Our love story didn’t begin until our mid‑thirties, thanks to the world of online dating. Early in our conversations, we discovered that Huhot was our mutual favorite restaurant, so choosing it for our first date was an easy decision. That first date in July 2019 was wonderful—one of those moments where you just know there’s something worth holding onto. After a long search, we were both so grateful to have finally found each other.

Even though we lived a little over an hour apart, we made the distance work for the next year and a half. With every visit, every conversation, and every mile driven, our connection deepened. Our love grew into something truly special, and it became clear that we had each found our best friend and soulmate.

We got engaged in October 2020, and soon after, Kristan relocated and moved in with Jesse. We were married in August 2021, surrounded by the people we love. Now, we’re excited and ready to continue building our life together and to grow our family through adoption.

Our favorite place to vacation is Estes Park, Colorado. It’s a beautiful mountain town with breathtaking views everywhere you look. We love spending time in Rocky Mountain National Park, driving and walking through the amazing scenery. One of our favorite spots is Bear Lake—its easy loop trail lets you enjoy the lake from every angle, and each season brings its own kind of beauty. Fall is our favorite time to visit, especially when the elk wander through town or lounge in the mountains.

We also enjoy strolling through downtown Estes and exploring the unique shops. When the weather is nice, we love relaxing on the patio at the local winery. Estes Park is such a family‑friendly town, and we can’t wait to share our love for it with a child one day. We look forward to seeing the joy on their face as they explore, learn, and experience the beauty of the mountains. We’re fortunate to have a family member with a home in Estes, giving us a cozy place to stay whenever we visit. It’s truly the perfect family getaway.

We tend to be homebodies most of the time, and we genuinely love the simple moments we share at home. We cook dinner together almost every night, curl up on the couch to binge‑watch crime dramas, and play board games at our kitchen table. When we do go out for a date night, we enjoy trying different Mexican restaurants and grabbing a drink at our local hard‑cider brewery. Every now and then, we like to catch a comedy show or a Christian concert. Many of our weekends are spent with family—sharing a meal, laughing, and playing games.

In her downtime, Kristan enjoys baking, reading, and tending to the flowers around our yard and throughout our home. She also loves cheering on the Nebraska Cornhusker volleyball and football teams. Jesse loves anything related to technology. He built his computer from the ground up and enjoys gaming on it. He also has fun flying his drone and letting his robotic lawn mower do its thing around the yard. From time to time, we take long weekend trips to recharge and explore new places. Omaha and Kansas City are two of our favorite destinations—they’re close enough for a quick getaway and always offer something fun to see or do.

We both come from amazing and supportive families with whom we are very close. They are all very excited and prepared to stand beside us through our journey of adoption.

Jesse’s family lives just five miles away, so we’re able to see them often. When we get together, we spend time with his parents, brother, sister‑in‑law, and our niece. We love sharing meals, trying out new board and card games, and simply enjoying each other’s company. In the summer, we often go swimming at Jesse’s brother’s house. There is always plenty of laughter, playful teasing, and a sense of joy whenever we’re all together.

Kristan’s family lives about two hours away, and we make a point to visit them once a month. When we get together, we spend time with her mom, sister, brother‑in‑law, and our nephew. We enjoy going out to eat and playing the Granny game—a card game Kristan’s grandma created and taught to the whole family. We’ve since taught Jesse’s family how to play as well, and it has become something special for all of us.

We make it a priority to spend every holiday with both of our families, and those celebrations mean so much to us. Each holiday feels special and worth cherishing, and they’ve become even more meaningful since Kristan’s dad passed away—he truly loved the holidays. Both of our families have traditions we treasure, and we can’t wait to share those traditions with a child one day.

We live in a nice, friendly, and safe small‑town neighborhood in Nebraska, just ten miles outside the city. Our home is a ranch‑style house that we built five years ago, and it was such a fun experience getting to choose every finish and detail. It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a three‑car garage. Some of our favorite spaces are the open living and kitchen area—where we love to cook together—and the finished basement, which is perfect for movie nights. We also have a spacious backyard, and we can already picture a child running and playing out there. To add a little extra fun, Jesse installed permanent outdoor lights, and we’ve loved changing the colors to match different holidays.

We live next to a walking path that leads to a neighborhood playground just a couple of blocks from our home. Our neighborhood is very kid‑friendly—there are always children running around, playing, and laughing together. Halloween is especially fun here, with trick‑or‑treating being a big event every year. Our community is very family‑focused as well, hosting a summer weekend celebration called Hay Days, along with parades and other activities throughout the year. We’re also close to a larger city with a wonderful zoo, a children’s museum, and plenty of sporting events that we look forward to enjoying with our growing family. We feel truly blessed to live in such a great area.

We are so grateful that you’re taking the time to look at our profile. We hope you’ll have the chance to get to know us and consider us to love and raise your precious child. We cannot imagine how difficult this decision must be for you, and we want you to know that we are thinking about you and praying for you during this time. It is our promise that your child will grow up in a safe, loving, and supportive home, surrounded by people who will cherish them every day.

Our relationship began seven years ago, and from the very beginning we both knew we had found our best friend and soul mate. After two years we were married, and we’ve now been happily married for five years. Our love for each other continues to grow every day. From the time we started dating, we dreamed of having a family together. Our journey through infertility has been long and difficult, but it has never shaken our desire to love, raise, and nurture a child. That dream has only grown stronger. We are truly excited to be on this path to adoption and to build the family we have hoped for from the start.

We want the opportunity to raise a child to know God and to grow into a strong, kind, and joyful individual. It’s important to us to teach them honor, respect, and compassion for everyone around them. We hope to nurture a child who feels confident in who they are and encouraged to chase their dreams, whatever they may be. Above all, we will support and uplift them in every step of their journey, celebrating the unique person they become.

It is important to us to share your child’s adoption story with them from a very early age. We believe that growing up with this knowledge helps a child feel secure, confident, and deeply loved. By telling them their story from the beginning, we hope they will always understand the love you have for them. We also hope to learn about you and your life, so we can share stories that help your child feel connected to you in a meaningful and natural way.

We both come from families where love, connection, and support are at the heart of everything. These relationships have shaped who we are, and they continue to be a central part of our daily lives. We know that the same warmth and encouragement we’ve received will surround a child as well. Our families are genuinely excited for us and wholeheartedly supportive of our journey to become parents through adoption. They’re ready to embrace a child with open arms, just as we are.

We are open and happy to share pictures and milestone updates by letter or email as your child grows. Whenever you feel comfortable and would like to build a deeper connection, we would be open to arranging in-person visits as well. You will always hold an important place in your child’s life, and we will honor that with the respect and care it deserves.

With all of our love and respect,

Jesse & Kristan