Scott is a Korean American adoptee raised by lower/middle-class white parents in the Midwest. He has two siblings who are also adopted from different biological families. Scott was raised in a loving family by two parents who ensured he and his siblings would not want for anything. The concept of "adoption" influences his entire identity and idea of what defines the notion of "family." Simply put, adoption and family are synonymous to us. Scott in particular has known no other family structure outside of the adoptive context.

With Scott being a transracial adoptee, he is intimately familiar with the struggles and situations that some adoptees may face. This child will be raised in an environment of love and support with strong ties to their culture framed within a multi-cultural family. They will be encouraged to explore the world and explore themselves as they grow to reach their fullest potential and discover that which brings joy to their life.

We lead a very active lifestyle. We are committed to our health and therefore exercise most days of the week. On the weekends we enjoy the great outdoor adventures Michigan has to offer and you can often find us hiking, biking, swimming in Lake Michigan, camping, or skiing during the winter months.

We love having date nights which often include dressing up and going to the symphony, the theater, or dinner with friends. We met ballroom dancing in college and this is still something we enjoy to this day. Our favorite dances together are the waltz, rumba, salsa, and bachata.

Currently we both work full-time. After a long day of work, we like to come home and relax by going for a walk, eating dinner, and then catching an episode of our favorite TV show. Although we have a very active lifestyle, we most definitely enjoy our downtime. We love to watch comedies and dramas, read books, and sit in our living room with tea talking about life. Our kitchen is the heart and soul of our home so you will often find us dreaming up new and exciting recipes from our travels and sharing them with friends and family.

Our favorite holiday by far is Thanksgiving. Scott is an incredible cook and makes the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner. The whole day is special as our family spends time together. We start the day sipping on maple Vermont coffee, eating cinnamon rolls, and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. While waiting for the turkey we play our favorite card games and board games. Before diving into a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner, we go around the table and share what we are grateful for that year. We then end the night sampling at least 4-5 different desserts and putting in our favorite holiday movie.

We live in Michigan in a large neighborhood outside the city. Our neighborhood has lots of young families so our child will have other kids to play and go to school with. Our home is two stories with three bedrooms and a large backyard with a beautiful garden. We have lots of nearby parks, hiking trails, and family friendly venues that often put on large family events. We love the four seasons Michigan has to offer. Our child will enjoy warm summers swimming in Lake Michigan, cool falls collecting colorful leaves, and building a snowman or sledding during the winter months.

The community where we live is a wonderful representation of the global diversity that we embrace. When we were choosing where to make our home, we were very intentional that it be a place where our child would have the opportunity to embrace other cultures and communities. Recognizing that we are an interracial family, cultural equity and inclusiveness are founding principles upon which our family stands.

We both come from small families that live within an hour's drive. Family is very important to us and we love spending time with them. When we announced our plans to adopt, they could not have been more thrilled or supportive– especially as this will be the first grandchild in the family!

Scott's parents are incredibly loving and a constant source of support and encouragement. They also provide great advice as they have been through the adoption process themselves. Scott and his 2 siblings were adopted from Korea which gives our family a unique perspective on what makes a family beyond biology. We make a point to share family dinners and impromptu visits to make sure they are involved in our lives.

Every year we go on a camping trip with Sarah's family. We find a new adventure to try on each trip such as canoeing, horseback riding, or even ziplining. We love to stay up late talking around the campfire sharing both memories and hopes for the future. Our favorite holiday with Sarah's family is the 4th of July – we go on a long bike ride, have a big cookout, and then end the night setting off fireworks.

We want to first acknowledge and recognize your bravery, selflessness, and compassion in playing such a major role in the adoption journey. It is our most profound hope that by reading through our profile, you get a glimpse of the people we are, and the type of parents we aspire to be. We invite you to learn more about us and in doing so, help you feel secure in the knowledge that this child will be loved, supported, and cared for all the days of their life.

We met in college 12 years ago through a mutual passion for ballroom dancing. We began to date shortly after and continued our relationship through graduate school until we married in 2014. Together, we have an incredibly strong marriage - one built on trust, respect, and commitment. Whenever we communicate and make decisions, we always make sure to listen to the other person's side and to consider their feelings and perspective. We are a constant source of strength and support for one another and know we will be for this child as well.

Sarah is a physical therapist and works with a variety of patients at a local hospital. Her favorite populations to work with include the oncology and neurological population. Sarah loves her job because every day she gets to meet someone new, hear their story, and become part of their recovery journey. If her job has taught her anything, it is to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.

Scott is a human resources leader at a university where he has also served as a lecturer for many years. His work is focused on creating spaces where people of all walks of life can be their true authentic selves. One of his greatest joys as a lecturer is taking an active role in helping young students grow and develop in their identities and their professions. Years after leaving his classroom, he still has kept in close contact with his now former students who seek advice, mentoring, and a few words of encouragement. The thought of being a father in a similar capacity as a teacher and mentor, is one that he looks forward to with eager anticipation.

We have always considered adoption as a way to expand our family, but we wanted to try naturally first. When we found out we would not be able to conceive naturally we were faced with the decision of pursuing IVF or adoption. Because of our personal connection with adoption, it was natural that adopting a child was the right path for us to start our family. We are so excited to be parents and to support them and celebrate each milestone; their first steps, their first day of school, cheering them on at sporting events, applauding them at music recitals, and watching them graduate high school and eventually enter the real world.

As the child grows, we also want them to know you as you are an integral part of their identity. Scott, as is common with most international adoptees, was never able to have any information nor ability to connect with his birth mother. He understands more than most, what it is like to be missing such a big part of his identity and connection to heritage. Therefore, we want to introduce them to the concept of "birth parent" as early as possible so we can encourage and support them as they explore this connection. We are happy to connect via American Adoptions and will gladly send emails or letters with photos and updates.

We want you to know that as this child grows, so too will we grow with them. We will take every opportunity to foster their natural curiosity and see the beauty and wonder that is the world. They will be loved beyond measure, supported without question, and protected with our lives.

Scott & Sarah