Hi! We would like to introduce ourselves to you. We are Tad, Kimberly, and our son, Brady. We are an adoptive family, adopting Brady at birth. You must have so many questions running through your mind right about now. It is our hope that we can at least give you some answers about us, who we are individually, and who we are as a family.

We can only imagine what difficult decisions you are facing. To know that you are considering adoption shows the depth of your love for your child. We believe birth mothers make the ultimate sacrifice of selfless love. It is difficult to put into words the amount of respect we hold in our hearts for birth mothers. As adoptive parents, we have already experienced what a tremendous gift of love a birth mother gives her child, which in turns blesses the lives of an adoptive family. Brady, along with the child we are longing to add to our family, will always know how much we respect their birth mothers and the decisions they made out of pure love. We are praying for the opportunity to adopt again, in order to wrap our love around another child: a child to love, adore, and share our lives with.

When we discovered that we could not conceive a child, life seemed so unfair! We had a difficult time understanding God's plan for our lives. Then, we started realizing that God had an incredible path for us to travel. When we began to meet adoptive families and see how happy and connected they were, our hopes of parenting were rekindled. We never even pursued assisted reproductive techniques. Adoption was and still is our choice for creating a family.

Our Relationship

We think this picture, which was taken two years ago on vacation, captures the joy and contentment we experience in our marriage.

We can describe our marriage by telling you that we are truly best friends! We are also deeply in love with one another. We laugh often. We love spending time with each other. We honestly believe that our greatest asset is each other. Truly! Our friends have described us as soul mates. We realize now that this is a rare gift in today's world. We believe God gives us blessings, in order that we can use them to touch others. Adding a child to our home has been a gift that we were fearful might not be possible at first. Then Christa, Brady's birthmother, came into our lives after reading our letter given to her by Kirsh & Kirsh. Christa changed our lives forever. Through her kindness, love, and generosity, we realized our dream of being parents. We love our family and Brady has touched our hearts beyond words. Now, we can only hope and pray that God will bless our lives with the addition of another child. We believe that we have so much love, laughter, and security to offer. Brady is an amazing gift, for which we are eternally grateful to Christa. She will always be in our hearts and prayers. Should you choose us to adopt your child, please know how much you will mean to us and that your child will grow up knowing of your love and courage.

Brady's Sweet Smile!

Of course, we are pursuing another adoption because we desire to be parents again. But, it is comforting to know that Brady is giving us his approval, so-to-speak. He has watched as our families' and friends' families continue to grow. He tells us all about what he would do if he had a baby too. "I will hold my baby's bottle. I will give my baby toys. I will kiss my baby." These are a few of the many things we have overheard Brady expressing about his desires for a baby to love. Brady is a very happy and giggly three year- old boy and has an easygoing, calm nature similar to Tad's. He is very loving and enjoys cuddling up on a lap, giving his stuffed animals hugs, and is naturally gentle. Others describe Brady as being "sweet" and sometimes "shy."

About Us

As teachers, we have enjoyed our family-friendly careers. Kimberly is a kindergarten teacher. She taught in the classroom until Brady was born. At that time, she accepted a part-time position in her school district as the Emergent Literacy Coach, training the teachers. Beginning next school year, we plan for her to work from home at least until our children are in school. Tad teaches art at our local high school, where he also serves as the cross country and track coach. Our careers as teachers fully support a healthy family life. We all have the same schedules and vacations. The summers are a time of togetherness and exploration. Between the two of us, we are licensed in the specific educational and developmental needs of children pre-K though 12th grade and remain updated on the latest and best learning practices. We value education, discovery, and culture. We hope our love of learning in turn motivates our children.

Enjoying an ocean-view drive on one of our adventures.

In the past 11 years of our marriage, we have discovered many things we enjoy doing together. We spend lots of time enjoying the great outdoors. Although we now live in a big city and appreciate what it has to offer, we both grew up being "outside" most of the time and find the countryside both peaceful and adventurous. Our love for nature and the outdoors frequently leads us to lakes, campgrounds, national and state parks, and hiking trails. We also hang-out in the yard playing Frisbee with Brady, shooting hoops, and making up our own games. One of our favorite evening activities is to push Brady in the stroller through the neighborhood. He giggles when he sees a squirrel and, of course, we have to stop to watch it scurry around. He wants us to push the stroller through all the water puddles, he looks for "special" rocks, and makes getting exercise more fun than we thought possible. We look forward to the day when we both have a stroller to push on our brisk, yet fun, walks through the neighborhood.

More Interests and Hobbies

Hiking the trails in a nearby State Park.

There are other areas of our lives that we also look forward to sharing with another child. We are a church-going family and love what our church has to offer. Children at our church have many opportunities: musical, athletic, and educational programs open to families throughout our area. Brady especially likes the big puppet-show on Sunday mornings. We also enjoy participating in athletic activities such as water sports and snow skiing. Tad finds it both challenging and relaxing to play golf. Kimberly finds the art of music both inspiring and relaxing by singing, playing the piano or clarinet, listening to a wide range of music, and attending musical events.

Tad has fun creating amazing pieces of pottery, while Kimberly enjoys decorating our home with his art.

Tad is a talented artist, and we enjoy art festivals and museums. Traveling is a favorite for both of us. We love visiting new places! Kimberly enjoys baking, scrap booking, and decorating. She used to curl up with a good book when she had extra time. Now, she just curls up with Brady and a children's storybook, which is even better. Tad is quite the mechanic and actually enjoys tinkering with his truck. Brady enjoys the nearby Children's Museum and Zoo, which we definitely find interesting too! We believe we have a large variety of activities to expose another child to and will hopefully find an area that is of particular interest to him/her.

In Tad's Words

I was attracted to Kimberly the first time I saw her. She still has that magnetic personality. She is never short on energy, expressiveness, and fun. People Kimberly comes into contact with are frequently saying how they love to be around her because of the positive energy they can feel. She loves to laugh, and her smile is contagious. She enjoys being spontaneous. She will often try new ways to do the same old thing. She thrives on new adventures and never backs away from a challenge. She is a character full of enthusiasm and energy.

Kimberly is a great friend and wife. We are best friends and love being around each other, whether it is sharing new experiences, or taking part in life's routines. Kimberly and I have many of the same interests and rarely spend time away from each other. We like spending time working on our house together. While I do the carpentry, she works on the interior design and does a great job keeping things looking fresh and sophisticated. Kimberly is also a very capable cook. She has a knack for making new recipes and old favorites delicious.

Kimberly and Brady enjoy an afternoon of playing in the leaves in our yard.

Brady has a wonderful mommy. They read, play games, shoot baskets, and blow bubbles together. Kimberly fulfills requests to make puppets talk, build tall towers, and read cozy bedtime stories. This fall, she set up paints for Brady to make pictures of "punkins." Brady brushed on the orange and then dabbed black for the eyes and the smiling mouth of each one. He wanted to make "one more," which turned into "one more," and so on. Kimberly helped him mail them all to grandparents and cousins. She also tucked one away to send to Christa, Brady's birthmother, when we send the yearly update next summer. Kimberly's experience in Kindergarten and knowledge in early childhood development shows in the way she is able to keep Brady's discipline and learning age-appropriate.

Kimberly is always putting Brady and me first. I am frequently reminded that we are a priority to her. She is willing to do whatever is best for our family and she has no problem making personal sacrifices that are to our benefit.

In Kimberly's Words

Tad has a sincere personality that truly warms my heart. He is patient, forgiving, and gentle. Tad is loyal to his friends and family and puts others before himself. If you were meeting Tad for the first time, you might think he is quiet and soft-spoken. He is especially this way with new people, but becomes much more outspoken as he gets to know them. His eyes twinkle when he smiles! He has a great sense of humor and has me laughing most of the time! He always knows how to turn a negative moment into a hilarious pick-me-up. I love how he can have everyone in a room roaring with laughter, but also knows when it's time to sit back and listen to everyone else interact. He is just so much fun to be around! Tad is also very athletic and enjoys running road races.

Tad has just as much fun as Brady at local festivals and carnivals.

When I think of my husband as a father, it simply puts a huge smile on my face. He is an amazing daddy! As soon as Brady starts to play with him, the giggles begin. The laughter that envelops them is contagious! I love to watch Tad play with Brady, along with any of the children we know for that matter. He is the entertainer! Tad gives piggy-back rides, plays hide-and-seek, and chases down the balls that get thrown. Tad doesn't just "read" a book; instead he uses his best silly voices and totally gets into it. The other night I walked by Brady's bedroom door and overheard Tad telling him a bedtime story, without even needing a book. Tad was telling Brady the story of the three little pigs. Brady was giggling under his "blankie" to the sound of Tad squeaking, "not by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin." When I peeked around the corner I found both of them squeezed into that tiny toddler bed. It was so cute! Tad has always helped with the chores around the house and he has certainly played a huge role in raising Brady. When Brady was an infant, Tad changed diapers, washed bottles, and took his turn getting up during the night. He has always been extremely involved in every aspect of Brady's life. He takes his role as a father very seriously. Tad is more than ready to parent another child. It is truly the desire of his heart.

Our Extended Family

Brady took part in Wheat Harvest this summer!

I, Kimberly, was born and raised on a large farm, which we have thoroughly enjoyed sharing with Brady and look forward to sharing with our next child. Living in a suburb of a big city, we're certain that farm experiences will hold special meaning! Brady has already had a great time riding on tractors, combines, horses, watching the cows, and playing with all the kittens. My family has always been extremely close. It took a team effort to run a family farming operation. I have always admired the involvement my parents had in my life and that of my two sisters. They never missed a ballgame or recital, being our loudest fans! Both of my parents are extremely talented individuals with so much to offer. They make it a priority to be involved in the lives of their three grandchildren. Brady loves to help Nana water her "bootiful" flowers and enjoys watching Papa's antique train set go around and around. Everyone in my family was supportive of our decision to adopt and can hardly wait to meet the next little addition to the family. Two of my cousins were adopted many years ago, so adoption is not a new concept for my family. Everyone, including my cousins touched by adoption, has encouraged us every step of the way. Tad and I both think that my family get-togethers are a blast! The entire extended family tries to cram in one room to share stories and play games. The laughter could probably be heard from miles away. There is so much love to go around. I was raised in a Christian home where values and morals were modeled. It is important to both of us to raise our child with respect and integrity.

Tad's parents, siblings, and extended family are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new baby in our family, too. Everyone in his family has been extremely supportive of our decision to adopt and have been quite enamored by the way this experience has already touched their lives. There are already four little cousins under the age of four on Tad's side of the family. It is so much fun to watch them interact when we all get together. Tad has a strong commitment and dedicated relationship with those in his family. I admire the value he places on those relationships. Family is Tad's first priority.

In Closing

Tad and Kimberly

If you should choose to place your child in our home, we would like you to know that we are committed to making you feel as comfortable and at peace with your decision as possible. We are more than happy to provide letters and photographs, letting you know how your baby is getting along, if you wish. We are currently sending updates to Brady's birthmother, Christa, and she has commented on how much she looks forward to receiving them. We truly consider her a part of our family and the depth of love we have for her cannot be expressed in words. Please know that you will always play a huge part of our lives, even if you prefer not to receive the updates. Whatever you decide for you and your child will be respected by all of us.

We truly appreciate the time you took to read this letter. We went through many difficult times during our years of infertility. The pain of knowing we couldn't conceive was nearly more than we could bear at times. We hope you will be able to find comfort, as we did, in the understanding that God can and will bring peace. For us, peace was not immediate. However, our faith in God was our strength. We now firmly believe that it was God's will all along to bless our lives with children through the gift of adoption. We can hardly wait for the day that we become parents again! May God give you some of that peace and comfort as you seek answers for you and your child's future. We wish you the best as you continue to make some very difficult decisions.

If you are interested in learning more about us you may contact our attorneys, Steve and Joel Kirsh. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-800-333-5736. They are brothers and their practice is solely used for adoption purposes. We think you will find them to be as friendly and compassionate as we have. They will not try to pressure you or influence you. They will only provide you with as much information as you wish. You may also visit their website at www.indianaadoption.com. If you are interested in speaking to us directly, please feel free to call our toll-free number 1-888-749-7789.

Sincerely,

Tad and Kimberly