Clayton and Sarah

>

<

From Us to You

Dear Expectant Mother,

We want you to know how much we respect you. Making the decision to entrust your child to be raised by someone else takes incredible strength, honesty, and most of all, love for your child. After having our own losses, we cannot imagine what you are feeling and what a difficult decision this is for you. Wherever your journey leads you, we hope that you find comfort and peace in your decision.

We are Sarah and Clayton. We met 18 years ago and have been married for 11. We have looked forward to parenthood for many years. Through our trials, we have become a strong couple who cherish life and truly understand the miracle a baby is. Together we are incredibly excited to be parents and have so much love to give. Having a child will change our lives and add even more love and warmth to our home and to our entire family. There is no love like a child’s love and we know that our love for them will be unconditional.

We are excited to give you a glimpse into our lives to help you imagine your child as part of our family. We have an amazing family that we absolutely adore. Through our happy and tough times, our families have been our support and provide us with the utmost love. We know they will provide this same support and love to your child. We are lucky to have Sarah’s family as our neighbors. Along with grandparents, aunts, and uncles, your child will have 8 cousins to grow up with. The children love to play at the basketball hoop, ride their bikes in the driveway, or hang out in the backyard where we have a swing set and sand box. We also have three of the cutest, cuddly animals. Chloe, our pug, and two cats, Snowball and Frost. All of our animals are great with children. Our nieces and nephews often come in to play with them and they are all so good together.

While preparing for adoption, we have researched and learned that open adoptions are beneficial to everyone involved; you, your child, and us. We would love to have an open adoption with you. We want to learn about you, and for your child to know as much about you as you are comfortable with. We have learned that it is healthier for a child to know their story from a young age, so that is what we will do. We will always speak about you with respect and love to your child, our families, and our friends. He or she will grow up learning the importance of having respect for themselves and for others. From Clayton, your child will learn comfort and encouragement. From Sarah, your child will learn how to cheer people up with singing, goofiness, and compassion.

We are incredibly honored to be considered as adoptive parents. We want you to know that just like you, we want what is best for your baby, and we will do everything in our power to provide your child a positive life. Most importantly, your child will always know the great love you have for him or her.

Sincerely,
Sarah and Clayton

>

<

Why We are Choosing to Adopt

Over the years, we have worked very hard to prepare for parenthood and we are more than ready to welcome a little one into our family. Being a mom is something Sarah has dreamed of since she was a child. She took care of all of her baby cousins and we have loved taking care of our nieces and nephews, who live right next door.

Shortly after we got married, we found out we were pregnant. We were so excited to become parents and to start our family. Unfortunately, we suffered a miscarriage. It was a devastating time for us. After speaking with our doctors, they told us it was okay for us to try again, but we continued to suffer miscarriages. We tried other avenues to grow our family, but ultimately decided that adoption was the best option for us to grow our family. Sarah has two cousins who were adopted and she learned at a young age that family is family.

Having a child will change our lives and add even more love and warmth to our home and to our entire family. There is no love like a child’s love and we know that our love for them will be unconditional.

>

<

About Sarah, by Clayton

Sarah is frankly the best thing to ever happen to me. She is such a caring and loving person; I cannot wait to see her as a mom one day. I didn’t marry her because I can live with her, I married Sarah because I cannot live without her. Our vows were very simple but incredibly important to us both, love and faithfulness. I love her more every day of my life. Sarah has so much love and compassion for people, sometimes I don’t know how she does it. Between her family, friends, our animals, patients at work, she always finds the time for me and I know she always will.

Sarah is a nurse and she has known she would be a nurse since she was a child. Some people just know what they will do in life or their calling, and she has done nothing but follow that dream in life. She will graduate soon with a bachelor’s in nursing and is currently a Registered Nurse or RN. I watched her work and go to school when we were younger, two jobs at one point and night classes at college. There were times where she was absolutely exhausted and no matter what she continued to push forward towards her goal. I did whatever I could to help, but I know she would have made it regardless.

Sarah is very crafty and enjoys working on projects around the house like making a wreath for the door or maybe decorating a nephew’s water bottle for football. She is a big football fan, specifically the Patriots. I was never a big fan of football until I met her, she has that effect on people. I got her into some board games though, we try to do just about anything together.

I will end by saying that Sarah is the most incredible woman that I have ever met. I can honestly say that I am a better man, a better person, and certainly a better husband for having spent several years of my life with her and being happily married to her for 11 years now. She makes me want to be better tomorrow than I was today, and I will continue to do that because I am fortunate to have her in my life.

>

<

About Clayton, by Sarah

Clayton is the most amazing man. He is a man who makes everyone’s day better. He is funny, intelligent, strong, spontaneous, loving and just a wonderful person inside and out. He always knows how to break the ice to make anyone feel comfortable by making everyone laugh. His personality and sense of humor are contagious. He has many strengths, but his best is that he sees everything as a big picture and never gives up, he sees everything through without hesitation. I knew when I met Clayton that he was the man for me.

His positive outlook on life and amazing sense of humor makes him hard to forget. He was on my mind every day even before we started dating! Clayton has made me a better person and I love being with him. He inspires me to take the time to really enjoy life and the special moments. Our evenings are spent at home chatting about our day and catching up. I look forward to coming home every night just to see his smiling face. Clayton is also an easy person to talk to who listens well and offers good perspectives when I feel like I am stuck in a difficult situation.

Clayton is a dedicated husband and animal dad. He will do anything for us, and I can’t wait to see how he will be as a father. He is adored by all our nieces and nephews because he plays with them and will sit down and talk with them. He takes the time to understand and is always honest. He is a hard worker who dedicates himself to providing a good life for our family. Clayton is an amazing husband and I treasure the partnership we have created. I believe in my heart that he is the perfect person for me and will be an amazing dad to our adopted child.

>

<

What We Will Teach

We were so lucky to meet each our perfect person at a young age. We have been together for 18 years and put a lot of effort into our relationship. We communicate about everything, which is why we rarely have arguments (unless you count fighting over who is hogging the covers in bed). It’s a rule to never go to bed angry and to take a moment to relax and allow ourselves to talk out our feelings so we can move forward together. This is a valuable lesson that will be part of your child’s upbringing.

We want your child to experience everything that life has to offer. Neither of us had the opportunity to travel much as children, and we have worked hard to make sure your child will have that opportunity. We will go on family trips to different parts of the country so they can learn about history, singers, actors and all the amazing things the world is full of. Your child will be able to experience the world through their own eyes.

From Clayton, your child will learn comfort and encouragement. From Sarah, your child will learn how to cheer people up with singing, goofiness, and compassion. Another important lesson we will teach is that we are all the same on the inside and we all deserve love. We will teach them to recognize their self-worth and how to have respect for themselves and for others.

>

<

Our Pets

We have three of the cutest, cuddly animals you can imagine. Chloe is our 11 year old dog. She is a pug, so she loves to snuggle and snore. We also have two cats. Snowball is a 14 year old white cat who loves to snuggle and purr. Frost is two years old. She is less of a cuddler (unless she feels like it) and loves to play. Our nieces and nephews often come over and play with them so we know all three of our pets get along great with children of all ages.

>

<

Lifestyle

We are dedicated to maintaining a productive, healthy, and balanced lifestyle. We like spending time with our families and friends, but also love a nice day at home together with our dog and two cats. When we plan our days, we prioritize and organize our errands and household chores first. Sarah loves to put music on when she does the vacuuming and dusting so that she has an excuse to dance around the house. We like to get our tasks done ahead of time so that we can fully enjoy the rest of the day, our time together, and our time with family and friends. We are the type of people that try to always be on top of everything and like to leave a little extra time, just in case!

On cozy days at home, we will put on an old movie or have a fire in the backyard on cool spring and fall evenings. When we head out, we go to the movies or spend time outdoors. Other times, we will go on a walk through the local town parks. We enjoy walking in the fresh air and looking at the beautiful scenery and architecture. We also enjoy going to local farmer’s markets and flea markets to purchase local food and artistry. Occasionally, Sarah will go to a local karaoke night, where she eventually makes her way to the microphone to share her love of singing. She also loves a good girls’ night where she and her friends meet up to try new, local restaurants. Somehow, they always end up skipping the main course and choosing different appetizers and desserts to try instead.

Sarah’s parents, two brothers and sister, along with their families, are all our neighbors. This gives us lots of quality family time and the gift of seeing 8 of our nieces and nephews as they grow up. We often have board game nights where we have a big potluck and play games all night. Your child will never be at a loss for a playmate and loving family to watch over them.

>

<

Home & Neighborhood

Our home is a large home with a 1st floor and 4 attached units. Sarah’s parents live on the main floor, and her brothers, sister, their spouses, and 8 nieces and nephews live in the other units and are our neighbors. We think it’s wonderful that the kids have a safe and loving support system to grow up with and can’t wait for your child to experience the same. It is a very child friendly place to live with a large front yard, basketball hoop and a big driveway for kids to ride bikes. There is also a spacious fenced in back yard with a swing set and beach sand to make sand castles. In the summer we have small fires in the outdoor fireplace in the back yard where we roast marshmallows and listen to music.

Our neighborhood is filled with children, from babies to high schoolers. Your child will have many friends to choose from. We live on a safe cul-de-sac across the street from a farm. It is a very quiet and pretty area. The school system in our area and the programs they offer are phenomenal. If your child shows an interest in athletics, there’s just about every sport you can imagine for both boys and girls. If they are more interested in art and creativity, there are even arts and crafts options.  It is a great town to live in with lots of options to support your child’s interests and growth.

>

<

Racial & Cultural Diversity

There is nothing simple about adoption. We accept that understanding adoption, race and identity are on a developmental continuum over an adoptee’s entire lifetime. We are surrounded every day by diversity in our daily lives. We have nephews who are biracial and also a godson who is African American. We believe that every child deserves the best possible home with a family who is willing and prepared to meet their needs. Part of loving your child is seeing and loving the color of their skin no matter what race or ethnicity. We will foster a connection to celebrate their heritage. We will teach our child the best we can about race in a simple language initially. As they grow, lessons will become more informative as he/she mature.

>

<

Our Family & Traditions

Everyone in our close-knit family is looking forward to welcoming your child. Sarah’s parents, brothers and sister, along with their family and 8 children are all neighbors. Our nieces and nephews range from age 3 to 16. We regularly spend time together and have potlucks, game nights, and bonfires. There are also family traditions we love to celebrate.

Birthdays and Christmas are big in our family. The birthday person wakes up to decorations and a fun, family activity for the day. Sarah’s birthday is in the summer, so her birthday activity was usually a day of swimming with the whole family. The birthday person then gets to choose what we have for dinner, followed by cake and gifts. It’s a day to make that person feel special and celebrated. We look forward to carrying on this tradition with your child.

Christmas is all about listening to Christmas music, spending time with family, and decorating. Our family has a big collection of handmade ornaments. Sarah and her siblings would make ornaments when they were growing up, and the tradition continues with our nieces and nephews. Every Christmas, the whole family looks forward to gathering at Sarah’s parents’ home to decorate their tree. We can’t wait to see what your child’s first handmade Christmas ornament will look like.

>

<

Our Relationship with You

While preparing for adoption, we have researched and learned that open adoptions are beneficial to everyone involved; birth parents, child, and adoptive parents. It will give your child a way to learn information about themselves and to have the comfort of being surrounded with lots of love. We would be so happy to have this type of relationship, but respect any boundaries you may have.

Adoption over the years has changed dramatically. In older generations, many people didn’t tell their children they were adopted until they were older, or not at all. We have learned that it is healthier for a child to know their story from a young age. It should be a matter of fact and not a secret to guard. We would love to learn about you and for your child to know as much about you as you are comfortable with. If you aren’t ready to share your story, we will still treasure what we do know about you. We will always speak about you with respect and love to your child, our families, and our friends.

>

<

Our Promise to You

We promise to be loving, caring, and patient. We will teach your child the amazing things that exist in this world. We promise to teach your child that we are all the same on the inside and how to love with respect. We promise your child will know their self-worth and grow up learning how to respect themselves and others. We will speak about you with respect and love, and your child will always know how much you love them.