We are Joe and Candace. Thank you for reading our story and learning more about us as prospective parents.

We found each other in 2020, when the whole world was a little bit crazy with the pandemic. Candace accepted a position as RN surgical director at an ophthalmology surgery center. Little did we know this would change our lives forever. When she started, Joe was the imaging technician and IT for the buildings. After working together for a few months, Joe changed jobs, becoming a printer and computer service technician throughout the Upper Peninsula. Shortly after this, we started dating and haven’t been apart since! 

We started spending time together, hiking with our German shepherd, Leia, playing board games, and watching our favorite shows. Our love quickly grew for each other, and we got married in 2022. We have been unable to conceive a child , but we know we were meant to be parents. Welcoming a child into our hearts through adoption has been our dream since the beginning, and we are excited to be on this journey.

I grew up in a small town in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My favorite thing was, and still is, to explore the vast number of hiking trails in the area — there is just so much to take in! I enjoyed playing the trumpet from elementary school through college and have continued playing in city and county bands since graduating from nursing school. 

After graduating, I started work as a nurse in the rehab unit of a nursing home. I loved helping patients recover from surgeries, injuries, and illnesses — wound care was actually my favorite part. After taking the position in ophthalmology, I continued working at the nursing home part-time as I enjoyed working in the rehab unit, taking care of patients. I cannot wait to share my love for music, nature, animals, and baking cakes with a child.  I’m excited to learn what inspires them. Whatever it may be, we will explore it together, and I will always love just being “mom.”

Fun Facts About Candace:

• I love music and am learning to play the piano.
• I love to bake.

I have been in the Information Technology industry since I was in high school, and spent ten years as a systems administrator.  Since I am a gentleman, I did not ask Candace out until we were no longer colleagues . I have never been happier than I am with Candace by my side.

I love spending time with our nieces by traveling with them, playing hide and seek, going to the pool or the beach with them, and hiding Easter eggs for them.  I spend summers exploring the plentiful trails in our area with our dog, Macy.  I enjoy spending my time writing code and bookbinding, with our cats, Horatio, Little Kitty, and Gimli, keeping me company.

I love cooking family recipes or eating the delicious cookies that Candace makes.  I can’t wait to share our loving home with a child.  

Fun Facts About Joe

• I am able to fix most things
• I love drawing birds and am pretty good at it

We moved into our home in 2024, and love it. We met the man who had lived in the house for the previous twenty-five years, and found out that he was adopted when he was five-years-old, and that he and his wife adopted children and raised them in the home. He was thrilled to learn about our adoption journey, and of the continuing legacy of adoption in this home! 

What we love about the house is the very large backyard. We cannot wait to set up a swing set and run around the yard with a little one. Candace spends a lot of time in the kitchen making cakes and cookies to share with family and friends. She loves spending time sitting on the deck, reading a book, and watching the birds. Joe has a large in-home office where he spends time writing and programming. 

We have wonderful neighbors who have introduced themselves and welcomed us to the neighborhood. During the snowstorm in 2024, one neighbor was kind enough to plow our driveway for us. We live very close to a 65-acre park with a huge playground and a large system of trails for disc golfing and hiking. We love our small town, and are close to schools, the children’s museum, and downtown, but live in a safe and quiet area that we think is perfect for growing our family.

Our family is our greatest support group. Candace’s parents are retired and are readily available to help when needed. Joe’s parents have flexible jobs and will also be available. We have several siblings who can’t wait to help out and spoil the child (and then send them back home), as we have done with their kids! 

We all live pretty close to each other and spend holidays and birthdays together. We love to go on at least one camping trip every summer and have several backyard barbecues. There is nothing better than sitting around a fire roasting marshmallows, talking and laughing until the kids fall asleep. Both of our parents are looking forward to being grandparents again! They spoil our nieces and nephews and just love every minute of it.

Living in the UP means our hobbies are very dependent on the remarkable seasons. 

In the summer, we like to have barbecues in the backyard with friends and family. We go on camping trips, hike different trails throughout the UP, and visit the many different waterfalls and rivers. One of our favorite summer holidays is the 4th of July with fireworks and a parade. At the end of summer we love going to the state fair with our family.

In the fall, we take a yearly trip to an area where the leaves are beautiful when they start to change colors. Candace loves decorating for Halloween. We try to come up with creative costumes to wear while handing out candy to the kids. One of our favorite things to do is make leaf piles for our nieces to play in. 

During the winter, we spend our time mostly indoors. We like to play video games, board games, and puzzles. We both like to read, and Joe likes to write. Candy bake cakes and goodies around Christmas time. We enjoy decorating a real tree for Christmas. A favorite tradition is to attend the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. 

After doing our spring cleaning, we have a garage sale during the city-wide event. We take our niece to Candace’s work and hide Easter eggs all over the clinic for her co-workers to find. Candace starts seedlings for her vegetable garden indoors and transplants them outside when they’re ready, and loves working on the flower garden. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read our profile. Your compassion and consideration mean more than words can express. We understand how incredibly difficult your path may be. Your willingness to explore an adoption plan shows immense strength and love for the child. 

As prospective parents, we promise to cherish and care for the child with all our hearts. We will provide a loving and nurturing environment and ensure their well-being, growth, and happiness. The child will be surrounded by love, laughter, and endless adventures. 

Whether or not we are connected through this process, we are grateful for the opportunity to share our story with you, and wish you well as you decide what’s best for you and the child.