dear expectant mother

First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for learning more about us. Thank you for imagining what it might be like for your child to live, learn, play, and grow up with us. We’ll never fully understand the depth of the decision you’re facing right now. We only hope you have comfort in knowing that your strength and your selflessness will make a family’s dream come true.

This won’t be the first time we’ve shared our love and support with a child. Around the same time we moved in together, Ryan’s mother started a difficult time in her life. It was hard on all three of her younger children, but it was hardest on Keenen. When Keenen began struggling in school and showing signs of depression a few years later, we invited him to come live with us. Now in our home, Keenen is 17, earning A’s in school, and excelling in sports.

With Keenen and our two dogs (Daxter and Jake), our house has ripened into a warm and loving home. We walk and play sports on the street or in the back yard. We go to Keenen’s lacrosse and basketball games, and the three of us go to college football and basketball games. We travel, go to movies, and enjoy our favorite restaurants together. We’re so fortunate to have reached this point in our lives, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to grow our family by one more!