Tim Tebow has never been shy about his quest for love.

Over the years, the former quarterback turned baseball player has told PEOPLE that he’d love to get married and have children — especially through adoption.

But with his father’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, revealed exclusively in this week’s PEOPLE, Tebow, 29, realizes that his search will eventually have to become a priority.

“Baseball takes a lot of time,” he says, “and it’s not like I don’t have several other full-time jobs. But I’m definitely ready for a relationship and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait for that, and I can’t wait to have kids.”

Tebow has a very close relationship with his parents, Bob, 68, and Pam, 67. In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, he speaks about their influence on his life — and says he wants his future children to learn from them as well.

“I want my kids to know my dad,” he says, “and to learn the same lessons from him that I did. That would make me happy.”

Waiting for the Right Woman

As he approaches 30, Tebow says he’s trying to be patient.

“I can’t wait, but I think it’s something that I’ll have to trust God for,” he says. “He’ll bring someone along at the right time. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want it, though!”

“I think when I find the right woman, I’ll make her the priority,” he also says. “You don’t know where you’ll meet the right person at, so you can’t make it a priority until you find the right woman.”

For much more about how his father’s diagnosis has changed Tebow’s life, love and career, pick up the latest copy of PEOPLE, on sale Friday.

“I’m looking for a woman who I’m attracted to,” he continues. “I think that’s a very big part of it. People will say it’s just about the inside. No. It’s about both. You have to be attracted to her inside and out.”

As for shared interests, Tebow says it’s not a necessity.

“People always say you’ve got to find someone with the same likes as you. I don’t think so,” he says. “She can have different likes than me; she’s just got to love Jesus and love people. That’s what I’m looking for.”

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“Beyond that, I really want someone who enjoys life,” he adds. “I want someone who everyday, you want to be a better person for her.”





