In our leisure time together, we enjoy working on our house and gardens, relaxing with takeout and a movie, and weekends away for short visits to nearby favorite spots like Portland, OR, or Whidbey Island, WA.

Usually, we spend our spare time together, but we also respect and understand that we have individual interests as well. Owen loves to walk on the waterfront and explore local state parks for landscape photography, and Maggie loves to crochet and listen to audiobooks, or curl up in the reading nook on our front porch with a book and a bag of microwave popcorn. During the summer, when we have a bit more time off from work, we love to go to baseball games or go camping. We've recently started a tradition of camping with Owen's aunt and uncle, cousin, and her children.

Another way we spend time relaxing is 'day dates,' which are outings that usually have a plan, but typically end up with us meandering to our favorite spots, or taking detours to somewhere that strikes our fancy. Recently, we went to the aquarium, had lunch, and ended up at Pike Place Market, playing tourist in our own city.

We always appreciate our leisure time, and we cannot wait to find even more joy as we get to introduce a little one to these experiences.

We believe children should live in communities that allow them to see themselves in their neighbors, teachers, and friends. Representation matters, and feeling like they belong will make it much easier for them to figure out their identity and be comfortable and proud of who they are.

Our community has a wide variety of cultural outlets, including food, events, and art. We are also just a 30-60 minute drive or train ride from several major cities, counted among some of the most diverse on the West Coast, with museums, restaurants, historical sites, and festivals for a wide variety of cultures.

Learning cannot happen in isolation. We are surrounded by diversity in all its forms. Many of our friends and family have spouses and children of different races, are disabled, or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is vital to us that a little one be taught the value of a society that reflects many different ways to walk through the world. We are lucky to have a strong circle of family and friends to support us.

We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate different parts of your child's culture, from holidays, language, and food, to self-care and fashion. As lifelong learners, we are dedicated to exploring the traditions of cultures other than our own, discussing issues of race and discrimination openly and honestly, and helping a child to understand that our love for them is unconditional and crosses all boundaries.

We live in the Pacific Northwest, an area known for green forests, incredible waterways, mountains, and lots of rain, which we actually like!

We chose our neighborhood to be close to family, but the longer we live here, the more we love it. Our city hosts community events year-round. In the summer, we have music at the marina, in the winter, there is ice skating and visiting reindeer, and from spring to fall, a weekly farmers market is a 10-minute walk from home.

Our house is a cozy 113-year-old Craftsman with one and a half stories and two bedrooms. The large backyard is fenced and full of vegetable and flower gardens. Munchie, our cat, loves hanging out in the sun puddles of the living room, but if we had to name a favorite space, it would probably be our patio, which we built ourselves, and is perfect for summer barbecues and cocoa around the fire pit. Our kitchen is a charming space with green cabinets and enough room for us to cook dinner together, and our living room is light-filled and comfortable. Owen recently built Maggie a padded reading nook on our front porch - it's the perfect spot for a nap, too!

The city has an award-winning children's museum, a great school district, public beaches, and lots of parks and playgrounds, which Maggie's dad, a former city planner, helped to design and build. We can't wait to share all of this with a child!

We are fortunate to have a supportive community of family and friends who are excited about our choice to bring a child into our family through adoption. Family time is incredibly important to us both. 

Owen is an only child, and his mom lives one town over. We see her often, enjoying new restaurants or hosting her for dinner. She is an administrative professional in the neurology department at a children's hospital. Maggie has four siblings. Her youngest sister lives just five minutes away. Though her other siblings are scattered across Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona, they stay connected through calls and texts. Maggie's parents are also nearby. Her mom is a retired nurse and lives one block away. Her dad is retired from the local Parks and Recreation Department. He and Maggie's step-mom are a quick 10-minute drive from home. We see them regularly. All three love volunteering, gardening, and camping. Our parents are eager to welcome a future grandchild! 

We also frequently spend time with Owen's cousin and her boys, whom she adopted through foster care. We also see Owen's aunts as often as we can. They've been together for almost 50 years and are an inspiration to our marriage. They are both former librarians, and Maggie loves that the house is full of books! We go there for quiet weekends with no plans. 

Our family has surrounded us with love and encouragement throughout our adoption journey, and we can't wait for a little one to join us. 

Thank you for reading this letter and considering the possibility of helping us become parents. We can only imagine the strength it takes to explore all your options, and we are truly grateful for your willingness to learn more about us.

We are Maggie and Owen, and we've been together for almost 11 years, married for eight. Our home is a place filled with warmth, laughter, and an abundance of love, and we look forward to providing a safe, joyful, and nurturing environment for your child. We're often found enjoying quiet evenings together, cooking, or visiting local historical or natural sites around our hometown. We both love to garden and express our creativity - Owen through photography, and Maggie with crochet and other crafts.

We can't wait to share some of our traditions, like the annual Fall festival we attend at the farm where we got married, journeying to a Christmas tree farm to pick out the perfect tree, or Maggie's family reunion on her mom's side every summer. We love celebrating anniversaries or birthdays by picking a restaurant we've never been to or cooking a new recipe.

Our journey to parenthood hasn't been a straight path, and while we initially pursued IVF, we have always known that adoption was meant to be part of our story. After facing some challenges, we found our way back to the path of adoption, realizing it was truly the route for us. We know that family isn't just defined by biology but by love and the deep bonds we build.

For us, building a family means opening our hearts and home completely, embracing everyone in our adoption constellation, but especially you. Nobody should ever have to go through an experience like this by themselves, so if we get a chance to speak, know you will have fierce allies on your side for every step of this process.

We promise to nurture your child's dreams, support their interests, and encourage them to become whoever they are meant to be. We are committed to providing a life filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and adventure. Education is important to us, but so is exploring creativity, fostering kindness, and developing a strong sense of self. We want to help your child discover their passions and always know how much they are loved and valued by everyone around them. We envision a home where curiosity is celebrated, questions are encouraged, and every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

We believe that open adoption, in a way that feels comfortable for everyone involved, is a beautiful gift for your child. We are open to exploring what that might look like for you, understanding your comfort and peace of mind are the most important. We will share your child's growth through photos, letters, phone/video calls, texts, and/or emails if desired. We are also very open to making arrangements for regular visits. We will commit to always being honest and open about your child's history and adoption. We will make sure your child knows that you love them, and we will speak of you in day-to-day conversation with gentleness and gratitude. We also recognize that this process might be very difficult for you and would respect it if, at any point, you need to ask for time or space without contact.

Pictures and words never do enough. If you have any questions or want to know more about us, please reach out and ask. Thank you again for considering us. We hope our profile offers a glimpse into our lives and our hearts. We wish you peace and clarity as you navigate this significant decision.

With sincerity,

Owen & Maggie