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Here are THREE THINGS we want you to know: 1. What you want matters to us. We want to know how you picture your baby's life, what kind of relationship you want with an adoptive family, and what you need in order to know and trust us. 2. We believe in listening to kids. We will embrace your child's questions. We will hear your child's thoughts. We will honor your child's ideas. We will be generous with our time. 3. Karen was adopted as a girl. Her birth father died, and her mom re-married a man who adopted Karen and her brother. Karen has learned what it means to build a family through adoption, and how to honor both chapters of her life, and these lessons will help us as adoptive parents. A Brief History of Us. Our household consists of the two of us and our cat, Harley. We are not able to become pregnant, and adoption will bring us our first child. We met at a high school basketball game in Duluth, where we both grew up, and started dating after college. We both traveled for college and grad school – from Washington DC, to Seattle, and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia – but 10 years ago we moved home to Minnesota. We live just outside Minneapolis and attend church at the Basilica of St. Mary. We have trusted friends here and are lucky that most of our family is still close-by in Duluth. Here are FOUR CONSTANTS in our lives, to help you imagine your child's future with us... • MUSIC. CDs and MP3s (new favorites: Imogen Heap, John Legend). Singing in the church choir. American Idol. Playing piano, mandolin, guitar, accordion, and harmonica. Staging talent shows with our nieces and nephew. "Hold The Olives" – the singing group Jon started with friends. There will always be music in our lives. • COOKING. Dinner with each other every night. Growing tomatoes, herbs, and hot peppers in the backyard. Family recipes, like Granny's Christmas cinnamon rolls. "Super feasts" from Karen's mom and dad (steak for breakfast, anyone?). Home-made pizza with Frost Top root beer. We will always cook and eat together at our house. • CELEBRATION. Good books, bad TV, chirping birds and noisy frogs, the first night of a long weekend, trips to new places, phone calls from old friends, the smells of spring, extra-late sunsets, sleeping with the windows open, strong coffee, and the sound of rain. We will always find things to celebrate.
Five facts about Karen: I believe people are good and children are important. My most memorable experiences with kids include watching our nieces and nephew grow, and helping kids as a school psychologist. If I could travel anywhere, it would be Argentina! I teach and research early childhood issues at the University of Minnesota; I have a family-friendly job and will work only part time after we become parents. A few of my favorite things include horseback riding, birds, photography, singing, meeting new people, & road trips. Five facts about Jon: I believe in education. My most memorable experience with kids is the day I held a little boy named Thomas and realized I wanted to be a father. If I could Our ideal relationship with a birth parent will be based on mutual respect, understanding, honesty, communication, gratitude, and trust. If we start there, we know we can make a successful adoption plan together. We will teach your child that you made a brave decision, that you are someone to celebrate and be proud of, and that you chose adoption out of love. We are grateful beyond measure for the time you spend with this letter. Check out our photo album at the agency for more pictures ! If there is anything we can do to help you be sure of your choice, please let us know. You can call us collect, anytime, at 952-929-1168. If you prefer, you can write to . Thank you for considering our family. We wish you strength and peace. Karen and Jon
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LOVE. That's what this is all about. 
• LAKE SUPERIOR.