Introduction
Dear Expectant Parent(s),
We’re Matt and Emily, and we are thrilled to meet you! Thank you so much for considering our family. We know this is an enormous decision and we truly admire your strength and courage.
Our Story
Our story begins back in college when a family friend told Matt about an “amazing girl” they knew who was attending his school. Well, Matt soon connected with her for a carpool home for the holidays, and he found her to be just as extraordinary as they’d said! Before we were even halfway home, we’d hit it off. We quickly became the best of friends, going on walks through nearby trails, attending concerts, and bonding over morning coffee. Our connection was profound. We quickly knew we had “found the one,” and were engaged a year later.
Ever since, we’ve been blessed with amazing relatives and cherished friends. We love to laugh, we love to learn, we love adventure, and we are so eager to share our passion for life with a child. After years of disappointment, frustration, and more than a few tears trying to conceive, we have opened ourselves to the adoption journey, and are so grateful and excited for the opportunity. Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination and a leap of faith.
Fun Fact:
We were married by Emily’s father and uncle, both pastors, who teamed up for a uniquely intimate and beautiful service.
My Amazing Wife, Emily
Emily is an amazing human being. Her radiant smile that can brighten any day, paired with her warmth and kindness, puts people at ease. She’s also our family visionary, planning out the days or weeks, taking care of all the little details. She never loses sight of the things that really matter in life: love, family, faith, and caring about others.
Emily has boundless energy, and enjoys so much in life. She loves singing, concerts, and the outdoors. She loves beautiful flowers, and has taught me to stop and appreciate the beauty in the world around us. She loves to make nice things, and is passionate about arts and crafts (and teaches these, too!). She delights in traveling and seeing new places (she’s even snorkeled in Maui), and gets excited about connecting with friends and family. Her positive spirit is contagious!
Emily works as a teacher and loves children – and they just adore her. Whether she’s reading a story to them, doing puzzles with them, or bouncing a little one on her knee, she always puts a smile on their faces and has them giggling with joy. She’s so playful and creative. Emily has been eager for so long to become a mom, and is going to be an amazing one.
Fun Fact:
Emily’s adventurous spirit has taken her to a castle in Japan, dolphin watching on the Pacific coast, choral singing in the Czech Republic, and parasailing in the Gulf of Mexico!
My Wonderful Husband, Matt
Matt is simply magic with kids. I frequently think, “I can’t wait for Matt to become a dad, so that I can see him interact with children every day!” He’s a teacher, and his students have given him the highest ratings for many years. He loves kids, and they love him. He’s so many things at once: a humorous storyteller, a caring mentor, and an inspiring person.
Matt is our family’s rock. He is always looking ahead and planning carefully for our future. He is passionate about figuring things out – whether it’s the best way to renovate our house, how to detail our car, or how to save for our family.
Matt is super creative and fun. He loves books and stories, and loves reading to little ones. His different character voices always have kids giggling and on the edges of their seats! He is also a much-loved hockey coach, an avid hiker, a fan of board games, and someone who can turn anything into a playful activity.
Matt makes me laugh. His adorable jokes make every day brighter, and I just can’t wait to see him become a father!
Fun Fact:
Matt is a huge fan of learning languages, has traveled abroad five times, climbed the Great Wall of China, and designed an app to help his students boost their learning process.
Home & Neighborhood
Our house is in a peaceful, cozy, ultra safe New England town with many big trees and friendly kids. It’s right on the corner of a beautiful school campus, where Matt teaches. We’ve often called our neighborhood a “kids’ paradise,” as on any day, there are little ones playing nearby, climbing trees, and tearing around the school dining hall (where we can all eat amazing food any day of the week). It’s a welcoming community where everyone looks out for one another, and goes out of their way to be supportive. It is the perfect place for a little one!
Our house is bright and airy, with a warm feel, thanks to all the wood trim inside. The kitchen, where Matt works on mastering his pancake recipe and Emily makes her colorful soups, is a favorite gathering spot. The real magic happens outside, though. We have a sunny porch that runs the length of the house, and a large grassy yard that’s just made for a child to roll around in.
Just a short stroll and we’re at the playground, a wonderful library, and even a theater (that puts on kid-friendly plays). A couple blocks away, there are soccer and baseball fields, a river that’s great for tubing, an amazing indoor pool, and even art studios where there’s always plenty of glitter. There are tons of experiences in the surrounding area we can’t wait to share with a child – from butterfly sanctuaries to dinosaur museums, and gymnastics classes to pony rides.
Friends & Family
We’ve both been blessed with loving and supportive families whom we are very close to. Our parents consider one another “great friends”! So both our families come together for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The love and warmth is something you can really feel. We do a family trip together each winter – usually to Florida, where the sunshine and ocean are always welcome.
We have fantastic siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, and get together with them throughout the year. Matt’s brother, who lives nearby, has two young children – one is a toddler – with one more on the way. We can’t wait for play dates!
Many of our friends and relatives are a short walk or drive away, and many have children. We’re really looking forward to baby time together. Our campus community is like one big family, with open arms everywhere. All of our friends and family are super excited for our adoption, which our families have had many amazing experiences with. Our little nephew, three of our cousins, and our next-door neighbor’s two children, are all adopted.
We’re so grateful for all of their support and encouragement. In particular, Emily’s mother and sisters are counting down the days to when they can come hold the new addition.
Traditions & Interests
FALL: Colorful leaves are everywhere, and it’s time to hike! There’s a hayride for the kids on campus, complete with hot chocolate and cider. At Thanksgiving time, the extended family gets together for hugs and a feast. It will be so much fun to have a little one join us for apple picking, too.
WINTER: The holiday spirit is amazing on campus, especially with the children’s Winter Party! There’s sledding across the street, and an outdoor ice rink. Best of all: our families gathering together to celebrate Christmas – with cookie decorating, singing, presents under the tree, and a trip to Florida.
SPRING: Our neighborhood is full of flowers, and it’s time for nature walks. Ice cream trucks park nearby and provide yummy treats for all. There’s a campus Easter egg hunt just for the little ones. Outdoor concerts and cookouts are everywhere, and it’s time to wade in the nearby river.
SUMMER: School’s out, and it’s time to relax. A highlight is always lake time at our parents’ cabin: boating, playing board games, arts and crafts, time with family, and lots of swimming. Museums are a favorite way to skip the heat, and petting zoos and miniature golf are a must!
Our Thanks & Promise
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and consider us as adoptive parents. We hope we’ve been able to capture well our wonderful home and family that awaits a little one. As you face this big decision, we’d like you to know that we would like to, if it’s your wish, tell your child about the brave and loving decision you made, during a difficult time, so that they could be a part of our family.
We will love and support the child we adopt unconditionally, will be a strong and close family, and will provide fun activities. The child will be loved by our friends and relatives. We will guide the child to be a loving, kind, and considerate person, with values that will make the world better. We will provide them with amazing opportunities and choices and allow them to follow the dreams that inspire them. We will love and support them at every moment and stage of their life’s journey.
We are so filled with excitement as we prepare for this new phase in life. We are forever grateful for your consideration, and wish you well as you make the best possible choices for you and the baby.
Sincerely,