Occupation 

Electrician

Education

Associate's Degree/Trade School

Hobby

Fishing, watching sports, listening to music, & DIY home projects

Favorite Sport

Football

Favorite Food

Sushi

Favorite Family Activity

Playing board games

Favorite Place to Travel

Iceland

Occupation 

Nurse

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Hobby

Traveling, DIY projects, watching sports, & Zumba

Favorite Sport

Volley & football

Favorite Food

Mexican & cheese cake

Favorite Family Activity

Movie night

Favorite Place to Travel

Ireland

Our Story

Phill and I met through mutual friends in February 2022, though it feels like our story was years in the making. We had shared the same close group of friends for over a decade but had somehow never met. One day, after Phill helped our friends with a project at their home, they suggested we should meet.

When my friends asked if I’d be interested, something about it felt right, and thankfully, Phill felt the same. A few days later, he sent me the cheesiest pickup line I had ever heard, and somehow, it worked. From that moment on, we were inseparable. We met in person the following week and had our first date at a sushi restaurant, where we talked and laughed for hours. By the end of the night, we both knew something special had begun.

Phill and I got engaged in September 2024 and were married in January 2025. We chose a small, intimate wedding surrounded by our closest family and friends. All of our nephews, our niece, and Phill’s daughter, Letti, were part of the day, making it even more meaningful. One of our favorite moments was having the friend who introduced us officiate our wedding, bringing our story full circle.



We also make it a priority to spend quality time together. Whether we're enjoying a trivia night, listening to live music, or sharing dinner out, we love making memories in both the big and little moments of life.

Our beautiful girl, Letti, is the sweetest soul. She is an animal lover through and through and has such a gentle, caring heart. She is smart, charismatic, and has a wonderful sense of humor that keeps us laughing.

She is also an incredibly talented artist and already puts both of us to shame with her creativity. She has even made special items for the nursery, which makes this season even more meaningful as she prepares to become a big sister. She is so excited for that role, and we already know she is going to be an amazing one.

Letti plays the cello and enjoys staying active through sports like volleyball, basketball, flag football, and swimming. Her dream is to become a veterinarian one day, and we support her wholeheartedly as she continues to grow and explore the things she loves.

Our Home

We bought our home in May of 2024, and it has truly become our happy place. It’s on a quiet street with lots of kids around, so there’s always someone outside playing. From our front porch, you can see the neighborhood park, and we already look forward to the day we can share that with a child. Letti loves riding her bike and roaming the neighborhood with her friends.

Our home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, along with a walkout basement that we’re currently in the process of finishing. We’ve already added a bedroom downstairs and plan to add another bathroom and a comfortable living space. One of our favorite spots is the covered deck right off the kitchen, where we spend time cooking, relaxing, and hosting friends and family.

We also have a big backyard with a volleyball net, a trampoline, and a fire pit. It has become a special place for us to gather, laugh, and make memories together.

We live about 20 minutes south of a major city, giving us the best of both worlds. While we’re part of a large metro area, our home is on the outskirts where we enjoy a quieter, country-like feel.

There’s always something to do nearby. We love going to football and baseball games, exploring kid-friendly spots, and trying new activities around the city, we even went to an alpaca event once. We also enjoy hiking and bringing our dog, Picasso, along. Closer to home, we spend time at the park down the street and visit a nearby lake where Phill enjoys taking the family fishing.

Our Parks and Recreation department offers great family activities like Movies in the Park, food truck events, and a splash park, which we enjoy whenever we can. We love being part of our community, but we also appreciate quiet time at home.

Evenings are often spent together watching a movie or playing board games with a little friendly competition. While we enjoy having a vibrant city nearby, we truly value the peaceful pace of where we live, especially simple moments like stargazing through our telescope.

Phill's Family

I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, with my younger brother and come from a large, close-knit family. Many of my relatives still live in Northern Ohio, and I always look forward to visiting and spending time with them. Staying connected to family is very important to me.

My parents have been married for over 40 years and are wonderful examples of a strong, lasting marriage. They are loving and devoted grandparents who share a special bond with Letti. Whether they are sharing stories, working on sewing projects, or simply spending time together, they make her feel loved, supported, and cherished.

They are also very excited about welcoming another child into the family and look forward to building that same close relationship. Family means everything to them, and they find great joy in being present and involved.



My brother lives in Cleveland and enjoys traveling and exploring new places. We remain close and always enjoy the time we spend together, whether catching up or taking memorable trips, like an unforgettable adventure to Iceland.

I come from a large, loving, and supportive family, and one of the things I cherish most is that we all live within about 15 minutes of each other. I am the oldest of four siblings, with one sister and two brothers, and our family includes six nephews, one niece, and many cousins who stay closely connected.

Family is a big part of our everyday lives. We spend time together often, whether it's gathering for meals, celebrating special occasions, or simply enjoying each other’s company.

My mom also lives nearby and plays a very active role in our lives. She loves spending time with Letti and thrives in her role as a grandma. Whether she’s baking, playing games, or sneaking an extra dessert, she loves making special memories with her grandchildren. She is always ready to help and support our family and is overjoyed at the thought of having one more child to love.



Our entire family is excited about our adoption journey and looks forward to welcoming a child with open arms. The kids are especially thrilled about having a new baby cousin to love, play with, and grow up alongside.

Phill & Shayle - A Look Into Our Life

Meet Our Pups

Ellie is 11 years old and has been by Letti’s side since they were both babies. She is the quiet one of the group and usually does her own thing, but she loves attention and will happily wag her tail until someone pets her. While all of our dogs are great with children, Ellie shares a particularly special bond with Letti.

Vina is the oldest of the group at nearly 16 years old and has been with Phill since she was a puppy. She is calm, protective, and spends most of her days relaxing. She loves walks, belly rubs, treats, and especially dinner time, when she suddenly seems years younger.

Picasso is the newest member of our family and brings plenty of energy and entertainment. We adopted him in 2025, and he loves chasing balls, cuddling, and trying to get the other dogs to play. He especially enjoys joining us on trips to the park and outdoor adventures.

Our dogs are incredibly friendly and love being around people. They bring so much joy, laughter, and love into our home and are truly cherished members of our family.

Happy Holidays

We truly cherish spending the holidays together, especially Christmas. Every Christmas Eve, we have a big get-together where all the cousins come over, play games, and win little prizes. It’s always loud and a lot of fun.

On Christmas morning, everyone comes to our house, and Shayle makes a big breakfast for all of us. The kids pile in, excited to open their gifts and stockings, and it’s one of those moments that makes you stop and feel really grateful.

Another tradition we’ve come to love is having Phill’s parents come into town between Christmas and New Year’s. It gives us extra time to slow down, relax, and simply enjoy being together.

We celebrate the other holidays too, usually with something simple like an Easter egg hunt or a Fourth of July BBQ. No matter the occasion, we’re almost always surrounded by friends or family, and that’s what we love most.

Adventures Create Memories 

We really love to travel and explore as a family. Over the last few years, we’ve been fortunate to visit a couple of different countries and many states. We’ve found that we value experiences much more than things, and traveling gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, and create lasting memories together.

Every year, we take a Florida beach trip with friends and family, which is something we always look forward to. The mix of relaxation and time together makes it especially meaningful. In addition to that, we usually plan another trip somewhere new so we can continue experiencing new places.

We look forward to continuing these traditions and including a child in our family adventures as we make memories along the way.

We feel really lucky to have such a big, supportive group of friends nearby. We get together as often as we can and love showing up for each other, especially when it comes to cheering on the kids at games and activities. There’s always something going on, from football watch parties and birthdays to BBQs, bonfires, and holiday get-togethers.



Honestly, our friends feel like family. They have been incredibly encouraging as we move forward in our adoption journey, and we know that a child in our home would be surrounded by people who are ready to love, support, and welcome them with open arms.