Hello, we are Jeff and Gabriela.  Although we cannot begin to understand what you might be going through, we truly appreciate the courage and strength it takes to make such an important decision.  Thank you for considering us for adoptive parents.

We tried for a child of our own for several years but came to the conclusion that it is just not meant to be.  We are very excited to pursue open adoption, as we think that the more loving people that are in a child’s life, the better off a child will be as he or she grows up and becomes an adult.  We believe that on-going communication with you as a birthparent is essential in establishing a well-adjusted child, although we will respect the level of openness that you desire.

We would like to tell you a little bit about ourselves in hopes that you can learn more about us and who we are. 

Our Background

Gabriela’s Background – Gaby was born on April 4, 1975 and grew up in Paraguay, South America.  Gaby’s father was an architect and her mother was a stay-at-home mom while raising Gaby and her younger sister, Lorena.  Gaby and Lorena participated in sports, played piano, and attended a German school where they became fluent in German alongside their native language of Spanish and later, their third language, English.

After graduating from high school at 17 years old, Gaby moved to Lawrence, Kansas to begin college at the University of Kansas, where she would earn her degree in Electrical Engineering, and later an MBA at Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Jeff’s Background – Jeff grew up in Olathe, Kansas and was born on December 14, 1974.  Jeff’s father, David, worked for BNSF as a general.  Jeff’s mother, Judy, works at Federated Insurance in Overland Park, KS.  Jeff has two older brothers, Matt and Mark.  Jeff graduated from Olathe South High School and got a scholarship to play football at Ottawa University.  He later went to Kansas State University and majored in Architectural Engineering, then got a Master’s Degree at the University of Kansas.

How We Met – A mutual friend worked with Gaby at her previous job at Sprint and decided to set us up.  We were married on April 22, 2006 at the Powell Gardens, just south of Kansas City.

Our Home, Families, and Careers

We live in Overland Park, Kansas with two big dogs.  We would like nothing more than to have kids romping through our big house and yard, playing with our two dogs and making our house their home.

We are Catholic.  We feel that the ultimate way to promote morals and values in children is through Christian teachings of the Catholic Church.  We have friends of other religious beliefs and feel that they provide as much insight to God and promotion of good values and morals as our religious beliefs do.

Gaby’s parents and sister now live in Orlando, Florida.  We travel there 2 to 3 times a year to see them, so our children will have easy access to Disney World and the beach!  They will also have cousins to play with, as Lorena is now married with two boys.

Jeff’s parents still live in Kansas City.  His brother, Mark, does too, and has a young daughter so a cousin will be near.  Jeff’s other brother, Matt, lives near Springfield, Missouri with his wife and three kids, one of which is adopted.

Gaby currently works for Verizon as an IT sales engineer.  Jeff works as an acoustical engineer for a small firm.  Jeff’s job allows him to travel all around the US and sometimes the world, as his clients (mostly architecture firms) are located all over. 

Our Interests and Activities

We love to travel.  We have taken several trips, including to Italy, Spain, Mexico, and the Caribbean.  Sometimes, we will parlay one of Jeff’s business trips into a vacation when possible.  Our children will be getting their passports so we can share our ventures with them.

We love to exercise.   Not just working-out (which we both strive to do daily), but just generally being active -- Running, hiking, sports … gardening, yard work, landscaping.  Physical activity is a habit that we will instill in our children so that they will have a desire for living a healthy lifestyle.

We love to cook.  Gaby is always in the kitchen, trying out new recipes for us, family, and/or friends.  Jeff loves to man the grill outside.  Burgers, chicken, chops, ribs, seafood, you name it.

We love to entertain.  We thoroughly enjoy hosting get-togethers and parties!  We truly value our friends and family and love to open our house to them, whether it’s just another couple for an intimate dinner, a bunch of friends for a summertime cookout, or family for Thanksgiving or other holidays.

We love music.  Music is in both of our bloodstreams.  Gaby started playing piano when she was little and continued on through her high school years.  Jeff plays guitar and played in bands throughout his teenage and 20-something years, where he toured the US and released a handful of CD’s.

Our Dreams for Your Child

From the time we were married, we talked about having kids and being able to share our life and experiences with them, as well as teaching them through example of what it takes to be a good neighbor, family member, and citizen.  As parents, we will provide a safe and loving environment for your child.  We value education and a good work ethic and will encourage all of our children to pursue their interests and develop their strengths to full potential.  They will be raised with love, devotion, and attention.  We hope to pass on our values and morals to our children so that they may pass them on to theirs.

We are grateful for your time in considering us.  May God bless you in your decision making process.

Peace, love, and happiness,
Jeff and Gaby