Dear Birthmom,

We're Frank and Susan. We live by the philosophy of lots of laughter in our home; so you can imagine when we were first told that we could not give birth to a child, we were clearly heartbroken. Then we realized that loving and nurturing a child is much more important than giving birth. Adoption offers us a chance to reach those dreams--and give your child a bright, care free, and comfortable future. A future full of love and care, hugs and laughter, and all the other things children need to reach their full potential.

We honor you for the courageous decision you are embarking on; to secure your baby's future. We are prepared to explain to your child how you made this decision out of love, and compassion. We also would love to know more about you so we can best explain how your child came to us. We want you to know how important you will always be to our family.

On the lighter side of things; We live in a town just 12 miles from downtown Boston. Both our families live close by. We love the small-town feel of our close-knit community. At the same time we can enjoy all the cultural, educational, and sports opportunities of Boston. It's really the best of all worlds. We understand how much energy it will take to care for your child, be active, and exercise six days a week; physical fitness is important to us.

Frank is a director at a local software company. Currently, Susan works for the same company as a business analyst. But she looks forward to staying at home with your baby after adopting. Both of us were lucky enough to have been raised by stay-at-home moms. We believe children need lots of attention, and this requires time.

Our parents were our best teachers, so explaining who they were and how we were raised is a great way for us to tell you about ourselves, and how we intend to raise a child in similar ways.

Frank: I am the eldest of two boys, and live in the same town in which I grew up. My first home was an old farmhouse that my parents restored in a rural area outside Boston. I loved climbing the apple tree, playing at the pond and exploring the barn with my brother. As I reached school age, my parents decided to move to the town where they had both grown up, and where both of their families still lived. They bought another house needing rehabilitation, but this time my brother and I were very involved in the restoration. Working together as a family on that house taught me to take pride in a job well done. I also learned how much a family could accomplish if they pulled together as a team. I look forward to sharing those kinds of lessons with a child.

My family enjoyed camping. Mom and Dad would pack up the family, including our dog and cat, and we'd head out to the woods. We'd spend weekends in the mountains and at the lake. When I was fifteen, we drove across the country on a camping trip.

We were always encouraged to learn new things. Our travels inspired me to travel all around the world as an adult. I love to explore new places and meet new people. I've sailed the ocean, ridden motorcycles through the mountains, and taken jeep trips on safari. New destinations and new experiences fascinate me. I can't wait to show your child all that the world has to offer.

After high school, I went to college. I worked as a teacher and a consultant to pay for my tuition. I learned the great value of education, and want to pass on to a child what I learned from my parents: Never stop learning.

I met Susan at work. We both love sports, art, music, nature, and travel. I am a planner, approaching life's challenges as if they were engineering projects. Susan is artistic with amazing intuition. Together we're the perfect team.

Susan always reaches out to others. She is a natural leader and never hesitates to step in to organize whatever needs to be done: She started our company's annual Toys for Tots collection, and every year she runs The Daffodil Days Cancer benefit drive.

I am deeply moved by Susan's unselfish commitment to family. Prior to their passing, she was a primary care taker for her disabled parents. Her love and support allowed them to maintain comfortable and dignified lives in the face of many physical challenges. When her mom and dad were confined to wheel chairs, she turned their yard into a beautiful rose garden. It was the source of great joy and peace for them. It's amazing how much can be accomplished with a little sweat-and a lot of love.

Susan brings out the best in everyone. I love watching her with our nieces and nephew. Whether she's sharing a story and laughter with our teenage nieces, taking our nephew to the zoo, or just cuddling our new niece, Susan knows how to make each one of them feel special. Her warmth and sense of humor draw children to her. Your child will know every day how much they are loved.

Susan: I am the youngest of four daughters. I spent a lot of time with my parents: having tea parties with my mom and going fishing with my dad. My sisters and I were encouraged to try new things and study hard. (We all know a little about tennis, golf, guitar, and piano.)

My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and my dad was a machinist, with his shop in our backyard. When I'd get off the school bus, he was always waiting in the doorway of his shop. My mom was always ready to hear about my day. I was really lucky to have parents who were around so much. That's how family bonds are made: by spending time together. I want to give your child that security, stability, love, and lots of hugs.

We lived in a small town where everyone knew each other. Each winter my dad would create an ice skating rink in our yard. I remember being too little for skates, but nonetheless sliding across the rink in my boots while my mother held my hand, keeping me upright. I loved it.

Holidays were spent at my grandmother's house or at my aunt and uncle's home. It was a pleasure growing up with extended family as a part of my day-to-day life. I never felt lonely or unconnected. Frank and I are still very close to both of our families, seeing or talking to them every day. Your child will know the joy that comes with a loving family of doting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

We live in a community with schools and many colleges. Also, there's so much to learn outside of the classroom. Boston is filled with museums, art galleries, and theaters. There are state parks near our home, with hiking trails, skiing, and children's classes on nature. There is also a local pond where kids can take swimming lessons.

When I was twelve, my life took a turn. My father became ill and was paralyzed. Then 13 years later, my mother had a stroke that robbed her of her speech and paralyzed her right side. Life was a challenge, and I learned to be a master planner and organizer. I also learned that in helping others, you receive many gifts in return. Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned from my parents, who are now deceased, was their unwillingness to let their disabilities define their lives. Their courage, determination, and faith enabled them to lead full lives. I'm grateful for their example, and I hope to pass along that kind of courage and faith to your child.

Frank is a runner and competes in five mile races. Our whole family loves to go out and cheer him on from the sidelines. He is determined, but not competitive. Recently, we were watching for him in the pack of runners and discovered him running alongside Sponge Bob SquarePants, handing out small stuffed animals to the children watching along the route. It's pretty hard to win a race by stopping and giving toys to kids - but we all knew who the real winner was that day. Frank is just that kind of guy: outgoing, fun-loving, and kind. He is warm and talkative. He also has a practical side, and he's very analytical. He is loving, down-to-earth, and committed.

Frank and Susan: We both love the outdoors. In warm weather, we enjoy hiking, going to the beach, swimming and camping. And in the winter, we go cross-country or down-hill skiing - or just head outside for a snowball fight. We can't wait to take a little kiddo sledding, or outside to make a snowman. We love to travel, cook, entertain, and listen to all kinds of music.

We met at work as part of a group of friends who went to restaurants and music festivals together. We were friends before we began to date. That friendship is the foundation of our relationship. We share many interests and never run out of things to talk about.

Every Halloween we have a party at our home, with friends and family, both adults and children. We bob for apples and have a costume parade. The party starts and ends early, so the kids can enjoy the evening and still get home to bed before a candy-filled melt- down. We often picture our child, in costume, marching along with the other children.

We love our three-level, four-bedroom home. We have a large, wooded backyard that has plenty of wildlife. Our yard is waiting for a swing set, a slide, a sandbox, and a tree-house, as well as a child.

Our neighborhood is filled with young families, older couples with grandchildren, and families with teenagers. In nice weather, everyone is outside, walking dogs, jogging, riding bikes, working in their yards, and gathering for conversation. It's wonderful to listen to the sounds of children at play, laughing and calling out to each other. There are excellent schools and a large public library within walking distance from our house. There is a minor league baseball team that plays nearby that focuses on children's activities, and we love going to their games.

We want to continue our families' holiday traditions, including decorating the Christmas tree, or going to the Fourth of July parade in our community. We look forward to family vacations and watching the fireworks together. Our favorite weekend of the summer is over Labor Day, when we attend a Cajun/Bluegrass festival, where everyone camps in a state park and the kids make Mardi Gras masks, march in a parade, and take music lessons. We want to share our love of music, crafts, and arts with a child.

We dream of raising a child surrounded by a loving family. We will encourage and support education, both in school and through exposure to art, music, travel, languages, and sports. We look forward to sitting down to family dinners together, talking about our days and our plans for the days to come. We dream about reading bedtime stories, and tucking a beautiful child in bed with a good night kiss. Your child will always know that we are there for him or her; supportive during successes and failures.

We hope you will consider us as the parents for your child. We would be happy to share pictures and letters of him or her through the years, if you would like. If you have any questions, or would like to know more about us, please contact our attorneys, Steve and Joel Kirsh.

You can call them at 1-800-333-5736. We send our best wishes to you and the baby.

Warm regards,

Frank and Susan