Hello! We are Abby and Tony! We are honored that you are interested in learning more about us as prospective parents.

Our story together started on a Tuesday, but more specifically, a Taco Tuesday! Tony and his roommates hosted a weekly taco dinner for friends, and this time, Abby was invited to attend by a mutual friend. We hit it off over the guacamole and decided to have coffee the next week. We made a connection that Abby was applying to guide youth backpacking trips at the same camp in Colorado that Tony had spent the last few summers working at. That summer, we had the opportunity to guide a trip together and realized that we made a pretty good team! Our love continued to grow back at home in Indianapolis as we continued going on adventures around town. We were engaged within the year and married the next summer in June of 2016.

We both work with youth and have been excited about starting a family of our own for a few years. Two years ago, we decided to become foster parents. We have had the beautiful opportunity to provide a temporary home for children in the past. We loved the experience of coming alongside the birth parents while the children were in our care. Now, we are hoping to start a forever family through open adoption and are excited for you to be a part of that!

The top three words I would use to describe Tony are consistent, steady, and endless fun. No matter what situation or person he is around, Tony is the same. He’s just as welcoming and open in his high school classroom as he is in our home. Tony is also my steady and dependable support. He is always willing to listen and problem solve whenever I need him. And, he is just a lot of fun! Whether he’s making me laugh while we’re trying to do household chores or planning an awesome playlist for our next backyard BBQ, Tony brings joy and delight into our lives.

One of my favorite things about Tony is the way he commits himself to his chosen profession of teaching. He is constantly reading new books and learning about the world so that he can pass that along to his students. Tony truly cares about these kids - not just about whether they can write a great essay, but about their individual well-being.

Abby is one of the most generous and loyal people in the universe. She is kind, funny, an amazing cook and has a great eye for design. She loves trying new things and is constantly striving to improve the things she comes across. Our home is so inviting because of Abby's intentional design of each room.

I really admire how much Abby cares about other people and how she makes people feel seen. Her work in the non-profit sector has led her to helping mentor at-risk youth, raising money for drug rehabilitation centers, and providing basic necessities for women and children’s shelters. She truly does it all!

One of my favorite things to witness in our marriage was Abby as a foster mom. She was always finding fun activities and adventures for the children we had in our home, cooking new foods for them to try, and intentionally providing structure and routine to make the home a safe place. I know that she’s going to continue doing these things once we adopt, and always make sure that a child feels both loved and safe in our home. 

We live in a historic house built in 1900 that we’ve been slowly renovating since we bought it. We designed the kitchen and dining room to be a place for gathering friends and family around good food. Our favorite new addition to our home is our back patio. In the warmer months, we are out there all the time - for dinners, bonfires, gardening, and playing with our dog.

We are biased, but we think our neighborhood is the best in Indianapolis! Our neighborhood is diverse from young families to people who have lived here for multiple generations. After we moved here in 2016, we have had many friends move in on the same street as us. People are always out and about, and our neighborhood group hosts community events throughout the year. We love walking just a few blocks to the three nearby parks, museums, and the top-rated local school that we hope the children that we adopt can attend someday.

We love living in Indianapolis and enjoy taking advantage of all the city has to offer. From trying new restaurants to exploring the city parks and trails, we love uncovering new neighborhoods and areas. We have lots of friends that come to visit from out of town and we love showing them our favorite spots around the city. We enjoy living in such an urban area, but we also take advantage of any opportunity to get into nature and be outside.

We both come from very tight-knit families. Tony grew up in Wisconsin in the middle of two sisters, who he is still close to today. Abby grew up in Colorado with a younger brother that she still loves spending time with today. 

Both of our parents are still together and live in the respective houses that we each grew up in. Although most of our family lives out of state, we talk regularly and visit often. Both of our parents have instilled great values in us - love of travel, compassion for others, and that family comes first – our families are some of our biggest supporters.

We host and attend annual reunions with extended family on both sides that are some of our favorite memories each year. One of our favorite things about our families is that they consistently “show up.” Whether it's a party to celebrate, a hard life-event to mourn, or a visit to help with home renovations, they are always all-in with us and couldn’t be more excited to welcome another to our number.

If you gave us a free Saturday to do our favorite things, here’s what we would do:

• Invite some friends over for brunch. We’re making Tony’s family recipe of Swedish pancakes!
• Head to the hardware store to pick up some supplies for our most recent house project (adding new wood trim to our fireplace)
• Hop on our bikes, ride to our favorite pizza place and get a to-go pie to eat at the park
• Enjoy the setting sun on our back patio while having a bonfire

We love being around friends and family and make a great effort to spend time with our community frequently. Some of our favorite seasonal activities throughout the year include watching the Green Bay Packers football team, cutting down a Christmas tree with Tony’s sister, and hosting an annual Mardi Gras party, complete with traditional King Cake. In all that we do, we strive to be inclusive and inviting. We think that shows in the large support system that we have.

We are grateful that you have taken the time to review our profile. We hope that we have given you a good idea of who we are and what we hope to offer your child. We promise to give your child a home where they always know that they are loved by us, and by you. 

Your name will be mentioned often in our house and we will always speak highly of you. Our greatest desire would be for the child that we adopt to know you. Regardless of the level of openness you prefer, we will always remind the child of your strength and courage. We will respect your wishes either way - just know that our door will always be open.

Gratefully,

Tony and Abby