INTRODUCTION

Hi! My name is Bethany!

The start of something beautiful

Thank you for the chance to show you who I am, how I live my life, and to help you imagine what the life of a child would look like growing up with me as her mom. 

Most importantly: I love being a mom.

I raised four boys and have come to realize that my gift is being a loving, thoughtful, fun and nurturing mom. I am patient and kind, with the ability to love unconditionally while setting boundaries which help kids feel safe. I look forward to, and am grateful for, the opportunity to start this journey anew with a precious infant.

about me

A happy, active life

I wake up excited to start my day. I feed the dogs and walk down to the creek with them. I spend some time quietly meditating, writing or reading. I catch up on emails and then head out to my farm—my Happy Place. I have chickens (fresh eggs!), two funny goats, five barn cats and of course my horses. I grew up with ponies, and they are an important part of my life. I love grooming them, riding them, and also just playing with them. Being with my horses centers and grounds me. My sport is called Endurance, and I ride in 50-100 mile races out in the wilderness. The scenery is gorgeous and I love a challenge. I regularly go for hikes with friends or my kids, and bike rides too.

In the evenings I often have family or friends to my house for dinner, or we go out. I also love to go to the theater or live concerts, both locally and in New York City. 

see the world

I love to travel!

I have been many places, including Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Central America, as well as much of our own beautiful and multi-faceted country. I look forward to revisiting favorite spots and exploring new ones, seeing them through the eyes of my child. 

My experience is that visiting a new place with an open mind, curiosity and a sense of adventure opens up all kinds of opportunities to make connections with local people and to learn about their life and culture. I have made many friends from all around the USA and the world, including a godson in Germany and friends in Havana, Cuba, where I even learned to dance! 

doing good

Giving back is important to me

I have been blessed with a loving family, a stable upbringing, a good education, and financial security. These factors have allowed me to live my best life, full of adventures and joy. 

Along with the fun, I have always felt compelled to give back, to support and lift up others. My activism and philanthropy have brought deep meaning to my life. For example, many years ago I started sponsoring Nick, a boy in Kathmandu, Nepal who had been living on the street. Last October I visited him, now a wonderful young man who teaches B-boy dancing and helps abused women. Nick calls me Mom, and we got to know each other well on a difficult seven-day trek through the Himalayas, as well as visiting amazing temples and getting to meet his friends. 

I also support a school for girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo which my friend Noella started. We are changing not only the lives of the girls, but of the whole village. I visited a few years ago and still smile when I remember the girls’ songs and laughter. 

Closer to home, I serve on the board of a school for children with special needs, and I advocate for Christopher, a man with Asperger’s (I love our breakfasts and treasure our friendship.) I also support local hospitals and theaters, the ACLU, and various other organizations working for social and justice reform.

A couple years ago I produced The Vagina Monologues with a large, diverse and inclusive cast. It was hard work but it was a powerful production, and we raised money for a local home for sex-trafficked women. I was especially thrilled because I got to combine my love of theater with my activism.

all in the family

Introducing my loved ones

My sons are just about grown now, and they are all out of the house, but they stop in often for a home-cooked meal and a game of hoops. We are a close and loving family, through good times and challenges; I am proud of the young men they are becoming, and we enjoy hanging out together. 

Four years ago, we visited Africa and went on safari; stayed in a hotel with giraffes; and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It was grueling, but going through something like that with my kids was an incredible bonding experience.

I have shared with them that they may very soon have a baby sister and they can’t wait! She is going to be so loved.

I grew up in a large, tight-knit family. I see my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews often, as well as some of my first and second cousins. We all live within an hour’s drive of the small town where we grew up and where we still celebrate holidays with big family dinners at my parents’ or aunt’s house with lots of delicious food, games and fun.

My best friend growing up was my cousin, and she and her husband have a biological child and a child whom they adopted from Ethiopia. I have had long conversations with her about their experience, and when I shared my dream of adopting with her, she blurted out “Oh Bethany, you would be perfect! That is a wonderful idea!”

I also have a handful of very close, wise, loving friends who are looking forward to being “Aunties” and “Uncles” to my cherished baby girl. I believe it “takes a village” to raise a child, and I am fortunate to have a wonderful one surrounding me.

in closing

This may be just the beginning.

Thank you for reading about me. No matter what you decide, I wish you peace and happiness.

I understand that you are trying to digest a lot right now as you choose what is best for yourself and your baby, and I imagine it can be overwhelming.

I hope that something in my profile—maybe a picture, maybe words—has sparked your interest and warmed your heart. I have a lot to offer, and my daughter will have many opportunities and a bright future. She will be consistently and deeply loved.