We always knew we would grow our family through adoption. It was never "if" we should adopt, but "when." Through teaching, Sonja met many families built by adoption. Getting to know these families deepened her hopes to adopt. Witnessing close friends' families grow through adoption led to the kindling of Barak's desire to adopt. We had the opportunity to provide respite care for mothers-in-need. Snuggling and rocking those babies, loving on them wholeheartedly as our own, we truly discovered our capacity to bond with and unconditionally love any child.

When considering adoption, we wanted to ensure we could provide a stable environment. We didn't want to uproot a child from their home so close after adoption. We intentionally waited until the Navy and Barak's career could afford us this. Soon after starting the adoption process in 2021, we got news Sonja was pregnant, so we decided to put adoption on hold until after the birth. Tragically, two weeks before Sonja's scheduled C-section, she suffered a uterine rupture. Sonja's life was spared but sadly, our baby girl died on the way to the hospital. This trauma caused scarring that make it extremely risky for Sonja to ever bear children again.

We've always desired a large family. One like Sonja's that can fill a yard with grandkids, aunties, and uncles laughing and having a good time around good food. We want these blessings for another child and are now in the perfect season of life where we can offer it.

Barak is silly, funny, and happy-go-lucky. He can make any situation calmer or more fun with an entertaining anecdote. He is a loyal friend, the first to offer help. With so many moves, we've said goodbye to many amazing people, yet Barak is able to keep these relationships for a lifetime. He purposefully reaches out, checking up on people to remain connected. His lighthearted, sweet nature makes it easy for people to open up and befriend him. Barak is selfless and giving, placing family above all. He sacrifices daily, waking up before dawn, to allow time with his family in the evenings. He gives grace even when it is undeserved. Barak is a hard-worker. His dedication and self-determination to become a doctor is unmatched. We love his tender, gentle affection.

Throughout Sonja's life her commitment, dedication, and hard-work has led to success in every endeavor she sets her mind to, whether sports, academics, crafting, or career. She is passionate, sincere, and selfless, wholly giving of herself, whatever the cause. Sonja consistently supports and uplifts our family throughout moving, changing jobs, studying, or enduring hardships, enabling us to maintain our family unit by planning events to keep us close. Sonja has endless patience and stays calm in every situation. She is faithful and always sees the best in people. She is organized and prepared for anything life might throw at us. Sonja lives out her faith and daily reminds us to seek God and rest in Him.

Due to Barak's past military service, we've lived in major cities all over the country and been blessed to live in very diverse neighborhoods. This gave us the opportunity to embrace the various cultures around us. We love showing hospitality and getting to know others' ways of life. Barak has a way to befriend anyone. His ability to strike up conversations with ease has led to many lifelong friendships with people from various backgrounds. Sonja enjoys serving, often through meals, which has provided numerous opportunities to get to know people more intimately. Whether attending Chinese New Year celebrations with friends or drinking Turkish coffee with Iraqi neighbors, we love spending time with people and celebrating diversity. We both love learning new things, especially about people, which spills over to our friendships and knowing more about their heritages.

We are committed to celebrating our child's heritage. We desire to learn alongside them and integrate new traditions into our household, especially those shared to us by their birth family. We will encourage our child to get to know their biological history but will not force anything they do not want. We feel it is key to offer cultural connections and opportunities with openness for them to participate or not. We know at different stages a child might be more or less willing to be involved in traditional cultural events. We will make sure we have open communication so we get to know their true feelings around their cultural heritage and its importance.

Our house is tucked away in a peaceful neighborhood bordering an old golf course. We have a very diverse neighborhood with families from all walks of life. Many families have children, and we often hear laughter while all the kids play together outside.

Minutes from the beach, Legoland and downtown San Diego, our home is nestled at the end of a quiet street at the base of a canyon. It is two stories with four bedrooms. Sonja loves our open kitchen. Whenever she is baking or cooking, she can look over the island into the living room to watch the kids play or converse with friends. We have a fenced backyard where we like to host get-togethers. Through our backdoor, we often spot animals in the wildlife preserve behind our home. Our front yard is where we casually host neighbors. We usually have our garage open and the kids grab whatever toy, ball, racket, and/or equipment they need for their current game.

Our neighborhood playground, pool, and multi-sport court is a short walk from our house. Some summer evenings we bring dinner to the pool and share with friends. Neighbors regularly throw block parties, sometimes for specific holidays, other times just to socialize. All are invited. Most evenings or weekends we gather in someone's driveway and chitchat while the kids play. Everyone watches out for each other and the kids. It is the perfect place to raise a family!

Even with extended family spread out we remain close. Every year we get together with Barak's family in Washington. We go to the river, local playgrounds, hike, visit beaches, and have movie nights. Best of all, the entire family plays Wiffle ball in Grandma and Grampsie's backyard. We love barbecuing and eating outside. Usually, we end our nights around a fire, roasting marshmallows and watching a movie on the projector. After bedtime the adults have serious fun playing games the aunties brought.

With Disneyland and other southern-California tourist spots close by, our family comes to our house for vacations. Barak's parents regularly come stay with us for extended periods of time, spoiling their grandkids. They are extremely active: jumping on the trampoline, playing basketball or wrestling with the grandkids. Grampsie brags about having ten grandkids and "one on the way."

We are blessed to live close to Sonja's family. We have dinners together most weeknights. Grandma lives on a small farm. We enjoy canning food from the orchard and gardens. Living close makes holidays special. Sonja's sister's family travels to Grandma's from Texas. At Christmas, we make huge batches of tamales to share with friends and family. We get to Texas once a year to see our nephews play baseball. This year our nephew was recruited to represent Mexico in a state-wide tournament showcasing players' cultural heritages.

Thank you for your selflessness and compassion deciding to bring a child into this world. We recognize you are flooded by many what-ifs on this incredibly difficult journey, and many emotions are compounded by pregnancy. We want you to know as you are making this decision, scanning through profiles, you are considering a beautiful choice. We want you to rest assured you are in a safe place without outsiders telling you what you should do. We hope while here, all the background noise can be blocked out allowing you to hear what your heart truly desires. With us you will find acceptance and encouragement without judgement.

We are honored you have taken the time to get to know us better. We are comfortable with whatever degree of openness you desire in your child's life. This baby will always be a part of you. It will be our privilege to raise them knowing who you are and how much you love them. Adding your baby to our family does not mean removing them from yours. From day one we want baby to know both of their families. We hope we can maintain our relationship forever, but will be sensitive to what you are comfortable with. Our degree of closeness will be your choice. We know it may fluctuate over time.

We met through our love of soccer. Barak was on the men's soccer team in college, and the summer before Sonja's first year of college she was recruited to play for the women's soccer team. During the summer, before academic learning, our two teams were the only students on or around campus, so naturally we hung out with each other on occasion. During "hell-week" both of our teams took a much-needed break between two-a-day practices to rest and lounge at the pool. All of us being athletes and competitive, we did not manage too much relaxing and an impromptu water polo game broke out. Sonja thought this was hilarious because everyone could barely swim and stay afloat. She played water polo very competitively growing up in addition to soccer and seeing everyone's attempts to play the game was comical. This was when she first noticed Barak and thought he was wild and WAY too competitive for a silly pick-up game. Little did Sonja know, Barak had noticed her the first day training started and, as young men do, was showing-off to get her attention. Our mutual friends kept us in the same social circles, so we had frequent encounters throughout the first semester. To spend more time around Sonja, Barak befriended Sonja's best-friend. It was not until after soccer season and well into second semester that Barak finally got the nerve to ask Sonja on their first date. We have been inseparable ever since.

We are blessed with careers that provide dependable, financial stability. In addition to a safe and loving home, we will offer your baby every opportunity for success in their pursuits. As they strive towards their dreams, we will excitedly share these moments with you. Whether through pictures, videos, texts, letters, and/or invitations to events, we will include you, based on your comfort level. We want to share the huge milestones as well as our day-to-day lives.

As a couple we've weathered many storms, consistently coming out stronger. We remain best friends, each other's strongest supporters. 16 years of marriage has taught us love is patient and kind. It bears all things, endures all things, and love never ends. This kind of love has allowed our relationship to grow and strengthen. It is this love we are excited to shower on your baby.

We are praying you have peace throughout this process and sincerely admire you for considering adoption for your baby.

Barak & Sonja