Being parents has been the most meaningful and rewarding experience of our lives. It has taught us the true meaning of unconditional love; the kind that is constant, patient, and grows deeper every single day. Becoming parents shifted our perspective and helped us focus on what truly matters. Life feels both fuller and more intentional, and we’re reminded daily that raising kind, compassionate, and thoughtful humans is one of the most important jobs in the world. Parenthood has also helped us slow down and appreciate the small, everyday moments. Whether it’s laughing over something silly, reading bedtime stories, or watching our child discover something new, we’ve learned to be more present and live in the moment. Those simple experiences have become the ones we treasure most.

What we love most about being parents is having the opportunity to guide, encourage, and support our child as they grow into their own unique person. We enjoy celebrating milestones, nurturing their interests, and creating a home filled with love, stability, and encouragement. We also love seeing the world through a child’s eyes, everything feels more exciting, and joyful. Being parents has deepened our appreciation for family, strengthened our partnership, and filled our lives with purpose. It’s a role we don’t take lightly, and one we feel incredibly grateful for every single day.

The story of how we met still makes us laugh. We were both in our twenties, living in Denver, when our paths first crossed by chance. Carl was out downtown for a friend’s going-away party, and I had just finished a kickball game and was out to lunch with friends. We started talking, instantly connected, and spent the afternoon getting to know each other. Before parting ways, we realized we actually lived in the same apartment complex about 20 minutes away. Carl drove me home and asked for my number as he walked me to my door, but to my surprise, I never heard from him afterward. Four months later, the story took an unexpected turn. My roommate was scrolling through Tinder when Carl’s profile appeared, and she immediately recognized him as “the guy who never called”. Encouraged by her, I created my own profile, and because we lived so close, his profile showed up right away. We both swiped right, and I reached out to ask if he remembered me. As it turns out, he had tried to contact me several times after we first met but had accidentally entered my number incorrectly. We reconnected just a few days later on Super Bowl Sunday, and the rest is history. Over 12 years later, we still look back on that twist of fate as a sign that we were truly meant to find our way to each other.

Our lifestyle is centered around family and making meaningful memories together. Family is at the heart of everything we do, and we prioritize spending quality time with those we love. We enjoy hosting big gatherings, celebrating holidays, and staying closely connected with relatives near and far. Whether it means traveling to visit loved ones or planning get-togethers, we do whatever it takes to maintain those strong bonds. We are an active family who enjoys staying busy and spending time outdoors. You’ll often find us attending sporting events, exploring local parks, riding bikes, or simply enjoying fresh air together. Carl’s favorite hobby is golfing, and he loves getting out on the course whenever he can. Ashley enjoys reading and hiking, especially finding new trails and quiet places to relax with a good book. Beckham loves playing sports, playing outside with the neighborhood kids, monster trucks, and ninja turtles. Travel is another big part of our lives. We love exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and creating adventures as a family. We truly believe that experiences are worth so much more than material things and hope to instill that in our children along the way. Above all, we strive to create a warm, loving, and fun environment where our children feel supported, encouraged, and surrounded by family.

We feel incredibly lucky to live in a community that is very family-focused. Our suburb offers many wonderful places for children to learn, play, and explore. Within 10–15 minutes of our home, there are several parks and nature centers where we enjoy spending time outdoors together. Our city also has three fantastic libraries with great programs for kids, and we visit them often. The local recreation center has a community pool with a toddler slide, splash pad, and lazy river, we love it. Throughout the year, the city hosts fun events like holiday celebrations, visits from the Easter Bunny and Santa, parades, and summer concerts in the park.

Our neighborhood is full of families with young children, creating a welcoming and lively environment. During the summer, it’s common to see kids riding bikes, playing sports, and spending time outside together. Our son loves playing with the neighborhood kids, and we enjoy seeing those friendships grow. One of our favorite traditions is the neighborhood Fourth of July celebration, where everyone gathers to celebrate.

Our home is a two-story colonial with four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a home office. The main floor has a playroom near the kitchen and living room, where we spend a lot of our time together. We also have a partially finished basement that serves as a second play area. The kitchen and playroom are our favorite spaces, where we spend most of our time cooking, playing, and just hanging out together.

Family is at the center of our lives, and we are incredibly grateful to be surrounded by such a large, loving support system. Ashley’s parents and siblings all live within about 30 minutes of us, which allows us to spend a lot of time together. Ashley is one of six children, with four sisters and one brother, so there is always something going on and someone to celebrate with.

Carl’s parents live in Kansas City, and his two brothers live in Texas and Washington, DC. Even though they live farther away, we remain very close and make time to visit each other several times a year. Between our families, we have six nieces and eight nephews, with two more on the way later this year, which makes family gatherings lively and full of fun. We cherish our family traditions, including rotating Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with each side of the family each year. Every Easter, we travel to Florida to spend time with Ashley’s Grandma “Gigi,” where her extended family gathers for a special weekend together.

Our families have been incredibly supportive of our adoption journey and are excited to welcome a new child into the family when the time comes. We know this child will grow up surrounded by love, encouragement, and many cousins to share life with.

First, we want to acknowledge the strength it takes to even read letters like this. We can’t begin to imagine the weight of your current situation or the decisions you are facing. What we do know is that anyone who can consider adoption is incredibly brave and deeply selfless. Choosing what you believe is best for your child is an act of love, and we respect you so much for that.

We are Carl and Ashley. We have been together for 12 years and married for 7. Our relationship is built on friendship, laughter, teamwork, and unwavering support for one another. We balance each other well. Carl is thoughtful, organized, and steady, while Ashley brings warmth, creativity, and a sense of fun into everyday life. Together, we’ve created a home filled with love, patience, and joy, and we are ready to welcome another child into it.

We are also already parents to our wonderful four-year-old son, Beckham. He is funny, sweet, and full of personality. He loves making people laugh, giving hugs, and being a helper in any way he can. Beckham is incredibly excited about the idea of becoming a big brother and often talks about reading stories, and teaching a younger sibling his favorite games (which right now is pretending to be a ninja turtle). We truly believe he would be the best big brother, gentle, caring, and ready to form a special bond. Watching their relationship grow is something we look forward to with so much joy. Family is at the center of everything we do. Your child would grow up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close family friends who are eager to love and support them. Holidays are lively, birthdays are celebrated big time, and even ordinary weekends often include backyard barbecues, park visits, and time spent together. We believe children thrive when they are surrounded by people who care deeply about them, and we are fortunate to have a strong, loving community in our corner.

We promise that your child will be loved unconditionally. They will be encouraged to explore their interests, ask questions, and grow into the person they are meant to be. We will provide a safe, stable home filled with encouragement, laughter, and opportunities. We believe in celebrating milestones big and small, supporting education, nurturing creativity, and making everyday memories, such as bedtime stories, family movie nights, trips to the park, and quiet moments that become the foundation of childhood. We also want you to know that we will honor your role in your child’s life. It is important to us that your child grows up understanding their story and the love that led to your decision. We are committed to sending letters and pictures so you can see how your child is growing and thriving. We want you to feel reassured and connected, knowing they are safe, loved, and happy.

We are also open to more contact if that is something you would like and if the situation allows. Whether that means exchanging emails, phone calls, or even an open adoption with future visits, we are willing to build a relationship that feels comfortable and meaningful for you. We believe every adoption is unique, and we want to respect your wishes while keeping the child’s best interests at heart.

Our hope is to provide a life filled with love, stability, and opportunity. We will always speak of you with respect and gratitude. Your child will know that their story began with someone who cared deeply enough to make an incredibly difficult and loving choice. Thank you for taking the time to learn about us. No matter what you decide, we truly admire your courage. If you choose us, we promise to cherish your child every single day and to honor the trust you place in us.

Carl & Ashley