Dear Birthmother,

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter as you make this difficult and courageous decision. We hope that you’ll learn more about us and realize that we will welcome an adoptive child into our lives with open arms and loving hearts.

About Us
We were married fourteen years ago in Maryland, and we were fortunate to have many close friends and family from both the east coast and west coast join us for our special day. What a wonderful way to kick-off our life together!

We love the outdoors and the natural beauty that surrounds us, and we enjoy gardening, taking hikes, riding our bikes, and playing in the park. We’ve been fortunate to travel to several national parks, including our family favorite, the Grand Canyon.

We also greatly value education and enjoy being lifelong learners. At the time of our wedding, we were both in graduate school and grew tremendously as a couple while supporting each other through many years of study to earn our doctoral degrees in education. Facing these challenges together helped us when we began the far greater struggle of infertility. After a six-year journey, we were finally blessed with the birth of our son, Andrew. However, because of Andrew’s preterm birth and our struggles to conceive, we’ve decided that we’d like to grow our family further through adoption.

We are very excited about having the opportunity to become parents again. We feel that a child is a gift from God, and we believe with all our hearts that another child is meant to come into our lives and join our family. We also want you to know that we believe that being good parents is the most important thing that either of us will ever do in our lives. We promise you that we will provide a supportive and loving home for your baby. We also commit to giving your child the same unconditional love as we do Andrew. Our journey — including our roles as parents and teachers — assures us that we will see no difference.

My Wife, Theresa
From the moment I first met Theresa, I was so impressed with her sincerity, her infectious energy, and her extraordinary sensitivity to the needs of others. Theresa has an amazing capacity to see the possibilities in any situation and to find joy in absolutely everything she does, even the most ordinary things. Whether she’s sharing her love of swimming with Andrew, patiently coaching a second-grade reader, or assisting a co-worker in need, Theresa inspires those around her with a hopeful, “can-do” spirit. These are just some of the traits that make Theresa an amazing mother, a wonderful wife, and a superb teacher. Without a doubt, the longer I know Theresa, the more I find to love!

Witnessing “Theresa the Mom” has itself been a gift, because it’s here that you see Theresa’s wonderful qualities working together. Since Theresa teaches part-time, she’s been able to share with Andrew many enriching and joyful experiences. Andrew and Theresa enjoy socializing with their play group, swimming at the YMCA, and taking classes together at our community center.

My Husband, Paul
I feel fortunate to have Paul as my best friend; he is a wonderful husband and father. Paul is the most honest, trustworthy, and generous person I know. He’s easy-going, but at the same time he gives things one hundred percent. Paul was born and raised in San Francisco, California, and is the oldest of three children. Paul is a born coach, and he’s always had a wonderful way with young people. When we first met, he was teaching English and coaching high school baseball. Almost twenty years later, he continues to coach, but now Paul works at a private high school in San Francisco where he supports and coaches classroom teachers.

Andrew adores his father and lights up when Paul comes home from work. He loves playing soccer and riding his bicycle with his dad. Andrew also received his love for trains from Paul. They can sit together at the train table and play for hours. It is funny to watch them because you truly can’t tell who is having more fun!

Our Lives
Our lives have been profoundly enriched by the birth of Andrew. His gentle spirit and joy are breathtaking. Andrew was eager to enter the world, and he did so nearly three months ahead of schedule. Despite these early challenges, he is now strong and energetic, and he loves to swim, sing, read, and play with his toys. Best of all, Andrew enjoys giving and receiving lots of hugs and kisses.

Our home is part of a community that encircles O’Connor Park, so most of the year we spend a lot of time outside. This also allows us to know many of our neighbors quite well. The children share toys, climb on the playground equipment, and love to draw with chalk on the sidewalk. On the weekends, we try to take at least one special fieldtrip. We love going hiking, to Happy Hollow Zoo, the Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While Andrew enjoys our excursions greatly, these special outings have given us the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a child — a beautiful world of possibilities and wonder.

Our Family and Friends
Over the years, our families have grown and changed. We are lucky to have Paul’s parents only a half-hour away in San Mateo, California. Andrew loves visiting his grandparents and playing in their backyard. Every Wednesday, his Grandma comes to our house to baby-sit for the day. This has become a very special time for both of them. We’re also fortunate that Paul’s sister lives nearby, making it easy to visit with cousins or share dinner together. Our family has also grown and been profoundly enriched by several close friends who have become very special to us.

Theresa was fortunate to be raised with six siblings, and we feel equally blessed with fifteen nieces and nephews. Although Theresa’s mom and siblings live far away, they like to visit us often. “Beach Grandma,” as Andrew likes to call her, comes to stay with us a couple weeks a year, and this is always such a special time. We especially love when she makes her special Maryland crab cakes and yummy chocolate chip cookies.

Since we each have siblings living throughout the U.S., we’re also able to visit many different places. We’ve taken fantastic family trips to such places as Ellis Island in New York, Disney World in Florida, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to continue Theresa’s summer family tradition of going to her mom’s house near the Delaware shore, where the entire family comes together each year to create special memories. Every July, you can find us having family barbeques, building sandcastles at the beach, and going on boardwalk rides at Fun Land.

In Closing
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and for getting to know us. In our hearts, we know that there is a child who is meant to join our family, and we pray for the day that we are blessed by the gift of another son or a daughter. If we are chosen to be your child’s mom, dad, and big brother, we promise to nurture, encourage, love, and treasure him or her through every stage of life. We also promise to share what a loving and courageous person you are by choosing to put the life of your baby before your own. Lastly, please know that as adoptive parents, we would welcome the opportunity to exchange letters and pictures, and we would gladly support any visits.

We wish you all the best, and we pray that you find peace in your decision. If you would like to learn more about us or speak to us on the phone, please contact Cindy at 800-556-5635.
Lovingly,

Paul & Theresa