Family Spotlight: The Curtis Family

What is your name and where are you from?  Joe and Kristina Curtis and we live in Bettendorf, IA

What is your favorite place you have visited?  We both love San Antonio!   

What is your favorite movie?  Joe - We Were Soldiers, Kristina - I'm not a big movie person but I do like the classic Disney movies

What is your favorite thing to do on a date?  Nothing to crazy for us...just dinner and a walk afterwards is perfect for us! 

What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?  Joe - Iowa State Cyclones and the Cubs, Kristina - Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cubs   

What is your favorite food? We both love Colombian food.  Joe is from Colombia so we make it a point to include his culture in our lives. 

What is your favorite book?  Joe - Chosen Soldier, Kristina - I have way to many to list...I love to read!

How did you meet your spouse?  We met in art class during our first day of college.  We definitely bonded over our dislike of the class! 

Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why?  Joe - Bear Grylls...I want to follow along on one of his survival trips, Kristina - Irene Garcia...she is a foster/adoptive mom who wrote a book I am reading currently 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Joe - I wanted to be a soldier, Kristina - I wanted to be a doctor

If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them? Joe - Don't quit and don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something!
Kristina - Don't ever put limits on what you think God wants of you...it is very likely He has something completely different and way more perfect than you could ever imagine!

Have you ever tried sushi?  Did you like it? Yes! It is one of our favorite date night dinners!   

What are two of your favorite websites? Joe - Google and ESPN,
Kristina - My NICU support group and Pinterest

Do you have any updates on your adoption process? We have all of our paperwork done and are just waiting on a referral so we are officially a waiting family!


They are so close to meeting their $10,000 goal.  You can help them by giving here.

Family Spotlight: The Ward Family

What is your name and where are you from?  Kelly and Tracie Ward both originally from Arkansas. Go Hogs!! :)    
What is your favorite place you have visited? Kelly-Israel Tracie -Cayman Islands   
What is your favorite movie? Kelly- John Adams  Tracie-Grease    
What is your favorite thing to do on a date? Coffee and antique stores     
What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?  Arkansas Razorbacks    
What is your favorite food?  Kelly-fajitas Tracie-Seafood    
What is your favorite book?  Kelly- Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley, Tracie Angels of Humility by Jackie Macgirvin   
How did you meet your spouse?  We met at church! Kelly was the Childrens Pastor at the church Tracie attended    
Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why? We both would love to meet George W. Bush because he seems like a really great guy to be around!  
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?Kelly-DJ  Tracie-News Anchor      
If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them? Kelly-Make good decisions daily Tracie-Don’t sweat the small stuff     
Have you ever tried sushi?  Did you like it?  WE LOVE IT    
What are two of your favorite websites?  Kelly-facebook and twitter Tracie facebook and pinterest    
Do you have any updates on your adoption process? Kids are doing phenomenal! Pending a couple of things falling into place we hope to have them home by the end of the year!

Family Spotlight: Hartson Family

1.     What is your name and where are you from?

We are both grew up in Pella, Iowa and still live there today.

2.     What is your favorite place you have visited?

We don't do a lot of traveling, but our favorite place we have visited is Ethiopia. When we were there over 2 years ago, we immediately fell in love with the country and cannot wait to go back.

3.     What is your favorite movie?

Jeremy:  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Sarah:  It's hard to pick a favorite.  I love romantic comedies.  I'm lucky that Jeremy will watch them with me.

4.     What is your favorite thing to do on a date?

We just enjoy going out and spending time together talking.  Our dates usually include dinner and a movie.

5.     What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?

Jeremy:  New York Yankees, Atlanta Falcons, and Iowa Hawkeyes

Sarah:  I don't follow many sports, but I grew up in a family that watched everything pertaining to Iowa State Cyclones, so I definitely cheer for them in any sport.

6.     What is your favorite food?

Jeremy:  Ethiopian

Sarah:  I love to cook, so I enjoy trying new foods, but my favorite is probably anything Italian.

7.     What is your favorite book?

Jeremy:  Crazy Love

Sarah:  Crazy Love

8.     How did you meet your spouse?

We met while we were in high school.  We went to different schools, but both worked at a local pizza joint.  We became friends and later started dating.

9.     Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why?

We both love music.  I introduced Jeremy to Jeremy Camp when his first album came out.  We've been to a few of his concerts, but would love to meet him in person. :)

10.   When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Jeremy:  I wanted to be a doctor until I realized how much schooling it would take. 

Sarah:  I grew up on a farm and always enjoyed spending time outside with my Dad, so I wanted to be a vet.

11.   If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them?

Jeremy:  Don't force your views or beliefs on others. 
Sarah: Develop relationships with others and listen to how they think and feel.

12.   Have you ever tried sushi?  Did you like it?

We have both tried sushi and liked what we ate.

13.   What are two of your favorite websites?

Jeremy:  Guitar for Worship and Ultimate Guitar

Sarah:  Pinterest and Facebook

14.   Do you have any updates on your adoption process?

Right now we have turned in all of our paperwork and are just waiting for a referral.

Family Spotlight: Walters Family

1. What is your name and where are you from?

Bret & Mandy Walters, Warsaw, IN

2. What is your favorite place you have visited?

Mandy - besides Haiti to visit my kids, Jamaica with my husband!  Bret - Jamaica on our honeymoon

3. What is your favorite movie?

Mandy - The Blind Side/Hunger Games, Bret - Shooter

4. What is your favorite thing to do on a date?

Dinner & Movie or an Indianapolis Colts game

5. What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?

The Indianapolis Colts

6. What is your favorite food?

Mandy - Filet Mignon & Crab legs, Bret - Porterhouse steak & lobster

7. What is your favorite book?

Mandy - Anything by Karen Kingsbury, Bret - Deadline by Randy Alcorn

8. How did you meet your spouse?

We met at a restaurant that I (Mandy) was waitressing at.

9. Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why?

Our first grandchild - a grandchild is a very special person in your life and someone you can tell stories to and teach life's lessons. 

10. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Mandy - Wife & Mother,  Bret - Baseball player or Special Forces in the Army

11. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them?

Do some homework before jumping into something you know nothing about.

12. Have you ever tried sushi? Did you like it?

Mandy - yes, depends on what kind, Bret - yes, its ok

13. What are two of your favorite websites?

Mandy - Facebook & Google, Bret - Facebook & Bing

14. Do you have any updates on your adoption process?

After a year of being in process but waiting we have found it necessary to change agencies and unfortunately begin again with our son. We feel we are on the right path and God is going to bless us with some movement and see at least one of our children home in 2014!

Reed Famliy Spotlight

We are introducing something new called "Family Spotlight."  This is simply a post for you to get to know one of the families we are helping a little better.  We are starting with the Reed family from California.  Enjoy!

1. What is your name and where are you from?

Daniel and Sarah Reed.  Daniel was born in Washington state and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but really grew up in San Diego from early high school on.  Sarah is a born and bred, die-hard San Diegan.

2. What is your favorite place you have visited?

When we hit our 10 year dating Anniversary in 2009, we went on an amazing trip throughout northern Italy.  While Rome's history was captivating, and Venice's canals were iconic, Florence stole our hearts with its peaceful beauty.

3. What is your favorite movie?

So many to choose from...Daniel's favorite is between "Big Fish" and the LOTR trilogy (for different reasons) and Sarah's current choice has been "Couples Retreat."

4. What is your favorite thing to do on a date?

Daniel loves trying out new and fun places to eat, and Sarah will humor him from time to time.  As long as it involves some time to chat and walk about before/after, we're generally both happy. 

5. What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?

We are really not sports people, which likely is partially due to our location.  We will dutifully cheer for the Padres and Chargers, but have no real expectation of any championships any time soon!

6. What is your favorite food?

Such a hard question (for Daniel)! The best I can do is pick a category: Asian cuisine.  Whether Thai, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese...these bold flavors just can't be beat!  Sarah, on the other hand, is satisfied with a turkey and cheese sandwich or some steamed broccoli - though she's also quite fond of our local Nepalese place.

7. What is your favorite book?

Since Daniel read the LOTR trilogy in early high school that has been his favorite, but more recently, he's found "The Five Love Languages" and Terry Pratchett's Discworld series to be quite good. Sarah is a Dickens fan with how thoroughly he describes things, bringing you right into the scene with the characters. 

8. How did you meet your spouse?

We met through our church when we were 15 and 13.  Our first date was a Homecoming dance, and soon after, we began the 7 year countdown until we could get married.  Scoffers were proven wrong when they came to our wedding, 7 years later. :)

9. Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why?

As a special education teacher, Sarah would love to have met her inspiration, Anne Sulivan - Helen Keller's teacher.  Daniel would like to have met either of his grandfathers to know a bit more of their stories.  

10. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Daniel wanted to be a football player from about 5th-9th grade - but his build didn't quite agree with him! Sarah wanted to be a special education teacher nearly all her life.

11. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them?

Learning how to love your mate in a Godly, self-sacrificing, grace-filled way is the key to a successful relationship and a satisfying life.

12. Have you ever tried sushi? Did you like it?

You kidding? We love sushi!  Ever tried guinea pig? Now there's an animal that could put on another pound or two...

13. What are two of your favorite websites?

I'm convinced that the productivity of the modern world was reduced significantly when Youtube was released...nonetheless, Daniel is addicted.  Sarah is a big fan of Pinterest.

14. Do you have any updates on your adoption process?

Sadly, we were not able to proceed with the adoption of twin toddler boys whose referral we accepted in May.  While this was heartbreaking news, we know that God's plan - for them and for us - will continue.  We are in the process of starting again with a new referral from the DR Congo.