Introduction
Dear Expectant Parent(s),
We are Jonathan and Sarah, high school sweethearts who live in a small town in Massachusetts. In 2018, we adopted our son, Abraham, and over the last couple of years we have watched him grow into an energetic, affectionate and curious little boy. Raising Abraham has brought immeasurable joy and love into our lives and confirmed our desire to expand our family. We know that adoption is a choice you are considering with much thought and deep reflection, and we can imagine some of the challenges this decision might hold for you while also considering the happiness it would bring to the adoptive family you choose. Thank you for taking the time to consider our family.
About Us
Although young, we have been in a stable, committed relationship for over 16 years. We were fortunate enough to meet each other in high school and fall in love. We became close friends our junior year when we were lab partners in Chemistry class, and we began dating our senior year. We were lucky enough to share experiences like our senior prom, graduations and many other important milestones. Each year we share a birthday party too, because we are only 7 days apart in age.
Through the years we have grown together and formed a marriage based on mutual respect, trust and a shared sense of humor. After seven years of dating, we were married by Sarah’s great uncle who urged us to kiss twice at the altar after he thought the first kiss was too tame. All of our friends and family laughed when Sarah fixed Jon’s crooked bow tie after the conclusion of the vows, and they all cheered us on as we showed off the moves we learned at our dance lessons.
Although it is cliché, we are best friends. We both look forward to Friday movie nights curled up on the couch with some ice cream. On most weekend mornings, Sarah makes a big breakfast while Jon and Abraham play, and then we head outside as a family to go hiking, sledding or play at the local playground. Our favorite place in the world is the beach on a hot summer day, playing in the waves and building sandcastles.
We also make sure to support each other’s hobbies and interests. Jon loves to watch sports and is excited to share his enthusiasm with our children if they are interested. Jon is also passionate about music. He would like to give our children the experience of learning to play a musical instrument. If they have an interest in drums, Jon is ready to give them their first lesson. Sarah loves to cook and spend time outdoors. We both love to read and have already collected a large number of books for our children in hopes that our children will grow a love of reading as well.
We knew early in our relationship that we were both committed to being parents and raising children. One of the things that drew us together was our similar goals and hopes for the future of our family. Early in our marriage we were diagnosed with infertility. After multiple medical appointments, much soul searching and prayer, we chose to focus on growing our family through adoption. We realized that what we ultimately want is to raise children together and that we will love our children regardless of biological connection.
As we prepared to start a family, we built a new home on a quiet, dead end street near a large conservation area. There are miles of paths near our home where we can walk, hike and bike as a family. There are many young families in our neighborhood and we are less than 5 minutes from all of the excellent community schools. Although our home is in a rural area, we are only 5 minutes from the closest highway and less than 15 minutes from the downtown areas of the neighboring cities. We also belong to a welcoming community of faith nearby, where we attend church with many families with young children Abraham looks forward to seeing each week.
After several years of waiting, we experienced indescribable joy and gratitude when Abraham’s birth parents entrusted him to our care. We were overwhelmed by the love and support of our friends and family who helped us seamlessly transition into our new role as first-time parents. We can’t imagine our lives any other way, and we are excited to grow our family again. Abraham loves babies, and has recently begun requesting a baby brother or sister. We can’t wait to see the relationship he develops with his future sibling.
About Jon, by Sarah
Jon is the best friend and partner I could ask for. He is full of enthusiasm for life and can get excited about almost anything. Our friends and relatives often mention his “joie de vivre” and his easy sense of humor. He is the life of the party, initiating games and activities and with a laugh so contagious he was voted ”best laugh” in middle school and high school. He is also very responsible, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. He is always willing to compromise and work towards being a better husband and father.
Jon is very involved as a dad. He’s always making up new games to play, but he is also happy to read the same story over and over again because it’s Abraham’s favorite. He puts aside time every night to help with bedtime and connect after a busy day. Jon is a data scientist who manages a small team at a local tech company. Because most of his work can be done remotely, he has the flexibility to work from home when there is a need. His company also offers 12 weeks of paternity leave which he plans to take when we welcome another child into our home.
About Sarah, by Jon
Sarah is very funny and always knows how to make me laugh. She is caring, loving, and probably the most patient person I have ever met. She continuously makes me a better person and challenges me to work hard and succeed. Sarah is responsible, trustworthy and extremely easy to talk to. Family and friends love being with her, but even strangers will just start talking with her when we go out. She is extremely smart but very humble. Sarah has always wanted to be a teacher because she loves being with children and has a great ability to explain concepts and ideas. Her students recently voted her the teacher “Most Likely to be Accidentally Called Mom” in their yearbook superlatives. Her schedule as a high school teacher is great for raising a family, and she plans to take at least six months of maternity leave at the birth of our next child.
As a mother, Sarah is very nurturing and a constant source of comfort. Abraham loves to snuggle up to her and runs to her for a hug as soon as he is scared, upset or hurt. She is funny and silly, and Abraham is always laughing and singing along with her when she is with him. He loves to do what she does and he enjoys pretending to cook or “help” with various jobs around the house.
Our Family
We live within a half hour of both of our sets of parents and all of our siblings (5 sisters between the two of us), which makes it easy to spend time together. We get together with Sarah’s family for big Sunday dinners a couple times each month, eating and laughing together until we’re ready to walk it off in her parent’s rural neighborhood. Abraham is always excited to see his cousins, and Sarah’s father takes them all on tractor rides around his property. With five boys aged six and under running around, it can be a bit loud, but it’s amazing watching them all become the best of friends, and we can’t wait to add another cousin to the crew.
Jon’s family loves to bar-b-que in the summer and get together for football games in the fall. We relax in front of their fireplace with spiced cider and cheer on our favorite teams. Abraham is doted on by Jon’s sisters and mother, who has saved many toys and mementos from his childhood and brings out something different to share each time we visit. They are thrilled about adding another little one to our family to love and nurture.
In Conclusion…
We admire your courage and strength as you plan for the future of your baby, and we hope that building an adoption plan brings you peace and hope for your expected child. It is our intention to be as open with our children about their adoptions as possible. We hope that by being open and honest from the beginning in age appropriate ways, we will be able to support your child’s love and respect for you while also welcoming him or her fully into our family. The relationship you already share with your child is one we would like for you to continue in whatever way you choose and feel comfortable with. If you would like, we would love to have meetings with you in person and remain in regular contact with you as your child grows. If you would prefer, we would also be happy to provide you with letters and pictures or communicate with you electronically, whichever you find the most convenient. Whatever level of communication you hope to have with your child, please know we want to honor your wishes.
Thank you for taking the time to consider our family. The opportunity to parent your child would be an immeasurable blessing to us. We cannot promise that we will be perfect parents, but we can promise to love your child unconditionally and provide everything he or she needs to thrive. Like you, we want to do everything possible to ensure that your child grows up happy and healthy, with the love and support necessary to thrive. As in our own relationship, we hope to handle the tough times with humor, patience and respect. We will also make sure to honor you, so that your child grows up knowing the love you showed for him or her even before birth.
We wish you all the best in whatever choice you make. We cannot thank you enough for considering us as adoptive parents for your child. Please know that you are in our hearts and prayers.
With love and respect,