Dear friend(s),
Eight years of scholarship essays, college dissertations and a bachelor’s thesis could not have prepared me for the weight I feel in writing this letter to you. I've always sensed these would be the most important words I will ever write. For you, reading any one paragraph could make a world of difference as you seek a couple that captures your heart and best meets the needs of your baby. We appreciate your commitment to finding THAT family and pray that our few paragraphs and pictures will invoke a feeling in you that goes beyond them.
We can only imagine the range of emotions you are experiencing as you consider the possibility of adoption. Yours is the greatest gift one could ever give. Giving it shows how strong, brave, selfless and faithful you are. You are literally doing the work of angels! You are blessing a woman to become a mother, a man to become a father. The power and significance of that choice will never be lost on us or your baby.
Let us share our story with you! Ryan and I came to know one another 13+ years ago when his younger sister and I became close friends. I was pretty well-integrated into his family from the get-go. We shared parties, vacations, family events, everything. We spent a couple years dating each others’ best friends and then Ryan left for a mission. Shortly after his return, I was invited to Lake Powell with his family which essentially became our first date. Five years later, after my mission, we were married in the Salt Lake Temple!!!
We’ve been married just over 5 years now and it's amazing how we pattern one another. We have just enough uniqueness to give vibrancy and character to the relationship but in so many ways we think identically, act alike, and we certainly enjoy life doing similar things.
In July 2014 we were blessed to bring a beautiful baby girl into our family through the gift of adoption! We can't tell you how much her life has meant to us and how she has brought so much illumination to our understanding of life and parenthood and the blessings of adoption. At her birthmother's request, our contact is relatively indirect but she has friended us on Facebook and we have eachother's contact information (if we or Chloe need to talk with her or if she decides she is ready for greater openness). It is an open-door policy, in other words. We are happy to meet her where she is at and respect her wishes as Chloe's birthmother and our friend. We have so much love for Chloe and hope one day she will be able to enjoy building a strong sibling relationship with brothers and sisters, the way we have. She, together with our young Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cooper, keep us on our toes and teach us what it means to live with pure joy and love beyond ourselves.
There’s never a dull moment for us. If we aren't with our family and friends, boating or BBQing, we are camping, or four-wheeling, or skiing, or sprinkler-hopping, or road-tripping, or going to a play/concert/show, or our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE...TRAVELING as we can. In our quieter moments we enjoy movies, cooking, gardening, board games, reading books together, watching comedies, crafting, and cuddling with Chloe and Cooper. Each year of our journey has brought us closer together as a family and no turn has come without adventure. Looking forward, nothing could make us happier than bringing another happy little baby into the mix!
Meet Ryan: Ryan loves Apple products or anything technology-based. He finds great satisfaction in figuring out how to make things function at their best. Ryan is the greatest source of joy in my life! He is happiest when he is enjoying an activity that he loves with me, and with his family. I bring out his silly side. We are playful together, and Ryan is always quick to laugh. He is AMAZING. He’s a blue personality with hints of white, meaning that he is driven by his values and puts his relationships first, ALWAYS. He'll say he has had a good day if he has made a meaningful connection with someone. He nurtures his friendships and keeps his loved ones close.
Ryan is very spiritually-minded. He involves the Lord in all his decisions and models those values you would hope to see in an honorable priesthood holder. He currently serves as the financial clerk in our ward. In disagreements, he is quick to apologize and to forgive. He is kind and attentive and never seeks to judge. He’s intuitive of my feelings and the moments I appreciate him most are when he serves me, which he does readily and often. During my years in the dental hygiene program, he NEVER ONCE made me feel guilty for having to deny him time in order to study. He supports me in my goals and is a great helpmate. He is always seeking my comfort, even to the extent of giving me a back massage nearly every night before bed...I KNOW, right!!!, I snagged a good one. :) Ryan has a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications and works for a University as a Technology Specialist. He is currently seeking his CISCO certification so that he can advance as a Network Engineer. I thought I knew Ryan well before we were married, but I couldn't have anticipated how lucky I would be to have him as my husband. My love tank is full.
About Tanya: Tanya is a great keepsake. She gives my life so much depth, intrigue and happiness. She has a talent of making others feel special and important. She takes the time to listen and is generous and patient. She helps me to see things clearly when I feel overwhelmed. She is optimistic, rarely allows herself to get discouraged, and is always looking forward to the next challenge and opportunity that comes her way. She is smart, thoughtful and driven and has a strong commitment to family and friends. She always seeks to develop and reflect her best self and excels at nearly everything she puts her mind to.
Tanya enjoys hosting small gatherings and watches for any opportunity to celebrate someone or a holiday. She creates fun family traditions. She loves to decorate the house. She is spontaneous and arranges things so that we are always experiencing something new. She fills our home with music and laughter. Her parents call her their songbird because she is always singing. It only takes a couple words of a song to get her going! She has a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene and works for various dentists in Utah. She currently serves as a sacrament chorister for our ward, as well as a RS activity coordinator.
We know that love makes a family. We hope to incorporate you into ours, in whichever way you feel most comfortable. No amount of love is wasted on a child and we have very warm feelings toward openness after placement, if that is what you desire. We feel blessed with the opportunity of adoption. We hope that by reading this profile, you have insight into who we are and what joy we hope to bring into your little one's life.
We think the world of you. We realize how impossible this process must seem but pray that your hearts will be filled with peace along the way. It’s humbling to reflect on life and challenges and to see how God directs us. He cares for us and WE KNOW He will direct you as you seek His help in making this most important decision. If we can answer any questions for you or help you along that journey, please contact us!!
Sincerely, Ryan, Tanya, Chloe and Cooper
No comments:
Post a Comment