American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency
 When we had our first child about five years ago we quickly realized that parenting was going to be the best, most important part of our lives. We have two sons now, but don't feel like our family is complete yet. We've tried hard to have a third - but haven't been able to. So, we're incredibly excited about adopting. Thank you for considering our family as a potential home for your baby.  |
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Leisure time over the past 6 years has taken on new meaning and significance in our lives. We both feel it is important that we have something that interests us and is fulfilling personally.
Conal has managed to write three screen plays over the past year. He and a local director raised funds, and in December of 2010 started filming one of these movies with Conal as the lead actor. It was great to see his project through to competition. The film has been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival among others. He and the director are currently raising funds for their next project to be filmed in 2011. Conal is also slated to write a screenplay for a popular science fiction book this year.
Terri has throughout her life been interested in crafts and the handmade. She loves to knit, sew and bake. Most recently, she knitted a sweater for a friends' new baby and some Jolly Roger hats for the boys. There is always a food project in the works as well - apple butter, strawberry jam and homemade roasted tomato sauce have all filled the kitchen over the past year.
This year, Terri also started a podcast with a longtime friend about parenting. While they usually stick to topics of personal experience, they have covered many topics that concern or interest today's parents to some success.
Above everything else, we have taught our kids to be compassionate and kind to others. If they see someone hurt on the playground - help them. If they have a toy that someone else wants to play with - share it with them. If they think they've done something to hurt someone else - take a second and apologize. We really hope and believe that these lessons will translate into caring, sympathetic adults who can be leaders by example one day.
We also highly value creativity and imagination in our house. We don't just tell our kids stories - we ask them to invent stories and tell them to us, too. As a result, their imaginations are on fire! They make up elaborate tales and tell them to each other - and us - every chance they get. We think this will allow them to become unique, creative adults one day, thinking outside the box and seeing the world in their own, terrific way.
Earlier this year, we spent a week at Folly Beach, South Carolina. It was a really magical vacation, and one which we still talk about a lot. Our strongest memory was from the last night. It was a cool evening, and we had just finished dinner on the back porch, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The sun was setting, our two sons were in their pajamas, and we were all pleasantly exhausted after a long day on the beach. The air was cool and clean, and smelled like rain (there had been a downpour just a couple of hours earlier). Just then, Pierce and Gavin - 5 and 4 at the time - started giggling. They jumped up and raced on down to the beach - still in their pajamas - and started jumping around in the warm tidal pools along the shore. We lazily made our way over the sand dunes and joined them, walking along the calm beach as they played around in the fading light. We laughed a ton that evening, really enjoying the last few hours of a great vacation together. Moments like that remind us what a strong, happy family we have - and how lucky we are. It's a great memory for us.
