Andrea, about Josh:

Josh     Josh is a wonderful man who is always willing to serve and respects and cares about those around him.  I love that he is always willing to forgive and wrap his arms around me, even if I am being the stubborn one.  He is sure to always give me a hug and kiss within minutes of arriving home.  He is intelligent, kind, supportive and is one of the most even tempered people I know.  He is great at tracking our finances and takes pleasure in planning and preparing for our future.  

      My husband is modest about his talents, but is a very capable musician.  He loves percussion and marching band music, dancing, and plays the drums and piano.  He also loves to sing, though he doesn’t go around the house singing nearly as much as I do. Josh also celebrates others’ talents and is an avid supporter and admirer of the arts.  We enjoy attending the symphony, dance and drama productions locally.  

     Josh received his Global Master of Business Administration degree and enjoys making connections with others all over the world.  He has lived abroad and loves to learn about other cultures and languages.   He speaks Hmong and Mandarin Chinese and has taught his friends and family to play Mah Jong, a Chinese tile game, which has become one of our favorites. 


Josh, about Andrea:

Andrea     Andrea has many hobbies and interests and is always in the middle of a project or two (or three).  If she’s not baking banana bread or working on a quilt, then she’s taking photographs or planning our next family vacation.  Traveling to new places and experiencing cultures has become a passion for my wife.  Whitewater Rafting in New Zealand, climbing the Great Wall and eating Schnitzel in Austria are some of her most memorable experiences.  She hopes one day to visit every continent, even Antarctica! (And you can guarantee I'll be right there by her s ide!)

     My wife enjoys planning themed parties and events. Shortly after we began dating we spent many hours preparing for an “Ugly Bug Ball” where guests dressed as “spelling bees”, luna “ticks” and “love” bugs, etc.  We made giant paper mache ants, huge spider webs, vines, and life-size flowers.   We had real grass on the refreshment table where the treats were all in the shapes of insects.  She finds joy in the details and loves to plan activities where others can make memories and enjoy themselves. (Instead of a traditional wedding reception, we threw a Hawaiian Luau to celebrate with our family and friends!)

     Andrea is a great mom to Lily.  It's been amazing to watch how much Andrea has taught her in such a short time. I love coming home from work every day to both of them and seeing what new word or action Lily has learned. Andrea is also a great wife. She's very patient with me and supportive in my work, church callings, and everything else I do.  She is very organized (ask her about our "home inventory!"), dedicated and hard-working. 


Josh and Andrea, about Lily:

Lily     Lily is the greatest thing since sliced bread...really!  She is the center of our lives and the cutest little kiddo around.  We absolutely adore her and cannot imagine what life would be like without her.  She is bright, fun, a bit messy at times, independent and loves to learn.  She is a sweet little angel (most of the time) who has just about everyone wrapped around her finger, and she’s not even two yet!

      Lily loves to run and play.  She takes delight in the small things and enjoys her many board books, toys and stuffed animals.  We are always amazed at her growth and talents.  She is an accomplished model (since we have taken thousands of pictures of her), an avid reader (or at least a bookworm who likes to look at pictures), a pianist (now that she has figured out not to play all of the keys at once), a social butterfly (who loves people of all ages and is not shy about saying “Hi!” to anyone in the vicinity) and a budding photographer (if she’ll stop putting her finger all over the lens).  She loves vegetables, all puppies and babies. drawing with a pen, helping mom make dinner, sitting in the driver’s seat (with the car turned off of course), dancing, pushing her stroller, listening to and making her own music and reminding us always to say prayers.  She’s the best! 


Our Family:

     As a family we enjoy all sorts of board games, watching movies together, dancing in the living room, reading Dr. Seuss, traveling, swimming, reading, cooking and eating ice cream.  We enjoy doing most things together and would rather spend our time with each other than with anyone else.  We love each other very much and make sure to give lots of hugs and kisses every day.  In our home, laughter, music and time together always seem to be the best medicine.  Whether we’re curling up on the couch with a great Disney movie, playing Ticket to Ride, or cleaning the kitchen, we just enjoy being near each other. 

     We love open adoption and are so glad that we get to grow our family through such a miracle.  We have been blessed so much already. 

This is our song.  We feel like it describes our journey of life up to this point.  Sometimes our path has been "broken" or we've "got lost a time or two," but the Lord has always blessed us and brought us together--first with the two of us, and then when Lily joined the family.

Bless the Broken Road

By: Rascal Flatts

I set out on a narrow way
Many years ago
Hoping I would find true love
Along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept
Pushin' through
I couldn't see how every sign
Pointed straight to you


(Chorus) That every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you


I think about the years I've spent
Just passin' through
I'd like to have the time I lost
And give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan
That is comin' true


(Repeat Chorus)


Now I'm just rollin' home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you