Ellen

Hi from Northern Michigan! I am Ellen and I am so thankful that you are taking the time to get to know more about me.

I am a Special Education Teacher who loves making connections. I am a people person. I absolutely love to experience new places, laugh, and spend time with my loved ones. I delight in all things holidays! I like decorating, dressing up in holiday themes at school, and all of the quirks that come with each holiday. I like taking care of others. I value kindness, family, education, and faith. As a first-time parent I would love to speak with you and learn more about your hopes for your child.

My Why

I want to be a mom more than anything in this world. It has been something I have held in my heart dearly since I was a little girl. If you were to ask anyone in my circle, family, friends, or coworkers, they’ll all tell you the same thing…Ellen wants nothing more than to become a mom.

I found out as a young adult that I was not able to have kids naturally. I knew early on that adoption would be a part of my story, but honestly even before I learned the news, I wanted to adopt. I had two teachers growing up that I was close to that were foster and adoptive parents. Hearing them talk about their journeys left a big impact on me at a young age. They opened my eyes into the beautiful world of fostering and adoption by sharing stories and sharing all the ways that families and love can grow and flourish.

Things That I Love To Do

I really enjoy baking. I love to make all different kinds of things: recipes that have been passed down in my family, family favorites, and new recipes. I love to share what I make with others. My favorite thing that I make are shortbread. I am definitely the type of mom who makes fresh baked goods when the kids come home from school.

I love to read. I have a huge home library filled with kids’ books and all of the classics. My favorite book is Little Women. I try to find a new edition or version of it in bookstores whenever we go on vacations.

I love the lake. I cherish spending time with my family and friends taking boat rides, playing in the water, watching sunsets, taking walks on the beach, and having meaningful conversations with the people that I love.

Flowers bring me joy. I enjoy growing them, taking pictures of them, making floral arrangements out of them, walking through fields of them, picking them, and marveling at them.

I am looking forward to the everyday moments of becoming a mom, such as diaper changing or introducing new foods, just as much as I am looking forward to the big moments such as going on a trip to Disney. I am really excited to share some of my special items from childhood that I have saved for this precious little one, such as my baby blanket. I am also really excited to introduce them to family, friends, and most treasured places.

My Home in Michigan

I live in a beautiful blue house with four bedrooms in a small town in Northern Michigan. It is within minutes of two beautiful beaches, which I love to visit frequently. My favorite beach has a pier that I like to walk out towards the lighthouse. This beach has a nice park too. My home has a big, beautiful porch that I love to sit on and drink my morning coffee in the summertime; sometimes I see deer roaming. I have a flowerpot around my porch that I love to water and enjoy during the Spring and Summer. I have a backyard that is perfect for outdoor activities and a park that is just down the road.

My favorite rooms in my house are my kitchen, because I absolutely love to bake, and the family room because it is a space for family and friends to gather for special occasions and movie nights. I am not yet finished working on the nursery, but I am planning to decorate it with an animal theme.

My Family

My family is everything to me. My mom is the absolute best, and we are extremely close. I hope to be just as amazing of a mom as she was to me–empathetic, encouraging, compassionate, understanding, protective, invested in my interests, and of course fun! My dad was a great dad too. I have the best memories of my dad and me taking drives together and traveling. We take a trip each August in remembrance of him. I currently have two foster children in my home who have been with me two and a half years and counting. They are incredible! We enjoy going to park, playing games, and going to the farm to see all of the animals.

My family loves holidays! Our favorite is Christmas. We decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. We celebrate Christmas Eve by getting together with my extended family of my cousins, aunts, and uncles opening gifts, eating really yummy food cooked by my aunt, and going to church to celebrate the most important thing about Christmas, Jesus’ birth. On Christmas morning my mom cooks a big breakfast of assorted casseroles, and we have the best morning wearing matching pajama pants and watching Christmas movies. We end Christmas day by driving around viewing Christmas lights in the surrounding neighborhoods.

My Work

I am a Special Education Teacher. I love my job very much. I delight in seeing the look on a student’s face when they learn something for the first time. I love the “laugh out loud” moments that every school day always seems to bring. I work with one of my best friends, which is a true blessing. I like to attend Special Olympics basketball games and swimming matches to support students of mine, past and present. I also run a farm stand with my friend where I sell baked goods in the Summer and Fall on the weekends.

My Promise

I promise to treasure and love your child at all times, through all the ups and the downs. I promise to always put them first. I will always listen to understand, encourage them in all of their talents/interests, and be their biggest supporter. I will provide for them, nurture a positive educational path, and always tell them to dream big. I promise to create an environment where they feel supported and loved and have space to be curious, silly, and talk to me when they need help.  I promise that you will forever be such an amazing part of this story, and your child will grow up hearing how much you mean to us. If it is on your heart to have an open adoption, I would love to stay in touch as your child grows.

I’d love to talk or answer any of your questions. Please call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.

In Closing

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me. I am very grateful to be on this adoption journey. I want nothing more than to be a mom. I promise to always keep your child safe. I promise that your child will hear the words " I love you" as they wake up and as they drift off to sleep, every day. I promise that you will forever be a part of our story. I am incredibly humbled that you are considering me for your baby. I am praying for you, always.