Laurie and Paul
Wow. It’s hard to believe we’re here. It’s exciting, but a little scary too. We are thrilled about becoming parents and would love the opportunity to get to know more about you. We believe with the values behind open adoption – transparency, honesty, integrity – we all benefit and grow.
A little bit about us – we’re Paul and Laurie, and we’ve been married since 2002. We first met through friends, and then ran into each other a couple of times in the produce section of the local grocery store. Paul found Laurie’s lack of pretense and genuineness very appealing and Laurie was entertained by stories of Paul’s adventures and (more often) mis-adventures. We have a charming dog, Ella, and a slightly aloof cat, LeMew. We enjoy the outdoors – cycling, kayaking, dragon boating, hiking, camping – and it keeps us active, which is a good thing because Laurie likes to cook and we both like to eat. We travel quite a bit –visiting distant family and exploring other countries. One of the highlights of our recent trip to SE Asia was the food. We took a cooking class in Laos that started with a tour of the local market and then to a beautiful home back in the hills where we helped prepare a gourmet meal finished with Lao Lao (locally made rice whiskey).
Paul is from Eastern Canada; he came down to the United States to work for his sister and brother-in-law in 1994. He’s from a large family (seven siblings) and most of them are still in New Brunswick. He’s a home inspector, but has worked as a flight attendant, safety equipment salesman, warehouse manager, psychiatric assistant, professional photographer, and more! He is a stickler for details, outgoing, loves to tell stories, very handy around the house, sentimental, and genuinely helpful. Paul’s Canadian heritage is very important to him, so we plan to establish dual citizenship for the child we adopt.
Laurie went to high school in Southern Oregon and gradually moved up the state to college, and she moved north again after graduation. Her parents live in Arizona, a brother in Florida, and a sister in Indiana. She is a librarian for a law firm in the Northwest. Not nearly as interesting a work history, but steady! Laurie is the nerd of the family – enjoying reading, cooking, and being active with cycling and dragon boating. She’s patient, optimistic, and looks for the best in people. She also tends to win more of the card games than Paul.
We recently purchased what we hope will become the home of our dreams, on a beautiful, tree-lined street close to the downtown of a large Northwest city. There are a lot of children nearby, and we’re gradually getting to know more of our neighbors. It’s close enough that Laurie can bike into work and we enjoy taking Ella for walks to explore our new neighborhood.
We are eager to open our lives to a new family member. Parenting seems like a natural extension of who we are – and although we both enjoy kids, Paul especially is always drawn to the children when we get together with friends, family, or neighbors. We anticipate a lot of time ahead spent playing, teaching, and learning; sharing our family histories and background and introducing all of our family and friends. We are looking forward to experiencing the joys of parenting, and experiencing the world from a new perspective.
We are convinced that an open adoption will help us give our child a foundation that fosters their development and character. An open, honest personal history is something everyone should have. We anticipate a lifelong relationship with our child’s birthparents, reflective of the needs and growth of everyone involved. You will be welcome in our lives, as a part of someone we cherish; and appreciated for your care in choosing us as part of this life-changing decision. We wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Paul and Laurie
For this family's complete adoptive parent profile, please contact Open Adoption and Family Services.