Colleen Neil

Colleen & Neil
OUR
Story
We met in 2005 on match.com and went miniature golfing
in a park near Lake Michigan on our first date.
CELEBRATING VALENTINE’S DAY WITH A HOME COOKED MEAL
Hello
happy
G R AT E F U L
We are so
&
T
he conversation was
Chicks called “Easy Silence”. We
so easy and we felt
still believe these lyrics describe
comfortable with one another
our relationship: “I come to find
right away. Needless to say,
a refuge in the/Easy Silence that
we’ve been together ever
you make for me/It’s okay when
since. We married in 2008 in a
there’s nothing more to say to me/
traditional wedding surrounded
And the peaceful quiet you create
by family and friends. We love
for me/And the way you keep the
camping, baseball games,
world at bay for me/The way you
spending time at the beach,
keep the world at bay”.
going to movies, and just
TO B E A B L E TO
introduce ourselves
to yo u .
O U T AN D AB O U T N E AR O U R H O M E
A B E A U T I F U L S P R I N G DAY D OW N T OW N
hanging out at home with
This is to say that our
our cats. We are both Social
relationship and our home really
Workers and work in similar
feel safe and supportive. We
positions so we enjoy discussing
We have so much respect and appreciation for your
journey and the decisions you are facing.
W
e are so excited to
the best plan and situation
be parents and are
for yourself and your child.
prepared to offer a loving
Whatever you choose as the
and supportive home to your
best plan for yourself and your
child. We hope that our profile
child, we wish you peace, love
gives you a sense of our
and support.
unique personalities and our
life together as you consider
RELAXING AT HOME TOGETHER
ONE OF
OUR
FAVO R I T E
SPOTS IN
C H I C AG O
W e thank you f o r
ta k i n g t h e t i m e
to l e a r n m o r e
about us and
consider us as
our work and consulting with
one another for professional
advice as well. Most important
to us is spending time together,
whatever we are doing.
adoptive parents for
The first dance at our wedding
your child.
was to a song by the Dixie
FAMILY BOAT RIDE ON THE CHICAGO RIVER
J UST
FOR
Fun
have been trying to become
parents for quite awhile now
and we have become even
closer and stronger as a couple
through that process. We
will offer our child that safe,
supportive, loving environment
that we have come to enjoy as a
couple.
a
THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
WE MOST ENJOY AS A COUPLE:
Holidays. Celebrating Christmas with Neil’s
course, we plan on starting our own family vacation
extended family of up to 30 people, sharing laughter
tradition as well. We have especially loved visiting New
and enchiladas (a family recipe passed down from
York City and Playa del Carmen, Mexico together.
Neil’s grandmother). Christmas Day with Colleen’s
We also love…
• Camping
• Spending time at the
beach
• Going to movies and
plays
family, snacking on breakfast and opening gifts for
Chicago sightseeing. We both grew up
• Reading
hours.
outside the city but visited often with our families.
• Yoga
Neil remembers his first Cubs game and shopping on
• Jogging and Biking
Family vacations. Colleen’s family enjoys
Michigan Ave. Colleen remembers Christmas time with
• Road trips
renting a house near Traverse City, MI for a week in
all the store windows decorated and breakfast with
• Cooking
the summer. Neil’s parents spend time in Florida every
Santa. Even though we have lived in Chicago for many
• Going out to eat (sushi
winter and we have an open invitation to join them. Of
years, we are always finding something new to do.
and tacos are favorites)
NEIL
COLLEEN
SHARES ABOUT
SHARES ABOUT
Colleen
Neil
C
N
which she does often. She also makes
to Cubs games. Neil is not afraid to try
me laugh quite easily with her ability to
something new. On a recent camping
recount stories and see the humor in
trip he revealed that he had never been
many situations.
canoeing before but was more than
olleen is thoughtful, insightful
eil is incredibly kind, patient,
and practical but also has a huge
thoughtful, and loyal. He loves to
heart. I love seeing her smile and laugh,
play guitar, ride his bike, camp, and go
willing to try. Within a few minutes
Colleen loves going to amusement parks
he was canoeing like a pro. He will
and water parks in the summer. She is
research the best way to do anything,
always coming up with different and
interesting things for us to do – visiting
Colleen taking an evening walk around our neighborhood
Neil out and about in the neighborhood square
from making the best cup of coffee
to having the best workout routine.
a traditional Korean spa and sauna near
Whenever I’m not sure how to solve a
our home, going to an underground
problem, Neil is the first person I call
circus show, trying a new restaurant or
on. We have been through some tough
cuisine. In the summer she is obsessed
times and Neil has been such a great
with being outside – at the beach, dining
source of strength and support along
on an outdoor patio, camping, jogging,
the way. Even though he has many
anything in the sun. As much as she
interests and works hard, I know that
enjoys these things, she especially loves
he most enjoys spending time with me
finding an experience that someone
doing simple things.
else will love. She recommends movies,
Colleen and Isabel the kitty
foods, restaurants, and more to anyone
Neil loves to play guitar
who will listen and is thrilled when they
enjoy it as much as she thought they
would.
Colleen is also brave and persistent.
We have had some disappointments in
life and she has responded with such
resilience. Last year she decided she
Enjoying a lakefront ride
A little friend showing Colleen his teepee
full of stuffed animals
COLLEEN LIGHTS UP
WHEN SPENDING
TIME WITH HER
FRIENDS’ CHILDREN
She takes such good care of
her therapy patients, her
family, our cats & me.
was going to run a 7 mile race with only
5 weeks to prepare. I was skeptical but
she did it and I was so proud. I joke
that nothing scares her except haunted
houses (a true story!)
Just as important, she takes
good care of herself so that
she can continue to be a
great caregiver, support, and
example to others. I cannot
wait to see Colleen in action
as a mom.
I HAVE SEEN NEIL’S
patience. sense of calm, and
also his silliness when he
spends time with children.
Being silly with a friend
I really feel safe and secure with Neil.
Enjoying Mexican food in our
neighborhood
He is so respectful and caring. He has
developed really nice relationships
with all of my friends and family. On
a recent outing to visit my grandma,
he set up a blu-ray player for her and
showed her how to use it. She was so
First of all, he is wonderful at
his job working with troubled
teenagers. But outside of
work he enjoys his nephews
and our friends’ children. He
jumps right in – whether it is
playing games, making silly
voices and faces, or helping a
child understand something
new about their environment.
grateful but even more interesting was
how much he enjoyed spending time
with her and hearing her stories.
a
I KNO W THAT
neil will make the
most amazing dad.
Home
Community
W
e live in a neighborhood
on the northwest side of
Chicago. We enjoy living in such
a diverse part of the city. Many
children live nearby and
Our local playground
take advantage of the many
We enjoy our quiet time at
loves cooking and we look forward
home even more than being out
to sharing family meals together
and about. Our home is very
with our children. We can picture
comfortable – our big cozy couch
weekend mornings at home eating
gets a lot of use. We are also
pancakes and watching cartoons,
always in the kitchen. Colleen
just like when we were children.
Making tacos at home
kid friendly activities in our
neighborhood. Within 3 blocks of
our home there are 2 high schools,
our life as parents
OUR
W
e have been working toward parenthood for a little while now.
This has given us the chance to really figure out what we’re all
about as a family. We don’t have any strict expectations for what our
family life will be like once our child arrives but we do know that we will
continue to live by these family principles:
• we act silly and
• we talk about
laugh til we cry
feelings and
relationships. Our
how to deal with
extended families
• we ask
questions, learn,
and welcome
new experiences
• we are
interested in
understanding
• we value family
difficult things
• we value
hard work, and
• we make
and helping
mistakes and
others
forgive easily
include many people
who are not related to
education,
commitment
Enjoying a boatride in Chicago
us by birth (through
marriage, adoption,
and blending of
families) but to us
they are just family
Neil’s side of the family
2 universities, and an elementary
school. For fun, there is a soccer
field, baseball field, track, running and
Meet Neil’s Family: Neil grew up in Davenport, Iowa with
cycling path along the Chicago River,
one older sister. His parents have been married for 45 years and still
a swimming pool with a splash pad
live in the house where Neil was raised. His sister and brother-in-law
and kiddie pool, a fishing dock on the
live in Davenport as well with their two sons.
river, and a large playground. We have
always enjoyed Chicago’s lakefront
Fun day at the beach with friends
and our home is about 2 miles west
Enjoying a family game day with our nephews
Neil’s parents showed him the importance
Whenever we are visiting Davenport we
of commitment, hard work, thinking of
spend time with Neil’s large extended
of Lake Michigan. Because we live in
others, and doing your fair share. They
family as well. There is a big family party
a quieter neighborhood a few miles
can have fun almost anywhere. They love
every year at Christmas time and every
from downtown we feel we have the
entertaining with game nights and big
Memorial Day. So many people come
best of both worlds – we can enjoy a
bonfires in their backyard. They also visit
together for food and laughter. It is a loud
smaller town feel in our neighborhood
us in Chicago often.
and loving group.
Meet Colleen’s Family:
Colleen’s parents taught her to work
Colleen’s family is originally from
hard and not give up easily. Her family is
Chicago, though she grew up primarily in
adventurous, practical, grounded, fun, and
southwest Michigan. Because of this she
full of love for each other. It is because of
However, when they met him it was mutual love at first sight. Isabel
considers both Chicago and Michigan
her family that Colleen is the amazing and
is 15 years old. We delight in how clever she is, how much she enjoys
“home”. Colleen has two younger sisters,
strong woman she is today.
catnip and treats, and her nightly snuggles with Neil before we go
one of whom lives nearby in Chicago with
to sleep. Henry is 12 years old and was rescued from a Chicago
her fiance. Her parents have been married
When we are together with Colleen’s
shelter by Colleen while she was a volunteer there. He was so sweet
for 40 years and still live in the family
family, we enjoying playing games as
that the shelter employees all wanted to keep him. He is our cuddly
home in Michigan. Colleen’s parents are in
a family, going out to eat, discussing
cat and still runs around with his toy mouse playing like a kitten.
Chicago all the time so we see them often.
political issues, and laughing a lot.
but can still take advantage of all that
Tasting treats at a Chicago festival
ISABEL
city life offers.
queen of the house
Meet i s a b e l
henry
They have been in Colleen’s life since before she met Neil
lovable HENRY
Colleen’s side of the family
one
last
Thank
you
Thank you for taking the time to learn about us.
We have been thinking about you and hoping that you find the best possible situation for yourself and your
child. We don’t pretend to know all that the future holds for us, or you, or for this very special child, but if
you choose us as adoptive parents we can make the following promises to your baby:
• You will be so loved and cherished by us and our
tremendous circle of family and friends
• You will have a good education and the opportunity to
go to college
• You will have parents who are settled and stable in their
careers and relationship
• You will learn compassion, value and respect for others
• You will learn to swim and ride a bike and have the
opportunity to try sports and hobbies that interest you
• You will be read to everyday
• You will live in a diverse community and learn respect
for those with different customs or cultures
If you have any questions for us or would like to speak to us about becoming adoptive parents to your
child, please contact your adoption advisor at AdoptHelp. Call toll-free at 1-800-637-7999.