We wish you peace and love in your life as you make this difficult and selfless decision regarding your child's future. Please know that a child who joins our family will be the love of our lives and will have every opportunity to grow into a happy and successful individual. Thank-you for taking the time to consider us as adoptive parents for your child.

Josh Rachel Job Description Elementary School Teacher for 3rd & 4th Graders, Coach Cross Country & Track & Field Family & Emergency Room Physician, Practicing 1/2 Time in a Private Practice & 1/2 time in the E.R. Education B.A. with a Major in History & a Minor in Psychology & Education Degree Bachelor of Arts, Honors Psychology & Medical Degree Favorites Family Activity Camping Family Activity Walking the Dogs in the Woods Hobby Vegetable Gardening Hobby Any Sports Magazine The Hockey News Magazine Reader’s Digest Quality about my Spouse Compassion Quality about my Spouse Kindness & Honesty Vacation Spot Walt Disney World Vacation Spot Lucerne, Switzerland Children None

Since the beginning of our relationship we have both been certain that we wanted to have children to share our lives with. As a family doctor and an elementary school teacher, we intentionally selected our professions largely because they involve interactions with children of various ages every day. We each find it very rewarding to help young people optimize their health and education and would love to have the opportunity to do the same for a child in our own family. There is no greater responsibility than to nurture a child from infancy to adulthood and help them to become a kind, honest, responsible member of society. We can't wait for this responsibility! We look forward to sharing our love with a child in everyday ways such as sharing family meals, helping with homework, attending a child's sports and music activities, and providing them with every advantage to help them become the happiest and healthiest person they can become.

We are both very active and energetic people who enjoy many different activities in our free time. As a teacher, Josh is very involved in his school's extra-curricular activities, coaching cross country running and track and field. He often volunteers with the after school program that offers children in the community the opportunity for academic enrichment and physical activity. He is a member of a local recreational ice hockey team and enjoys watching hockey, especially when the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing! Josh is an avid reader who always has at least one or two books "in progress" at a time.

Rachel is an athlete as well, competing in triathlon (swimming, biking and running) races and marathons, both as a member of her local triathlon club and as a member of the Canadian National Long Course Triathlon Team. She enjoys the social aspect of the training and racing and has many close tri friends with whom she loves to spend time. Rachel and her Golden Retriever Tucker are a therapy dog team and visit elderly patients at the local hospital, an activity that they both find very rewarding (Tuck likes the treats and the pats, Rachel likes the conversation and smiles!). Rachel also enjoys the relaxation of playing the piano, which she has done since early childhood.

In addition to our individual activities, we love spending time with each other and with our families and friends. We are both attending "puppy school" with our Newfoundland puppy Pippa and get lots of laughs from those evenings! We enjoy taking both of the dogs for walks and just talking about everything and anything. We often go out to movies, dinner theatre, or concerts as a couple or with friends. We are truly each other's best friend and love being with each other.

With Rosie and Tucker after a Local Long Course Triathlon Race

Growing up in a rural area, we were both fortunate to have many animals to share our lives with. Each of our families had several horses, dogs, and cats, and Rachel raised Giant English Lop Eared Rabbits. Pets have always been an important part of our lives, teaching us responsibility and compassion as children and providing us with unconditional love and "kisses" to get us through a tough day. At present we have two cats and two dogs- an 11-year-old Golden Retriever named Tucker and a 5-month-old Newfoundland puppy name Pippa. Our animals never fail to sense when we're feeling down and need some "pet therapy" to lift our spirits. It is wonderful to come home every day to a few folks who are thrilled to see you even if the rest of your day was trying! There is not a day that goes by that we don't have a good laugh about something one of them has done, even if it doesn't seem very funny at the time. For example, Pippa has taken to playing in the water dishes (she IS a water rescue Newfie after all) which can create some slippery floors from time to time. Tucker is a trained therapy dog who visits seniors at our local hospital, bringing smiles to many lonely and worried patients.