to raise a family.

We spend a lot of quality time with our loved ones. Our parents live close by and stop by to visit often. Jared has one brother who lives in a neighboring community. Jared’s parents pick up Lilly and Lyla every day from school. Amanda has a brother and a sister who live in Decorah, one sister in Minneapolis, and one sister in Hawaii. We take Lilly and Lyla to visit and bakes cookies with Jared’s grandpa often. We also visit Jared and Amanda’s grandmas in the nursing home. We want our children to know and build memories with their great-grandparents. We get together often throughout the year with our family. We celebrate holidays together and many niece’s and nephew’s birthdays.

Thank you so much for learning a little about our family and for considering us as adoptive parents to your child. We dream of the day we become a family of 5, and growing our family through adoption means so much to us. Please know, we will love your child unconditionally and fill their days with endless hugs and smiles!

Sincerely,

~Jared & Amanda plus Lillian & Lyla