In Liz’s Words: Jared is as loving and supportive as a partner could possibly be. He doesn’t just ask me about my day, he listens to every word no matter if the update is 2 or 20 minutes. He’s a great listener and is also very thoughtful - He’ll often send me funny texts throughout the day, or calls me when he’s out to see if I need anything. He’s also the funniest person I know - He makes me laugh tears regularly. However I would say that my favorite thing about Jared is how he is able to recognize and truly appreciate small, routine things about daily life. For Jared, anything from walking to the parking lot, to commuting home from work, to making Monday night dinner, is an opportunity for something new and fun to pop up. This perspective is a gem and brings happiness to our household; I would love to teach a child how to find joy in small things, the way Jared does.

In Jared’s: Liz caught my attention the first time we met because of her smile. As we began to get to know each other more deeply, it was Liz’s kindness, warmth, sense of humor, and integrity that developed my interest in her. Seven years later those are the same characteristics that have blossomed my love for who she consistently is as a person. She is dependable, caring, and grounded - every single day.

As parents Liz and Jared look forward to creating a loving and nurturing environment for a child. When raising a child we feel that it is important to express every day to the child that they are loved and accepted as they are. This messaging can be communicated both verbally and non verbally, and is of the utmost importance. We believe that this message of unconditional love to a child serves as the foundation for their self worth, and feeling of emotional safety at home.

Next, it is extremely important to consistently support and “show up” for a child. This may be for many things, big and small. For example, consistently ensuring a child has nutritious meals, consistently supporting a child with all aspects of their education, and always showing up to support after school activities.

When we think about becoming parents, we are very much looking forward to simply cherishing the everyday loving acts of support for our child. From evening tuck-ins to late night rocking back to sleep. From hugs to tickles, to answering many questions from an inquisitive child. From engaged listening to reading books to helping with homework. We are looking forward to it all.

We would honor the child’s cultural background as something integral in their life. Your child’s story began with you, and that will always be an important part of who they are. Our role as adoptive parents is not to replace that history, but to protect it, respect it, and help it grow as they do just like our parents did for us. We plan to make the child’s culture a visible and meaningful part of their everyday life. That means learning about the traditions, holidays, food, language, and history that are part of their heritage, and celebrating them together as a family. We will seek out books, community events, and mentors that reflect their background (if necessary) so they can see people who look like them and share similar experiences.

As the child grows, we will also make space for open and honest conversations about identity, culture, and adoption. We want them to feel proud of where they come from and comfortable asking questions about their story. Most importantly, we will always speak about you with respect and gratitude. Your love and decision will be part of how we talk about their life from the very beginning. Our hope is that the child grows up knowing they come from a place of love, and that every part of who they are is valued and celebrated in our home.

We were both raised in loving, supportive families that are very excited we are on our adoption journey. Liz comes from a family with five brothers and sisters and was raised in Atlanta. Jared was raised in Phoenix with two brothers. Both our parents are still married and live in our home towns.

Even though we do not live in the same cities as our families, we are still very close. We often travel to visit family members, including Liz’s sister’s family in Seattle, and Jared’s brother’s family in Phoenix. We cherish our nieces and nephews and make a point to see them multiple times per year. We are just as likely to go to Phoenix or Atlanta for a family holiday celebration, as we are to drop by anytime in the year, just to say hey. We both feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to begin our adoption journey. In Liz’s family, she and her two younger brothers were adopted. She has always had the dream to adopt a child. Growing up, her home was as happy and loving as it could have been. We are going to do everything possible to create this same environment for your child. We and our families cherish the opportunity to provide a loving home for your child.

Our community is comprised of multi-ethnic families in the suburbs of Santa Clara, California, with a mixture of homes, townhouses, and apartments. Each subsection of the residential areas have their own park space with playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and big open fields for adults and kids to run around. An elementary school is in the middle of everything with a busy public library, movie theater, and shopping center with an NFL stadium within walking distance. The neighborhood we live in is comprised of a diverse array of families that work in the tech industry. The elementary school in the middle of everything feels like the hub of the local community. Halloween, in particular, is celebrated by the whole community in a very fun and safe way with hundreds of kids running around like a scene from a movie. We currently live in a 1 Bed/1 Bath apartment that is about 750 square feet in a large but quiet complex within Santa Clara, CA. The complex is surrounded by a large suburban neighborhood full of homes, condos, and townhouses next to a busy elementary school. We are in the process of finding a 1100 sq ft, 2 bedroom home down the street from where we currently reside so our child will have their own room to grow up in. Our neighborhood is full of park spaces with different options for adults and kids. Because of where we live in California, the weather is good year round to enjoy the spaces in a beautifully green environment. Most of the adjacent neighborhoods are also designed with a similar layout, so park space is in abundance. The complex we currently live in has 2 large pools, and the complex we’re moving to has the same.

It is with great hope and excitement that we approach our adoption journey. We recognize that the decision you are considering is deeply personal and incredibly difficult, and we want you to know that we approach it with humility and respect. The love and courage it takes to think about your child’s future is something we will never take lightly. We are grateful that you would even consider us as potential parents for your child. If we are fortunate enough to be chosen, we promise that your child will be loved, respected, adored, and made to feel empowered throughout their entire life. Our commitment is simple but profound: We will never stop trying to find ways to support and nurture a child who will be the most cherished part of our lives. Parenthood, to us, means showing up every day with patience, encouragement, and unconditional love.

Our home is built around family, connection, and support. Your child would grow up surrounded by grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and close family friends who are eager to welcome them with open arms. Family gatherings, celebrations, and everyday moments together are important to us, and your child would always have a strong and caring network around them. There will be many people in their life who are invested in their happiness and excited to watch them grow. One of the most important promises we can make is that we will raise your child with honesty and openness about their story. We believe every child deserves to understand where they come from and to feel proud of their origin. Their adoption will never be hidden or treated as something that should not be talked about. We will be open and honest about the adoption process and about how our family may be different from others. Your child will know their origin, and we will answer their questions thoughtfully and with care as they grow and begin to understand their life in deeper ways.

Our hope is to raise a child who develops their own identity and feels confident exploring the world around them. We want them to know that they can grow into whatever, or whomever, they want to be. Whether their interests lead them toward sports, art, academics, music, or something entirely unique, we will support their curiosity and encourage them to pursue what brings them joy and fulfillment. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to discover their passions and develop the confidence to follow them. Education and curiosity will be important parts of our home. We believe learning should inspire children and open doors for them. We plan to provide strong educational opportunities while also encouraging curiosity through reading, conversation, travel, and new experiences. At the same time, we want their childhood to be filled with laughter, exploration, and meaningful family traditions.

We also want you to know that we respect whatever level of openness you feel comfortable with. If you are open to it, we would be honored to share pictures, milestones, and updates about how your child is growing and doing over the years. If that is not something you feel comfortable with, we would completely respect and understand that as well. Our priority will always be to honor your wishes while speaking about you with gratitude and respect. We cannot begin to thank you enough for considering us as a potential family to adopt your child. We understand that you are working through one of the most important decisions of your life, and we deeply respect the love and care that goes into choosing the best home for your child.

If you choose us, our promise to you is one we will carry for the rest of our lives: We will love your child endlessly. Every day we will do our best to give them a life filled with stability, encouragement, opportunity, and unconditional love.

Sincerely,

Jared & Elizabeth