Dear Expecting Parent(s),
We doubt that either of us pictured being here- considering this emotional whirlwind people call adoption. We can’t imagine what it’s like to be in your shoes, but we pray you have support around you to find the right solution and fit for your life and the life of the little one you’re expecting.
In case we are the right fit for you and your expected baby, here’s a glimpse into our world:
Ruth teaches music in a K-6 elementary school, and Paul teaches music and PE in a K-8 school. Our worlds revolve around kids. We sing, we play recorders, we write and direct plays. We tie shoes of our kindergartners and try not to pull our hair out when our sweet fifth graders turn into pre-teens with all the drama that entails. Amongst the craziness that is teacher life, we have moments- beautiful, magical moments of connection with children in ways we’ll always remember. We both have cast children with special needs in our plays, have worked with them, worried about them, until finally watching the night of the performance as they remembered every line. These memories with children are why we do what we do.
In a Nutshell
| Ruth | Paul | |
| Profession | Music teacher | Music & PE teacher |
| Family | Oldest of 5 kids | Youngest of 6 kids |
| Height | 5’7” | 6’1” |
| Eye Color | Blue | Blue |
Paul:
I love music and movies. I collect movie memorabilia and become like a little kid when there’s a new Star Wars, Marvel, or Pixar movie to see. I also love the beach, swimming, and writing, both music and stories.
Ruth:
I’ll try my hand at anything artsy and crafty. I’m a ham for the camera and it’s hard to find a “normal” picture of me. In the summer, I love open water swimming at the nearby lake and trips to the beach. I’m a constant book worm and my favorite author is Brandon Sanderson.
Fun Facts
| Ruth | Paul | |
| Favorite Movie | The Martian | Inside Out |
| Favorite Food | Quesadillas (I love Mexican food) | Hawaiian or Supreme pizza (or any kind with mushrooms) |
| Country I want to visit | Ireland or Norway | Ireland |
| Favorite Book | Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson | Harry Potter Series |
| Favorite Game | Balderdash | Telestrations |
About our Families
We both come from families with lots of kids. Ruth is the oldest of five and Paul is the youngest of six. Paul’s parents passed away just a few years ago.
We love our summer family reunions and spending Christmas together. Recently we had a fun reunion with Paul’s family on the coast and surprised Ruth’s Dad with a reunion/party when he retired.
Paul and Ruth are both Christians active in their church. Ruth’s brothers and sisters have other beliefs, but what we love most about our families is the feeling of love and acceptance we have when we’re around them. All of us are unique and have chosen our own paths, but ties of family keep us close. We still show unconditional love for each other despite our differences. We are so thankful to have had happy childhoods in homes full of love, activity, and faith.
We Have Love to Share
Surrounded by kids as we are as teachers is wonderful, but none of them are ours to share our whole lives with. We have been married for seventeen years and have wanted children from day one.
Recently, we were approached by a family friend and were given the opportunity to adopt. We decided on an open adoption with regular visits.
Our belief is that our child should grow up with adoption as a normal, open part of life.
We made the adoption announcement and received an avalanche of love and excitement. Baby showers were thrown, and the nursery was assembled. Then, only three weeks before his due date, we received word that our little one had passed away. It definitely took some time for our hearts and minds to begin to recover, but as we did, we realized what preparing for this baby had brought back into our lives.
He had brought hope.
Hope that there is a child meant for our home.
Hope that we could be parents.
Hope in adoption.
We still hope to bring a little one to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for Christmas to be surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins. There we would cut snowflakes for the snowflake wall and drink Grandma’s yummy hot punch.
We have our favorite things here to share too- trips to the beach, painting with Ruth, and playing with Paul and his Pixar action figures. We want to walk to the park down the street and watch him/her play with other kids in the neighborhood. We want to teach him/her how to swim at the nearby lake. In early days, Paul could hold that sweet little one and Pippin in our little yellow raft while they watch Ruth swim across to the other shore and back.
We can picture him becoming best friends with Pippin and playing peek-a-boo with Mali our cat when she peeks through the rails in the stairs. We are excited to spend summers attending family reunions on both sides of the family where our little one can meet all his/her crazy relatives and feel that sense of belonging. Paul’s family motto is, “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”
Our hearts and home are prepared for these dreams.
Now we turn to you.
Our hearts ache for the choice you are facing, but we recognize it as a choice of love. We want to expand on the love you feel for this new little one by immersing your baby in yet more love for the rest of his/her life. We would like you to continue to be a part of your child’s life. The more love and support this baby has in this world the better. We want to share in providing that world.
With love, appreciation, and gratitude for you and your loving heart,
Ruth & Paul, Pippin & Mali
