Hanna & Daniel • Waiting Families • PairTree

Hanna

Jester

Gender:

Female

State:

Wisconsin

Religion:

Christianity

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree

Profession:

Full-Time Mommy

Political Affiliation:

Prefer not to say

Daniel

Innocent

Gender:

Male

State:

Wisconsin

Religion:

Christianity

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree

Profession:

Training Coordinator

Political Affiliation:

Prefer not to say

Hello!

Writing a letter to someone you haven’t met yet is a lot like the waiting game of pregnancy. You know you’re going to love the person you’re about to meet, but there are a lot of surprises along the way that make it impossible to know what the whole experience is going to look like. We are thrilled to take this journey to meet you—both of you. In the meantime, let us introduce ourselves! Daniel and I (Hanna) were both born and raised in the Upper Midwest, which meant a lot of outdoor adventures—hiking in the woods, canoeing down the Brule River, and swimming in the almost-always-freezing-cold Lake Superior. We have similar, but different family backgrounds. Daniel has four siblings, while I just have a younger brother. Daniel’s childhood was spent largely on a hobby farm raising sheep and other animals. I, on the other hand, did a lot of traveling cross-country for both family road trips and to keep our family together when my dad had to work out of town, which he did fairly often. We’ve tried to blend the best of both worlds by being ready for travel to visit family and friends, but also keeping our home life interesting with our flock of Easter Egger chickens. Daniel and I find raising a family to be one of the most interesting, entertaining, and rewarding elements of life so far. On that note…our three kiddos are completely different in their individual likes, dislikes, and general personalities, but they all agree that adding a sibling is a great idea. (They were very disappointed when they discovered that we were not, in fact, going to be bringing home a baby from our first adoption support group meeting. They’re really on board with this idea.) Because we have a good sense of the uniqueness of each child—both strengths and challenges—we feel that we are able to adapt to whatever your little one will need, making them as much a part of our family as the three we currently have. We love the thrill of adventuring as a family, but we also can appreciate the warmth and security of an evening at home together. Our extended family and friends are amazing, and many are avid supporters of the adoption triad. Your little one would have the benefit of being one of many adoptees in our circles, and we as parents have the blessing of many adoptive mentors who can help give guidance if we’re stumped. We know that this is a hard road for you to walk, and we want you to know that we’ve already been praying for you. Thank you for considering entrusting your precious little one to our family.

Hanna & Daniel

Hiking in the woods with Daddy is just the best, especially when we find golf balls from the nearby course!

Our middle kiddo is sweet and snuggly and loves to take care of our chickens.

These guys love each other so much. Sure, they have their differences, but they are completely loyal to one another and are looking forward to adding another kid to the trio!

When we argue, what’s it about?

We don't often argue, but when we do, it's usually about how to spend our free time.

-Daniel

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you look at the night sky?

I think of all the other people over thousands of years who looked up at the same night sky and wonder what they were doing and what they were thinking about.

-Daniel

My favorite place in the World is...

The Northwoods. I really do think we live in the most beautiful spot in the world.

-Daniel

If you had to live on an RV or sailboat for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Tough decision. Normally, I'd say the RV, but with the price of gas....how big a sailboat are we talking?

-Hanna

We like to travel and explore together. This past summer, we got to take a trip to South Dakota.

If you need some super-sisters, look no further!

If you had to live on an RV or sailboat for the rest of your life, which would it be?

RV. There are more interesting places to see on land than on water.

-Daniel

Favorite season and why?

SUMMER! In the northern Midwest, we get amazing colorful falls, snowy winters, and rainy springs, but our summers, filled with swimming, biking, cookouts, and camping are just the best.

-Hanna

If you had to pick a famous person to play you in a movie, who would it be?

Cary Grant

-Daniel

Favorite season and why?

Spring. I love hearing the birds sing after a long Northland winter, enjoying the freshness of the world. And mud, but not just any mud. I love the smell of the very first mud that happens in the spring.

-Daniel

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you look at the night sky?

Depends on the night. Sometimes, I feel how small I am and yet how much God loves me. Other nights, I wonder just how many more Starlink satellites we're gonna end up having up there!

-Hanna

Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?

Both...and neither. I follow Jesus, not traditions (so kinda religious, I guess?). And I do think God can work in and through us, but I'm skeptical of anything without Biblical precedent.

-Hanna

If I could choose one type of food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be:

Burgers. Nearly infinite variety with all the food groups.

-Daniel

Every once in a blue moon, WE get a selfie together. Usually, we're too busy making memories and taking pictures of the kids!

Summertime = picnics!

First snow of the season! Our gloves may not match and we *might* be wearing someone else's boots, but we know how to make a snowman!

Do I have kids? How do they feel about a sibling?

Three so far. The 2-yr-old thinks we need another, since he's a "big kid." The 4-yr-old wants "lots of babies." The 6-yr-old said, "As long as I'm still the oldest...and the baby is cute."

-Hanna

Three years from now, I hope our child’s birth mom is…

Confident that she did the right thing for her little one and excited about their future.

-Daniel

What scares you?

The thought of my kids being hurt or scared without me there to comfort them.

-Hanna

Dogs or cats?

I'm super picky about both. Better a mediocre cat than a dumb dog, though. I once had a dog (Pepper) who could play the piano, jump through a hula hoop, and drag our sleds uphill for us in the snow.

-Hanna

Daniel's a pretty strong and supportive guy who loves his family! 😉

When we argue, what’s it about?

Who's arguing? Pretty sure it's going to be something dumb, like whether or not French Onion Dip is as good as Top the Tater for potato chips (it's not, btw). I get along with pretty much everyone.

-Hanna

What scares you?

Not being able to predict what moments my kids will find memorable. I hope that I will be able to have the patience and intentionality to make those moments positive ones for them.

-Daniel

My neighborhood is a good place to raise a family because…

Adoption/fostering is a normal part of our community! These are the people who "get it." We technically live out in the country, but are connected to a crazy supportive group of friends and family.

-Hanna

My philosophy on parenting is...

Investing in children so that they eventually become competent adults while not losing the joys of childhood.

-Daniel

Three years from now, I hope our child’s birth mom is…

Loved. Happy. Fulfilled. Understood. There is always hope. I've been praying that you will find comfort and acceptance both from us and ultimately from the One who made you and your sweet baby.

-Hanna

My philosophy on parenting is...

Getting to the heart of the issue. My love AND my discipline matches each child's needs. Kids are going to act like kids, but my job is to nurture and help them grow into capable, caring adults.

-Hanna

In five years our relationship with our child’s birth mother will…

Change, probably. There are seasons in life, ebbs and flows. We get that. None of us will stay exactly the same, and that's okay. We take it one step at a time, and we pursue clear communication.

-Hanna

My favorite YouTube video is: (paste the full link)

https://youtu.be/dVlaZfLlWQc

-Hanna

I'm super competitive when it comes to...

Volleyball. Once a year, at our church camp, it's the guys vs. the girls, and the smack-talk is hilarious. But that's about it. Life's about more than beating someone else...except in volleyball. ;)

-Hanna

My neighborhood is a good place to raise a family because…

We are one of two houses on a dead-end road, and the other house is where Hanna's parents live. We used to live in a small house in town, so we now really appreciate being able to let the kids play outside together or walk down to Grandma's house for a visit.

-Daniel

Complete the sentence, “I can’t live without……”

Books.

-Daniel

The most special thing I own is...

A ball peen hammer my dad gave me when I was young. As a kid, I used it for everything from pounding in nails to knocking down dead trees. It's a wonder I never lost it.

-Daniel

What is the best word to describe our family?

Unified. We are pursuing Christ together, and because of that, we are also pursuing love for each other, compassion for others, and personal growth and maturity.

-Hanna

My favorite website is (...not your Facebook page :)):

Art of Manliness. It's a men's interest blog that provides guidance to young men as they navigate life. I know it's helped me over the years.

-Daniel

I would never...

Shake hands with a lobster.

-Hanna

If I could have dinner with anyone—dead or alive—I would pick...

My wife. Either her or Teddy Roosevelt.

-Daniel

If I could choose one type of food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be:

Fruit. Or maybe Italian food? Does macaroni and cheese qualify as true pasta?