- South Carolina -
We are Annie and Drew and we are so excited to get to know you. We met in 2014 and became fast, close friends, but it was several years before we decided we were going to take on life together. We love spending time with our families, doing DIY projects around the house, and taking night drives on the old dirt roads listening to the sounds of the woods. You'd never believe how many stars you can see out there!
Annie was born in Louisiana and raised in Georgia with a love of food, music, and the written word which lead her to becoming an award winning journalist. She thinks the most valuable thing you can do for a child is to make them feel heard, validated and understood. Having been adopted herself at 16-months-old, adoption has always been a strong calling on Annie's heart since she was a little girl. Truly a mama at her core, she's always trying to take care of the people around her and make them feel loved and appreciated. Drew describes her as the glue that holds it all together, and her kids know that she is always a safe place to land.
Drew was born and raised in rural South Carolina. He values hard work and integrity, but above all else, family. He has a tough exterior but would give the shirt off his back for a stranger in need, and move mountains for the people he loves. He communicates his love through food so there's always something delicious cooking on the stove or outside on the grill. Drew has a passion for nature and an innate ability to create or build just about anything. The most important thing to him is to be an engaged and involved father. So, he's always looking for new ways to connect with the kids on their level, in ways that interest them. Always learning, growing, teaching, doing.
Hi, sweet mama,
We are so glad you are taking the time to learn a little more about us and our family. If there is anyway in which we can support and honor your journey, we want to be there for you.
We can’t begin to know what this experience is like for you, but we would imagine that some days it must feel like an absolute rollercoaster. Please know that we are praying for you, and we know that whatever decision you make will be one of immense love.
It feels important to us that you know that I (Annie) was adopted as a baby. As a result, we have a profound respect for and understanding of the adoption process and all those involved. That is why adoption is so dear to me and has always been a calling on my heart.
Should you choose adoption, and should you choose us for that honor, your child will grow up with not only two more people who love them unconditionally, but also someone who genuinely understands the wide array of feelings that they are experiencing.
If you do decide to move forward with an adoption plan, know that we will respect whatever level of openness you are comfortable with. We want you to know that we will cherish not only your child, but you as well, as you will both be a beloved extension of our family.
There is so much more to learn about each other, and we look forward to growing closer through each milestone with you. Know that in the meantime, we are praying for you and your little one every step of the way. May angels of peace surround you and guide you through whatever decision you come to.
“Lead with love and we will always be proud of you”
We believe in teaching our children “how” to be instead of “who” to be. Meaning, we teach them how to treat others, how to set healthy boundaries and expectations, and what kind of treatment from others to accept or not accept. Who they are, their likes, dislikes, ambitions, passions, and everything that makes them who they are is for them to decide for themselves. It’s our job to love and support them along that journey to self discovery.
We believe that reason and logic are valuable teaching tools, but that validating a child’s feelings is equally, if not more important. Children need to know that it’s okay to feel whatever emotion they have in a moment, that it’s normal to feel any range of emotions throughout life. Once the feeling is acknowledged and validated, then help them navigate how to express it and cope with it healthily.
We believe in raising free thinkers. Ask questions. Be curious. Form opinions and respect the opinions of others.
As a result, we have four strong personalities who are all turning into some kind, smart, funny, downright awesome human beings (not that we’re biased or anything).
We live in a small, rural community on a quiet street. Our house is a one-story, ranch-style home with a big back porch looking out to the woods behind our property. Every morning we are visited by a family of bunnies and every night there is an owl that sits in the tree in our yard. From our kitchen window, we can watch the birds gather on the two wooden tray feeders Drew built. There are two small parks with playgrounds within walking distance from the house and river access is a short five minute drive away.
We both came into our relationship as package deals. Each of us had two children already, and while four kids might seem like a lot to some, we treasure our big, beautiful, blended family. After all, love is the only thing you have more of the more that you give it away.
The boys look up to their big sisters so much, and all of them are so protective of their siblings. It’s really sweet how each one looks out for the next one in line. They’re all looking forward to the prospect of bringing home one more little one to love and lead in life.
We’ve been asked by a few people, “you already have 4, why do you want/need 5?” The answer is honestly really simple. We LOVE family. Big family brings with it a sense of community and belonging. It means knowing you have people in your corner who believe in you and want to see you happy. It is important to us and we have been blessed with a life that allows us the means to care for that big family.