We both believe that education is very important, but that it does not need to be formal. We are advocates for research and self-education, whether it's in or out of the classroom.

We believe you should never stop learning or reading, and we will emphasize this to our children. We make great use of the library, often checking out stacks of books at a time to feed our curiosity.

We would love to have our child participate in children's workshops and events at the local aquarium and museums if that interests him/her. There are also local opportunities for kids to learn coding or other STEM subjects.

Together we are both well-rounded in school subjects­­—Jill excels in English and the social sciences while Allan is exceptional at math and the physical sciences. Because of this, we should be able to help with most homework and school assignments. We look forward to helping our child learn and grow in any way possible and can't wait to share our love of learning with a child!

We both love being outside and enjoy water activities: snorkeling, fishing, whale watching, scuba diving, kayaking, and stand up paddle-boarding. Spring and fall are our favorite seasons and is the best time for working in the yard, hiking and enjoying the changing landscape. Allan is very active and enjoys bike riding, running (even in half marathons), lifting weights, and playing soccer. He also loves watching sports and has been a loyal Commanders/Washington Football Team/RedSkins fan ever since he was young. Jill has learned to like football and the whole family competes in an NFL pick em' league where each week you pick the winner of each game to get points. So far Jill's 8-year-old niece is the best at picking the winners.

At home we like to read fiction and nonfiction, battle each other with board games, complete puzzles, listen to podcasts, debate each other, cuddle and watch movies with the dogs. Allan is great at cooking and makes the best meat on his smoker. Jill likes to bake and specializes in gluten free baking. Jill also attempts crocheting, knitting, and needle crafts. Jill also likes to be festive and over-decorates the house during the holidays.

During the pandemic Allan has taken up woodworking, astounding his family with the creation of bird houses, planters, table, bench, and shelves. Meanwhile Jill learned a bit of landscaping and spends time outside every day tending to her gardens. Our property has a wide variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, interesting plants, fruit, vegetables, and herbs. We love to stare out the window at the wildlife which includes squirrels, bunnies, birds, butterflies, fireflies, and the occasional opossum.

We both have spent most of our careers in large cities (Washington D.C., San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, Tampa, Honolulu, Okinawa, Japan) and have friends and colleagues of all races all over the world.

The area where we live has an extremely diverse population, with people of all ages, races and backgrounds.

Jill studied anthropology in undergrad and we both understand the importance of understanding one's cultural heritage. We will ensure that the toys, dolls, art, and media we share with our child include representations of our child's background. We will also actively seek out medical providers, etc. that represent the child's ethnicity whenever possible. Our whole extended family is very supportive of us becoming a blended family.

In late 2018 we moved from San Diego to an urban and diverse city in coastal Virginia to be closer to our families.

The area is green, the air is fresh, and we can spread out and enjoy a slower pace to life. Our city is medium-sized with a diverse population. Any activities we want to partake in, such as shopping, going to a water park, festival, oceanfront, etc. is within 20 minutes of our home.

We are a few hours away from Washington D.C., and there are many historical sites in the area.

We own a wonderful 3 bedroom 2 bath, home in a quiet and safe neighborhood. Our house is on a private lot on a safe cul-de-sac so children can play safely.

We love our community. We are walking distance to the elementary school and high school, grocery store, library, shops and restaurants. Our neighbors are a mixture of retired people and young families, which include children of all ages. The schools we are zoned for are excellent as well.

Allan was born and raised in our city and has a large extended family nearby. His parents and one of his brothers live only 20 minutes away, and we see them often for family dinners and game nights. Allan's extended family (aunts, uncles, many cousins) live about 40 minutes away. We always see each other for the holidays as well as throughout the year for celebrations.

Jill's family (sister, brother-in-law, and niece) live 3 hours away and come to visit monthly if they can. Allan's parents have a beach house an hour and a half away on the outer banks of North Carolina that can accommodate many of us, so we often meet there for a relaxing weekend by the ocean.

All 25+ of us gather together for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day at Allan's Grandma Mary's home to enjoy each other's food and company. On Christmas we all crowd in the living room to exchange gifts and enjoy a game of White Elephant.

Everyone is so excited and supportive of our adoption plan. They cannot wait to be a part of the child's life!

We are so thankful that you are reading our words. We can only imagine how overwhelming this venture must be for you. Our hearts are with you as you consider making an adoption plan. We know this decision isn't easy, and we pray that you find some peace and relief in your choices.

Our road to this point has been challenging as well. We have suffered infertility since 2015 and have endured multiple failed treatments and multiple early losses. We long to hold a child in our arms and give him/her the unconditional love it deserves. We have always wanted children, and our losses have been heartbreaking. It has been a weight on our marriage as well, but our struggle has only brought us closer and increased our compassion for each other.

We believe that God has shaped us to be an ideal family for adoption. Jill has lifelong experience with challenging family situations, less than ideal family dynamics, grief and loss. She is self-educated in psychological child development, attachment, and mindfulness. Allan has infinite patience and brings the stability and acceptance of a large extended family in the immediate area that is composed of mostly health professionals, civil service members, and teachers. We both have strong ties to the community and our churches. Jill and her sister are orphans, and Allan's family has embraced them both quickly, including them lovingly in their family traditions and celebrations.

We have been together since 2014 and married since 2016, and we're not going to say it's been easy. We've had to learn to communicate, set aside our egos, deal with death and loss, manage life during the pandemic, and navigate health issues. Our bond is stronger than we ever imagined, and we can honestly say we are each other's best friends. We are held up by a strong support system of friends and family who would do anything for us, and for that we are eternally grateful.

On the lighter side, we are goofy individuals, and we take ourselves both seriously and not seriously at all. Allan makes up little songs that he sings to our dogs and Jill likes to torture Allan by turning on "The Real Housewives" whenever he enters the room and buying him ugly sweaters to wear at during the holidays. Together we'll do anything to make our child laugh and feel loved.

Please know that you matter to us as well, and we always welcome your interest in your child. We are open to exchanging photos, letters, emails, and future visits if possible. We believe it is important to know where you come from and so would happily share anything we know about you with your child. We will always speak respectfully of you and make sure that your child knows how much you love them.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of these words! We have been looking to expand our family for quite some time and cannot wait to share our lives with a child. We are humbly honored that you would consider becoming part of our family.

With much love and respect,

Allan & Jill