From a very early age Jonathan's parents told him he was asking for a sibling. His parents, for various reasons, chose to go through the adoption process.

When Jonathan was five years old he got the news that he would be getting a younger sister! Jonathan remembers his mom taking him shopping for a stuffed animal, a little koala bear. He wanted to give his sister something after her long flight so she would not be scared. Jonathan was so happy to have a sibling to bond with growing up.

While Jonathan and his sister do not physically look alike, they could not be more similar today as adults. The way they talk, their sense of humor and things that they like and dislike. Without looking at them you would not know they are from different biological parents. For Jonathan, adoption is a very normal part of life. What is important to us is not the differences in a family, but fostering a caring and supportive environment in which a child can development and grow.

We both enjoy spending our free time outdoors. We have enjoyed exploring our new city and its many parks and trails. We have recently learned how to play disc golf and get to show our competitive sides playing at the local courses.

Individually, Erin enjoys cooking and baking in her free time. She has an extensive cookbook collection she uses to make many different cuisines. With her love of cooking she also volunteers her time making meals for area families in need.

Jonathan is busy most weekends working on his RC planes and drones. He builds and flies them whenever he has the opportunity at the local RC field. Jonathan also enjoys home brewing, he is involved with one of the local clubs, and enjoys testing and perfecting recipes to share with friends and family.

Being a parent for us means sharing our lives with a child. We have been fortunate to grow up with parents that have showed us what it means to truly be loved. We hope to inspire a child to be the best they can be. By supporting them and fostering their creativity we will encourage them to do anything they put their minds to. We want to lead by example and show them the best of what we have learned throughout our lives. Being a parent, means helping to guide a child through the ups and downs, and highs and lows. What we look forward to most is watching a child grow up and being present for all that life has to offer.

We recently purchased our first home together, a three-bedroom, two-story house in a brand new community in central North Carolina. This past year we've kept busy with decorating and landscaping turning the house into a warm and comfortable home.

Our community is very diverse, family oriented, and pet friendly. Despite the pandemic we have been able to be meet many of our neighbors and have interacted with them through community emails and walks around the neighborhood. We look forward to block parties and other get-togethers in the near future.

There is a playground and two dog parks within walking distance from our home, and many county and state parks a short drive away. A great elementary school is just a few streets from our neighborhood. Our city is a great place to raise a family and has many activities to offer year round including museums, hiking trails, markets and festivals.

We have never been more eager to expand our family and are thrilled to welcome a new member through adoption. Adoption is already a significant part of our lives. Jon's sister was adopted as an infant, arriving shortly after his 5th birthday, and he can't imagine life without her. She now lives in Boston, where she is expecting a child of her own, while his parents reside in Florida. Despite pandemic related travel restrictions, we've been able to stay connected by making family video chats a regular occurrence.

Recently, we moved from south Florida for exciting new job opportunities in North Carolina. This move has allowed us to be much closer to Erin's parents and her brother's family. We've since been able to visit frequently for family gatherings, to hang out, to cheer on our niece and nephew at soccer games, and to enjoy family dinners together.

While we've enjoyed several family vacations like Cape Cod and theme parks in Orlando, holiday times are extra special for everyone. We love spending time together, baking holiday cookies, and playing board games. We look forward to sharing more joy and laughter and special days with our families.

As we write this letter to you we can't help but to smile from ear to ear. We are honored for you to consider us as potential parents. Our dream of becoming a family is only possible because of your choice, and is now a step closer to reality. We recognize this decision has not been one that has been taken lightly and we acknowledge your strength in making such a difficult decision.

From early on in our relationship, we knew we wanted to have children together.

After dating for four years and then getting married, we wanted to start our family right away. However, after trying for several years we have unfortunately been unable to conceive biologically. Our journey has brought us through many challenges and difficult decisions, but has also taught us the importance of acceptance, healing and resilience. We are eager to move forward with expanding our family through adoption. Our hope is that by you learning more about us and our joy of bringing a child into our family, it will give you peace as you consider adoption.

We want you to know that your child is loved by us and will be given every opportunity to grow and thrive. As parents we will share this journey with the child and make sure they know how much you love them also. We are committed to an environment of mutual support, common goals and excitement for the journey ahead. Both of us recognize and realize the importance of talking openly and freely about adoption starting at a young age. Together we want to build a firm foundation of trust between our family and yours. Our plan is for us to have meaningful involvement through letters, emails and photos with you if desired. When the time is right, we are also open to making arrangements to visit.

Adoption already has special relevance in our lives, as Jonathan's sister was adopted when he was a young boy. We know for us, adoption will continue be an amazing experience for our family and the child we adopt. It takes a village to raise a child and we are lucky to be able to have that village. Our extended families are very supportive of our decision to adopt. They also can't wait to share their love with another family member. We talk about the days when we will have another child in the family to nurture and watch grow alongside their cousins. Having family close allows us the opportunity for everyone to be involved in a child's upbringing. We love our lives together as a couple, but look forward to a future with children and expanding our family. Adoption can bring so much joy to a family and we want you to know the joy that it will bring to us.

Sincerely,

Jonathan & Erin