Scott & Tristen

We first want to thank you for taking your time to read this letter and considering us as adoptive parents to your child. Second, we would like to thank you for considering adoption, we can only imagine the difficult decision you are facing. Adoption is a true gift of love and one that requires tremendous courage, strength, generosity and selflessness on your part. Preferred Gender: Either

Scott Tristen Job Description Communications Specialist; Future Stay-at-Home Father Chief Resource Officer for a Service Company in the Pharmaceutical Industry Education Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master's in Human Resource Counseling Favorites Animal Our Cats, Gatsby and Maya Animal Cat Color Orange Color Burgundy Dessert Tie Between Key Lime Pie, Creme Brulee or Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream Dessert Flan Hobby Golf Hobby Photography Quality about my Spouse Her Smile Quality about my Spouse He's Always Silly Children None

Golfing in California

One of the coolest things about being parents, and something we are reallylooking forward to, is sharing everything that is wonderful and amazing in this world with a child.

Playing games are one of our favorite ways to learn and have fun at the same time. Growing up, some of Scott's favorite childhood memories are of him, his sisters and his parents sitting around the kitchen table playing a game. The good natured fun we shared taught us important qualities like honesty, sportsmanship, the value of money, etc.

We lead an active lifestyle and any child of ours will be exposed to all kinds of events, hobbies and sports. We are members of an outdoor sculpture park and take advantage of the many tours and special events there. On two separate occasions Scott worked with an artist and other volunteers to help build and install sculptures at the park. We regularly get tickets at a local theater and enjoy seeing plays, concerts, and dance performances. We also try to get into New York City and see performances on Broadway.

If we are laying low at the house, we do manage to have several hobbies. Tristen is a fantastic photographer and even more amazing chef. She recently took up stained glass design and proudly displays several of her pieces throughout our house. Scott loves to golf and still considers himself a writer at heart, with the journal pages of poetry and short fiction to prove it.

The Tree Tradition

Our families both have many traditions, many of our favorites occur during the holiday season. A tradition in Tristen's family, cutting down a "real" Christmas tree, first started when she was about 12 years old. Every year, as soon as Thanksgiving was over, she and her father would excitedly begin looking for their tree. The two of them would hike through rows and rows of trees until they found the perfect one for their Christmas celebration. Once they chose the tree, the two of them would get to work; Tristen holding the tree upright by it's trunk while her dad crouched down and sawed. Then they would drag the it to their car. When they arrived home, Tristen and her mom would decorate the tree while her dad would take the cuttings and branches clipped to fit the tree in the stand and make a wreath for the front door. Then, they would sit by the fireplace, warmed by the glow of a roaring fire, listening to Christmas music on the stereo and watch the twinkling lights on their tree.

Today, much of the tradition remains the same; Tristen still holds the tree, her father still saws, only now Scott carries two trees to his truck. We still decorate the tree, dad makes spectacular wreathes for the door, listen to Christmas music on the stereo and sit by the fire while the tree sparkles with Christmas cheer.

Scott's family loves to BBQ in the summertime. For years we would have big cookouts on the decks of the different beach houses we would rent during the first week of summer vacation back when he was growing up. Now, we gather at his parent's house in late June and our house during Labor Day weekend for our summer fun. Friends and family come from all over to hang out. We cook burgers and dogs on the grill, eat some of the best corn on the cob, toss horseshoes and relax by the firepit at night.

We also have a rich Christmas tradition at Scott's parent's house. After a big dinner, we gather in the living room and Scott reads the chapter in the Bible that tells of Joseph and Mary in the manger. We have a nativity scene complete with a model manger and little figurines. Each of us are given a figurine or two and as each one is mentioned during the story, we go up and place it by the manger. Then we have dessert and sit and play games and talk before we open a few presents.

Enjoying Summer

Since we became a couple, one of our favorite places to go is northern California where we spend time with friends and family. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the entire country; we love walking through all the different neighborhoods, Golden Gate Park, golfing at the course in The Presidio and many other wonderful California experiences. There are many great places within an hour or so from the city - Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Sausalito. We are mesmerized by the rocky, cold beaches that are so different than the shoreline of much of the East Coast where we are from. Also, our trips into the Redwood forests of Muir Woods and Yosemite have been breathtaking. Tristen's father grew up on an apple orchard near Sebastopol and one of our most vivid memories is standing in the dusty orchard on what was the back forty of his childhood home and the smell of those gravenstein apples.

Wherever we go we try hard to experience the unique things that every city, state or place has to offer; whether it is different dishes at dinner, touring a world-renowned museum, catching a show, or hiking a small city park, there is so much to see and explore in this world we don't want to miss anything.