We are an outgoing and active couple and plan to continue that as we become parents. We like to take bike rides to get ice cream, spontaneously head to a sporting event or movie, or just go check out someplace new in our area that we have never been to before.

Spending time with family and friends is something we can always be found doing. We have a close-knit group of friends that are always up for an impromptu dinner gathering where the kids can be found all running around in the yard - even though the parents were the original friend group, the kids have formed a special bond with each other as well. They have even come up with a "ring-around-the-rosy" song they always sing before everyone goes home. We can't wait to see our child join in that friendship. We love to entertain in our home, and have a great space where we can cook large meals for all of our family and friends.

We enjoy many different activities in our leisure time. Abby is a graduate of the University of Michigan which has a great college football program. We are season ticket holders and can be found on Saturday afternoons during the fall in the Big House cheering on the Wolverines.

Bruce grew up playing hockey in high school and has continued his love of they game by playing for a team in a work hockey league. He can't wait to teach our child how to skate someday.

We both love to golf, as well as spend time on the water, either on our friend's/family's boats or at a friend's cottage.

Downhill skiing has been a passion of Abby's for many years and she has loved introducing Bruce to the sport - we both look forward to many more ski trips in Colorado with Bruce's family in the near future and getting our little one on the slopes with us as well!

Travel has also been an important part of our lives. We love the adventure of visiting a new city, or country and learning about the people and exploring their culture and cuisine. This love of travel is something we plan to share with our child as they grow up.

Even with all of the things we enjoy, we can't wait to see what brings joy to our child - maybe we will have a new activity that we will learn to love through our child!

We have been blessed to be able to witness firsthand the love that adoption can bring to a family. Abby's cousin has two children, both adopted internationally - one from China and one from Korea. They found themselves in the same situation that we are, unable to have our own biological children, but knew they were put on this earth to be parents. While not technically our niece and nephew we are known as Aunt Abigail and Uncle Bruce. We have been lucky to be a close part of their lives and to watch them grow into amazing, smart and unique human beings. They bring such joy to our whole family.

Abby's sister and her wife also are adoptive parents. They started the process through the foster system. Their son, was placed with them when he was 5 weeks old. When he was 18 months old our family became his forever family. Now he's 4 years old and we can't imagine life without him. Just recently we were told that our nephew's birth mother has had another child and he too will be placed with Abby's sister for adoption.

We know how much love and happiness children can bring to a family regardless of genetics and we can't wait to bring more love into our family by adopting our own child.

Our home is in a well-established, tree lined neighborhood. We live just outside a major city so there is always something to do, whether it's a sporting or cultural event, a visit to the zoo, or checking out lots of great restaurants.

Our tight knit neighborhood boasts a women's, men's and kid's club where many activities are planned throughout the year. Some of the kid's club events over the years have included Easter Egg hunts, and Halloween parades. The school district ranks in the top 10 in the state which was a big draw for us. We bought our house four years ago and have spent a lot of time with remodeling and making it our perfect forever home. We love hanging out on our large comfy sofa with a cozy fire in the winter, or out in our fabulous yard almost every night during the summer months. We also have a local swim club that is a short bike ride from our neighborhood that we hope to be joining this summer.

Our families have provided a strong foundation for who we are as people today and who we will be as parents. We have 15 nieces and nephews and have spent hours watching and supporting their different activities from hockey to theater to music to volleyball. We love being their cheerleaders and can't wait to play the same role for our own child.

Abby's four sisters and one brother are all in Michigan which allows us to spend lots of time with them. Abby's parents live in Northern Michigan on a lake where "Papa" can't wait to have the grandkids around to take fishing and to share his love of nature.

Bruce's brother and his family live in Colorado, which affords us to have family ski trips in the mountains!

As a child, Bruce and his family traveled each summer to Myrtle Beach where he has many fond memories, while Abby would spend summers at her Grandparent's cottage on a lake in Northern Michigan with all of her cousins. Keeping family traditions going is important to us both - Abby's cousins will all still get together each summer - even the reality TV producer who lives in LA comes back to Michigan each year to spend time with the cousins all because of the strong family values we were taught to have. Our family is very excited and supportive of our choice to grow our family through adoption and we can't wait to bring a child into this loving environment.

We are very thankful that you are taking the time to learn about us and consider us as parents for your child. We can imagine this must be a very confusing and difficult time for you as you decide what is best for both you and your precious baby. We want you to know that you are supported and loved through every step of your journey, and we admire you for considering adoption. Hopefully you can see that we would provide a very loving, nurturing and safe home for this baby.

We met 5 ½ years ago and knew very early on that we would be together forever. We just clicked. The discussion of children happened very early in our relationship and adoption was always something we had considered as we have experience with adoption in our family. After we were married, we started to try and have a family and after a couple of years without success, we immediately turned to the adoption process.

Both of us come from backgrounds where family always came first and this will continue with our own family. We believe in the importance of education, having a strong work ethic as well as being someone of the utmost character. This was taught to us from our parents and we will do the same when raising a child. We are committed to encourage a child to pursue their interests and will be able to give him or her every opportunity to be able to find that one passion in life. We will be the cheerleaders for a child in whatever they choose to pursue. Religion was a big part of both of our upbringings and we plan to ensure that a child is raised with exposure to religion so that someday they will have the knowledge to make the best decisions for their own life.

Through the years, we will be more than happy to be in written contact with you and share pictures that will allow for you watch this precious child grow. Honesty is a virtue we hold dear and we will always be very open and honest with a child regarding their adoption and they will know how very much they are loved by you and how this was not an easy decision to make. Our friends and family are all very excited to see us grow our family through adoption and are very ready to welcome the child we are blessed with into their lives as well.

Being parents is something we were meant to be and we are ready to share all of our unconditional love with a child. We are able to provide great emotional and financial support, a safe and stable home as well as a good education for a child and are so ready to do so.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and learning a little more about us and our journey to adoption. We are grateful and honored that you would consider us as parents for your child.

With much love,

Bruce & Abby