About Us

Brad is one of the best friends and dads you could ask for. He’s calm and level-headed, which helps him handle life’s tough situations. His life experiences are extremely broad from his dairy farm upbringing to his current career as a city manager which help him relate to people from all walks of life. He’s respectful, kind, and always ready to help.

Being Owen’s dad is one of the best things in Brad’s life, and he can’t wait to welcome a new family member and be their dad too. 

Brad loves reading each day and finding time for grilling and smoking meats to perfection. He also loves music, especially live concerts, and enjoys a wide range of genres from folk to hard rock .

An outdoor enthusiast, Brad enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping. One of his favorites spots to relax is the cabin he and Laura bought from Laura's extended family on Big Sandy Lake. In recent years he also fell in love with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. He and Laura try to go every year and bring Owen along too.

Brad’s family is close-knit. His dad and stepmom live in New Ulm and his mom lives in the twin cities, close to him and Laura.  He also has an older brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews. They love getting together for the kids’ sports events, holidays, and family trips.

Brad’s dedication to his family, community, and love for adventure make him an amazing dad and a great person to know.

Laura is a nurturing and responsible person. She credits this a lot to her upbringing on a hobby farm. Even though she’s not Owen’s biological mom, she takes her role as his stepparent very seriously and loves helping guide him as he grows up. Her farm life gave her a strong work ethic and a huge love for animals. For Laura, a house isn’t complete without pets. She rescued her cat, Bella, and dog, Nakita, before Brad and Owen came into her life, and now they are cherished family members by all.

Laura works as a continuous improvement professional, helping people solve problems and improve their lives. She’s also a creative who loves taking photos of her family and looks forward to capturing memories for their future child. 

Laura’s parents have been married for over 50 years, and she has two older sisters. Her whole family lives in Minnesota, less than an hour away, so they often get together for holidays, birthdays, or just because. One of Laura’s favorite family activities is having big get-togethers where everyone can catch up, play board or card games, and enjoy each other’s company.

Laura loves being outdoors, hiking, and fishing—a hobby she and Brad bonded over. She used to run marathons but now sticks to shorter distances.

Travel is another passion of Laura’s. Her job has taken her around the world, making friends and experiencing different cultures. She believes travel helps us see how much we all have in common. 

Laura has always wanted to be a mom and can’t wait to welcome a child into her loving home.

Owen is a fun-loving 12-year-old who absolutely loves to read. He can get totally lost in a book, especially when he’s cozied up with blankets and comfy clothes on the weekends. He’s a big animal lover and adores his cat Bella, and his dogs, Nakita and Blaine (Blaine lives at his mom’s house while Nakita and Bella live with us).

When he’s not reading, Owen is probably playing video games or out on the field playing baseball and basketball with his friends or on a team. He loves hanging out with family and friends and is always up for a big get-together.

Owen has an older stepbrother and is excited to be an older brother himself. When asked about the adoption and what he is looking forward to, he hopes to teach his little sibling the ropes on sports, his favorite video games, and, of course, how to get super cozy.

Owen can literally talk to anyone. He loves to chat, whether it’s with his hair stylist, random kids he meets out and about, or his family and friends. He can talk for hours about history, video games, and stories.

Music is a big part of Owen’s life too. Lately, he’s been really into Green Day, AJR, Twenty One Pilots, and Hozier. School isn’t his favorite, but he’s naturally great at Math. Owen’s the kind of kid who brings a lot of joy to those around him with his warm and friendly personality.