We're the Jolicoeur/Vana Family. My name is Sherri, 43, and my husband, Todd, 39, is an Engineering Cadd Technician. I'm a full-time Mother/Homemaker and our 6-yr-old son, Sam, is a 1st grade student. We live in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Todd and I are both originally from Maryland. I have been living in Florida for more then 20 years and Todd for 4 years. Todd came to Florida after his divorce in 2003. Funnily enough, I was also divorced in 2003. We met online at "American Singles", and felt that we could be a great match for each other and were we ever right!! It was more like love at first sight for both of us and we got along very well on the first date, and of course both at the same time said we wanted to see each other again....and then it began.

After a year and a half, Todd and I decided to get married and we did so on a Royal Caribbean cruise of 7 nights on the "Splendour of the Seas." During that time, Todd surprised everyone by giving Sam a ring as well. He married both of us!

While we were celebrating our wedding/honeymoon, we booked our 1st anniversary vacation for an 11 night Panama Canal cruise. But this time we chose to cruise on the "Brilliance Of The Seas" and that's where the above photo comes into play as it was taken while on our anniversary cruise.

Todd and I talked many times about having children together, and I wanted to very much give him that, but I couldn't. So, we decided on adoption. It really didn't take us long to make a decision, because we both knew we wanted it.

So, the adoption agency we decided to go with was Great Wall China Adoption (GWCA) out of Austin, Texas. We're very happy knowing we're doing an international adoption with Great Wall. We're really excited about it and we're so looking forward to the day we receive our referral for our baby girl, "Emma."

It's been a long road to ride and will continue to be, but she is so well worth every single moment we have put into this adoption. Having Sam around will pass the time by so fast and we're lucky to have him in our lives. He's bright, smart and very loving, and he's looking forward as much as we are to bringing Emma into our lives and being her "FOREVER FAMILY". Although we have tons of time on our hands, we're getting her nursery together. We've been working on it for a few weeks now and it will be completed by January. I say January because of all the Christmas decorations in the attic which are holding our crib hostage! And that's our story and we're sticking to it!!

Last Christmas (2006) as a
family of three....We hope!