While Andrew does not have any personal ties to adoption, Rachael has several meaningful connections that have shaped our understanding and values around it. Rachael's maternal grandfather was adopted, and although he went on to have nine children, efforts to learn more about his background and heritage were unsuccessful due to the closed nature of adoptions at that time. This experience has given Rachael a deep appreciation for open adoption and the importance of access to family history, ancestry, and cultural identity. The emotional impact of not being able to uncover that piece of her family's story has influenced our shared belief in the value of openness and honesty in adoption.

On Rachael's father's side of the family, four out of her five cousins were adopted—two from Korea and two from China. Because they've always been part of her life, their adoptions often don't come up in conversation—they are simply family.

These lifelong connections have helped us feel very confident not only in our ability to welcome and raise an adopted child but also in the fact that our extended family will offer full support and love. Adoption is already woven into the fabric of Rachael's family, which makes us even more certain that any child we adopt will be fully embraced, cherished, and welcomed without hesitation.

In our leisure time, we enjoy a mix of creative, intellectual, and fun activities, both individually and together.

Rachael's hobbies include gardening, listening to audiobooks, and a wide range of crafting—she sews, crochets, knits, paints, makes jewelry, and does cross-stitch, and she's tried just about every craft imaginable.

Andrew enjoys playing video games and engaging in legal research, which keeps his mind sharp and curious even outside of work.

Together, we love watching movies, spending time with friends and family, and playing board games. One of our favorite shared activities is doing puzzles and escape rooms, both as a couple and with groups of friends. Rachael is especially excited to one day share her crafting hobbies with our future child and to help them explore their own creative interests. We both look forward to including our child in family game nights, arts and crafts sessions, and fun outings that build lasting memories.

Whether it's completing a puzzle together, making a handmade project, or enjoying a story over an audiobook, we are excited to create a home filled with creativity, learning, and connection.

Cultural diversity is something we value deeply and plan to intentionally honor and incorporate into our family life. We recognize that if we adopt a child from a different cultural or racial background than our own, it is our responsibility to ensure that they have regular, meaningful access to that culture—through books, food, music, traditions, language, and most importantly, community. We are committed to surrounding our child with positive role models who share their cultural background and creating opportunities for them to celebrate and explore their identity.

We also believe that addressing cultural diversity means doing our own ongoing learning. We will actively seek out resources, conversations, and education that help us become more culturally competent and aware of the unique challenges transracial adoptees may face. Our goal is not just to "teach" culture but to live in a way that uplifts it in daily life. This may mean choosing inclusive schools, engaging in community groups, attending events that celebrate the child's heritage, or even adjusting our own traditions to reflect theirs.

Ultimately, we want our child to grow up feeling proud of where they come from and confident in who they are. We will listen, learn, and advocate alongside them every step of the way, supporting their sense of self and ensuring that they never feel like they have to choose between their birth culture and the love of their adoptive family.

Our home is nestled in a small, welcoming community that has become increasingly family-oriented in recent years. We've loved seeing more families with young children move in, and it's common to see kids playing outside together, creating a friendly and vibrant atmosphere.

Our home is two stories with a finished basement, making it a great fit for multigenerational living. Andrew's father lives in the basement, which functions as his own small apartment, giving him independence while keeping us all close. We share the main level, which includes the kitchen, dining area, living room, laundry, and a restroom. Upstairs, we have our bedroom, a nursery room ready for a future child, and a full bathroom. One of our favorite features is the loft area, which Rachael has turned into a creative crafting space where she enjoys sewing and other projects.

While we don't have a private yard, there is a large shared grassy area available to all residents, as well as a walking path and green space directly behind our home—perfect for outdoor play and strolls. We also have our own fenced-in porch, which offers a cozy spot to relax or play safely outdoors.

In the summer, we enjoy access to the neighborhood swimming pool, which is just a short walk away.

Our home is warm, functional, and filled with love—ready to welcome a child into a nurturing and supportive environment.

We were both born and raised in the Denver Metro area and are fortunate to have much of our extended family nearby.

Rachael is the oldest of three siblings, and Andrew is the middle of three boys. We're very close with our siblings and sibling-in-laws, and we absolutely adore our two young nephews from Rachael's side of the family. Rachael has 19 aunts and uncles—only two live farther than a 45-minute drive—and Andrew has 15 aunts and uncles, most of whom are also close by.

With such a large local network, our gatherings are often full of love, laughter, and activity. We love playing board games with family, especially more complex, strategy-based games, and we participate in a monthly non-fiction book club with Andrew's extended family. We've blended family traditions seamlessly, including Thanksgiving dinner with the extended Parker family, Christmas with Rachael's side, and Passover with Andrew's Jewish relatives.

We currently live with Andrew's father, a thoughtful decision made to ensure strong intergenerational support and deeper family connections as we grow our family. Our lives are enriched by a mix of relatives and chosen family—friends who are as close as siblings. With our different educational and professional strengths, we're excited to nurture both creativity and critical thinking in any future child. Our entire family is overwhelmingly supportive of our adoption plan and cannot wait to welcome a new member into this loving, tight-knit circle.

First, we want to thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We know that you are facing an incredibly difficult and emotional decision, and we want you to know that we see your strength, courage, and love in even considering adoption for your child. We are deeply grateful that you might consider us as potential parents.

We are Rachael and Andrew, and we have been together since 2011 and married since October 2015. Over the years, we've built a strong foundation of mutual respect, humor, and love. We are each other's best friends and biggest supporters. Our marriage has been one of growing together - celebrating wins, learning through challenges, and always coming back to the heart of our relationship: kindness, communication, and shared values.

From early in our relationship, we've talked about building a family. While the journey has not always looked the way we expected, we have always felt that adoption would be a meaningful and beautiful way to grow our family. Our home is full of warmth, laughter, music, and creativity. Rachael is a middle school music teacher who brings joy and patience to everything she does. Andrew is a legal researcher with a deep love for learning and helping others. Together, we're excited to provide a child with a stable, nurturing, and enriching environment full of love and opportunities.

We want to make a few promises to you - whether you choose us or not. First, we promise to honor and celebrate your child's story, including where they came from and the people who brought them into the world. We believe it's incredibly important for a child to grow up knowing the truth of their beginnings in a way that is age-appropriate, respectful, and centered on love. We want them to know that your decision came from a place of selfless love and deep care.

We will absolutely send letters and photos to keep you connected to the life of your child, and we are open to sharing even more than that. If you are interested, we're happy to exchange emails, phone calls, or even arrange for visits over time. We understand that every person's comfort level with openness is different, and we want you to know that we're willing to be flexible and thoughtful about what kind of relationship feels right for you. Whether you'd like to be actively involved or prefer more distance, we will respect and support your wishes. You will always be honored in our home.

We also want to assure you that your child will be raised in a home full of laughter, learning, and unconditional love. We are surrounded by a supportive and diverse extended family who are incredibly excited to welcome a new child into our lives. We will encourage creativity, curiosity, compassion, and confidence. We believe in letting kids be kids - playing, exploring, asking questions - and growing into their unique selves with the guidance of patient, attentive parents.

No matter what you decide, we are holding you in our hearts. We recognize that this decision comes with unimaginable complexity and emotion. Thank you for considering us and for the incredible love you are showing your child.

With deep respect and gratitude,

Andrew & Rachael