Dear Birth Parent(s),

Our names are Ryan and Dalene (pronounced day-lean). We have been married for five wonderful years and have tried to start a family for the last three. When our plan to conceive a biological child didn't happen, we began to realize that God has an even greater plan for us and firmly believe that we are meant to become parents through adoption! We have so much love to share and can't wait to hold the precious little one who has been chosen for us.

As a couple, we have had a wonderful relationship from the start. Although we grew up 600 miles apart, we met at a Fourth of July celebration the summer after graduating from high school. We didn't start dating until about a year later, then spent three years dating while Dalene finished college. Even though we waited to get married, it was obvious to friends and family that we were perfect for each other. Ryan's calm, quiet, deliberate way of doing things is a great match for Dalene's more spontaneous, expressive, and bubbly personality. People often say that we complement each other very well; what one of us lacks in our personality, the other seems to have handy.

We will be active parents who go places and do things as a family. We understand that our involvement is essential and because of that, Dalene plans to be a stay-at-home mom where her skills as a teacher will be put to the best use! Whether it be talking about the day around the supper table, cheering at baseball games, or going on class field trips, we will truly "be there" as the child grows and develops into the amazing person that they are meant to be. Along with providing this emotional support, we will provide a cozy, happy home and all the love that the child needs to thrive. In our home, laughter is common and the words "I love you" are said many times each day. We want to surround our family with positive words and promise to express our devotion to each other and the child often.

Spending quality time together is vital to us. Most of our favorite pastimes involve being outside. Hiking in the beautiful parks and trails of our area, kayaking on a nearby lake, fishing, and doing the simple, necessary chores at home like mowing the yard and planting flowers are all things that we enjoy doing. When we're not spending time outside, we both love to read and learn new things. We also like to play cards and board games with friends, especially on cold winter evenings. Together we like to try new restaurants, always in the search of something new and unusual. We both enjoy cooking, so quality time in the kitchen not only brings us closer together, it often results in tasty treats! We also love traveling and plan to continue taking yearly family vacations.

If you should choose us as parents, we want you to know that we will be open and honest with your child about his/her adoption. From a very early age, we will share the adoption story and your incredible strength and unselfishness in making your decision. We will help the child understand that you wanted to give him/her the best that life has to offer. The adoption will never be a "secret" and we will openly talk about how we came to be parents to the unique and special child that was chosen for us. You will always be spoken of with respect and we will gladly send letters and pictures to you so that you can remain confident in your decision. We are also open to having an ongoing relationship with you, should that be something that you are interested in. We believe that honesty and openness are healthy for everyone and are willing to back that up with our actions.

Thank you for considering the honorable and selfless decision to create an adoption plan and for reading our letter. We can't imagine how difficult this decision is for you and we admire your courage and willingness to do what is best for your child. We would be forever grateful if your decision was to choose us to parent your child and at the same time make our dream come true!

With appreciation and respect,

Ryan & Dalene