Josh & Chelsey

Hello from Ohio! We’re Josh and Chelsey, married for 15 wonderful years and proud parents of two children, our son Copelan (10) and our daughter Kate (8).

We had always hoped to continue growing our family biologically, but after Kate’s birth, Chelsey faced health challenges that made it impossible for us to have more children naturally. Since then, adoption has held a special place in our hearts, and we feel confident that the Lord has called us to this beautiful journey of welcoming another child into our home through adoption.

Our house is filled with love, laughter, and the joyful chaos that comes with raising young children. We can’t wait to share that warmth, our daily adventures, and our deep faith with another little one.

We’d truly love the opportunity to get to know you and walk alongside you in this meaningful process. Thanks for considering us!

Our Story

Our families went to church together growing up, and after high school we both dove into ministry at our church. Through serving together, we reunited and grew closer as friends and eventually fell in love, seeing God’s faithful hand weaving our stories together from the start. We’ve built a joyful marriage and family rooted in that same faith and service.

We love spending time together, whether it’s enjoying quiet evenings at home or making the most of the outdoors. We’ve always shared a deep love for the outdoors. Being in nature, whether it’s scenic landscapes, family moments, or simple joys in the fresh air, is one of our favorite ways to connect and make memories together.

We prioritize family time and regularly gather with friends a few times each month. For the past 17 years, we’ve both volunteered at our church’s annual kids’ camp in the community, where nearly 250 children come together for games, worship, and lessons from the Gospel and God’s Word. It’s a truly rewarding way to serve and connect with the young people around us every summer.

Some of our favorite activities include:
•  Hiking and camping adventures
•  Playing board games (favorites like Catan and Skyjo)
•  Grilling outdoors
•  Browsing at the bookstore
•  Playing outside with our dogs
•  Hosting family and friends for good conversation, meals, and games

Meet Chelsey

According to Josh: Chelsey has always been a true bookworm at heart. She finds great joy in cozying up with a good book, especially outdoors during the warmer months. You’re most likely to find her swinging gently in our backyard tree swing or relaxing on the front porch, lost in the pages of a novel.

She loves baking from scratch, often whipping up fresh muffins or treating the family to homemade pancakes and waffles on weekend mornings. Chelsey has a natural gift with children and has spent much of her career working with them in one capacity or another, pouring her warmth, patience, and creativity into every interaction.

Some of her other favorites include:
•  Taking peaceful walks
•  Riding bikes
•  Crocheting
•  Traveling and exploring new places
•  Savoring a good cup of coffee

Her gentle, nurturing spirit and love for simple, meaningful moments make her an incredible mom, and we’re excited for the day she gets to share all of this with another child in our home.

Meet Josh

According to Chelsey: Josh is wonderful with young children—I always love watching him interact with our children and nieces and nephews, bringing out their smiles and energy so naturally. He’s equally patient and calm when helping our kids with homework.

Josh has a real passion for hands-on projects around the house and enjoys learning new skills along the way. He serves faithfully as an elder in our church, and for the past 17 years he’s volunteered at our church’s annual kids’ camp as a leader of the “Work Crew”—always with enthusiasm and a servant’s heart. It’s a highlight of the year for him, a meaningful way to serve and connect with the children in our community.

His strong, steady faith in the Lord shines through in everything he does, serving as a quiet but powerful example to our family and everyone around him.

Some of Josh’s favorite things include:
•  Playing games with the kids
•  Grilling and cooking outdoors
•  Tending the garden
•  Building models alongside our son
•  Hiking
•  Traveling and exploring new places

Josh’s steady presence, love for family, and deep commitment to faith make him an incredible dad and partner—he looks forward to welcoming and nurturing another child in our home.

Our Family

Our Kids: Copelan and Kate bring energy and laughter to our home every day. They are genuinely excited about welcoming a new sibling and can’t wait to share their adventures and make new memories together. Copelan enjoys building Lego creations, constructing and painting models for his board games, playing video games, and spending time outdoors. Kate is full of creativity–she dances and sings around the house, “plays” school, and loves helping Chelsey bake in the kitchen. She has already set aside some of her favorite stuffed animals for her new baby brother or sister to cuddle and enjoy. Both our children thrive outdoors as well. They love playing soccer, running around, and simply being active in the fresh air, exploring and playing without limits. They also love curling up to read books, and they spend lots of time loving and taking care of our two dogs who are a part of the family too.

Our Extended Family: We are incredibly blessed with a close-knit extended family who live close by and are a big part of our everyday lives. We get together often with both sets of our parents for meals and to catch up and laugh together. Our siblings are close by too. We have dinner and movie nights, play dates with cousins, cookouts and holiday gatherings. Each year, we look forward to our family tradition–a special trip with both sides of our extended family for hiking and camping. It’s a cherished time of adventure, laughter, and unplugging in God’s creation. This love for nature and active family life is something we’re excited to pass on and share with another child in our home, creating new adventures and beautiful moments together. We can’t wait to bring a new little one along on these trips someday, surrounded by aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins who will shower them with love and excitement from day one.

Our Home in Ohio

Our home is a two-story farmhouse with four spacious bedrooms and plenty of room to grow. The house sits on 2 acres, and it provides a lot of peace and quiet. We love how open it feels surrounded by lots of green space and fresh air. We spend our days reading on the porch, tackling home projects, jumping on the trampoline, riding bikes in the yard, and playing with our two dogs, who love running free outside but happily join us indoors for family time.

The backyard is the kids’ favorite spot: a play set with swings, a slide, climbing wall, and sandbox that’s sparked years of joyful play, imagination, and laughter. We’re excited to see it filled with another child’s energy, swinging, digging, and exploring.

We are conveniently located near a wonderful village park with a spacious playground. Just a short drive away are other beautiful parks with walking paths, splash pads for the summer days, and picnic spots perfect for family outings. We’re also about 20 minutes from several small towns, so we can easily head out for ice cream, library visits, shopping, or some fun beyond our backyard. At the end of the day, we cherish simple family routines–gathering for board games with lots of laughs or cozy movie nights on the couch with popcorn and blankets. These everyday moments of warmth and togetherness are what make our home special, we can’t wait to share them with another little one.

Our Promise

We will love your child with all our hearts, raising them in a home filled with love, laughter and the values that mean most to us– including our faith, which inspires us to be kind, grateful and supportive. We will support and inspire your child to grow into a compassionate and thoughtful person. We will lovingly encourage them to grow into the special gifts and talents they’ve been blessed with–providing opportunities, lessons, and endless support.

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

In Closing

Thank you again for taking the time to learn about us. We trust that God is walking with you every step, just as He has guided us, and we pray for His perfect timing and peace in your heart. We are deeply committed to open adoption and would love the opportunity to stay connected in ways that feel comfortable for you. This could include sharing letters, photos, texts and emails. We can send updates on milestones like first steps, school events or family moments. Thank you again for considering us as parents for your precious child. We're so grateful you've read our story. If anything resonates with you, or if you would simply like to learn more about our family, please don't hesitate to reach out. We would love the chance to share more and to get to know you too.