About Us
Dear Birthparent,
Meg and Jove
“The table is the favorite meeting place for the family, each one telling of their day, a time for support and joy.”
We found this quote on the inside cover of a family cookbook. It was written by Meg’s grandmother and we decided to share it with you because we feel that it truly summarizes our strongest beliefs about family life: sharing smiles, laughs, disappointments, and ideas over a meal with family. Nothing says comfort and commitment quite like that. Though we may not be seated across the table from you right now, we hope this profile shows you a glimpse of our lives, family and the love we have to share with a child. While we can’t say that we know what you’re going through or the emotions you’re experiencing, we are impressed by your thoughtfulness in considering a plan of adoption and wish you peace every step of the way.
Our Story
We met six years ago at a local music venue in Chicago to hear a New Orleans brass band play and we’ve continued enjoying music together ever since. It just seemed to be a perfect fit – we agreed that one of the most important reasons we were drawn to each other was our strong sense of family values and faith. Together we became members of a local Methodist church, where we shared many happy Sundays in worship and a number of service projects, such as Jove’s leadership in organizing an 80s prom fundraiser for the church and Meg’s mission work in Iowa after floods ravaged several communities. We also share a number of personal interests such as taking in live music, walks at the beach with our greyhound, checking out new restaurants, potluck parties with friends, and visiting new cities to experience diverse cultures.
Our Wedding Day
After about 2 years of dating we were married in 2007. Our wedding was a blast, we had so much fun picking out the music and menu. We hired 2 local Chicago samba dancers to dance at the reception and teach a samba lesson – the dance floor was packed with friends and family of all ages! During the early years of marriage, Jove and I continued to enjoy the fast pace and culture of city life, but as we got closer to preparing to build our family, we realized that we could provide a more family-oriented environment for children if we moved to a suburb. We chose a diverse suburb just west of the city and bought a house in fall of 2010. Though we miss the buzz of the city, we found a house that now feels like a home, with a couple extra sunny bedrooms perfect for children, a great fenced backyard, and sidewalks for bike riding. The street we live on is made up of many young families and is less than a 1 block walk from the grammar school. As the months pass in our new home we continue to become more and more excited about the prospect of becoming parents as we hear young children at play all over the local parks and as we make new friends with young families in our neighborhood.
Why do we want to be parents?
Before we were married, we shared with each other our desire to someday start a family but that we would wait until we were financially and emotionally ready. Fate was not as patient with us and in 2009, we learned that we would not be able to have biological children. Many who supported us as we shared this saddening news said, “everything happens for a reason.” At the time those words hardly seemed to offer any comfort. As careful as we may be in trying to plan out life’s events, we now realize that not everything can be planned, including when we are meant to start a family. But we try to make the best of our situation with whatever ways and means we have and hope to be met somewhere in the middle by reaching out to others and God’s grace. With that said – why do we really want to be parents? Meg has spent over 10 years working with children, specifically children with disabilities both as a special education teacher and speech therapist. Meg is excited that she is now in a position to work as a home-based therapist so that she can set her own part time hours once a baby does come so that there can be a balance between motherhood and continuing to serve and impact the lives of children with disabilities and their families.
Jove will be a great father!
Meg’s thoughts on Jove:
Jove is the kind of guy who would just do anything to help someone in need. Whether it as putting up a huge Christmas light display for his mom or running out to the grocery store on a moment as notice to buy a key ingredient that I forgot when preparing Easter brunch, he reaches out to all with a smile. His patience never ceases to amaze me, like the time we blew out a tire on Lake Shore Drive when coming home late after a dinner with friends in an ice storm and the car jack wouldn at work. Not once did he complain or become upset as I stayed in the warm car on the phone to get help. Jove as unfailing sense of humor is another quality that I believe will help us get through any tough time. Jove is also a natural when it comes to babies and kids. I all never forget the time right after we were married when we were in the car with my best friend as screaming toddler. Nothing would calm the little guy until Jove started singing, and suddenly he was all smiles. I think that was the real moment that melted my heart and made me realize what an amazing father Jove would be.
Jove’s thoughts on Meg:
If Meg were a board game, she would be the game of Connect Four. In addition to the strong connection we share, Meg has an amazing ability to establish connections with children, family, and friends. When I walk in the door after a workday, I am welcomed with a kiss, a laugh, and one of her amazing dishes like pad thai or lasagna. When we sit down to dinner and talk about our day, I may listen to how a 3rd grade student regained his confidence in the classroom through her successful speech therapy sessions. As I clean up the dishes, I all often overhear her on the phone consoling her mom or brother who may have had a tough day at the work. While I sort through the mail or peruse the local paper, she is likely to be preparing a letter or birthday card to a friend. Meg is so full of love and is able to spread that love through her ability to connect. I look forward to seeing her nurturing abilities in motherhood. All the school faculty and parents speak such wonderful praises of how she engages children who can often be the most distant or distracted. Meg is going to be great at building the right environment to support, encourage, and provide for a confident and happy child.
Meg engaging students in the classroom
On Family:
We were blessed to grow up in home with strong family values. Though our families differ culturally, both families followed strong values in Christian faith, education, and strong work ethic. We were lucky to both come from parents who instilled these values in a firm but not overbearing manner, always encouraging, but not pushing too much. We know that we can use those same parenting practices to instill similar values in the family we will grow. It is exciting to think of the prospect of watching our child grow up with a combination of those family values along with the mix of his or her own unique personality.
To learn more about this family, please contact:
Cindy Anselmo at 1-888-ST-MARYS or 847-870-8181 (outside Illinois)
or e-mail canselmo@stmaryservices.com
