Dear Birth Parent(s),

The belief that everything happens for a reason has gotten us through some of the toughest times in our lives. In our experience, the reason isn't always clear at first, but somewhere along the journey, it finds its way into our consciousness. We do not believe it is by chance or coincidence that you are reading our family profile right now. We believe that our lives were supposed to cross paths, and that you will find some comfort in who we are and the hopes and dreams that we have for you and your baby.

Becoming parents is not a decision we rushed into. For ten years, we enjoyed having the freedom to come and go as we pleased, with no one to think about but ourselves. Therefore, two and a half years ago when we adopted our son from Guatemala, becoming parents felt so right. Our belief that everything would work out the way it was intended to helped us remain strong throughout the adoption process. There is no question that Andrew is supposed to be our child. Our entire extended family and all our friends can vouch for this statement after witnessing the bond that exists in our immediate family. One cannot imagine the magical connection between family members brought together by adoption until experiencing it first hand.

No words could describe the respect that we feel for you and every other person faced with this difficult decision. The selflessness that you each display by placing the needs of your unborn child above all else is an example of your strength and bravery. If chosen, we promise that we will continue to honor your child with this same kind of unconditional love and devotion. We are committed parents who dream of being given the opportunity to raise your child with everything he/she needs for a happy, healthy, and successful life.

To do this effectively, we promise to be open and honest with your child regarding his/her adoption. We feel it is important to a child's overall health to know their story from the very beginning. At 2 ½, when asked about his birth story, Andrew states, "I adopted" with a confidence and conviction that would make you smile. The one thing about Andrew's adoption that we would change if possible is to have had the opportunity to have contact with his birth family. If you desire, we promise to remain in touch in the future. We are confident that this continued communication has long lasting benefits for everyone and that each time you personally witness your child thriving under our care; you will be left with a sense of security and certainty about your decision to choose us.

We have endless plans for our future family of four. With Emily, a veteran teacher and now a stay at home mom, we guarantee that your child will spend his/her days surrounded by books, music, and age appropriate toys. He/She will be engaged in real life experiences both inside the house and on daily outings. From mommy and me classes and daily visits to playgrounds, to playdates with neighborhood friends and family time on the weekends, your child will want for nothing.

In addition, we feel fortunate that Eric's work schedule allows us family together time for a few hours on both weekday mornings and evenings. Morning "Story Hour" in our room and "Family Couch Time" before bed are but a few of the intimate family moments that we yearn to share with your child. Further, we feel blessed that on most days our schedules allow us all to come together at the kitchen table for two meals. We are hands on parents who look forward to the opportunity to welcome your child into every aspect of our lives.

Your child's presence is the only thing that could make our lives richer. We look forward to the day when it is hard to remember life with only one child. Your child is the one missing piece to our family puzzle.

We wish you continued strength and clarity as you grapple with making decisions for your unborn child. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for taking this decision seriously and considering us for this honor.

Eric & Emily