Hannah & Erik | Hopeful Adoptive Family in Northern Minnesota

Our Story

We met in early 2018 after connecting on a dating app, but our story really began with a mutual friend. Once Hannah got the thumbs up, we started chatting and quickly bonded over our shared backgrounds in engineering, curiosity, and a love of making each other laugh. What started as easy conversation quickly turned into a relationship built on shared values, mutual support, and plenty of laughter.As our relationship grew, we experienced both exciting adventures and meaningful life moments together. We’ve explored the Rocky Mountains, kayaked in Alaska, deep sea fished in San Diego, and made memories in cities across the country. Closer to home, we’ve adopted four rescue pets, built traditions with family and friends, and created a home full of warmth, support, and laughter.Like any relationship, our story has also included challenges that helped strengthen us. Early on, we walked through a major, unexpected loss together and learned how to support one another through grief and difficult seasons. Through both joyful and hard moments, we’ve built a partnership rooted in trust, communication, humor, and showing up for one another.In 2020, Erik found a way to surprise Hannah in a way she never saw coming. After COVID canceled Grandma’s Marathon, he completed a virtual marathon instead, with Hannah serving as part of his “pit crew” alongside friends who cheered him on throughout the day. At the finish line, after running 26.2 miles, Erik asked for a hug and, while Hannah’s back was turned, a friend quietly handed him the ring. Completely surprised, Hannah turned around to find Erik down on one knee on the side of Highway 61.We were married the following fall beneath a canopy of autumn leaves in northern Wisconsin, surrounded by family, friends, and people who have supported us throughout our journey. One of our favorite things about our wedding was how full it felt of laughter, surprises, and small personal touches that reflected who we are as a couple.Adoption has always held a special place in our hearts, and we’re excited to continue writing our story as we grow our family. We know the next chapter will bring new traditions, adventures, and everyday moments, and we can’t wait to share that life with a child.

Our Home and Traditions

We live in a small town in northern Minnesota just outside of Duluth, tucked into a peaceful and close-knit community. Our home sits on five wooded acres at the end of a quiet dead-end road surrounded by woods and wetlands. Our neighborhood is made up of families in every stage of life, from young children to retirees, and there’s a genuine sense of care and connection here. It’s the kind of place where neighbors wave as they pass, kids ride bikes down the road on summer evenings, and life moves at a pace that makes it easy to appreciate the little things.Our home is cozy, welcoming, and full of life year-round. In the winter, we love sledding with our nieces down the little hill in our yard and watching the first snowfall from the warmth of our living room. We also love spotting deer, foxes, rabbits, and birds outside our windows. Bird feeders stay busy year-round and we can easily lose track of time watching cardinals, chickadees, and squirrels from inside with a warm drink in hand.When the snow melts, our yard comes alive. Spring and summer mean tending vegetable and flower gardens, playing fetch with the dogs, grilling on the patio, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. We’re excited to continue growing our garden and one day share the fun of planting, harvesting, and discovering new things together.

Traditions and togetherness are a big part of our lives. We love celebrating holidays and creating reasons to gather with family and friends. Friday nights in the summer often mean dinner at Hannah’s sister’s house, complete with lawn games and chasing the ice cream truck. We celebrate the Fourth of July with Erik’s family, and during the holidays we love creating our own traditions by gathering with Hannah’s sister, nieces, and close friends. We make homemade cookies and treats to share, host game nights, enjoy Sunday family dinners, and carve pumpkins in the fall. We also love ringing in the New Year with games, snacks, and plenty of laughter.Building community and staying connected to the people around us is important to us. Whether it’s volunteering, attending local events, or hosting friends and family, we love creating spaces where people feel welcomed and included.

The Everyday Moments We Hope to Share

More than anything, we hope our home feels like a place where a child feels safe, deeply loved, celebrated, and encouraged to become exactly who they are.

Message to Birth Parents

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us and consider us as adoptive parents. We recognize the incredible strength, love, and courage behind your decision, and we are deeply grateful that you’re here. We can only imagine the emotions, questions, and hopes you may be carrying, and we want you to know that your heart, bravery, and thoughtfulness do not go unnoticed.We hold deep respect for you and the important role you play in your child’s life and story. Adoption begins with love, but we also recognize that it can hold complexity, grief, and uncertainty. No matter what path you choose or where your journey leads, we honor the care and consideration you are giving every step of the way.If we are fortunate enough to be chosen, we hope to build not only a family with your child, but also a relationship with you rooted in trust, honesty, and mutual respect. We believe openness is not one-size-fits-all. Relationships naturally grow and change over time, and we want to approach that with flexibility, grace, and open communication. Whether that means letters, photos, visits, phone calls, or something entirely different, we want to create space for what feels safe, healthy, and meaningful for everyone involved.Above all, we want your child to grow up knowing how deeply they are loved by you. We will speak openly about their story, honor where they came from, and create space for questions, emotions, and connection. We want them to grow up knowing they never have to choose between the people who love them.With gratitude and compassion,

- Hannah & Erik

Thank you

Thank you for connecting with us. We know reaching out can take courage, and we’re grateful you’re here. We’ll be in touch soon.

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