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Dear Expectant Parents,
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to read about us. Your
baby’s happiness is very important to us, so we hope
this letter and these pictures show you how we would
welcome your baby into our lives.
We hope we can help fulfill your desire to find a
loving and caring family for your baby in a warm and
open home.
About us... We are Karen and Paul. We have been together
for 11 years, and married for nine. We actually met at
work in the cafeteria. First we were friends, and then
the relationship blossomed into something special. We
are very fortunate that we match perfectly and the bond
between us is strong; we just simply enjoy each other’s
company. We married in April 2000 on a beautiful sunny
day, in one of Seattle's oldest churches. A live band
played Caribbean music, while our guests danced to the
Limbo.
Like most families today we both work, it gives us a
comfortable lifestyle. We are both engineers, Karen
received her degree from Washington State University and
Paul earned his degree at The Hague University in the
Netherlands. Nowadays we work for a major aerospace
company in the Seattle area. Karen works in the research
department and loves investigating new technology for
the company, and Paul supports and consults with
airlines worldwide on technical matters related to
operation of their airplanes. He loves airplanes and
such a complicated product intrigues him.
Why Adoption… Since we’ve been married, we always
expected and assumed, that one day we would start a
family. But, with luck not on our side, life threw us a
curveball and so we were not able to reach that goal.
Now we are incredibly happy and excited with the chance
of building a family through adoption.
We imagine you probably wonder what your baby’s future
might be. Maybe you are uncertain about how much contact
you’d like with your child and the adoptive family. We
simply want you to know that we would welcome an open
adoption. We know it will benefit your child
tremendously; with his or her sense of identity, and his
or her complete history. What is most important is for
everyone to feel comfortable and to do what is right.
Because, someday your child will ask “Where did I come
from?” We like the idea that your child will know his or
her own unique adoption story, and that they know their
connection.
When we become parents… We would want to raise our
children the same way we ourselves were raised, with the
same core values and beliefs: The value of family, the
importance of being kind, courteous, respectful, and
always have a positive outlook towards life. We would
coach your child based on love and understanding, with
plenty of patience, a bunch of laughs, and a good dose
of humor. Comfort them on difficult days, give smiles
when there is sadness, big hugs when spirits are low. We
would always do our best to be their role models.
We both will take time off when the baby arrives,
because we believe in “family life will come first”.
We plan to use our company’s on-site daycare
center, which is located just across the street from
Paul’s office. Karen will take four months off, and Paul
may work a flexible schedule and have an extra day off.
He will also take several weeks off when the little one
arrives. This way we both will enjoy the transition into
parenthood. Karen’s Mom and sister are also close enough
to lend a hand as needed, and they are excited with the
prospect.
Since education can be a lifetime ticket to opportunity,
we would strive for your child to achieve his or her
fullest potential.
As not everything can be learned from a
study-book, learning can definitely be a family
activity. We would take them on different outings or
exhibits such as the Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Saturday
Markets. We’re ready for the never-ending questions from
their curious little minds.
Our home… We live in the Pacific Northwest in a town
east of Seattle, in a spacious three-bedroom two-story
house built in 2003. When you look towards the east you
can see the Cascades mountain range. On a clear day you
can see miles away with the Olympic Mountains due west,
and even a tiny Space Needle far away. Our home is
located on a safe quiet street; in an urban village with
many trails, wide-open green space, and parks mixed in
with homes.
There are two playgrounds within a five minute walk from
our house.
Kids can play soccer, baseball, and there is even a
tennis court. Our neighbors all have children mostly
under the age of five. It is a culturally mixed
neighborhood. In the summer, you can bet almost
everybody shows up during our summer neighborhood BBQ.
In our community, we enjoy some of the best schools in
the state. A brand new elementary school opened around
the corner from us, within a 15 minutes walk.
Our Family… Family is very important to both of us.
Karen’s sister and mother live nearby, they are a
big part of our family and we see them almost weekly
(especially when her Mom cooks – just the smell alone
sends Paul into orbit). Karen’s brother lives in Utah
with his wife, and they are planning to move to the
Northwest. Everyone is excited about welcoming a new
baby to our family, and they are extremely supportive
and positive.
Paul’s parents and two brothers live in Holland,
and he can communicate effortlessly in today’s world
with e-mail, digital pictures and the web.
For Paul’s parents, excitement cannot even
describe how they feel about welcoming a new baby.
Our close friends who all have small children are
ready to give us all their baby stuff.
Fascinating how so many people just can’t wait
for us to become parents, our family, friends, and
co-workers. It’s very touching.
Leisure time… We love to hang out in our family room and
just wind down, relax on the couch, read magazines, and
watch funny movies. We have plenty to keep us busy with
hiking trails and easy access to biking trails.
We enjoy going to the movies, sometimes the
theater: musicals mainly. We both love & enjoy visits to
art shows and festivals all over the greater Seattle
area. We look forward to taking the baby with us, so he
or she can be exposed to all the different sights,
listen to the music playing, and smell great & fine food
all around us!
Karen keeps busy with sewing and doing crafts.
She enjoys making handmade cards, and is often
surprised when people mention how they loved it.
Little gestures can make such a difference!
Karen loves flowers and has a garden full of red,
pink, and yellow roses.
She says she doesn’t have a green thumb, but just
tries to have everything survive unlike her cactus in
college.
There is always lots of color in the garden and inside
the house.
Karen also loves to cook, everyone asks for her fried
chicken for dinner, and talk mutiny if she even suggests
something different!
Paul enjoys plucking the strings on his guitar to play
music. He says “I find listening to music and feeling
the beat extremely relaxing, it makes you forget about
the world for a second. I imagine it would be so much
fun introducing a little one to all those different
sounds and music of the world”. He also enjoys taking
his bike outside, pretending he is in training for the
Tour de France.
With a little one there will be less time for those
activities, but we’d be happy at home, sitting on the
floor spending serious quality time with your child.
We imagine that, with a new baby, new hobbies or
activities will be created and discovered together.
In Conclusion… Hopefully we were able to paint a picture
of our lives together, show what we can provide, and how
an open adoption fits in.
We have great respect for your choice to seek an
adoption plan. You are a brave woman under perhaps
uncertain circumstances. Maybe this letter is a small
step on your journey to find the best for your baby, and
maybe it will help take away some of the doubt. We want
to wish you the best in your decision-making.
Sincerely yours,
Karen and Paul
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