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.
Expectant mothers who choose to make an adoption plan may qualify for some level of financial assistance during their pregnancy. However, each person's situation and specific needs are different. Your adoption social worker can help you determine what level of assistance you qualify for and deserve. Many expectant mothers qualify for financial assistance to cover basic pregnancy and living expenses, including but not limited to - transportation reimbursement, utility assistance for phone, water, and electricity/gas, maternity clothing and supplements, etc.
It won't cost you anything. If you choose to place your baby for adoption, all of your medical and legal fees will be covered and you may be eligible for financial assistance with other pregnancy-related expenses.
Yes. Even if you don’t know the identity of the birth father, you can still choose to make an adoption plan. However, every adoption situation is different. The adoption social worker you’re assigned to will get to know you and your story first, and then guide you through the process accordingly.
You can make an adoption plan at any point in your pregnancy, even after the baby has been born. But, it's important to start the process as early in your pregnancy as possible. Connecting with those resources will allow you to gain access to important medical services, including prenatal care, to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
One aspect of your adoption plan is the "Hospital Plan" an outline of how you'd like your hospital stay and delivery to go. You can craft this on your own or with the help of your adoption social worker. But everything is up to you. You’ll be able to choose who comes to the hospital with you, who is in the room with you during delivery, and how much time you’d like to spend with the baby before signing the final papers.
As part of your adoption plan, you'll determine whether or not you’d like to have an open or closed adoption or something in between. Open adoptions may include phone calls, messaging (via social media, email, or text), and/or periodic visits each year. Closed adoptions may include no contact at all or annual updates provided to the birth parent(s) by the adoptive family. Each post-adoption relationship is different and can vary based on what an expectant mother chooses in her adoption plan.
We have been working on our fence for a couple weeks now and it looks great! New backyard coming along great!
Copper Harbor is the northern tip of the upper peninsula and it is beautiful this time of year. We spent the day up there exploring the many hiking trails with our friends Laura and Andrew. It was an absolutely beautiful day! We hope one day to bring our little ones on these adventures!