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From Us to You

First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We cannot begin to imagine all of the emotions, thoughts, and decisions that have brought you to this moment. What we do know is that the love and courage behind your consideration of adoption is something we deeply respect and will never take for granted.

If you choose us, we want you to know that we hope to build an open and honest relationship with you based on trust, respect, and communication. We understand that every adoption journey is unique, and we are open to talking together about the type of relationship that feels right for everyone involved. We believe the bond you share with your child is meaningful and important, there will always be a place for you in their story.

We promise to share your story and the selfless choice you are making. Your love will never be forgotten, and we will make sure your child grows up knowing how deeply loved they have always been. We will speak about you with kindness, honesty, and respect. We will always be grateful for the trust you place in us.

Most of all, we want you to know that your baby will be surrounded by love every single day. We look forward to sharing the life we’ve built together, whether that’s morning cartoons, visiting our family, traveling, hiking, snuggling with our pets, or simply spending time together. We will celebrate every milestone, encourage them when they need confidence, comfort them when they need reassurance, and love them unconditionally through it all.

No matter what you decide, we are grateful that you have taken the time to learn about us. Thank you for considering us as part of your journey. We will always honor the incredible love, strength, and courage you have shown throughout this journey.

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Why We Want to Adopt

Adoption has always been part of the conversations we’ve had about building our family. Long before we knew what our path to parenthood would look like, we were open to the idea of adoption and the opportunity to welcome a child into our lives through it.

While our journey to becoming parents has not unfolded the way we originally expected, it has reinforced what has always mattered most to us: the chance to love, support, and raise a child. We believe family is built through love, commitment, and connection, and we are excited about the possibility of growing our family through adoption.

We know adoption begins with a difficult and deeply personal decision, and we have tremendous respect for the courage and love that go into that choice. We are grateful for the opportunity to be considered and honored to be part of this journey.

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Our Relationship

We met online over twelve years ago, and I was Tommy’s first and only online date. We met at a local restaurant called Memories, which seems especially fitting now.

Our second date was Valentine’s Day, and Tommy went completely overboard. He showed up with a huge bouquet of roses, chocolates, and a giant gift box. Inside was another box, then another, and another, until I finally reached a giant stuffed dog. To be honest, it caught me a little off guard because I had never dated someone so romantic before. About six months later, we took our first vacation together to Maine, and we’ve been making memories together ever since.

Although we aren’t officially married, we’ve always felt like partners in every sense of the word. We’ve talked about having a wedding over the years, but we always seem to choose another adventure together instead. Someday we hope to have a small ceremony in the mountains of North Carolina or on the coast of Maine, surrounded by our closest family, friends, and, of course, our dogs.

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Lifestyle

During the week, we’re busy with work, caring for our pets, and keeping up with projects around the house. Occasionally, we like to break up the week by going to the movies or heading to a local restaurant for their 50-cent wing night. The weekends are our time to slow down, spend time together, and enjoy the people and places that mean the most to us.

Saturday is our day to get out and explore, even if we get a slow start. Mornings often begin with our pets dividing themselves between us. Shadow, Taylor, and Yuki stay curled up in bed with

Kelly, while Lucas happily claims his spot on the couch beside Tommy for morning cartoons. Our weekends are always a little different. Sometimes we wander through a nearby town while grabbing a cup of coffee and thrift shopping or spend the day hiking or kayaking. Other times we’re meeting friends for live music, celebrating a birthday, or simply seeing where the day takes us.

Sundays are often dedicated to family. Visits to Kelly’s parents’ farm mean the dogs get to run through open fields while we relax by the pool or enjoy a cookout during the summer months. We also love spending time at The River Camp with Tommy’s parents and attending all the events the campground has to offer. Most days we are up there we ride around on the golf cart visiting friends or playing cards on the deck. We also always enjoy a good Sunday Brunch with friends or family.

As we imagine growing our family, we don’t picture leaving these routines behind—we picture sharing them. We can already imagine one more little person curled up on the couch for morning cartoons, joining us on our adventures, and asking “why?” a hundred times along the way. We look forward to seeing familiar places through new eyes and watching our weekends evolve around the interests and passions they develop. Whether that means cheering from the sidelines at a soccer game, attending a school play, helping with a science project, or exploring a brand-new hobby together, we are excited to discover who they become.

While our routines may change, the heart of our family will remain the same.

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Fun Facts as a Couple

• Dream Vacation – Norway to cruise the Fjords, Learn about the history of the Vikings, see the Northern Lights, and hike in the Lofoten Islands
• Favorite Hobbies – Cooking different types of international meals, or taking cooking classes. We’ve learned how to make pasta, soup dumplings, sushi, and French cuisine so far
• Things you might be surprised to learn about us – We have been to 25 out of 63 National Parks and we hope to see all of them. We have also visited 38 states, and 7 countries so far

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About Kelly by Tommy

Kelly is my person, and I’m incredibly grateful that I found her. I can’t imagine my life without her. One of the things I admire most about her is her compassion. She has spent years helping rescue dogs find their forever homes and still volunteers with the rescue today. Seeing the love and care she gives so freely to others is one of the many reasons I fell in love with her.

Kelly has never been afraid to try something new, and that has rubbed off on me over the years. Early in our relationship, she planned a hike along a mountain trail with steep drop-offs on both sides, not knowing I had always been afraid of heights. When she realized how nervous I was, she adjusted our route to my comfort level without making me feel embarrassed. Because of her, I’ve experienced places and adventures I never would have imagined.

One of the things I love most about Kelly is the way she turns ordinary days into something worth remembering. Every year, she plans a birthday “pawty” for each of our dogs with birthday banners, pupcakes, and a hike. Watching Kelly with children, I see that same energy. She doesn’t just watch from the sidelines. She joins in. Whether she’s on the playground or exploring a butterfly garden, she has a wonderful ability to make learning fun and explain things in a way children understand.

More than anything, I love seeing Kelly smile. Whether it’s telling a terrible joke, planning a surprise adventure, or doing something completely ridiculous, I’ll gladly embarrass myself if it means hearing her laugh until she snorts at one of my terrible jokes, and I hope I never stop finding moments to make her laugh She brings so much joy into my life, and I know she will bring that same love, kindness, and encouragement to a child.

If the last twelve years have taught me anything, it’s that life is simply better with Kelly in it. I know without a doubt that Kelly will be an incredible mother because she leads with compassion, meets every challenge with strength, and gives her whole heart to the people she loves. I feel incredibly lucky that I get to build a family with her.

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About Tommy by Kelly

Tommy is the person who quietly shows up when people need him most. He is incredibly loyal, dependable, and genuine. A few months after we started dating, my father needed emergency surgery while I was traveling out of state for work. Tommy was several hours away for the weekend. Knowing how worried I was, he immediately drove home, took care of our dogs, made sure my mom had company, brought her food, and sat with her at the hospital until I could return. At a time when he had no obligation to do any of those things, he simply stepped in because someone needed help.

Over the last twelve years, Tommy has remained my rock through every challenge we’ve faced together. His quiet strength and unwavering support are just two of the many reasons I admire him. No matter what life brings our way, I have never doubted that we would face it together.

Life with Tommy is never boring he is one of the most curious and entertaining people I know. He has what I lovingly call “hobbies of the month.” One month he is building raised garden beds, researching soil conditions, and planning what vegetables to grow. The next month he is teaching himself how to play the violin, searching for rare coins, or diving into a completely different interest. When he’s not pursuing a new hobby or interest, he’s often listening to podcasts, watching documentaries or gaming.

When we spend time with children, it’s always, “Uncle Tommy, come play!” or “Uncle Tommy, watch this!” One of my favorite memories is from a backyard campout, when Tommy turned a child’s fear of the dark into an evening of silly spooky stories and laughter until all fears of the dark were forgotten. Tommy has a gift for connecting with children and making them feel comfortable being themselves, maybe because he is still a kid at heart.

Tommy is my greatest source of support and my partner in every sense of the word. I feel incredibly lucky to be building a family with him, and I cannot wait to watch him become the father I know he is meant to be.

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Our Home and Community

We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Shenandoah River in a small historic town. It is the perfect place for us because it offers the charm of a small town while still providing easy access to larger cities and new experiences. We also have easy access to countless outdoor recreation areas.

We chose our home because it sits on a quiet country road and has a large fenced yard where our dogs can run and play. One of our favorite places is the deck, where we spend evenings relaxing while watching the hummingbirds dart through the garden.

One of the things we are proud of is our hummingbird and butterfly garden. Last year, we helped raise and release nearly twenty monarch butterflies. Watching them transform from tiny caterpillars into butterflies was an incredible experience and one we would love to share with a child.

Our community offers many opportunities for families to spend time together. The community center hosts weekly story times, game nights, and other activities for all ages. We also enjoy visiting the lake club for brunch, swimming, and the many events it hosts during the year. This summer, we’re especially looking forward to trying their weekly square dancing lessons.

One of our favorite things about living in the Blue Ridge Mountains is fall. From pumpkin picking and apple cider to colorful fall foliage and Halloween, there is something special about watching the mountains transform each autumn. The warm days and cool evenings make for perfect hiking and camping weather.

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Our Family

Family is a huge part of our lives. While we are both only children, we grew up surrounded by our family and never lacked for cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Kelly’s family has always enjoyed spending time together. Growing up next door to her cousins meant childhood was filled with swimming, campfires, and making memories together. Those relationships remain strong today, and family gatherings are often filled with children running around, laughter, and stories being told around the fire.

Tommy’s family is loud, welcoming, and always ready to gather. Whether it’s gathering at the river, celebrating holidays, or cheering from the sidelines at a game, they genuinely enjoy being involved in each other’s lives. Family is important to them, and there is always room for one more at the table.

Both of our mothers are eagerly awaiting their promotion to Nana, and our entire family is excited for us to begin this next chapter. When we announced at our birthday party that we had decided to pursue adoption, we were met with excited screams, hugs, and a few happy tears. It was one of those moments that reminded us just how much love already surrounds the child we hope to welcome into our family.

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Family Traditions

Some of our favorite memories come from the traditions we’ve shared with our families and the new ones we’ve created together. We can’t wait to share them with a child.

Every New Year’s Day, we pick a new experience or recipe to try together. So far, that has included painting, making pizza from scratch, and learning how to make dumplings by hand. Since we were born only two days apart in March, we try to take a trip around our birthdays each year. Even our pets have their own birthday tradition of pupcakes and a hike.

One of Tommy’s family Christmas traditions is ringing Nana’s bell on Christmas morning before opening presents. Around Christmas, we bake chocolate chip cookies and make rocky road candy to leave out for Santa and to share with friends with Kelly’s family. Thanksgiving is hosted at our home, bringing both sides of the family together for delicious food. Every Fourth of July, we spend the weekend at The River Camp to enjoy fireworks with family and friends.

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays to celebrate. When Kelly was growing up, her father would transform his pickup truck to match her costume. One year, when she dressed as a cowgirl, he created a horse-drawn covered wagon. We have continued that tradition at The River by decorating a golf cart to match our friend’s child’s costume. Over the years, that has included a Jurassic Park Jeep and a city destroyed by a giant monster attack. This spring he started planning what we should do for this year’s Halloween at the River. We look forward to continuing this tradition and seeing what imaginative ideas a child might dream up.

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Our Story “Book Reviews” from Friends and Family

“We especially enjoyed the chapters where we made our entrance. We give it four paws up and think they’d make wonderful parents.” –Resident Pet Committee

“A delightful blend of humor, heart, and adventure. The authors have mastered teamwork, weathered plot twists with grace, and created a setting where everyone feels welcome. Highly recommended.” – Best Friend

“Ten stars. They’ve survived home projects, international travel, four opinionated pets, and twelve years together without losing their sense of humor. We can’t wait for the next chapter.” –Kelly’s Parents

“The travel chapters are our favorite. We never know if we’re going to hear about breathtaking scenery or Tommy getting soaked by a self-cleaning bathroom in Italy, but we know we’ll be laughing by the end.” – Tommy’s Cousins

“A beautiful reminder that the best love stories aren’t perfect. They’re built one ordinary day at a time. Looking forward to the sequel.” – Tommy’s Mom

Racial and Cultural Diversity

If a child’s racial or cultural background is different from our own, we believe it is important that they grow up with a strong connection to their identity. We want them to know where they came from, feel proud of their heritage, and see their culture celebrated within our family.

We would make a conscious effort to learn alongside them through books, music, food, traditions, cultural events, and relationships with people who share their background. As parents, we believe it is our responsibility to help them build a meaningful connection to their heritage by learning about it ourselves and making it a meaningful part of our family’s life. Living near Washington, D.C. gives us opportunities to visit museums, cultural festivals, and exhibits that celebrate people and traditions from around the world. Travel is also something we enjoy as a family, and we believe it is a wonderful way to broaden a child’s understanding of different cultures. Whether exploring a new city, visiting cultural landmarks, trying new foods, or meeting people from different backgrounds, we hope to help them develop an appreciation for the diversity and richness of the world.

Most importantly, we want our child to grow up knowing that every part of who they are is valued, respected, and loved.

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Our Pets

We currently have three dogs and a cat. We recently lost our fourth dog, Rodeo, to old age, and we miss him dearly. He was the first dog Kelly adopted from Rescue in 2012 and was the reason so many other dogs eventually found their way into our lives. Her family began fostering dogs, and over the years, they fostered countless dogs and eventually adopted eight of their own.

Shadow was the first “foster forever” in 2013. She is the sweetest, gentlest dog and loves spending time with Kelly. She is always by her side and never turns down a quality snuggle session. At 13 years old, she is moving a little slower these days, but she still enjoys short walks and car rides.

Lucas came next in 2014 and is our 12-year-old puppy. He has absolutely no sense of personal boundaries and approaches everything with endless enthusiasm at full speed. He believes everyone he meets is his best friend and wants kisses. He is Tommy’s boy and can often be found napping in our bay window waiting for Tommy to come home from work.

We fostered Taylor in 2019 and made her officially apart of the family shortly after. She had a difficult start in life and was very nervous around new people. Over time, she became deeply bonded with us and especially with Shadow. She is Shadow’s mini-me—if Shadow does it, Taylor does too, with the exception of car rides. Since joining our family, she has become one of the most devoted and loving dogs. She loves giving hugs and will press her head against our chest with one paw resting on our side.

Yuki is our cat, and she chose us. Despite having a tall fence around our yard, she somehow appeared on our deck one day, fast asleep in our herb planter. From the very beginning, she was the friendliest cat we had ever met. She loves taking naps in our laps, curling up next to the dogs, and sleeping under the covers with us at night. She is unquestionably the “top dog” of the household, and all three dogs seem perfectly content with that arrangement. Life with our pets can be a bit chaotic, but we truly love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Our Promises to You

• We promise to always speak about you with kindness, honesty, and respect while honoring the love and courage that brought our families together.
• We hope to fill your child’s childhood with laughter, family traditions, and everyday moments that become lifelong memories.
• We hope to share our love of nature, animals, travel, and learning while exploring the world together.
• We promise to honor your child’s heritage, celebrate their culture, and help them build a meaningful connection to that part of their identity.
• We hope to encourage your child to discover who they are, pursue what they love, and always know they are supported.
• Above all, we promise to love your child unconditionally and to be the best parents we can be every single day.

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In Closing

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us and for considering us as you make this deeply personal decision. We hope these pages have shown you the love we have for one another, the life we’ve built together, and the kind of family we hope to become.

If you feel that we are the right family for your baby, we would be honored to get to know you. We promise to love your child wholeheartedly and cherish every moment we are given. Whatever you decide, thank you for considering us and for allowing us to share our story with you.