Staci and her student, Kelsey at the May 2011SF State journalism graduation ceremony.

I first met Staci in 2009 during my second semester at San Francisco State University, where she was one of my journalism professors. I had just moved to the city at the beginning of that year, and had never even visited before, so needless to say, I will still gaining my footing when it came to navigating my way through the culture and adventures that SF holds. I was also still gaining confidence as a journalist. Staci helped me immensely with each of these challenges.

Staci is a motivator. She is willing to devote time outside of class and school with her students to make sure they are confident with their talents. She does not pressure us while we try and learn new things. She works beside us, letting us set a pace of learning that we are comfortable with. It is this patience that will make Staci such an amazing mother, I have no doubt. As a team, Jay and Staci will be parents that are patient, supportive, motivational, and truly loving. They will listen, they will understand, and they will motivate their child to be confident, just like they do for those around them, whether they be friends or family. I have no doubt that they can form a family that is not only intelligent and adventurous, but one that will smile, laugh and grow happily.

Kelsey Avers, San Francisco

Dear Birth Mother,

I am very happy that Jay and Staci are in the process of adopting a baby. They will be very loving, caring, and nurturing parents.

Staci has always been a kind, thoughtful, and charitable lady with a heart that is full of love for children as well as for family and friends. She has the patience to handle any situation that occurs during the growth and development of her child-to-be. When Jay came into her life, she blossomed even more. They are a loving, devoted and happy couple. Jay and Staci spend a lot of time together whether cooking, cleaning, shopping, sight-seeing, visiting their family and friends, entertaining, and taking Cody on walks and to the dog park. They have always made sure they had quality time together. They also like to kick back and watch a movie.

I sincerely believe Staci and Jay will be excellent parents. They know the importance of devoting time to family and bringing up a child in a stable, happy, loving home. They also believe in disciplining a child through patience and kindness.

As a grandmother-to-be of their soon-to-be adopted baby, I am eager to have my first grandchild to love as Jay and Staci welcome a baby into their family.

Love,
Nana Schorr

Dear Birth Mother,

Thank you for a most loving heart to give your child to Jay and Staci.

They are a great couple who love children.  It’s so much fun to watch them interact with our two granddaughters Mia and Ellerie Mitchell.

Jay and his sister, Kimberly, are both adopted. Our family understands the process.  Jay does a lot of teasing, as a matter of fact our whole family does a lot of kidding and teasing.

When Staci married Jay she brought a lot of love and happiness to our family and made it even better. They have such a good time together.

Jay brings a lot of Great Aunts, Great Uncles and many cousins to this family. Jay’s sister, Kimberly and her husband Robert with their girls, Mia and Ellerie live in San Francisco and will be a lot of help and information for them.

Love,
Future Grandpa & Grandma to new baby!

My son Ben, who hasn’t seen Jay and Staci for two years now, still talks about them from time to time because he has such wonderful memories of them.

The first thing I noticed about Jay and Staci was how strong their relationship was. They are solidly in love, and that love has been tested through some great hardships, and they have made it through stronger than ever.

The second thing I noticed, and appreciated, was that they not only tolerated my wild child of a son, but they loved him. He was never treated like an annoyance. He was always made to feel included in whatever we were doing.

Jay teaching Ben how to "free style."

We all took Ben to a company baseball game, and he hated it at first, but Staci made it fun for him. We once had a dinner party, and Jay was the only one of Glenn’s coworkers who totally welcomed Ben’s intrusions into our boring, grown-up shop talk. At another dinner, Staci taught Ben how to make animals out of aluminum foil while I took care of a colicky baby. Jay always knew how to engage Ben enough that he would sit down in a restaurant.

“They will always go the distance for someone they love.

Family is so important to both of them, they both talk to their family members as much as they talk to their friends. Jay and Staci make family life a priority, traveling hundreds of miles every year just to maintain those relationships with far-flung relatives. They will always go the distance for someone they love. Jay and Staci have wanted a child for a very, very, very long time. I can think of no two people who deserve it more.

- Contributed by Beth Franxman, Knoxville, Tenn.

Eric Lawson and Erika Rae Langdon at the San Francisco State University journalism graduation ceremony in 2011.

Staci was one of my journalism professors at San Francisco State University. She helped me realize that it doesn’t matter what other people think, if you just be yourself you’ll go further than you know.

She believed in me so much that she even spoke with her husband, Jay, who got me an interview at the gaming company he previously worked for. I didn’t end up working with the company, but the fact that she went that far really meant a lot to me.

I now have a successful job where I use many of the skills she taught me and have continued with my website, www.eurekascastle.com, which is becoming more popular with each post.

If Staci can devote the time she gave to me, just another name on the class roster, then I can only imagine the devotion and love she is able to give a child of her own.

In summary, Staci is amazing and will make an awesome, understanding and supportive mother!!! ♥

- Erika Rae Langdon, San Francisco