Dear Birth Parent(s),

Thank you for choosing life! We feel there is no greater calling than to bring forth life and we are forever grateful to you. Your child will know from day one the beautiful and courageous choice you made for him or her if you choose adoption.

After seven years of infertility treatment and nearly eleven years of marriage, we realized that being parents meant more than physically giving birth. We recognized that what we wanted most was to parent children regardless of their DNA. Our deepest desire is to raise children; to raise your child to be the best person he or she can be.

We have a strong and committed marriage built on love, faith, trust, common morals, respect, and a sense of humor. We are one another's best friend and greatest cheerleader. Our evening meal and walk with our dog is the highlight of our day.

Our close-knit family will openly embrace, encourage, welcome, and most of all love your child. Jen's parents have been married 39 years and Jon's parents have been married 41 years. These long and loving marriages have taught us what it means to be married and to raise healthy and well-adjusted children.

All of our friends and many of our siblings and cousins are raising young children now who will become playmates and family to your child. Several of our friends have recently adopted children both domestically and internationally. Your child may find comfort in this shared experience.

We hope to have several children. We believe having siblings provides a life-long support system for children. Our siblings are our dear friends, people with whom we continue to share our hopes and dreams.

Our faith life is important to us and we attend church weekly at a small Catholic Church. Your child will be baptized and welcomed into the Catholic faith, attend religious education classes, and receive all of the sacraments through the Church. Our hope is not that your child will become a faithful Catholic adult, but that along the journey he or she will discover God's everlasting love and eventually find a faith community where he or she is at home.

Education is critical. We will provide the best possible education and if possible and appropriate, it will be a parochial education. Critical thinking, hands-on learning, understanding of and exposure to other cultures are what we will provide throughout his or her life. Jen will be a stay-at-home mother to ensure the child has all of the benefits our mothers provided us, and you will see through letters and pictures how your child is growing and developing.

It's difficult to imagine what part of parenting we look forward to the most; sharing our love, exploring the world with them, or something as simple as pancakes on Sunday morning. We are certain that we are ready for this challenge and have the capacity to love and provide for your child as much as you must hope for.

This must be a difficult time for you, and our hope is that in our words you hear a comforting voice. We pray that you find the right home for your child, and are hopeful that his or her home is with us.

Jon & Jen