Dear Birth Parent(s),

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We can only imagine that this is an overwhelming and difficult decision for you. Thank you for having the courage to choose adoption and life. While this must be an extremely difficult time for you, please know that you are a blessing and a hero for your child and whatever family you choose. We keep trying to think of some way to make our letter stand out as "the one". We both believe in honesty and so we will simply speak from our hearts.

Our names are Tom and Elise. We have been married for nine years and are more in love with each passing day. Seventeen years ago, we met at a friend's party and fell in love at first sight. We danced together at Tom's high school prom and declared our love for each other during the song "Wonderful Tonight." We danced together to that same song at our wedding and today, whenever we hear it, we dance to that song! And of course there have been countless "I Love You's" since! We have shared good times and bad, happy and sad. We are each other's best friend and partner for life. It has been so much fun exploring and celebrating life and parenthood together.

We have wanted to be parents for as long as we can remember. We tried to have a child of our own, but believe with all our hearts that God had another plan for us. Adoption enabled us to extend our love for one another and share that love by creating a family. We have been blessed with one child and are so excited at the thought of having another child who will complete our family. We are extremely kind and caring with a huge love for life and a desire to share that love with your child. We will love, care for and nurture your child while providing him or her the best opportunities life has to offer.

Tom's job in the military offers us the opportunity to travel the world and live in other countries. We lived in Italy for three years and some of our best memories are celebrating Thanksgiving with Elise's sister and her family in London, going to the Christmas markets with Tom's brother and sister-in law in Munich and exploring Venice at Christmastime with Tom's parents and sister and brother-in-law. We want to share those experiences with your child while providing the consistency of a home with a mom and dad who will love and support him/her unconditionally.

We want to carry on family traditions like Christmas mornings and summers at the beach with our whole family. We want to share first steps and first words, late night and early morning feedings, lullabies, school, sports, and activities. We want to provide your child with all the love, support and happiness we were raised with …and more.

One of the foundations of our marriage is honesty and openness. Your child will always know that he or she was adopted and that they have two families who love them. They will know that your love was a blessing in our lives that enabled us to complete our family. We were very fortunate to meet Maggie's birthparents and family. We exchange e-mails, letters and pictures with them on a regular basis. And if you would like, we will send you pictures and letters of your child so that you can know him or her and be assured that your child is happy, healthy and loved. Just as Maggie will always know she has two families that love her, so too will your child and together they will share not only the bond of being siblings, but that of being adopted as well.

We want more than anything to be parents again and truly believe that is God's plan for us. We have so much love and respect for one another and so much love and respect to share with your child. All we want is the opportunity to do that - the opportunity to complete our family. If you give us that chance know that you will be our hero and our blessing!

With love and thanks,

Tom & Elise