Dear Birthparent,

Thank you for taking the time to consider us as adoptive parents to your child. We appreciate your willingness to learn about us, and hope that we are able to provide you with enough information to assist in your adoption planning. Making this plan and choosing your child's adoptive parents is a big step, one that we respect. If you choose us, we will do everything we can to ensure that your child has access to all that life has to offer, surrounded by unconditional love, acceptance, and understanding.

Our names are Marc and Tracy and we have chosen adoption to create our family. Family for us includes children, and since we are unable to have biological children, adoption is the only way we can create the family that we desire. Adoption is a natural choice for us as Tracy was adopted when she was five days old. Our families and friends support and encourage our plans to adopt. We are all anxiously awaiting the day we are able to meet our special child.

We are excited about the possibilities, and know that we will be great parents. We both grew up in loving homes with two parents and siblings. Marc is the oldest of two - he has a younger sister who recently married and plans on having children. Tracy is the youngest of three - she has two older brothers who are both married and have children. So far we have a total of three nephews, and two nieces, and anticipate several more in the years to come. Our parents live locally and can't wait to welcome their newest grandchild (this will be Marc's parents first time as grandparents).

Life has been good to us, and we want to share our blessings with our child. Growing-up we had similar upbringings. We both attended church on Sundays, participated in sports, were involved in Boy Scouts and Brownies respectively, played with neighborhood children, enjoyed countless family vacations from the snow, to the sand, to travels abroad. We attended the same High School (at different times as Marc is a few years older than Tracy), after which we both attended Big Ten Universities, and Tracy continued after college to get her Master's Degree.

Our parents and our life experiences have shaped us over the years. We have told everyone we know that we are adopting and they all support us as parents, which is a great feeling. So when the day comes that we are pushing our stroller with a little one sleeping peacefully inside - they will know that our dreams have come true.

Our Life Together
We met at a party through a mutual friend and had an instant connection. We dated and kept in contact over the years, during which time Tracy finished college and her graduate program, and Marc established his different businesses. Once we were at a point where we were living in the same town, and had time (as Marc was no longer working crazy hours to get his businesses up and running - - - each was doing great) we made a commitment to spend the rest of our lives together. Our relationship is solid, based on love, and full of shared experiences.

We were married on the beach in Florida, and were surrounded by friends and family. Tracy's father walked her down the aisle, while our loved ones sat in the hot June sun enjoying the festivities. The temperature was well into the 90's and the humidity was high. The groomsmen and groom were wearing black tuxedos, while the bridesmaids were wearing long dresses with heals (on the sand) - the pictures turned out great!

We live in a fantastic neighborhood, next to a children's park, in a four bedroom, three bathroom house. All of our neighbors have young children that are always looking for new playmates. While sitting on our deck(s) we are able to see the family filled park, and hear the wonderful sound of laughter.

In the summertime we enjoy weekends at our beach house. Spending time with our friends, their children, and our families on a regular basis is standard in our lives. The nice thing about our second home is that we use it year round. Sitting on the screened-in porch or looking out the wall of windows, allows us to enjoy the changing season's; from the hot sunny days, to the rust colored leaves, and pristine white snow.

Marc has a flexible work schedule, and Tracy stopped working soon after we married. It is with great pleasure that Tracy will be a full-time stay-at-home mom. Marc will have more time than most fathers to spend with the family, and is looking forward to being a very active father.

We have both worked hard over the years to get our lives to the point they are now. Being successful academically and professionally took time and effort, but we know that the best is still yet to come. The biggest undertaking yet most rewarding work of all is hopefully around the corner - Parenting. We are up to the challenge and have made our family top priority. We can't wait to start this next part of our life. We realize we are making a lifelong commitment, and are looking forward to children with much anticipation.

From Marc
I have always enjoyed children, from teaching them to swim when I was younger to spending time building sand castles on the beach with our friend's children. I look forward to having my child's little hand squeeze my finger knowing that Tracy and I are responsible for loving, nurturing and protecting that child. I look forward to teaching my child to ride a bike and their inevitable fall and tears - all the while knowing that it is my job, as their father, to comfort and encourage them in all that they do. I look forward to learning all the wonderful unique qualities and abilities of our child and helping them shine. I look forward to being a father.

Tracy is a strong person. She has strength in her conviction and character. Tracy is also a warm loving person and it is from this combination that I know she will be a wonderful mother. Children of all ages seem to gravitate to both Tracy and I, wherever we are.

From Tracy
I can't wait to be a mother and know from my years of babysitting, to being the favorite Aunt, and go-to person for friends' children, that I will be a great mother. I had / have a fantastic role model, as well as lots of friends and sister(s)-in-law to bounce questions off of - as I'm sure I'll have many.

I know that Marc will be the best father. He is fun-loving, nurturing, caring, and compassionate, he is amazing! I'm not just saying this because I am his wife, or because you are reading this letter, it's absolutely true. And his intellect and work ethic are often mind boggling - it consistently shocks me how he can be such a thoughtful, loving, conscientious person, while being so driven - he truly has learned the work life balance that so many strive towards.

In Closing
It is with sincerity and appreciation that we thank you for considering us during your adoption planning. Together we welcome the opportunity to meet with you, so that you can get to know us personally, and then judge for yourself if we are the people you want to parent your child.

If you would like more information please contact Sunny Ridge Family Center.

Respectfully,

Marc and Tracy

Back to Waiting Families