From early in our relationship, we have always had open conversations about our desire to adopt. After research, debate, and honest discussions, we quickly identified we both felt a true desire to open our family and life to adoption. This decision was truly independent of any fertility questions for us. We have always felt, and still feel, as if we have set up our life under the premise that, regardless of our fertility status, we planned to adopt.

Throughout the journey, it has always just been our loyal dog and us. We have known something, rather someone, is missing. After a recent move brought us back home to Indiana after living in multiple other states, the timing has never felt more right to start this journey. We know we will need the support of our friends and family when we welcome a child into our lives, which has given us even more confidence in this sign from the universe that our child is out there waiting for us to find him or her to love.

We believe education is a top priority in our family. Whether it is a formal education, daily life skills, or even skilled trades, we firmly believe every person should pursue a passion that speaks to him or her individually. In regards to formal education, we plan to give our child a quality education and as many opportunities as we possibly can provide at each stage of life. Having said this, we also believe experiences in life may oftentimes trump formal book learning. Experiences can be big or small but through travel, we want to show our child how to live life to the fullest and how the world lives life to the fullest by experiencing different cultures, foods, geographies, and arts.

In addition to cultural exposure for education, we believe sports and other organized activities have so much to offer in regards to education. Athletics and clubs often teach teamwork, discipline, and hard work. Many of these organizations create an understanding of both success and failure. We want to raise this child to play to win but to know how to lose with grace. In short, we believe education does not only happen in a classroom but truly happens in the world around us. As parents, our child's education will be a lifelong duty and privilege.

1. Coffee and a stroll through the local Farmer's Market-Thomas has a background in agriculture so talking to the local farmers is always enjoyable for him.

2. Relax at home with our dog-If our dog could talk, she would say spending a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning at home is the best activity on this list!

3. Family Functions like birthday parties, watching one of the kids play soccer/basketball/baseball/etc., or just general time sitting around chatting

4. Sunday Brunch-We picked this habit up when we lived in the South. I think we would eat Chicken and Waffles every Sunday if someone would make it for us!

5. Antique shopping-Our town if full of antique shops where we always find projects.

6. Drive-in Movie Night-We have a local drive-in theater open all summer long.

7. Dinner out with Friends-We are surrounded by so many close friends and there is always someone available for a fancy night out or a casual night in with the family!

8. Woodworking Project-Growing up, we both were taught a lot of hands-on work with tools so we love to build and refinish all sorts of furniture.

9. Sporting Event-We love to take in a college or professional game when we can, especially during events like NCAA tournament time!

10. Pool Day-Jordan would live in the water if you let her but it always makes for a lovely and relaxing day.

Our current home in Indiana is a beautiful brick home nestled on the golf course as Thomas has a newfound love of the game. One of our favorite parts of our home is the great kitchen where we love to cook, bake, do crafts with our nieces/nephews, carve pumpkins, and everything in between. It opens up into the living room and dining room allowing us to see throughout the home. Off the kitchen, we have a backyard with a great porch where we can sit and enjoy spring, summer, and fall evenings. One of Jordan's favorite things to do is grab a cup of hot cocoa, some heavy quilts, and snuggle up to watch the snowfall out there.

The neighborhood has a community pool and a great clubhouse where the golf course hosts activities throughout the year. Neighbors walk, jog, and bike through daily or roll through on their golf carts and wave with a smile. Throughout the year, the neighborhood hosts multiple gatherings like progressive dinners, firework shows, and cookouts.

Our town is known for festivals, art shows, and has a weekly farmer's market; all of which we love to attend with our friends and family. All along the town square, there are small businesses, boutiques, antique shops, and even a boutique toy store. Surrounding and throughout the entire town, there are bike and walking trails connecting the parks, a university, and the town square.

It's a random Saturday. Thomas is off golfing with our brother-in-law, Jordan is spending the morning getting coffee, walking around the shops in our town square with her mom, sister, and niece. Everyone meets up for lunch and spends the afternoon working on a project around one of the three homes or going to a birthday of who we fondly refer to as our cousins. It's just a typical Saturday; easy, fun, and full of quality time.

While the everyday interactions are some of our favorites, nothing beats family time at the holidays! We both grew up close with our siblings; Jordan with her younger sister and Thomas with his two older sisters. Over the years, we have been lucky to add multiple nieces and nephews. Every Thanksgiving, after Thomas finishes deep frying the turkey, we do "Christmas craft." It's our special time with the kids to do something to kickoff Christmas time by making a new ornament or decorating an advent calendar. Everyone looks forward to the activity and it has created such a special memory for us.

To conclude our Christmas kickoff, we take each side of the family to cut down a live Christmas tree. Both our families have always cut down a live tree all through our childhood so we love keeping the tradition alive and cannot wait to include our own little one. In our home, Christmas never feels like it has started until the house smells like pine and cinnamon.

Hi there, you.

You. What a ridiculous way to address someone. Unfortunately, we are not quite sure who "you" are yet so we guess that will just have to do. Are you about sick of reading these? We are sure you have probably read too many to count. It probably seems like everyone has said the same thing.

A few things we are sure of, anyone you choose is the right choice. Anyone you choose will love this child more than anything. Anyone you choose will find a way to provide care and support to this child. Anyone you choose knows how strong you are for making this plan for this child.

That is probably enough touchy-feely for now though. Let us tell you a little about us. Our names are Thomas and Jordan. We met while attending Purdue University. Thomas studied Agriculture. Jordan studied Sport Science. Thomas stayed true to his roots and still works in the agriculture industry. Jordan, not so much. She transitioned into sales and marketing in the automotive industry.

We married on July 5, 2014. Thomas always says we picked this day so he knew whenever he saw fireworks at the 4th of July festival, he needs to remember something big is coming up. Jordan claims she picked the day because she secretly hoped many of the people would be too busy to attend. If you have not caught on yet, Thomas is a people person, Mr. outgoing, everyone's favorite guy to be around. Jordan is one of the most extroverted introverts you will ever meet. She can make it work in a crowd, loves to travel, and attend events but she also is just as happy being home with our 9-year-old Doberman, Lola.

Sounds pretty suburban right? Our story is not some out of the ordinary tale with a trauma leading us to adoption. We both were fortunate to grow up with non-biological extended family. Even today, Jordan's mom's best friends are probably our closest "aunt, uncle, and cousins." We spend holidays, birthdays, and random weekends hanging out with them. You are probably thinking, "OK, so what? Get to the point here people." Our point is we have always felt like blood is not what makes a family. Yes, it sounds so cliché, but it is so true in our lives. There will never be a day this child is short on those who love them. Adding this child to our family is truly adding both of you to our family. We would have no trouble providing photos, exchanging emails, or even having a visit.

Now we have gone through the stuff you have probably read in most of these letters so we will try to provide a look into the life we will give this child. We believe there are two kinds of parents: parents who live FOR their children and parents who live WITH their children. Neither are wrong, just different. Parents who live for their children tend to create an environment where the child becomes the center of the world. Everything is planned with the child in mind in the sense the child's age, abilities, and comfort zone are always considered. Parents who live with their children tend to create an environment where the center of the world is ever changing. We believe we fall into the "with children" category as we think the opportunity to operate outside their limits or comfort-zone fosters so much growth and development.

We believe our job as parents is not to "force" a child into a lifestyle or to be someone they are not. It is not to create this tiny version of ourselves. Our role is to guide and nurture our child to figure out who they are and who they want to be (within reason of course-we are not saying this is a no rules situation here!) We never want them to be afraid of the world or who they were meant to be.

If you are still with us, thanks for considering us. Maybe we are the family you are looking for and if we are, we cannot wait to meet you both and spend a lifetime getting to know each other!

Thomas & Jordan