J.J. & LilyOur Story
We originally met when we were just 17 and 18 years old!
J.J. went to college with and became good friends with Lily’s cousin. So, over the years we chatted here and there and always “noticed” each other (ha! ha!). Finally, in 2013 we reconnected while camping out at a friend’s birthday party. Our relationship started out long distance. Lily was living in Philly, running youth programs and choreographing dance performances. JJ was living in upstate NY, running a recording studio and making music.
Our relationship has always been full of youthful energy, creativity and joy. We fell in love while dreaming up dance/music collaborations.
After a year and a half, Lily moved to upstate NY to live with J.J. and go to grad school for Dance/Movement Therapy.
In 2016, we moved to Guilford, Vermont, and started putting roots down in the artistic and community-oriented town of Brattleboro. While we miss our city lives in DC, NYC, and Philly (and go back to visit often!), we also fell in love with the country side of Vermont.
In 2020, we had an amazing opportunity to purchase land and started building our own home from the ground up. Our best friends are building their house right next door and Lily’s parents moved in down the road! We even have some chickens and a couple of llamas.
We have been dreaming about growing our family for many years. Part of that journey was becoming licensed foster parents. In the last year, we had the honor of caring for three babies. Two of them were preemie twins who lived with us for eight months! We lovingly nicknamed the twins “The Acorns”! This was a term of endearment Lily’s mom coined when they were just a sweet tiny duo in the NICU. And it stuck!
Providing a loving foster home was the most meaningful experience we have shared as a couple. Including building a trusting and supportive relationship with the Acorn’s parents. These little ones hold a very special place in our hearts. And of course we got a lot of practice with baby life. Times two!
We can’t wait to pour our love into raising a child on this beautiful land, with the support of our big community.
We have had the great privilege to know and love a number of friends and family members who have adoption stories.
After many years of wanting to start a family, Lily’s cousin Laura Leigh decided to pursue foster care and adoption as a single parent. Laura Leigh was overjoyed to adopt her daughter, our cousin Maleigha as a baby. Maleigha has been such a gift to not only Laura Leigh but to our entire family! Both Maleigha and Laura Leigh are talented performers! Laura Leigh, an actor, and Maleigha, a gifted singer. We love spending time with Laura Leigh and Maleigha and their adoption story certainly inspired us to grow our family through adoption as well!
Lily’s dear friend Hannah, who she met in grad school, was also adopted. Lily and Hannah share many connections in their friendship — including being therapists, a love of dance and a commitment to social justice. Hannah’s mom also adopted as a single parent and she and Hannah have a very close and loving relationship. Hannah has shared her story and lived experience with Lily and J.J. and expresses much gratitude and support for adoption. She is thrilled that we are pursuing adoption!
Laura Leigh, Maleigha, and Hannah were all part of interracial adoptions and thus loving multiracial families. They have and will continue to provide us with guidance and insight about all aspects of adoption. We are so grateful to have these amazing and supportive loved ones in our lives!
