We both share a love for the outdoors. We are the happiest when we can spend time outside together. One of our favorite hobbies is gardening. There is something very special about watching seeds sprout and flowers bloom. We find it rewarding to cook meals with vegetables we have grown in our own backyard.

We enjoy staying active and simply enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Whether it is hiking a local trail, kayaking, or taking weekend trips to nearby farms, we love discovering new places and meeting new people. Jon is an avid fisherman and often fishes from his kayak. Kathryn shares this love of fishing. She grew up fishing with her dad who taught her everything from how to tie knots, how to choose the best bait, and how to hold a fish to make it look bigger in a picture.

These simple, meaningful moments are some of our favorites. We love being outside in nature and appreciating the adventures just beyond our doorstep. We look forward to sharing these experiences with our child. Whether we are getting our hands dirty in the garden, identifying a plant on a hike, or picking fresh blueberries at a local farm, we are excited to build a life filled with everyday routines and special adventures as a family.

We would be honored to welcome a child of any race or cultural background into our family. We believe that every child deserves to grow up knowing they are loved and proud of who they are. If we are given the opportunity to adopt a child from a different race or culture, we will be fully committed to respecting and celebrating every part of their identity.

We also understand that raising a child of a different race comes with an important responsibility. We are committed to learning, listening, and creating an environment where our child’s culture, heritage, and identity are celebrated. We will make sure they have diverse books, toys, and role models, seek out opportunities to connect with families and communities who share their background, and celebrate traditions that reflect their heritage. That commitment may mean learning how to care for different hair or skin types, preparing traditional foods, celebrating cultural holidays, or embracing new music, languages, and traditions. Most importantly, it means doing our best to understand the world through our child's eyes. This may also mean that we ask for help from others who may be better equipped to handle certain situations.

We will not shy away from conversations about race, identity, or culture. We know these conversations may be difficult at times, but they are essential. We will never claim to be "colorblind," because we believe every part of our child's identity deserves to be recognized and celebrated. We will advocate for them, equip them with the tools to navigate the world with confidence, and surround them with unconditional love, support, and a deep sense of belonging.

We are both from Oklahoma, and most of our family still lives there. Kathryn is an only child and was raised by her parents. Jon was raised by a single mom of three and has an older brother and sister. They each have young children with their spouses. To our nieces and nephews, we are Uncle JonJon and Aunt KK. Even though we live in Oregon now, we both grew up in the Midwest, and many of the values we learned there still guide us today: community, respect for others, and resilience. These principles have shaped who we are and influence how we treat people and support those around us.

We have been open about our plans to pursue adoption since we got married. This means our families have known our plans for a long time, and they are over the moon excited for us. They know how much we want a family and know we have always held a special place in our hearts for our future child. We are fortunate to have families who have surrounded us with so much love and support for our adoption journey. Since we do not live as close as we would like to our family, we often take trips together. We have gone to Florida a few times with Kathryn’s parents, and it is one of our favorites. More recently, we went to Vancouver, British Columbia, and stayed on a small island in a cabin overlooking the beach. Additionally, we spend Christmas with Jon’s family every other year, which is always a lot of fun. We cannot wait until we have a little one of our own to grow up alongside our nieces and nephews. We try to see our families several times a year because, even though we live far apart, our families are important to us, and it makes our time with them even more special.

We live in a quaint, family-friendly community in Oregon, just outside of a big city. Right across the street from our house is a neighborhood park and elementary school. Just a couple miles away is the heart of downtown, where there is a beautiful park, weekly farmer’s market, and a ton of community events like summer movie nights on the lawn. Our neighborhood has just opened a new public library with so many fun, kid-friendly events. Oregon also offers countless nearby farms, festivals, and community events throughout the year that we cannot wait to experience as a family. Each year, we go to the Harvest Festival where we pick pumpkins and eat apple cider donuts. Our neighborhood is especially close-knit, with several families on our street whose children will grow up alongside ours. One of those families happens to be our next-door neighbors and close friends, which makes our neighborhood feel welcoming and connected.

We own a 1,400-square-foot single-story home with 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Jon’s favorite place is our backyard patio under the pavilion, where we spend time relaxing and gathering with friends and family. Kathryn’s favorite place is the office Jon built for her, which has become a special and creative retreat. There are so many opportunities for fun and adventure right outside our door. Our child will be able to walk to school, play with the neighborhood kids, and ride their bike up and down our street.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to learn more about us. We would like the chance to get to know you, too. By the time you finish reading this letter, we hope you will have a sense of who we are, what becoming parents would mean to us, and how much love we have waiting for the child we hope to welcome into our family.

Our names are Jon and Kathryn, and we have been married for 13 years. Jon is a Middle School Science teacher, and Kathryn is a Genetic Counselor at a large local hospital system. We moved to Oregon because of Kathryn’s job, and we absolutely love living in the Pacific Northwest. We have two dogs and we do not have any children right now. We have always planned on starting our family through adoption.

So, what can we say that will help us stand out? The truth is that we are quite ordinary. We do not live in a mansion, buy designer clothes, or drive luxury cars. We are simply two people who love each other, enjoy the little moments, and dream of sharing those moments with a child. There is, however, one thing that makes us feel a little different, and that is the fact that we have always planned on starting our family through adoption. Since we got married, we have held a place in our hearts for our future child who would join our family, not because of biology, but because of love.

It is hard to put into words all the things we are excited about as we think about our future family. Almost everything we do would be made better if we could share it with a child. We love going to local farms and picking fresh fruit. We cannot wait to take our child to pick blueberries in the Summer or apples in the Fall. We cannot wait to go to the beach and build sand castles and look for little crabs along the shore. But we also cannot wait for homework at the dining room table or driving to early morning practices.

Whether we do some or all these things, our promise to you is to protect your child. We promise to teach them to lead with kindness and compassion. We promise to be their biggest cheerleaders on the good days and a soft place to land on the hard ones. We promise to show them by example how to be strong and confident. We promise to encourage their authenticity and embrace all parts of their identity. We will not always have the right answers, but we promise your child will know they are loved, they belong, and they are enough.

If it is something you are comfortable with, we would like to build a meaningful relationship with you. Whether it means sharing pictures, exchanging emails or phone calls, or planning yearly visits, we are open to finding what feels right together. We also recognize that relationships and circumstances change over time. With the child’s best interest at the center, we will approach each step with honesty and flexibility. Whatever our relationship looks like in the years ahead, we promise that your child will grow up knowing about you, knowing how loved they are by you, and knowing you are an important part of their story.

Again, thank you for considering us. We know this decision comes from a place of deep love, and we are so grateful that you have taken the time to learn about us. No matter where your journey takes you, we wish you peace, strength, and support in the days ahead.

Wishing you the best,

Jon & Kathryn