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State We Live in: Michigan
Our Religion: Christian
Stay At Home Parent: Yes
Our Age Preferences: Newborn-3 Months, 3 Months – 12 Months
Our Gender Preferences: Either Gender
Our Race Preferences: Any Race, African American, African American/Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, Caucasian/African American, Caucasian/Asian, Caucasian/Hispanic, East Indian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American
Open to Twins: Yes
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Call or text Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784.
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Hi from Michigan! We’re Clayton and Sarah.
We love being parents and have a special place in our hearts for open adoption. Early in our relationship, we knew that growing our family biologically might not happen without fertility treatments, so adoption was something we talked about from the beginning. Sarah was adopted by her stepdad as a child and her experience helped shape our desire to build our own family through adoption. In 2017, we were blessed to adopt our daughter, Aubrey. She is so excited to share her life with a younger sibling. We have maintained a great connection with her birth family through the years, and we’re excited about growing our family this way again!
Our lives are centered around family time. Sarah is a stay-at-home mom and Clayton is the lead pastor at our church. Family is everything to us. We’re devoted to raising our children with the love, support, and encouragement they need to grow, explore, and feel deeply known. We would love to hear more about you and the hopes and dreams you have for your child. If you feel comfortable, we’d also be honored to share an ongoing relationship with you through open adoption as your child grows up.
A Little About Us
How we met, according to Clayton: It all started with a guy from Texas and a girl from Ohio. We met during our second year of college when I was walking to dinner with my roommates. I noticed Sarah and wanted to talk to her, but didn’t want to seem too eager, so I waited for the right moment. When Sarah’s roommate accidentally walked into a pole, I ran up to ask if she was okay…taking the opportunity to introduce myself to Sarah. Now we’ve been married 12 years and are best friends who have built a strong marriage and a sweet life together.
Things we enjoy doing together:
Meet Sarah
Clayton says: Sarah is an incredible wife, loving mom and thoughtful friend. She loves to celebrate the good things going on in the lives of others and is constantly inviting people over to share a meal around our table. She is my morning coffee date and best friend. I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it. Sarah puts a lot of love, fun, and intentionality into her motherhood. She homeschools Aubrey part-time and does an amazing job making our home a place where learning, development and fun all happen at once. She has helped our daughter develop a serious love for reading and learning.
Sarah’s interests and hobbies include:
I’m so excited to experience the “firsts” with a new baby again, reading board books, and wearing them in a wrap/baby carrier. I know now that the years go by fast, so I plan to soak up even the bleary-eyed early morning hours of feeding and changing!
Meet Clayton
Sarah says: Clayton is the best partner I could ask for in both life and parenting. He takes such good care of our family and points us to Jesus by the way he lives every day. I love how he puts his whole heart into everything he does, whether he’s teaching, cooking, mowing the lawn, or helping a friend, he’s all-in. As a dad, Clayton is playful and imaginative. I’ll often look outside and see him and our daughter running around as pirates with pool noodle swords or swinging on the playground pretending to be gorillas. I can’t wait to see our next child look up to him and enjoy quality time with him also.
Clayton’s interests and hobbies include:
I look forward to teaching our next child how to play guitar, ride a bike, and understand God’s love for them. I can’t wait to cheer for them in their sports, band or choir concerts, really whatever they’re into. Sarah, Aubrey and I will be their biggest fans!
Meet Our Daughter, Aubrey
Our 8-year-old daughter, Aubrey, is full of imagination, compassion, and joy. She joined our family through open adoption at birth in 2017, and we are blessed to have an ongoing relationship with her birth family.
Aubrey loves singing, dancing, drawing, learning at her hybrid school, and playing outside with friends. She’s a little mama at heart, always looking out for younger children and making sure everyone feels included. More than anything, Aubrey is excited to become a big sister. She can’t wait to share her favorite holiday traditions, hilarious dance moves, beloved picture books, and the love of our church community with a little brother or sister.
Our Home & Pup
We live in a cozy brick home in Southeast Michigan. We love having groups of friends over for dinners and play dates at our house, especially when the weather is nice and kids can play outside. We have a room decorated and ready to welcome a little one right across from our room (though we plan to have baby in a bassinet beside our bed for the early months). We also have a sweet, 10-pound Yorkie named Piper, who is great with kids. We live close to shops and restaurants and we’re a short drive from downtown sports arenas, theaters, museums, and we’re members at the zoo!
Things we LOVE about our home:
Our Promise
We promise that your child will grow up provided for, loved, & fully accepted by us!
As we have with our daughter, we will support and encourage your child as they develop their own unique personality and interests. We promise we will be their biggest cheerleaders and supporters in whatever they choose to pursue. We will raise him or her to know and treasure their adoption story and we’re happy stay connected with you throughout your child’s life, if that’s something you want. We can promise you that life growing up in our family will be filled with love, game nights, laughter, good books, Christian community, and great food!
We’d love to talk with you! Please call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.
More About Clayton
Education: Master's Degree
Profession: Senior Pastor
Stay-At-Home: No
Racial Background: Caucasian
His Favorites:
Late night snack: Popcorn
Hot drink: All coffee, especially pour-over coffee
Childhood movie: Jurassic Park
Candy: Skittles, gummy bears, peach rings
Thing to bake: Homemade cinnamon rolls
Childhood memory: The first (and last!) time I saw it snow in my hometown in south Texas
Travel memory: Going to Bosnia with Sarah
More About Sarah
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Profession: Stay-at-home mom
Stay-At-Home: Yes
Racial Background: Caucasian, Middle Eastern
Her Favorites:
Late night snack: Ice cream
Hot drink: Spicy chai tea or coffee
Childhood movie: Pocahontas
Candy: Chocolate covered anything
Thing to bake: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
Childhood memory: Canada vacations, irish dancing with my sister, Christmas traditions
Travel memory: Visiting my brother and his family in Puerto Rico
Gallery
click on any image to enlarge
More About Our Family
Q & A's
Q: Who’s the better cook?
A: Sarah says: Clayton, for sure! In an alternate reality, Clayton would be a chef. He loves cooking, especially for a big group or holiday. He always knows the right spices to add to make a dish even better. :)
Q: What are some things you’ve taught each other to appreciate over the years?
A: Sarah says: Early in our relationship, I introduced Clayton to Harry Potter. I made him watch all the movies and for years we would rewatch them every fall. He’s now a real HP fan. We’re excited about the upcoming HBO series and plan to read the books with our kids when they’re old enough!
A: Clayton says: I’ve always loved music, especially alt-rock. I played in bands when I was a teen through college, and over the years I’ve taken Sarah to concerts of artists I grew up loving—Radiohead being a favorite. Now Alexa plays those same bands around the house, bringing back great memories and making new ones.
Q: Where would you like to visit next?
A: Clayton says: Iceland! They have direct flights from MI and I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights in person.
A: Sarah says: Northern California or Seattle would be fun. I love trips where we get to spend a lot of our time exploring the outdoors and I've never been on the west coast!
As parents we will...
- Encourage our kids to pursue their unique dreams and interests
- Take an interest in whatever each kid is into
- Talk about you with love and respect, always
- Raise kids who are kind, confident, and compassionate
- Model faith in Jesus and a love for all people
- Instill a love of learning and cultural diversity
- Prioritize fun and laughter!
Favorite Traditions
- Yearly trips to the ocean and Great Lakes
- Big, family get togethers for the holidays
- First day of school: special breakfast, photos, outfit, accessories (we go all out!)
- "Jammie drives": we put on our pjs and go out for ice cream instead of heading to bed :)
- Candlelight Christmas Eve service at our church
- Everyone opens one present on Christmas Eve night
- Hikes, apple cider & donuts every fall (Cider Mills are a big thing in Michigan!)
Our Faith & Extended Family
Our relationship with Jesus means everything to us. We gather with our church, read the Bible, love unconditionally, pray, invite people to share meals around our table, and seek to be generous. We do all of these things because we've experienced the love of God and we want to share that love with the people around us. Our faith leads us to parent with gentleness, joy, and love at the center!
Clayton is an only child while Sarah has two younger sisters and an older brother who are all married and growing their families. We’re so thankful for loving aunts and uncles and for cousins to grow up with! We’re also blessed with grandparents and great-grandparents on both sides who are very excited to love on (and maybe spoil) a new grandbaby! 🙂 We’re really blessed to have an amazing church community, family and friends nearby who are excited for our family to grow!
In Closing
Thank you for getting to know us! Adoption has already changed our lives for the better in so many ways. As parents, we would be honored to offer your child an life full of love, adventures, security and support. We will share our faith in Jesus with him or her and would love to stay in touch with you, if you're open to it.