We have primary custody of three children from Mark's first marriage. Mckenzie (19), Mason (17) and Myles (15).

Mckenzie is a freshman in college (she lives full-time on campus two hours away from us). Mark adopted Mckenzie when she was 2-years-old. Mckenzie came to live with us when she was 15 and her brothers came to live with us one year later. We have loved caring for and raising them in their teenage years and are overjoyed at the thought of caring for and raising a child from when he/she is a baby and experiencing all of the firsts together. The kids are all very excited at the thought of another sibling, too!

However, we have been unable to conceive a child together. We did try IVF and donor eggs, but neither process worked for us. Throughout this process, however, adoption was always something we talked about. It was always in our minds, given that Mark adopted Mckenzie when he married her mother. After we did try IVF and donor eggs, we sat down to figure out our next step, looked at each other, and instantly realized that adoption was what we wanted and was truly the perfect way to make our family "whole" and complete. It was what we were meant for this whole time!

Mark's strengths are his optimism, his strength, his sense of humor, his honesty, his bravery, and his heart. Mark always sees, and focuses on, the very best qualities in other people. Whenever Sheri gets upset or stressed in a situation, Mark has the ability to make her smile and laugh and see the positive of whatever is going on. He always tells the truth and has so much love for the people in his life.

Sheri's strengths are her intelligence, thoroughness, kindness, understanding, and her intuition. When Mckenzie asked us if she could move in with Sheri while Mark had two months left on a deployment, then live with both of them full-time, Sheri did not hesitate a beat to say yes. She went from living in a one bedroom apartment by herself to moving into the home she had previously found for her and Mark (and the kids when they visited) to living in that home with a fifteen year-old, all in two weeks. Sheri did not skip a beat and spent all of her free time helping Mckenzie adjust. She has an innate ability to empathize with people when they ask for help and can understand where they are coming from. She often puts other people's needs in front of her own just so she knows people around her are happy.

Mark grew up in Alaska and some of his family still lives there full-time. Mark's aunt and uncle homesteaded in the 1960's and as a result, Mark's family owns a property in Alaska that is 80 acres, with two lakes, an airstrip, and a cabin. We visit as often as we can. It is incredibly peaceful and it feels like a different world.

We also visit Sheri's parents at the house they own in South Florida at least once a year (Sheri's parents stay in Florida from December through April). We always choose a time during the coldest months to visit them in the sunshine, sit at the pool, visit the beach, and do anything outdoors!

In addition, Mark, through his Army career, has gathered friends who come from varying countries and backgrounds. Through this, we can offer a community of unique people! For example, one of his best friends grew up in Poland, moved to the United States, joined the Army, became a United States citizen, met his wife on an assignment in Kyrgyzstan, brought her to the United States, and she is now a citizen!

We live in Virginia, less than ten miles from Washington, D.C. Our house is four stories with two living rooms, a dining room, a kitchen, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two patios, and a fenced backyard. We spend most of our time in the living rooms and kitchen area watching TV, cooking, playing games, playing with our dog, or just talking.

Our neighborhood, even though it is close to a city, is very quiet, safe, and family friendly. It has a beautiful playground and a pool! There are lots of children in the neighborhood who are always out riding their bikes or playing. The neighborhood has a "block party" on Halloween where everyone sets up a table in front of their house with candy and everyone greets trick or treaters together!

We have a lovely strip of restaurants up the street that we regularly walk to. We are also a mile walk from a quaint, colonial street full of shops, restaurants, and bakeries. We enjoy walking there in nice weather to browse, have a meal, or grab a snack.

Our neighborhood is also less than a 5-minute bike ride to the Mount Vernon bike trail, which leads either to the Mount Vernon estate or to D.C., with a view of the monuments and Capitol Building on the way. We enjoy going for bike rides together when the weather is nice.

Our extended families cannot wait for us to adopt a baby! This will be the first grandchild for Sheri's parents that they will know from when he or she is a baby and they are overflowing with love already. They have gone out of their way to treat Mark's children, Sheri's step-children, as if they have known them since day one, and cannot wait to experience everything, all the firsts, with a new baby.

Sheri's sister lives around the corner, as does Mark's brother's former wife (who is still part of the family). Sheri's sister comes over every Sunday to watch a movie and we cannot wait to include a new baby in that tradition. Mark's "sister-in-law" joins the family for dinner every other week and cannot wait for a new niece or nephew. Sheri's parents live three hours away and visit often. When they do, we enjoy cooking, museums, going to Top Golf, watching movies, and spending time together.

Mark has six siblings and 14 nieces and nephews who all cannot wait for a new cousin! They live all over, including California, Washington, and Alaska.

We are humbled and honored that you are considering us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We cannot imagine how difficult this decision is and assure you that we will give your child the most loving, supportive, and nurturing home.

We met on eharmony in February 2015! We had both been online dating for awhile, had experienced disappointment, and were ready to take a break, but then we met! Our first date was over lunch, what we call our first-first date, where we spent a couple hours getting to know each other, then a week later, we had a dinner date, what we call our real-first date! We met at 6 p.m. and closed the restaurant, because we were both more relaxed, found we had so much to talk about, had a lot in common, and had so much fun together! We quickly started spending our free time together and discovered we had met "the love of our life."

Mark has three children from his first marriage, who lived with their mother full-time when we met. Four months after we met, Mckenzie (who Mark adopted when he married her mother), Mason, and Myles had their summer visitation with Mark. We all got along extremely well and had so much fun! We started talking about marriage quickly, and after having such a wonderful summer, we started talking about having a child of our own.

Mark is an active duty Officer in the United States Army, who is firmly settled in the DC-area for the remainder of his military career. When we met, however, we knew the Army was going to send him on an unaccompanied assignment in the next year. About 6 months after we met, shortly after the children's summer visitation ended, the Army sent Mark away for a year. (Due to his current position, at Arlington National Cemetery, the Army will not send him away for the two years remaining in his military career.)

Sheri works as an Attorney with the United States Department of Justice. We love serving our country and trying to make our country, and the world, a better place, through our jobs.

Mark proposed when he was home for a weekend during his assignment and we got married in November 2016. While he was away on his assignment, Sheri discovered she suffers from endometriosis and had surgery to remove it. Her doctor advised her to try IVF to have a child, which we did, after our wedding, and it did not work. We also tried to use donor eggs. After those experiences, we sat down to figure out our next step, and realized that adoption was truly the wonderful and perfect way to make our family complete, given that Mark adopted Mckenzie. It will bring our family full-circle!

Mckenzie, Mason, and Myles have since come to live with us full-time as teenagers. We love raising them during their teen years; however, we have not yet the chance to raise a child from day one. We so badly want to enjoy all the moments from the very beginning of his or her life, be able to share all of those memories together, and watch him or her grow. Our hearts are bursting just thinking about raising a child and providing the child with all the love and support in the world, encouraging his or her interests, providing strong values and respect for others, and watching him or her become an adult and enjoy the world.

If it weren't for you, we would not have the privilege of raising this child and are happy to share photos and letters. We are also happy to send email updates, if desired.

We will be open about adoption with the child. We will make sure the child knows just how much you love him/her and how difficult this decision was for you. We will ensure you are regarded highly in the child's eyes and we will forever honor you.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Your selflessness and bravery has given us the greatest gift we could ever receive.

Mark & Sheri