Dear Birthmother,

We are Kelly and Carolyn. We hope that by reading our letter you will find in us what you are looking for: just the right family to adopt your precious baby. Adoption gives both you and us the chance to realize our dreams - yours: to provide a bright, loving future with a world of opportunities for your baby; and ours: to complete our family with a much-longed-for child.

We were high school sweethearts and have been married for fourteen years. Six years ago we began to try to start a family. Like most people we assumed that it would happen easily. After years of fertility treatments, artificial insemination, and in-vitro fertilization, we realized that we were focusing our time and efforts in the wrong direction. It wasn't pregnancy that was so important to usit was a baby.

We have always wanted a child to fill our hearts and our home. We have been trying to adopt for many months now and have already suffered some heartache with adoption. Most recently, we had a situation that didn't work out for us. Although it was upsetting, we know that the right baby will work out for us at the right time, and that we aren't supposed to have just any child. The right woman will choose us to raise her child; she just hasn't read this letter yet (Until now, maybe!).

We were both born in the Midwestern city where we currently live. In fact, we live just a few blocks from the house in which Kelly grew up. We share our three-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood with our two cats, Chi Chi and Timon.

Our friendly kitties, Chi Chi and Timon

Carolyn: I grew up with two sisters, Cindy and Jenny. My dad worked full-time in a factory and part-time at a gas station at nights to support the family and to allow my mom to stay at home to raise us. My parents were careful to get to know our friends because they knew they could be a major influence in our lives. We went to church as a family every Sunday, and we sat down to dinner together almost every night.

We didn't have a lot of money or frills when I was growing up, but my parents made sure that we went on a beach vacation every year. That was important family time: a week when we could all be together without the obligations of work and school. I remember when I was a little girl going out into the ocean with my Dad and having him lift me up to jump the waves. I remember how safe I felt, without a care in the world. When I think of that, I dream of Kelly doing the same thing with our child one day. Although my father is no longer living, I think of him often and continue to be inspired by him. I am very close to my mother. She lives just a few blocks from us, and I see her daily.

With Amy, Carolyn's "little sister" at her graduation.

Kelly is caring and sensitive. He goes out of his way to do little things to make my day special. On cold mornings, he warms my car for me. He irons for me some days before work so I can sleep in a little. He is well-liked because of his sense of humor, contagious laugh, and warm generosity. I know that he will be a great father. Family is the center of his life, and our child will bask in his love and affection. Last Christmas he proved this. Our nephew received a Nerf football, and all morning he had been playing with it alone. We were in a hurry to get somewhere. Kelly insisted on taking time alone with him, going out to the yard, throwing the ball with him until he was content. Watching Kelly with our nephew reinforced what I've always known. Kelly is going to be a great dad when we get picked by someone like you, to raise her child.

I was the first member of my family to go to college and have a degree in accounting. I found out that I passed my Certified Public Accountant exam in the same week that Kelly and I got married. What a week! I work at a local bank as a portfolio manager in the commercial division, and have been with the same bank for 14 years. I have flexible hours and a very supportive employer.

I have been on the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters for thirteen years. I was a big sister to Amy, who was eight years old when we were matched. I remember the first time we did something together. I picked her up and took her ice skating, something she had been waiting to do but her mother didn't have the time for. Amy was a little girl at risk at the time; mainly because of the lack of attention she was getting. When we arrived at the rink, Amy barely said anything. She was reserved and quite, and it wasn't until the end of our play date that she came up to me with a big smile and open arms. She wrapped those arms firmly around me and squeezed with a tight hug, and my heart began to melt as her and I formed our bond. We were together until she aged-out of the program at eighteen. Amy had very low self-esteem when we met, and she was in a bad crowd at school. We weathered some rough times together, but I can honestly say that we learned a lot from each other. She is now confident, outgoing, and genuinely cares for others. My relationship with Amy has reinforced the importance of always being available to a child, to listen, reflect, encourage, and counsel.

Kelly relaxing on our first cruise together in the Bahamas

Kelly: I was the fourth of five children in a bustling household with a loving mom and dad, who are both now deceased. My father was an appliance salesman, and my mom worked part-time at a local day-care center. Growing up, our home was the neighborhood hang-out. One of the reasons was because we had a pool, but more importantly, my parents loved having our friends over. They were always welcoming and generous with their time, attention and, of course, snacks. I want to create that kind of welcoming home for our child and his or her friends.

My family had dinner together every night, discussing what we'd done all day. We were raised to be responsible, considerate adults. We were always encouraged to work hard in school and to treat others as we'd like to be treated. I remember the summer when I was fifteen, and my dad had found an old Ford Mustang that needed major repairs. We spent the whole summer working on that car together, looking for parts, working on the motor, sanding and painting it. By the end of the summer, we had something to be proud of - a beautifully restored, classic car. Even more importantly, I had a lifetime of memories of working side by side with my dad, learning the importance of hard work, persistence, and belief in my ability to do anything I set my mind to. I want to be that kind of father to my child; a dad who teaches values through example and who understands the joy and the importance of spending time with his kids talking, laughing, and just being together.

Carolyn is a nurturer. People come to her to discuss their problems and concerns. She's a good listener and knows how to help people think through and resolve their problems. This is why she was so interested in becoming a Big Sister to Amy. She knew she could mentor a child who needed guidance and help her to become a responsible adult. She will be a great mother; I long to see her hold our child in her arms.

When I began college, I planned on a career in education. I love children and couldn't think of a career that would be more rewarding. During college, I took a job at a bank to pay for school expenses. I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the banking world. Sixteen years later, I'm still in the banking industry. I manage a banking center and am an officer of the bank. I enjoy managing people, coaching them on career improvement and advancement, encouraging them, and, hopefully, inspiring them through example. It's much like teaching, albeit in a different setting.

We live in a wonderful neighborhood with lots of children.

Kelly and Carolyn: We live in a close-knit community with great schools and excellent recreational opportunities. We have a large circle of friends and family. Kelly likes to play golf, watch football and other sports, and play trivia games. Carolyn loves to sing, read, cook, and play volleyball. We are both animal lovers. In addition to our two cats, we had a dog that recently passed away. We want to wait until we have a child to get another dog. We'd like to pick out a new puppy as a family. There is nothing cuter that a toddler with a puppy. We want your child to have that experience.

We really enjoy beach vacations. We have visited Florida, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cozumel, and Cancun. We have friends who recently moved to Sarasota, Florida, and we visit them at least once a year. They have a nine year old son named Jordan, who we are especially fond of. Jordan is quite attached to Kelly, and just hates it when we have to leave. We daydream about returning to visit with our own child, and watching him or her through the years, on the beach, splashing in the waves, building sand castles, and walking on the beach picking up shells.

We both long to have a child to care for and to love. Although we both currently work, we are planning on being home with the baby when he or she arrives. There is a possibility that we will use the resources of the best daycare in our area and our family to help care for the baby. It's important to us that we continue to provide for us and the baby. We are financially stable and can provide a child with many advantages in life, including an excellent education, the opportunity to explore the world, and the chance to find his/her passion.

We would be thrilled to meet you and provide additional information about us, our lives, and our dream for your child. And if you choose us as the adoptive parents, we would be happy to keep in touch with you, sharing with you updates and pictures through the years.

You may contact us through our attorneys, Steve and Joel Kirsh, at 800-333-5736. If you call their office after regular business hours, their answering service will page them and one of them will call you back as soon as possible. Please know that if you call, no one will try to pressure you or influence you. We want to provide you with as much information as you desire.

Sincerely,