Hi. We're Lisa, Kerry and Andrew. Nearly four years ago we experienced this amazing thing called "open adoption." It brought Andrew and his birth mother into our lives. It has been a joyful, bittersweet, humbling, and ultimately inspiring journey for all of us. Now we wish to start another such journey.

We know that placing your child with an adoptive family is absolutely the most difficult decision you could possibly make. It is the ultimate act of unselfish love and we admire your strength and courage in making this plan for your child. We know that you have hopes and dreams for him or her. Through this letter we'd like you to learn a bit about us, our values, our community and our hopes and dreams as parents and a family.

A BIT OF HISTORY:

Lisa and I celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary this year. We first met in 1987 on a film set and we've been together ever since. We both work in the New York film industry as set decorators for TV shows, movies, and commercials. It's a fun, creative job and each week always brings something new.

When we're not working we usually head outdoors. We enjoy downhill and cross country skiing as well as hiking, biking and body surfing in the ocean. The little kids inside us still love to play and it is one of the things that first attracted us to each other.

In 1993, a year after we were married, we bought an old Victorian house in a quiet neighborhood. Our life together seemed to be following a well worn but happy trajectory. Build strong careers, get married, buy house, have babies. We were pretty much on track. Except for the baby part. We struggled for a long time with our infertility, seeing many doctors, trying many treatments and procedures, enduring many disappointments. Without a doubt, this was the toughest thing either of us had gone through.

After five years we decided we had had enough. Ironically, Lisa and I had always talked about adopting a child way before we knew that we could not make a baby ourselves. I'm not sure why but the idea had always appealed to us. Now, it was our only hope for building a family.

In the winter of '97-98 we started the adoption process and the following September we welcomed five week old Andrew into our home. People who have adopted like to say that the right baby will find you. After adopting Andrew, we have no doubt that this is very true. Andrew is an extremely bright, observant, and curious little boy. He loves talking to people and he has a mischievous sense of humor that keeps us laughing. We're sure his confidence and gregarious personality will make for a fun big brother.

WHERE WE LIVE:

Now the three of us live in that same Victorian house. We love our quiet neighborhood and our neighbors. There's lots of kids around, including my brother's two boys, and we get together often for barbecues in the backyard. We're a short bike ride from a great park, and in the summer we do a lot of days at the beach. We're also close to Manhattan with it's museums, and galleries and shows. The New York area is a fun and stimulating place to live.

But it's also good to get away from the hustle-bustle from time to time. We both grew up in small towns and it's in the country that we feel most at home. So a few years ago we bought a second home on a lake in Vermont. It provides us with a year round escape into the wild and beautiful woods of rural Vermont and we go there as often as we can for swimming, fishing, and skiing. It is important to us that our children experience the pleasures of catching frogs, exploring a wood, or following a creek bed to its beginning. We want them to know intimately the peace that nature offers.

ON RAISING CHILDREN:

The one lesson our five year struggle with infertility taught us is what a tremendously special thing a family is. For us, raising a child is a blessed privilege that we are thankful for everyday. Even on those days when Andrew stuffs popcorn in the VCR or yanks all the heads off of the daffodils. We want our children to feel secure in our love at all times. Our love is constant and unconditional. We want our children to develop love of self as well as respect for all people. We want them to always feel free to communicate their feelings, ideas and emotions and to have the confidence to always strive for their dreams. (An interesting side effect of being parents is that it's made us strive to be better people ourselves.)

Growing up, Lisa was raised as a Catholic, and I attended a Unitarian Church. As young adults though, we stopped going. Having Andrew reminded us of the importance of raising children in a spiritual environment. This year we became involved with a nearby Unitarian Church. The minister is young and dynamic and they have a great Sunday School program. Going back to church has been rewarding on many levels and it provides us with yet another activity to do as a family.

As we mentioned above, we had an open adoption with Andrew. We stay in regular contact with his birth parents, sharing letters, photos and phone calls and it's been a positive experience for us all. But every situation is different and we are open to your thoughts and wishes.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We're grateful for the opportunity to introduce ourselves and we hope we get to speak in person. We wish you and your baby good health and may you find peace and happiness in whatever you decide.

Very truly yours

Lisa and Kerry