I (Zach) was adopted at birth in 1990 by a same-sex couple. At the time, closed adoptions were the norm, and I was unaware that I was even adopted until age 17. This experience has strongly shaped my opinion on how to address a child's adoption story. While I understand that my mother meant well by not telling me (due to a desire for me to feel secure that I belong in the family), I believe that not telling me was a mistake. We plan on being open and honest about our child's adoption story and look forward to developing a relationship with you, if that is something you would like.

Several years ago, I was contacted by three biological half-siblings, one of whom also has an adopted son. I have not yet met my biological siblings in person, but we exchange texts, calls, and emails on occasion.

In addition, Jessica's mother and uncle were adopted in their teens by their step-father. Adoption is already a very special part of our family and we are excited to begin our own adoption journey!

We try to live a healthy and active lifestyle. We both enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, camping, biking, or just strolling through the local park or downtown. We go for walks on a near daily basis with our dog around the neighborhood to say hi to neighbors or to the local park to interact with other dog friendly people. We enjoy biking on the local Greenways and other bike friendly trails in DuPont forest. Zach also enjoys fly fishing and Jessica enjoys bird watching.

We cook healthy meals at home that consist of mostly vegan or vegetarian options. One of our favorite recipes to make is Tofu Curry. We enjoy vegan and vegetarian meals because of our wide preference for flavor and cooking styles. We enjoy Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, Jamaican, and other style foods. Other dishes we enjoy that are not vegetarian include Shepard's pie and beef stroganoff. When going out to eat we try to find local stores in order to support the local community.

Learning to address cultural diversity comes in many forms. For starters, we first have to realize the unconscious biases in life and take meaningful steps to address and correct these biases. As an educator, Jessica tries to be aware of the cultural diversity she sees in her classroom and really gets to know her students on a personal level. This approach allows her, and the students she teaches, to understand different perspectives outside our norms. We will work to ensure that our child will know about their background; ethnicity, culture, and race, and will have role models present in their life that they can connect with and look up to. Incorporating our child's diversity with our own traditions will help make sure our child feels seen and heard and that their background, while it might be different from ours, is just as important.

Zach grew up with same-sex parents, and we are passionate about supporting our child to be whomever they are meant to be. We see difference as a strength, not a disadvantage, and we are committed to fostering a strong sense of self and place in our home and community.

We live in the mountains of North Carolina and are surrounded by lots of summer camps that attract people from all over the world. Our town holds multiple festivals throughout the year including an apple festival and dog festival. We live in a neighborhood that has several families with children, on a dead end street, and holds several gatherings throughout the year for holidays.

We live in "The land of Waterfalls" with easy access to local trails, parks, rivers, and bike paths. The town park is a short drive from our house where our child can play on several jungle gym areas.

The Hands on Science Center, Mineral and Lapidary Museum (with a life-size Triceratops skull!) and Pinball museum and arcade are located downtown.

Our house is a split level home with 3 bedrooms. The main gathering places are the living room and the kitchen. Making dinner is a family affair, and typically consists of vegetarian friendly meals. We have plenty of space in the yard for sports, games, and watching the nearby wildlife.

Zach has two older sisters and Jessica has a younger sister. They live a few hours away, and we typically see them multiple times per year. In addition, our child will have "Aunt" Danielle and "Uncle" Cory; close friends of ours.

Zach's sisters have been married for many years and have young children that are excited to be cousins again. Jamie has 3 boys; 10, 8, and 3 years old and Brooke has a daughter; 4 years old. Zach's mom has recently moved to be closer to her grandchildren.

When visiting with Jessica's father, and his wife, we typically make homemade cinnamon rolls, using Jessica's grandmother's recipe and play card games for hours on end. Jessica looks forward to introducing our child to this very special family tradition. Jessica's mother and grandmother are German and growing up Jessica and her sister celebrated St. Nick's Day. This is a traditional German holiday in December that involves putting your shoes by the front door so that St. Nick can leave you candy.

We currently have 2 cats and 1 dog. We can't imagine life without at least one animal in the house!

Both of our families are looking forward to welcoming another grandchild, or in Jessica's family's case welcoming their first grandchild. They are already picking out names for what they want to be called; "grammie" is Jessica's favorite!

We appreciate the time you are taking to learn more about us. While we cannot imagine how difficult this decision is for you, we want you to know that we promise to give your child a safe, loving, and accepting home.

From early in our relationship, we knew we wanted to adopt in order to grow our family. Jessica's mother and uncle were adopted by their step-father as pre-teens and Zach was adopted as an infant by his mothers, so we are both familiar with the many different forms that family can take. Our families live close by and are excited and supportive of our decision to adopt. We look forward to weekend trips for your child to meet their grandparents, great-grandparents, and cousins.

We first met in college and after 5 years of dating decided to get married in 2015. After college, we moved to North Carolina and began our careers. Currently, Jessica works as a high school science teacher. She has been teaching Biology and Physical science for the past 8 years. She connects with children in a positive way to help encourage and facilitate the love of learning. Zach currently works as an environmental risk consultant for a bank. His job is fully remote and he works out of our home.

We anxiously await the day that we can meet our newest family member. Our household currently consists of our rescue pets: 2 cats and 1 dog. Not only are we are committed to ensuring that they develop their strengths and passions, but we also look forward to encouraging their interests and endeavors in all aspects of their life. We are passionate about ensuring that they are exposed to a wide variety of experiences and people and that they develop a deep connection with their ethnic and cultural history and a strong sense of confidence in regards to their place in the world. We are both non-religious and strong advocates for equality and equanimity in our community. Your child will grow up in a household that values diversity and inclusion of all people, races, and creeds. We are very excited for the future we will share with your child.

We live in the mountains, and we look forward to sharing our love of nature and the outdoors with our child in one of the world's best natural playgrounds. As the years pass, we're happy to share with you your child's growth and experiences through email, photos, and letters. As a family that enjoys traveling and adventures, we will be happy to share keepsakes and mementos of your child's interests as they grow. We will always be open and honest with your child in regards to their adoption and will make sure they know how much you love them and will always reflect you and their adoption in positive manner.

You are incredibly courageous and selfless and will always have our gratitude for your decision. Thank you again for taking the time to get to know us and considering us as potential parents for your child.

Sincerely,

Zach & Jessica