Dear Expecting Parent,
We have been thinking about you for a long time, and it is with goodwill and prayer that we are hoping that you are feeling supported and loved in this uneasy and sensitive time of your life.
Although we can’t exactly know the challenges and feelings that you are experiencing right now, we admire you so much for your bravery and your willingness to make this decision. Whatever your reason for placing may be please take comfort in knowing that your sacrifice is an answer to years of prayers and preparation on our part. Thank you for giving us a chance to introduce ourselves to you and tell you about our family.
We hope this glimpse into our family life will help you in your decision as you see who we are and what being in our family could be like for your child. We are ALL so excited at the possibility of fulfilling our dreams of welcoming a child into our family.
We are truly open to any type of relationship with you that would make you most comfortable and if you decide to have an open adoption with us, we will welcome you into our family and hope that we can build a lasting relationship. Please trust that we will always honor your decision, and honor and acknowledge you to your baby. We promise above all else that the child we adopt will be loved unconditionally and will be a cherished member of our family.
The Story of Us:
We met online a little more than 10 years ago, and there was an immediate “spark” between us. Our relationship started out as a long-distance pursuit as we lived 4 hours away from each other. Within the first year of dating, we knew that we had found the “one.” Dating was a blast for us, and life in general has been a whirlwind of fun adventures ever since! We have, of course, had trials, but overall being with each other has blessed our lives in a way that makes those trials so much more manageable.
We are both public school teachers. Hiroko teaches music in elementary school (17th year), while Ira teaches English in middle school (20th year). We both love to teach and see our students grow and learn and risk in our classes. We try to find the good in every day, and deeply value kindness in and towards others. Our long experience with “our kids” has helped us to encourage love, a listening and patient ear, humor, support, empathy, and being genuine.
About Ira…From Hiroko
Ira is the answer to my prayer. He is humble, kind, loving, a great storyteller, and an even better listener. Every single day I’m thankful for his love and commitment to our family. Ira truly cares for each and every single person that he encounters in his life. He finds the positive in all people and is always willing to lend a hand to others in need. Ira has the best sense of humor. He loves to joke around and finds something to laugh at all the time. Ira loves to read and is a member of many book clubs. He is always learning and is great at sharing new ideas with me. I love the way that he tells stories and just always realizing how smart he is. I have often wished that I was a student in his class.
Some of the experiences that he shares about his classroom makes me want to go there and soak it all in. He has a gentle spirit and ease that makes students feel safe to take risks and work hard to please him. I can’t wait to see him as a father. I know that he will be wonderful in every way—-loving, patient, kind, supportive, giving, and fun! I think that he’s also secretly looking forward to being a kid again himself.
About Hiroko…From Ira
Hiroko makes me want to be a better person. She is always considerate of my feelings and others’ feelings and often puts our needs ahead of her own. She always has the perfect card or little gift ready for any occasion and never misses a birthday of family, friends, and especially their children. She lights up the room with her positive energy and endearing charm. Children of all ages are drawn to my wife. She is truly loved by them all.
She reads bedtime stories, plays on the playground, attends recitals and church events, plays dress up, goes hiking, rides bikes, and in general gets into “their world.” She has so much love to share that I know she is more than ready to be a mother, and I can’t wait to see her step into this role and hear her singing gentle lullabies!
Fun Favorites
Music/Artists
Ira: Popular/Sara Bareilles & L.A. Mass Choir
Hiroko: Classical/J. S. Bach & Amy Grant
Athlete
Ira: Rafael Nadal (#2 Ranked Tennis Player)
Hiroko: Ichiru Suzuki (Future MLB Hall of Famer)
Place to take a child
Ira: The Public Library or Museum
Hiroko: The Zoo or a Music Concert
Holiday
Ira: Hiroko’s Birthday (Ira likes to make her gifts!)
Hiroko: Christmas (Hiroko loves to play X-mas songs on the piano.)
Childhood Traditions
Ira: Going to the lake to feed the ducks with his mom
Hiroko: On Japanese Girl’s Day (March 3rd), Hiroko’s father would set up a series of dolls with Hiroko—similar to the American tradition of setting up a Christmas tree.
5 Things Ira & Hiroko want to offer our child:
1) Frequent walks to one of our neighborhood parks (there are 3 within walking distance).
2) A bedtime routine, including a long bath, reading books, and saying prayers. We learned a great aphorism from the tv show, The Mentalist, “You are safe, you are loved, and you are wise.” We will lovingly cite this charm to our child at the end of each night. What a great tradition to create!
3) Regular play dates and outings to the museums, the zoo, and the library.
4) Traditions like annual beach and ski trips and holiday celebrations with friends and family.
5) Lots of relaxed playtime, including family music listening time and setting up musical instruments so that baby can “make their own kind of music.”
We feel there’s a lot of joy, love, and responsibility in our life together that will serve as a cornerstone for raising a child. We promise to provide balance in addition to adventures and fun. We are focused on providing a quality education, necessary skills, and a solid support system filled with love so that your child can be able to follow their dreams.
We are truly open to any type of relationship with you that would make you most comfortable and if you decide to have an open adoption with us, we will welcome you into our family and hope that we can build a lasting relationship.
We promise to share with your child their adoption story and to let them know how big your love is.
Wishing you and your baby the very best. You are in our prayers,
Ira and Hiroko
