Family is important to both of us. Both of us have a heart for foster care personally, as well as professionally. God brought us together, not just with each other, but also to support JT (formerly Jessica), and Marc (formerly AJ). It is so cool how our Father makes a pathway where none seems possible. God answered Suzie's dream of having a family and caring for youth from the foster care system. God also answered Joe's dream (and hope) that marriage could be a safe place again after circumstances of the past 2 years led him to doubt if that was possible. Through the trials of Suzie's intense career stress and Joe's divorce, God continues to pour out love and grace, making beauty from ashes. Thank you, God.

Our story is one of waiting. Waiting on the Lord's perfect timing. Waiting on the Lord to bring us together at the right time. Waiting until He had prepared us both for future adventures and a unified family which (of course) happened within a larger story of adoption. Or maybe our story is one of Gods faithfulness in the waiting...

Both of us "stumbled" into social work, specifically working with youth from hard and difficult pasts. God's mercy prompted our hearts to serve these children for most of the past 20 years. Joe began at The Hutton Settlement Children's Home in Spokane, Washington in 2000, as a houseparent. Suzie began at The Florence Crittenton Home in Helena, Montana in 1998, also as a houseparent. As houseparents, we were responsible for caring for each child in daily activities of life and supporting them therapeutically. In this work, God's compassion and grace was extended in ways that ministered to us and to the children. God used this time to prepare and shape us so that He could unify us on this journey.