Introduction

Dear Expectant Parent(s),

We’re Louise and John, and we want to thank you for your interest in us. We’re happy to tell you more about who we are. We’ve been together since 2002 and married since 2011. John is originally from Ohio, and Louise is from Massachusetts. After many adventures together, including moving across the country, we settled back in Massachusetts. In 2018, we built a home together in which we could raise our family.  

We are best friends who choose to do almost everything together, most of which is centered on our home. We love to cook and to host friends and family. We are learning to garden in our new yard. We like to chop firewood the old-fashioned way and sit around the wood stove. We love to be outdoors. Louise’s family lives in New Hampshire, and we visit regularly to relax, hike, canoe, camp, and eat food straight out of the family garden. We also like to travel abroad, visit interesting places, and experience new food, culture, and language.   

We are ready and excited to expand our family. We have two nephews who are ready to meet new cousins and many friends with kids who are considered extended family. Both of our parents live close by and are ready to help with babysitting.  

When talking about how to grow our family, we always considered having both biological and adopted children. We did try for biological children first, and endured many years of treatment and sadness. We finally realized that it felt right to prioritize our other first choice, adoption. Once we ended treatments to fully pursue adoption, we knew we had made the right choice. We are ready to open our hearts and home to a child, as are our friends and family.   

Our Journey

We met and started dating in college, when Louise boldly asked John out on a date to a local museum. Shortly after we started dating, Louise lived in Nepal for five months while John lived and worked in Boston. After Louise returned and graduated college, we moved to Seattle together. The idea was to have a great adventure and to see new parts of the country. Our time in Seattle was filled with interesting experiences. Louise played roller derby, and John learned to skate so he could become a referee and spend time with her as she played. John also worked part time at a bakery and learned to make crumpets.  

After four years in Seattle, we decided to pursue our careers through additional education. We moved back to Boston to attend graduate school. Louise started her Master’s degree program first while John worked. Then we flipped roles, and Louise supported John while he achieved his doctorate.  

Our Interests & Values 

Our careers have always centered around service and justice. We both feel strongly about helping others. In Seattle, John worked with homeless men and women, and Louise worked in public policy for Planned Parenthood and an LGBTQ organization. Louise now works teaching students and coaching healthcare practices at a major university. Louise finds the most joy in her work when she helps people realize their strengths and passions, and fosters leadership in those who may not have realized their potential. John works with kids and families who are involved in the court system. He likes getting to know each new client to find out what is important to them and how he might be able to help. We recently shifted our work schedules to be more flexible in anticipation of growing our family and plan to share responsibilities in raising our kids.  

We love animals, so two years ago we adopted a dog, Mugsy, who has become an important part of our family. She is gentle and loving, especially with kids, and has become extremely popular with our friends and families. When we spend time with our nephews, she keeps track of them to be sure they are safe, and is always ready for a belly rub or to give a sweet kiss. We often go on long walks and cuddle on the couch. We have no doubt that she will be excellent with a child.  

Our Home

With our main focus on home and family, it is no surprise that our physical home is very important to us. We renovated an old New England home with our hopes of a growing family in mind. We loved the process and have made a bright, happy space in which to grow a family. Our home is the best of both worlds; it’s close to everything we need, but also on a quiet street in a caring and diverse neighborhood. John has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by working on small carpentry projects around the house, including building a homemade bookcase and desk. Louise has huge plans for our garden, and is focusing on plants that are home to birds, bees, and butterflies. We’ve already made a pie using the fruit from our sour cherry tree. One day we hope to have apples and other fruits and vegetables as well. Just like family, a garden is all about helping things to grow. 

In a Nutshell 

 In 17 years, we have been through a lot together, both positive and negative, from fertility treatments to the deaths of family members and close friends, as well as new opportunities, and a new home. With each of these challenges, we have found a way to navigate the obstacles and support each other completely. Our confidence in handling adversity has grown and helped us become closer over the years. We cheer each other on through the good times and look out for each other through the bad.  

We know that parenting will be filled with joys and challenges. While we can’t imagine or anticipate all of them, we take comfort in knowing we are a good team who can get through almost anything. We are ready to extend this same love and support to a child. We feel it is our role to help fulfill that child’s hopes and dreams. And in the same way we have always done, we will be there through thick and thin. Please call Full Circle Adoptions at 1-800-452-3678 if you would like to learn more about us or speak with us.

Sincerely,

Louise & John