Dear Birth Parent(s),

Our names are Rachel and John, and we want to thank you for your consideration and taking the time to review our profile. It is an honor to share our hopes and dreams for a child with you. You are facing a challenging decision and we want you to know that adoption is a gift that is selfless and brave. Adoption is a blessing that touched our lives when we adopted our son 3 years ago and we can't wait to become parents again!

We are high school sweethearts. We enjoy sports, so it is fitting that we met at a basketball game 18 years ago. We have been married almost 15 years. We were just babies when we got married, so we have grown up together. We are best friends and enjoy spending time together. Whether it's working on a project or watching a ballgame, we do it as a family. We respect each other and communicate well. Our greatest accomplishment is the adoption of Max, we look forward to adopting another child whom we will love unconditionally. We believe children are the greatest gifts imaginable. The love that a parent has for a child is the greatest love of all and we want you to be assured that your child will be raised in a very loving family.

We are blessed to have families that are supportive of us and we are fortunate to have been raised in homes with patience, strong Christian values and support in pursuing our dreams. These are values that we hope to pass on to your child. There is nothing more important to a child than feeling secure and knowing that those around you are there when needed. Rachel was an elementary teacher, but chose to stay at home when we adopted Max. Parenting is a job that you only get one chance to do it right and we felt that Max's security was the best decision we could make for him and we will do the same with your child. Staying at home has allowed us to experience all of the firsts in his life and has given us the opportunity to enjoy activities and educational experiences that wouldn't be provided through caregivers. For Halloween, we had a Pumpkin Carving Party and for Easter we had an Easter Cookie Party. We plan to make sure that your child has the same memorable experiences and the opportunity to receive a college education and that they know they can do anything they desire in life.

Children need to be in a loving, stable and supportive environment. Our families live in the same city and we visit them often. Our extended family is within driving distance and we get together with them as a whole group a few times a year. We celebrate Thanksgiving with them and they visit us for a local community parade every year. We live in a friendly, welcoming community that is a great place to raise children and we have lived here all of our lives. We have a comfortable home on 5.5 acres surrounded by rolling fields. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. We can offer your child a loving home and the means to pursue any idea or venture they choose. We have 3 cats and 2 dogs, and wildlife is abundant with the neighbor's cows and lots of deer.

Your child will always know that they are adopted. We talk openly about our son's adoption. It is the story of who he is. Today, he said he wanted to tell us a story and it was the story of his adoption and he finished by saying, "and that's my favorite story." We have family and friends who are adopted so it is a normal part of our life. There are no feelings of being different. When questions arise, we will answer them honestly and give whatever information we have. Our gratitude will be expressed when we discuss with your child the gift of life that you gave them and the gift you gave to us all by making our family. We hope by sending you letters and pictures, you can see how special they are and the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams and that they are loved like no other.

Thank you again for taking the time to find out more about us and giving us the opportunity to become parents again. There are no words to express how much we are looking forward to sharing our lives and love with another child!

John & Rachel