
The phrase "opposites attract" could not have been any more true than when it comes to our story. Mark grew up in a western suburb of Chicago. He loves the great outdoors, nature and wide open spaces. Tawa grew up on Chicago's south side. Tawa loves everything about urban living - the lakefront, the skyline, the amazing restaurants and the diversity of the city's people and cultures.
What sets us apart as a couple is the very thing that drew us together: our determination and will. We lived 46 miles apart from one another while we were dating and for the first eight months of our marriage (due to a job requirement). Even during this time, we made each other a priority and saw each other every weekend and still managed to be together for each other's critical moments. We’ve been married now for over six years and our commitment and dedication to each other has led us through the good, the bad, the wonderful, and the challenging moments of life. Together, we are so excited to discover what our future holds.
About Us
Mark is a mechanical engineer by trade and has been working for a construction equipment company for the past 21 years. He designs and creates new, improved and optimized machines. Tawa works for a private foundation managing a portfolio aimed at a more just and equitable Chicago.
Mark is passionate about health and fitness. He was faced with a health challenge in 2012 when diagnosed with leukemia but, following treatment, presently has no signs of cancer. In his free time, Mark trains for 70.3 mile triathlons. Tawa is his biggest cheerleader and enjoys traveling with Mark to races and screaming and rooting for him every step of the way. In her free time, Tawa attends meetings and engages in activities related to the many civic and social organizations that she is a part of. She is passionate about social justice and ensuring that our world becomes a better place for all of us.
In our free time we love to: watch movies and television shows // travel and explore new sites or lay on the beach // laugh together // spend time with our family and friends // go to Cubs games together!
The best thing about our relationship is that we make a good team! Tawa is good at strategy and Mark is good at execution, together we are a force to be reckoned with!
Openness
We commit to an open relationship with you and your family, as is comfortable for you and at your own pace. We can promise that we will take pictures and video and we will share key moments and milestones. Throughout our adoption journey, our counselors have shared tools and strategies for maintaining a healthy, open relationship, and we hope to be able to put that knowledge to work.
