Valle de Bravo, a beautiful town in Mexico, is our favorite vacation spot. We discovered this gem several years ago while living in Mexico City. Its charm surprised us. Boats cruising a gorgeous lake in the valley of green mountains. A mix of colorful cottages and modern homes dotting the hillsides. Paragliders sailing the winds into the valley. In the nearby forest is a butterfly preserve—the place to which all monarch butterflies migrate. On horseback we rode through swirling clouds of butterflies as they came out of hibernation. No wonder the area is designated a puebla mágica—a magical village. We enjoy strolling the cobble-stoned streets, stopping in shops and art galleries, cafés and restaurants. Families gather at the town square in the late afternoons. Children play as their parents snack on street food and visit well into the evening. The square is the center of all community life, and that’s what we really love about Valle de Bravo. Families spending quality time together, connecting with their friends and neighbors, and living in the moment. We look forward to sharing the magic of Valle de Bravo with a child.

We both went to law school after college, and later Angela got her Ph.D. and became a college professor. Needless to say, we think formal education is very important. We’ll give your child the same education that our parents generously gave to us—attendance at the best schools in our community, and as much college as they want.

Chris’s grandfather was born and raised in Colombia to missionaries who founded schools in Bogotá and Baranquilla. This heritage led Chris to a life of service across the Spanish-speaking world—from repairing churches in Cuba, to representing Mexican migrant farm workers, to volunteering at a home for severely handicapped children in Spain. We visited the Colombian schools recently to honor Chris’s grandparents. What we learned from these experiences is to cherish and promote cultural diversity, and to strive to build a legacy, regardless of one’s origins. We’ll bring your child into our bilingual home, and encourage additional languages, as we know firsthand how they enrich our work and personal lives. We’ll travel to other countries to experience and understand other cultures. And we’ll raise them in an open-minded home, where everyone is treated equally and respectfully.

We live in London, one of the world’s most exciting, historical, and multicultural cities. We love all of the parks, castles, and museums, and traveling to continental Europe is so easy. Because there are so many young families here in our new neighborhood, the community plans all kinds of family events—like the ice skating rink and gingerbread cookie decorating contests in the winter, and children’s treasure hunts and family movies in the park in the summer.

Our riverside apartment is in a gated community. We have beautiful gardens with lots of grass and trees and flowers, where kids and pets play, as well as a fitness center and indoor swimming pool. Our home is quite spacious by London standards, with three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Plenty of room for a child!

Although we live in London, geography does not stop us from seeing the most important people in our lives. We have big families, and we are all very close. We visit the US several times a year, our families come to see us, too, and we Skype a lot!

We frequently choose vacation spots for our family holiday celebrations. We spent Christmas at Disney World with Chris’s entire extended family to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Angela’s family likes to have Thanksgiving adventures. One year we had crab legs on the beach for Thanksgiving dinner; the next year we had a turkey dinner at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. We also love Cedar Point, an amusement park on Lake Erie. We went every summer as kids, loving the roller coasters, games, and junk food! Now we go as often as we can with our families.

When we’re just hanging out with family in our hometowns, we still have a ton of fun, especially with our 19 nieces and nephews. Whether it’s playing board games or cheering at sporting events, going to the movies or to the theater, snow tubing in the winter or cooking out by the pool in the summer, our family gatherings are playful, lively, and loud. Our families can’t wait for us to add another child to the fun!

We don’t know you yet, or what’s going on in your life, or how you’re feeling about adoption. We only know that you have a decision to make. Before you make your choice, we think there are a few things you should know about us. First, we have a happy, stable marriage, and we have wanted to be parents for many years. Second, we like to live our lives globally, having worked and traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe. Third, we are hoping for a truly open adoption.

A Beautiful Beginning. We eloped to New York City in February 2006. As dog lovers, we had tickets to the Westminster Dog Show, so we planned the ceremony between show events. But a blizzard hit?"over 26 inches of snow! Flexibility is our strong suit, and we were married at City Hall in Manhattan two days later than planned, with our parents by our sides. It couldn’t have been more special. We’ve weathered a few “blizzards” during our marriage, not least of which was our infertility. Still, our marriage is solid and strong, thanks to communication, teamwork, and a whole lot of laughter. We keep a loving and happy home, and a happy home means a happy child.

Oh, the Places We’ll Go. For us, travel is not about taking vacations; travel is a way of life. During our marriage, we’ve lived in six states and three countries, and we’ve traveled to many dozens more. We are neither nomads nor jet setters, but rather we enjoy the experience of international living. Even though we plan to return to the US after our time in London, it’s likely our family will live out of the country again in the future. We are excited to take your child to new and interesting places and to foster in them an appreciation of cultural diversity. We look forward to giving your child the opportunity to live overseas and to raising them as a global citizen. Travel will always be a part of our life, and home will always be where we are.

Welcome with Open Arms. Not only do we welcome your child into our hearts, but we also welcome you into our life. This child will always be your child, and that’s why we’ll consider you family. We’ll discuss the adoption openly and honestly with your child from the beginning, and your child will always know how much they are loved by you and by us. We’re more than happy to update you on your child’s progress through letters and pictures. But we ask you to consider a more open adoption. We imagine video and phone calls, regular visits, and celebrating your child’s birthdays together. You may have additional ideas for our open adoption, and we are eager to hear your thoughts.

Chris & Angela