One thing we love about our life together are the family traditions we have established while also continuing the traditions from our childhoods. In Lauren's family, Christmas morning is spent opening presents, then having brunch. Growing up Lauren's family always had cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast, but now we have added to the meal to make it a big brunch. It is something to look forward to every Christmas.

Another tradition we have with Lauren's mom is going flower shopping each Spring. We spend the day picking out flowers for our gardens. Lauren's mom has a lot of knowledge when it comes to gardening, and we are grateful for her teaching and assistance in expanding our love for flowers. One of Brad's family traditions happens on Christmas night. We have a fancy Christmas dinner in our PJs. After dinner, we play laser tag. They turn off all the lights in their house, and we have a tournament to find the champion. Laser tag is a newer tradition for Brad's family, but we have so much fun each year, that we look forward to it all year long. Having traditions with our extended families is so important to us, but we also make sure to create our own traditions. One tradition we started is going to Destin, Florida for Thanksgiving. We spend the week of Thanksgiving relaxing on the beach and appreciating our life together.

Our favorite vacation spot is Destin, Florida. It is on the Gulf Coast. We stay at a resort that is right on the beach. We love waking up early and taking a walk on the beach and watching the waves.

Brad likes to golf in the mornings and Lauren likes to shop at the local outlet malls. We spend our days sitting on the beach with our toes in the sand. Lauren enjoys reading books, while Brad enjoys taking the occasional nap. If it gets too hot, we cool off by taking a swim in the ocean. At night, we relax by the pool and hot tub.

Also, we have an ongoing mini-golf competition. Lauren is the reigning champion, but Brad is ready for a rematch. During our trip we enjoy eating at different local restaurants and visiting some of the local shops. We make sure to find one night where we go out for a fancy date.

Adoption has been a constant conversation we have had as a pathway to build our family.

Both Brad and Lauren have close people in their lives that have adopted or have been adopted. Lauren's close friend was adopted through foster care in elementary school. Lauren witnessed the journey her friend went through during this time. The adoption process comes with a wide range of emotions. Lauren experienced some of those emotions with her friend on her adoption journey. Lauren also saw the joy and celebration when her friend's adoption was finalized.

Brad's aunt and uncle began and expanded their family through adoption. They adopted all 4 of their children through private adoption and foster care. Adoption is a long journey, but we have seen it be incredibly rewarding for all people involved. Seeing the overwhelming joy and love Brad's aunt and uncle have for building their family is an inspiration. Lauren's friend and Brad's aunt and uncle have been excellent supports during this journey.

We live in a great neighborhood for kids. The elementary school is just down the street from our house so there are tons of other young families around. There are always playdates to be had at the playground. Our neighborhood also has a pool and sidewalks all around. About a 5 minute drive from our house is the city lake. There are so many activities for families there. We enjoy walking on the trails, and along the way there are a few different play areas, including a splash pad. The lake is a great place to fish, kayak, paddle board, or even swim at the beach. Our community has events year round for families to participate in. In September, we have "Old Settlers" where there are rides, games, arts and crafts, food, and a parade.

Our house is the perfect place for a child to grow up. We have a big backyard with a patio and deck where we love to entertain. Yard games and BBQ's happen in the summer, then it's smore's around the firepit in the fall. One of the best rooms in the house is the basement family room where we watch movies and sports.

We both come from very close families. Our families live close by and a child will have many opportunities to be surrounded by love and attention from our parents, siblings, and extended families.

Lauren's parents enjoy hosting family breakfasts each month with her brother and us. When the weather is nice, we enjoy playing golf with Lauren's dad and brother. In the spring, we love shopping for flowers with Lauren's mom. Our favorite family tradition with Lauren's family is having breakfast together on Christmas and opening presents.

Brad's family is always up for a game night or having a watch party during football season. We enjoy making dinners with Brad's mom for the whole family. Brad's mom is a stay-at-home mom and is eagerly waiting to babysit and spoil a grandchild. Recently, we took our first annual trip to the beach with Brad's parents and siblings. We are excited for a child to have those special family memories with us. Our families are supportive of our plan to adopt. They are thrilled for us to be parents and can't wait to be a part of this child's life.

First of all, we would like to thank you. Thank you for reading this letter and considering the possibility of helping us become parents. We know this is a difficult decision, and we are so grateful that you have made the brave decision that brings you to this letter. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

We met in high school. We are best friends that figured out after college we were meant to be more. We got married in June of 2020, surrounded by family. Throughout our relationship, we have often talked about what we want for our future family, and we are thrilled to finally make that a reality. Through our struggles with infertility, we constantly talked about the desire to adopt. When we reached the end of our fertility treatment journey, we felt relieved more than anything else, because we knew our family was meant to be built through adoption.

Children have always been an important part of our life, and we are eagerly waiting for the day when we can add a child to our family. As an elementary teacher, Lauren is around children all day. It is her passion to help kids learn and grow to become their best self. We have that same passion for our future children. Lauren loves to read, and each week we go to the library to check out new books. We look forward to instilling a love for learning with our child by reading together and participating in activities at the library.

We enjoy spending time outdoors. Each spring, we go pick out flowers to plant at our house. We have the best time picking flowers, planting them at our house, and watching them grow all summer. We can’t wait to watch the child play outside and spend time in nature. When the weather is not as nice, we enjoy spending time indoors watching sports, completing puzzles, and playing card games. Our home is filled with warmth and love, and a nurturing environment where a child can thrive.

We are thrilled to become parents and show our child the support of family and friends. Both our families live close by. We see our families and friends regularly for dinners and just to spend time together. Even our extended families are nearby and get together frequently. Between our family and friends we have an incredible village to help our child feel safe and loved.

Most importantly, we are dedicated to maintaining a relationship with you that is built on respect and trust. We are happy to send you updates, pictures, and letters to keep you informed on your child’s growth and life. We believe that open adoption can offer your child a deeper connection to their background and help them develop a strong sense of self. From our perspective, you are brave and we will support whatever you choose.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this letter. We are so excited to become parents and are hopeful the journey can start soon.

Brad & Lauren