Letters

Hello, we are Emily and Jonathan. Thank you for your time in reading this overview. We are excited to share our personal story with you!

Like many couples today, our story began online. Jonathan is British and had recently moved from England to Chicago for work, while Emily had been living in Chicago for several years. We made our first real-life connection on the Fourth of July. The fireworks were going off in more ways than one!

We quickly became best friends over many...

From an early age, I was inquisitive coupled with an adventurous nature. I would often go with friends and spend all day biking up to the local woods. Initially, this led me to try and fathom the world around me. Studying physics at a university in England set me on a career path in computing. Before settling in the USA, I had traveled the world living in places as far as Singapore and in South America.

This curiosity also led to me trying to explore the inner world. In 2015, I backpacked in northern India...

I have always had a love for meeting people from diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life. My drive to help and care deeply about others naturally led me to become an individual and family therapist. I especially love working with children. In Chicago, I worked at a children’s hospital providing emotionally supportive counseling for families who had children with complex medical and developmental needs. I know that it just takes one meaningful interaction to make a difference in someone’s life.

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We live in a modern ranch that has multiple large outdoor spaces. The enclosed backyard has lots of room to play. We have a swimming pool, a raised vegetable garden and wildlife to observe.

The southern-facing windows ensure the inside is always light and airy. We have created an open and connected space where the kitchen, dining area, and great room all link for the best family communication and experience.

We live in a safe, family-friendly neighborhood with...

We both grew up in loving homes and the importance of family was instilled early in life. Although separated by miles, Kentucky and the northwest of England are very similar in this mentality. Even our parent’s friends were called Aunty and Uncle and took their turn looking after us. We believe in the proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” It is with this knowledge of strength in the community that we describe our families.

Emily’s parents, Grammie and Pappy, have been married for...

With our shared interests in the outdoors, be it biking, hiking, or kayaking, we always have lots of time to enjoy the fresh air. We have local hiking trails and a river to kayak. We would love to share these with a growing child. We have a large kayak so there is room for one more to share any adventure. We also visit at least one national park a year along with local state parks.

When spring comes, gardening is one of our interests. We have trees, shrubs, flowers, and a vegetable patch to attend. Our nieces enjoy...

We have been thinking for some time about adoption. Our young nieces are adopted and our experiences with them have solidified the decision that adoption is the best choice for us.

We are thrilled at the prospect of growing our family through this loving choice. We have lots of time and experience to give a child and have created a warm and nurturing home. Our collective knowledge and care are sure to provide a foundation that has unconditional positivity, support, and joy to make the best possible outcomes in...