Our journey toward adopting our children began like so many other couples’ – fraught with infertility, miscarriage, heartache and deep longing. We desperately wanted to expand our family (Brian’s then 9-year-old son Patrick lived with us part-time), and it was out of our deep love for one another and our passion for family that we turned to adoption. It was – without question – the best decision we have ever made.

We were experiencing a mixture of excitement and trepidation as we began the adoption process. It was exciting and empowering to take a new path that had a more certain outcome, but we were nervous about the process and all the unknowns. The people at American Adoptions were so friendly and knowledgeable, and provided tremendous guidance and support through all of the preliminary steps. We felt a real freedom to explore our fears, articulate our needs and plan for our dreams to be realized. We were on our way.

Our first home study took about 3 months to complete and we were matched with a birth mother just weeks later. Our daughter Eliana was born only a week or so after that, and it was the most exciting day of our lives. She was the culmination of all our longing, effort, all our tears and dreams – and she fulfilled our hearts and lives in ways we can not describe in words.

Three years later, we adopted our son Zachary and again we were on cloud nine. This time we had the added pleasure and honor of meeting our child’s birthmother. This experience we will treasure always. We saw firsthand the love she had for this beautiful boy who was to become our beloved son. It has since become one of our ongoing goals to convey to our children– in whatever ways are appropriate at any given time – this powerful birthmother love. And I am always eager to send her pictures and letters as she requested, to enable her to see how very loved and adored Zachary is.

Eliana and Zachary are our two beautiful children that have completed our family so miraculously. It is amazing to witness their development, their unique talents and gifts and the charmingly familiar ways they take on the likeness of our family clan. Their bi-racial heritage is also a beautiful aspect of who they uniquely are, and how they are connected to a larger culture. Being their parents has fulfilled us and actualized us in so many countless ways.

Kelly and Brian