Jacob, or Jake, is a Marine Intelligence Officer with seven years of service. He plans to transition out to become a data scientist in 2024. His personal hobbies include playing baseball and basketball, drumming, and writing music. As a self-proclaimed “perpetual student,” Jake is passionate about philosophy, societal issues and awareness, and general learning. Miranda is a loving and caring person who enjoys helping others, which is what led her to her career as a registered nurse. Miranda currently works in an outpatient clinic with dialysis patients. She has always enjoyed baking and cooking, especially trying out new recipes. She recently started exploring a newfound enjoyment for art. Together we enjoy beach trips, puzzles, game nights, bowling, and finding active things to do together.

Miranda is one of four daughters raised by two loving parents. Her mother spent most of her childhood at home with her and her sisters while her dad worked as an electrician and started his own company. Their familial sense of unity and fellowship transcends the miles between family members as they can be found catching up over phone calls and video calls daily.

Jake is one of two sons. His mother and father are separated, with his father living in East Texas as the owner of an electrical company and his mother living in Vermont near where his brother’s family lives. Jake’s family has established roots all over the country, affording them the opportunity to frequently travel the country and see new areas!

Because of this distance, friendship has become paramount to our household. We consider our closest friends to be family, and those bonds have likewise withstood the crucible of time and distance. Our family-friend communities are, and will remain, elemental to the foundation on which our family and community grow. Though the distance and time between reunions may be more extended than other seasons of our life, the moments with family and friends never are taken for granted.

We live in a small, tucked-away community in a suburban Southern California home. Our house is one of many on our street with children aged 4 to 14, and we all get together often to spend time and celebrate together whenever we can! Our home is one with a “nearly always open door” policy. We frequently have family and friends over for dinner or to watch sporting events. Our home’s sense of community and belongingness is important to us, and that sense is primarily what drove us to move to where we currently live. Although we certainly love our human company, we also cherish our furry family. We share our house with two additional companions: Franklin and Charli, our affectionate and sweet pups.

We have been blessed already through the adoption journey as we have both grown immensely as individuals and as a family solely from learning more about what adoption actually is and, more importantly, what it can be like for birthmothers and adoptive parents. We both have long-held ambitions to grow our family. We recognize we are in a stable and healthy place in our lives and we can offer a nurturing and loving home for a beautiful life. The moment we first brought up adoption, it was like a switch flicked in our hearts and our minds immediately. This process is so much bigger than us, and we adamantly wish to bring happiness and peace of mind to our family and to another.