Dear Birth Mother,

Welcome… and Thank you!

Thank you for reading our letter & considering adoption. We hope that by learning about us and other potential parents you find just the right family for your precious child. While we want more than anything to be parents, we sincerely hope that you find the right fit for you. We would love to talk with you and learn about your dreams for your child, and how we can be a part of making those dreams come true.

A Little About Lori - Both my parents were dedicated teachers and our home was filled with books. They inspired a love of learning in me that I still have today. I have 2 older brothers which probably contributed to me being a tomboy as a kid, and in some ways I still am! I enjoy baseball almost as much as Paul, and am pretty competitive when Paul and I play sports or bowl together.

At college I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. I currently work as an assistant preschool teacher. This past year I got to teach physical education to our students through games and dances. I love working with children and can’t wait to become a mom.

And a Little About Paul - I am fortunate to have been born to two wonderful parents. My dad was in the military and my mom was able to stay home and raise us. I have two younger sisters who I am very close to. My parents nurtured a love of learning which motivated me to go on to college and end up in a profession I enjoy thoroughly, wildlife biology. Other interests of mine include gardening, which is basically an extension of my love for the outdoors and cooking. I find cooking and trying new recipes to be a creative process which helps me to unwind. We feel that education opened so many doors for us and we want that for our child. I was educated in Catholic schools and that is a tradition that we want to continue with our children.

Our Faith and Values

Our Christian faith gives us the strength to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles. In fact, it has helped us immensely on our adoption journey by reminding us that God is always by our side.

The Catholic Mass we attend weekly has many regular parishioners and gives us a great sense of community and support. It is this strong social network that we hope to raise children in and give them the love we feel as members of our church. We both were raised as Christians, Paul in the Catholic faith and Lori in the Methodist faith. Both of our families were active in their churches. Lori converted to Catholicism after our marriage because we strongly believed in raising our children in the same faith.

Our Work

Lori- Paraeducator/Special Education Preschool,br/> I love my job working with preschoolers - I get paid to play! I have discovered that kids learn a lot through play. I also help the lead teacher with other learning activities, working with the kids in groups or individually. I’ve learned so much about myself and children working at this preschool. I know what it’s like to be totally responsible for a child and that I‘m a pretty good diaper changer! I’ve also learned that there is no greater joy than pushing a child in a swing  I also learned of my capacity to love. I love these children dearly and only am half joking when I tell my co-workers I could take them all home!

Paul- Wildlife Biologist

I always had a love for the outdoors and with the job I have now I can definitely help the environment. As a government biologist I conduct surveys for endangered species and make sure streams are kept clear during construction work. I also help restore natural areas after construction is complete with the use of native plants. I hope to pass on my love for the environment to our child through hikes, camp outs and respecting the world around us.

The Things we Enjoy

We love to get up close with nature during hiking trips. Our favorite places to hike are the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens and the nearby Los Padres National Forest. It gives Lori a chance to take pictures and Paul time to study plants and birds.

As a lifelong fan the Dodgers have always been a reminder of summer for Paul. We both enjoy going to Dodger Stadium, having a Dodger Dog and cheering on the boys in blue! There is nothing like watching a home run, being part of the excitement and celebrating with a hi-five and a hug! It is definitely something we enjoy together as Lori has become an ardent fan as well.

We love to travel, and our trips usually involve nature and baseball. During our travels we like to explore the National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. On vacations we try to catch a game or visit a stadium wherever we are. We’ve seen the Arizona Diamondbacks play in Phoenix, been to the Colorado Rockies ball park and watched a Dodger’s spring training game when they were in Vero Beach, FL. We look forward to planning a couple big trips a year and lots of daytrips and weekend getaways

We are both very committed to staying active and healthy. We love to go for long walks in the evenings either in our neighborhood, at the park or at the beach. It also gives us time to reconnect with each other and talk about our day. We love to go bowling on Sunday mornings! We have the place to ourselves since many people are in church, but since we attend Saturday Mass it’s the perfect time for us to go!

Where we Live

Living in beautiful, coastal Ventura is truly a blessing. The weather is almost always pleasant and the town has plenty to offer while still retaining a small town feel. Ventura has many family friendly beaches with playgrounds and one even has a pirate ship! We live minutes from the beach and love to go walking along the water and play in the surf.

Ventura has a historic downtown where the old mission was founded, with plenty of nice restaurants and stores. The downtown hosts many events year round like Art Walks, holiday parades and street fairs. We are also regulars at the downtown farmer’s market. We have a fun harbor village where we go for delicious seafood or to walk around the shops enjoying an ice cream cone. There is a great pier to walk out on as well as fairgrounds that sit next to the ocean. We love living here in Ventura and feel it truly is a great place to raise a family.

In Closing…

Fortunately, we are financially secure thanks to Paul’s career as a Supervising Wildlife Biologist. It is our plan that Lori will become a stay at home mom. Our highest priority will be to provide a stable and secure home life for our child.

Please know that we will raise your child in a loving, nurturing, safe & fun environment. We would always be there for your child to hug & cuddle, to make boo boo’s better & read to every night. We would also be there to teach your child right from wrong, encourage good morals, strong values and the importance of helping others. We know raising a family will be hard work but we can’t imagine our lives without it.

We believe in open adoption and feel it’s best for everyone involved. We will encourage your child to embrace his or her heritage fully and with confidence. We would love to talk with you about your dreams and hopes for your child, and how we can make those come true for you.

If you would like more information about us or would like to meet us, please contact our attorney, Timothy Blied of the law offices of Schmiesing Blied Stoddart & Mackey at 1-800-678-6811.

God Bless,

Paul & Lori

Family Information

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