Both Margo and Karl come from families with a strong Scandinavian background. A popular principle of thought in Scandinavia is the concept of hygge, which, loosely defined, means living a life that creates a “coziness in the soul.” We know-it sounds a little weird, but basically, all it means is that we try to live our lives so our souls are happy and content. What does this look like? We make sure that we spend quality time with the people that we love and cherish. We find careers and activities that add value to our lives and the lives of others. We appreciate and care for the outdoors. We balance our zest for adventure with finding times to relax with a good book or a favorite movie. We prioritize our relationship by supporting and respecting each other.

When we think about adding a child to our lives in the context of hygge, there are a few things that come to mind. We will spend as much time as we can with this child; Margo is going to cut back her work hours significantly so she can stay home with the child. We will give this child the space and support to find activities, sports and interests that they love. We will teach this child the value and beauty of nature. We will fill this child’s life with love, laughter, games, books and art projects. We will always make sure that this child’s soul is comfy and cozy in our home.

Our dog, Liesl, is a very important part of our lives. She came to us as a puppy from our local humane society in 2020. Ever since then, she has been brightening our days and providing us with so much joy and love! Liesl’s favorite activities are snuggling on the couch, monitoring the neighborhood’s squirrel activity from the living room window, and pulling the stuffing out of all of her toys.

Liesl keeps us on our toes with daily walks around the neighborhood, and weekend adventures to local (and sometimes not so local) trails and parks. These are times we really enjoy-we are able to check in with each other, bond as a family, talk about our day, and spend some quality time outside.

Liesl has never met a child she did not like. She is very gentle and loving towards our friends’ babies, and we cannot wait to see her as a “big sister". We know that she’ll love playing fetch, running around in the yard, and begging for food from our future kids.

We have always known that we wanted to be parents. In fact, it was something that we discussed on some of our very first dates. Becoming parents was always in our individual life plans, and finding a partner who was equally passionate and excited about parenthood was really comforting for both of us. During some of these discussions about parenthood early in our relationship, we talked about the possibility of adoption, and both of us were excited about the idea. We feel that there is something really amazing and special about growing our family through choice and love, and we are excited to finally find ourselves on this journey.

Adoption has always been a part of Margo’s life-her cousin was adopted from China when she was very young. Through this experience, we have learned about the joys of adoption, as well as the complex and sometimes difficult road that adoption can be. Our future child will always know that they are adopted, and their birth mother will have a special place in our lives, our story and our hearts. We know that any child we bring into our home will know so much love, and have our unconditional support.

We are so lucky to have close and supportive extended families! When it came time to decide where we wanted to put down our roots, it was important to both of us that we settle down near our hometown, so family would always be close by.

Whenever Margo’s family gets together, there is always laughter, love, and a lot of inside jokes. There is no reason too small to meet up as a family, be it the holidays, to watch a football game, or a random Sunday dinner. Margo has two brothers, who are both starting families of their own, so we’re excited that our child will have cousins who are around the same age to grow up with. Every couple of years, we take the show on the road and go on a big extended family vacation. Last year, the family went to Disney World, and Margo and Karl really enjoyed thinking about what a trip here would look like with our future child, surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Karl’s family is thoughtful and intellectual. Since Karl is an only child, this side of our extended family is a lot smaller, but we appreciate our time with them just as much! You can find Karl’s parents enjoying local art fairs and music festivals, trying out new recipes and playing board games.

We live in an adorable three bedroom townhouse, nestled in a quiet neighborhood in southern Wisconsin. Our home is cute and cozy, in large part due to the time and care Karl has taken in crafting some really beautiful furniture that he built while woodworking in the garage. In the warmer seasons, we enjoy time in our backyard relaxing and hosting gatherings with our friends. In the winters, we cozy up on the couch with our dog, reading or watching movies. The kitchen, the heart of our home, is where you can find Margo baking.

We live just a few blocks away from great parks, local schools, and an amazing biking and walking path. Our community’s downtown area is cute and lively; one of our favorite weekend activities is to walk down to the local coffee shop to meet up with our friends and their kids; we grab some coffee and catch up in the town square while we watch the kids play. We can also be found shopping for some veggies at the square’s farmer’s market, or attending one of the holiday festivals our town hosts.

Our town is just minutes away from a large city. This means that we get the best of both worlds- we are a part of a close-knit, quiet community with great schools and outdoor spaces, while just down the road, there is a big, diverse metro area, with tons of opportunities for fun, like college football games, museums, a beautiful zoo, and festivals.

Thank you again so much for taking the time to review our profile. Please know that we are so impressed with your strength and resilience, and that we are thinking of you and sending you our support and encouragement. We can’t imagine how difficult this process has been, and we wish for you clarity and peace as you continue on through this journey. There are so many unknowns in this process, so we hope that by sharing a bit more about us and our lives helps to clear some of the murky waters.

We first met in middle school when Karl’s family moved to Margo’s hometown. We weren’t really friends as kids, but we had a ton of shared friends and childhood experiences; we even have pictures from high school where the other one of us is unknowingly in the background. Fast forward to a few years later, we reconnected through a dating app. Once we “met” each other as adults, we recognized our shared values and interests, and knew that we had found a partner for life. We’ve been together for almost four years and married for a little over two. The foundation of our relationship has always been friendship, respect and support. We really enjoy being around each other, we make each other laugh, and we are each other’s biggest advocate. We love each other completely, and we are ready to start a new chapter in our lives, welcoming a child into our family.

We cannot promise that we will be perfect parents, but please know that we will love and support this child entirely and unconditionally. We know that one of the most important responsibilities that we will have as parents is to provide a child with the love, support and encouragement they need to thrive mentally, physically and emotionally, and we are fully prepared to provide such an environment. Our top priority will be the happiness and safety of this child. We feel that the best way we can accomplish this goal is by focusing on optimizing quality time with our family. We want to play a very active role in this child's life. Margo will be cutting back her work hours significantly so that she is primarily a stay-at-home mom. We are both excited to read bedtime stories, chaperone field trips, coach peewee sports teams, help out with homework, and do whatever else we can to show this child that we are an always present and unwavering advocate for them and their happiness. We also plan on carving out time throughout this child’s life to travel with them, and teach them about different parts of the world. We will create an inclusive and accepting environment where a child can have the confidence and comfort to develop their own interests, personality, and strengths. We are excited to surround a child with love, laughter, fun, adventure, books, art, and family.

We have known for a long time that adoption is the right path for us, and if you feel it’s right for you too, we promise to dedicate ourselves to the well-being, safety and happiness of this child. Know that you will always be a part of this child’s life, and as a result, our lives. This child will know their adoption story and the profound and special role you play in their life. We plan to share this child’s life with you through ongoing communication, sharing milestones and other updates as they grow and flourish with letters and photos. We are open to discussing other forms of communication and contact as well if that is what is emotionally safe and healthy for everyone involved. We will always honor you in our home and speak of you in a positive light. We know this is a difficult and at times a seemingly impossible decision, but we hope that you feel supported and loved by us during this process. We are thinking of you, and wishing you strength and courage.

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to look at our profile and to learn a little more about our family.

With love,

Karl & Margo