Basic Info
Caren
Age: 39
Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino
Religion: Christian
Denomination: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dustin
Age: 38
Ethnicity: White
Religion: Christian
Denomination: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Intro
About
Work & Education
Caren
Education: Masters degree
Profession: High School Teacher
Dustin
Education: Doctorate
Profession: Registered Dietitian
Post-Adoption Relationship
Open (Open to contact, phone calls, in person visits before adoption. Sharing photos and letters after placement. Visits at neutral location after adoption, etc.). If you want a more closed adoption, we would honor that request as well.
Semi Open (open to an in-person visit before adoption placement, phone, email, sharing pic/letters after placement
Closed (no contact after placement)
Environment
Country: USA
State: California
Us Region: Western US
Parent Relationship: Married
Parent Neighborhood: Urban
Parent Years Together: 10 to 15 years
Parent Residency: House
Parent Pets: None
Children At Home: Adopted children
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual parents
Preferences for a child
Age: Newborn to 1 year of age, 1 to 3 years of age
Gender: Either
Multiple Children: All, Twins, Triplets or more
Race/Ethnicity: All
Special Needs: Open to discussion
Certification 
Adoption Service Provider
Becky WillsA day in the life...
Never a dull moment
Our Story...
Our family story began when we were married and sealed on August 15th, 2009 in the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Our family story began when we were married and sealed on August 15th, 2009 in the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly after, we moved into our first apartment in Provo, Utah where Dustin worked part time while going to school and Caren taught science at a local high school. We’ve since moved back to California where we bought our first home in Southern California (just a few miles from Disneyland!). On November 1st, 2019, our first daughter Mackenzie was born and after signing adoption paperwork, we brought her home. We are family-oriented and often have pool parties, birthday parties, family and friend events and celebrations at our home. In the summertime, we love to travel and explore new parts of the world. Throughout all of the joys and jour...
Our family story began when we were married and sealed on August 15th, 2009 in the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly after, we moved into our first apartment in Provo, Utah where Dustin worked part time while going to school and Caren taught science at a local high school. We’ve since moved back to California where we bought our first home in Southern California (just a few miles from Disneyland!). On November 1st, 2019, our first daughter Mackenzie was born and after signing adoption paperwork, we brought her home. We are family-oriented and often have pool parties, birthday parties, family and friend events and celebrations at our home. In the summertime, we love to travel and explore new parts of the world. Throughout all of the joys and journeys of life, there is nothing so important to us as our faith, and building our home as a place where love, joy, goodness, and belonging is offered to anyone who visits.
Mackenzie has always been an observant, cheerful, and empathic little girl, never wanting to see anyone sad or hurt. She is kind and quick to offer a hug, or her food and snacks, especially if she thinks it will help someone feel better. Right now, she loves playing with her mom and dad, looking at books, playing with other kids in the neighborhood, and exploring her home while singing to herself. If she finds something that excites her, she’ll immediately run and tell mom and dad so that she can show them. Her favorite song at the moment is the theme for Pirates of the Caribbean (from the Disneyland ride) and will sing it any time she feels the desire. She has her mother’s heart, and her dad wrapped around her little finger.
Snippet on Caren
She has always loved being around kids, and gives her heart and soul into teaching them to be kind, responsible, and to be good people.
The cake master at work
Caren has always called herself a California girl! Since she was a little girl, she loves spending time in the California sun. She was a star athlete throughout high school, running cross-country and track, eventually receiving a full-ride athletic scholarship. Having always loved the sciences, she obtained her Associate of Arts degree and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology. Caren went on to complete her Master of Education, specializing in Cross-Cultural Teaching, with distinction. Today, she teaches high school biology and biomedical science, and is exactly the type of teacher that every student needs. Her students always comment on how Caren actually cares about them, how they can open up to her, and how she teaches them lessons that go beyond high school. Caren has had experience with children her entire life, she’s the oldest of five children, has nieces and nephews, many cousins (who now also have children), and has volunteered with youth at church for many years. She has always loved being around kids, and gives her heart and soul into teaching them to be kind, responsible, and to be good people.
In her spare time, Caren loves to bake, garden, run, try delicious food, spend time with her husband and daughter, and go on any adventure the three of them can find. Baking wise, Caren is expert level, as in, “could win baking competitions on Food Network” expert. She’s done professional baking for all kinds of events, including birthdays, baby showers, and weddings. Caren also loves to spend time with family and friends, whether through birthdays and holidays, vacations, BBQ’s, game nights, and just simple down time.
In her spare time, Caren loves to bake, garden, run, try delicious food, spend time with her husband and daughter, and go on any adventure the three of them can find. Baking wise, Caren is expert level, as in, “could win baking competitions on Food Network” expert. She’s done professional baking for all kinds of events, including birthdays, baby showers, and weddings. Caren also loves to spend time with family and friends, whether through birthdays and holidays, vacations, BBQ’s, game nights, and just simple down time.
Snippet on Dustin
There is no better job he will ever have than being a husband and father.
Checking out Downtown Disney
Whether he was riding his bike, exploring the neighborhood, or playing with pets and bugs, Dustin enjoyed a full and exciting childhood with his parents and two younger siblings. He loves sports and played football in high school. This is where his enjoyment of exercising and weight lifting began (and still continues today!). Professionally, Dustin is a registered dietitian who works as a college instructor teaching students about health, good dietary practices, and food cultures. Students feel comfortable walking into his office anytime to discuss academic and personal topics, knowing Dustin attentively listens and cares about their well-being. Fluent in Spanish, he also coordinates a graduate program on campus that prepares students to become registered dietitians. Dustin received his Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, a Master of Science in Nutritional Science, and is currently in a Public Health doctoral program specializing in disease prevention. There is no better job he will ever have than being a husband and father.
Our Values
We commend you for choosing adoption, wish you the best, and hope and pray you are guided to the right family.
The loveliest ladies
We cannot express how much we appreciate you taking the time to learn a little more about the three of us, and while we hope to learn more about you, here are a few more things we thought worth sharing.
Christ is at the center of our home. How we live our lives and the choices we make are always shaped by the love we have for our Savior and Heavenly Father. Where we’ve decided to go to school, where we bought our home, or job opportunities we have sought, there is no major decision where we do not seek Heaven’s guidance and approval. In the challenges we have faced, we have always found comfort, whether through one another or by the Spirit touching our hearts. For every way the Lord has blessed us, we know He is guiding us and will continue to guide us to raise our family, whenever, and from wherever children come.
If it is not apparent from our snippets, we are committed to lifelong education. Dustin is currently in school right now, and Caren is always seeking training for how to be a better teacher. We believe that education plays a special role in all of our lives by enhancing our freedoms, refining our character, and giving us a chance to become more like our Heavenly Father. It doesn’t matter what we are doing, we will always seek to further our knowledge, and teach our children this same value. Always keep learning!
Speaking of freedom, we love and are committed to our country (USA! USA!). We believe Heavenly Father had a hand in helping to establish this great nation, and that it is our duty to uphold and live the values of our nation, while doing our duty to be good citizens who contribute to the community. In this sense, we love opportunities to serve our fellow man, whether that is at church or in the community. Part of what allows us to love our jobs is by viewing it from this angle – service to our fellow man! We commend you for choosing adoption, wish you the best, and hope and pray you are guided to the right family.
Sincerely,
Mackenzie, Caren, & Dustin
Christ is at the center of our home. How we live our lives and the choices we make are always shaped by the love we have for our Savior and Heavenly Father. Where we’ve decided to go to school, where we bought our home, or job opportunities we have sought, there is no major decision where we do not seek Heaven’s guidance and approval. In the challenges we have faced, we have always found comfort, whether through one another or by the Spirit touching our hearts. For every way the Lord has blessed us, we know He is guiding us and will continue to guide us to raise our family, whenever, and from wherever children come.
If it is not apparent from our snippets, we are committed to lifelong education. Dustin is currently in school right now, and Caren is always seeking training for how to be a better teacher. We believe that education plays a special role in all of our lives by enhancing our freedoms, refining our character, and giving us a chance to become more like our Heavenly Father. It doesn’t matter what we are doing, we will always seek to further our knowledge, and teach our children this same value. Always keep learning!
Speaking of freedom, we love and are committed to our country (USA! USA!). We believe Heavenly Father had a hand in helping to establish this great nation, and that it is our duty to uphold and live the values of our nation, while doing our duty to be good citizens who contribute to the community. In this sense, we love opportunities to serve our fellow man, whether that is at church or in the community. Part of what allows us to love our jobs is by viewing it from this angle – service to our fellow man! We commend you for choosing adoption, wish you the best, and hope and pray you are guided to the right family.
Sincerely,
Mackenzie, Caren, & Dustin
Post-Adoption Relationship
Open (Open to contact, phone calls, in person visits before adoption. Sharing photos and letters after placement. Visits at neutral location after adoption, etc.). If you want a more closed adoption, we would honor that request as well.
Semi Open (open to an in-person visit before adoption placement, phone, email, sharing pic/letters after placement
Closed (no contact after placement)
Environment
Country: USA
State: California
Us Region: Western US
Parent Relationship: Married
Parent Neighborhood: Urban
Parent Years Together: 10 to 15 years
Parent Residency: House
Parent Pets: None
Children At Home: Adopted children
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual parents