Being an interracial couple has taught us a lot about cultural diversity. We have learned that we are all products of our upbringing. The food we eat, the sports we like, and the issues we consider important are largely influenced by how we were raised. Our home has American, Spaniard and African culture, and we will receptively celebrate any other cultural background that our child may have.

We will teach our child about their racial and cultural background, and be prepared to answer questions that will help the child to address these unique identity challenges. We look forward to surrounding our child with peers of various racial backgrounds, enroll them in diverse summer camps, sports teams, music programs, and join a play group of culturally diverse families and children.

We look forward to exposing the child to our cultures. Melinda's mom is from Spain and her dad is an American from Pennsylvania. She spoke both Spanish and English at home. Gregory comes from an immigrant family and was raised speaking Swahili and English at home.

We will discuss openly with our child about race and celebrate racial differences without causing the child to feel isolated. Above all, it is important in every conversation regarding race to ensure our child knows that we love him or her for exactly who he or she is.

We both enjoy a range of activities from reading or watching a movie comfortably at home to getting together with friends or family; hosting at home or meeting at a restaurant. We often play board games or card games after eating, or enjoy a movie together.

Greg is quite the sports fan. We enjoy watching sporting events either live or at home. We also find joy in simple things such as a walk, hike, or window shopping. Both comedy clubs and musicals at the theater have also been another evening activity for us.

Melinda enjoys baking and looks forward to making cookies and gingerbread houses, as well as other art projects like painting pumpkins at Halloween as she has done in the past with nieces.

We live on the outskirts of a large city and have stadiums, museums, performing arts theaters, parks, a river, and lakes within a short drive. While family traditions of getting together and playing games or watching movies will continue, we plan on taking our children to all of these facilities, family vacations and more.

The adoption process is not foreign to us, and has simply been a part of our lives and how we have all grown as families. Family bonds are created through love and experiences, and we are grateful to have experienced adoption within our families.

Gregory's sister adopted two daughters after suffering miscarriages, who are now five and seven in age. They live in Tanzania with their father, step mother and siblings after Gregory's sister passed away. Melinda has close friends and co-workers who have adopted, and a co-worker who was adopted herself. Some adopted through traditional programs, others through foster to adopt, and one friend adopted a daughter relinquished at the fire station where her husband works. Melinda's mother has an adopted cousin, and Melinda grew up with several adopted peers in school.

Through friends and family members who have been blessed to bring an adopted child into their lives, we have observed how much love and happiness adoption creates. We have a deeper understanding of the impact adoption has on families, and we would love to pass along those lessons, providing that to our own child as well.

We live in a family friendly neighborhood that is just 10 miles away from the city center. We are able to get the best of both worlds, taking advantage of the great museums, zoos, and sporting events in the city, while we are still able to enjoy a quiet and charming neighborhood. We enjoy walks around our neighborhood. Neighbor kids are often playing outside in the street. Our neighborhood is full of diversity. The child will attend a beautiful elementary school within walking distance from our home.

Our home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living room with a cathedral ceiling that lets in a lot of light, and a great fenced-in yard. One of the bedrooms is already designated the nursery room. We can't wait to raise our family here and we are looking forward to making many memories together.

Our neighborhood is diverse in terms of age, race, family make-ups, etc. We live in a very good school district, and close by our friends who recently had their first baby. We hope to have our children grow up together and attend the same schools.

On the weekends we often see our extended family, and enjoy doing fun things together. Spending time with extended family is important to us and we, as a family, are always looking forward to playing new games and exploring new places together.

Family is everything. We are incredibly lucky that both sides of our families are supportive of our adoption plans and are excited to welcome another child. We also have a loving and supportive group of friends that we consider them as family. Many of them also have children, and we can't wait to introduce another child to the group.

Melinda’s extended family includes an older brother and her parents, all of which live in the Fort Worth area. Melinda's parents live just a short drive away and we are able to see them regularly. Melinda’s brother, sister-in-law, and their daughters live close by as well. They love to cook, eat, laugh and get together. They have been supportive every step of the way and are ecstatic to spoil a little one.

Gregory’s extended family includes his twin brother, nieces, and his mother. His brother lives in the Houston area and his mother still lives in Tanzania. Gregory has a couple of cousins in America, United Kingdom and Tanzania. Even though Gregory's family lives in other states or countries, we try to see everyone and stay connected through annual visits. Unfortunately Gregory’s father and sister are no longer with us; however his mother is very excited about the prospect of us adopting.

Ever since we started dating our families have been involved in each of our milestones. Adoption will be our biggest step as a couple and everyone is looking forward to having an additional child around to love, hold, watch grow, and to make memories.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to introduce ourselves. We are Melinda and Gregory. We are honored and grateful that you are considering us as potential parents for your child. We would like to believe that God has connected us, hope that this letter helps you understand us better, and gives you comfort in your decision.

We have been together for four years and our lives have been, to say the least, eventful and fulfilling. We are eternally grateful we found each other. We would love for you to know that we have a happy, stable marriage that is full of love and laughter. We are each other's number one fan through the easy and tough times in life. We spend time together, joke around and make each other laugh every day. We want you to know that your child will live in a happy and loving home.

Melinda is a school registered nurse and has a true passion for her job, the same passion she would love to share with a child as a mom. She loves getting to spend each day caring for her students and helping them with ongoing health conditions, administering medication, and teaching the children about their health. She loves getting on their level and making learning fun. There is no greater moment than watching the proud look on a child's face when they can overcome a challenge. Gregory is a transportation planner working in the government. He loves the challenges and flexibility that his job offers. He is extremely easygoing, unselfish, fun-loving and so excited to contemplate sharing his love of life with a child.

Early in our marriage we found that having a biological child was a struggle for us, but feel blessed that these struggles have now brought us here to our journey through adoption. We have unconditional love to share with a child and would like to share this while raising a child to be confident in themselves, in their background, and in their adoption story.

We are very family-oriented and close to our extended families. Our families are very supportive and excited about our decision to adopt. We have always received so much love and support during our lifetime and our adoption journey is no different! Our families would be so excited to welcome a new member to the family, and would be actively involved in our adoptive child's life. We promise that our child will be loved no matter what. We promise to raise them with gentle and caring spirits and to offer them guidance in their lives.

We want you to know that you are very important to us. Your role in the formation of our family will always be celebrated and appreciated. We promise you that we will always speak highly of you, honoring you with our words and actions. We will respect your wishes regarding your relationship with us and our child. We would gladly welcome a relationship with you, one that is healthy and positive for our child. We would love to share letters, pictures, experiences and milestones, so that you will always know that our child is happy and healthy.

We can't wait to be parents. We have always loved children and are eager to start our own family. We are beyond excited to go on adventures with them as well as spend quiet evenings at home as a family. This is the beginning of our next adventure and we thank you for taking the time to consider being a part of it. We would love for you to be a part of our life story and our child's life story.

We understand that you have a difficult decision. We will be forever grateful if you choose to make us part of your family and destiny; and we will always be connected. If you choose us, then we believe that God has spoken to us, and we are all listening to his wishes and guidance.

With love and great respect,

Gregory & Melinda