! AMBER WAKLEY J ACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO
n the front yard of a modest ranch home in East Windsor you can hear a pleasant commotion inside; the warm breeze blowing inward exchanges itself with happy laughter tumbling out. Rainbow bits of thick chalk are sprinkled across the driveway and a downscaled plastic yellow wheelbarrow leans against its replica in the meticulously kept garden. Approaching the breezeway curious voices, chattering toddlers and even a few squeals escape through the screen door – this is the Dziadul Family. As high school sweethearts Dan and Andrea’s story began just down the road when the two were a sophomore and senior, respectively. They’ve essentially grown up together, sharing milestone moments – from prom to college graduation – all of which has made their bond recognizably strong. “We got married in 2006 – I was 22 and Andrea was 24 – We always hoped to have one or two kids by the time Andrea was 30,” explains Dan with his two youngest children climbing across his lap. “Unfortunately after several years of trying to have our own children, it just didn’t happen.” Like many intentions theirs did not go as planned and they began to explore adoption with the realization that having their “own” children was not an option. In March of 2014 they attended their first DCF (DeGOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 29