Our names are Paul and Emily. We know that life brings unexpected paths, and it feels like a true miracle that you're here, considering us to be parents to your precious child. We understand that what's a hopeful and exciting time for us might at the same time be incredibly challenging and complex for you. We hold immense respect for the journey you're on.

We hope you find support and peace through this decision, whatever it may be. We strongly believe love shows up and that is what we vow to do for you and this child should you choose us to parent. Your child will know you and the brave and selfless decision you made that made our family possible.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for considering us. We would be honored to learn more about you and your story.

With love,

Paul & Emily

Our story began in 2017, when we met on a dating app. We quickly learned we had mutual friends and shared interests. We often joke that we might have eventually met the old-fashioned way, but we didn't want to wait!

For our first date Paul unknowingly took Emily to her favorite Italian restaurant setting the stage for a connection that felt right from the start. She left knowing they had a future together. Paul claims he played it cool, but he asked Emily on their second and third dates while they were still on the first.

We grew together in the five years we dated before getting engaged. We bonded over our love for music, long walks, travel, and, most importantly, family. Though we grew up in different states, our backgrounds felt comfortably familiar to each other.

We bring out the best in each other. Emily has a quiet nature while Paul has never met a stranger. Paul likes to play things by ear and Emily is a master planner. Paul loves to decorate the house for Halloween and Emily loves to decorate for Christmas.

Paul strives to be a "full person and live a big life" - living with intention, bringing positive energy to others, and seeking personal growth in all areas of life. Paul grew up in a small town. Growing up sports and friendships taught him the value of perseverance, teamwork, and showing up fully even when things are tough. He believes that effort and optimism often lead to the best outcomes.

After graduating from a Catholic high school, Paul attended a State University. Working throughout college, he was driven to build a strong future for himself. After college, he moved to Texas to broaden his personal and professional horizons - a leap that turned out to be life-changing. Today, Paul is proud to be a Partner at his firm, thriving in a career that challenges him and allows him to lead with purpose.

Emily about Paul, "Paul is my favorite person, and I quickly learned he's many people's favorite person! He has a genuine warmth and is a natural connector, making friends wherever he goes and building lifelong relationships. Friends call Paul whenever they hear a cool new album and want to discuss it at length or if they are going through a difficult time and need support. He is always willing and ready to be there for the people he loves. I know he will thrive as a father. He's already excited about the little things: giving a child ice cream for the first time, introducing them to music, and coaching their teams".

Emily was born and raised in a close-knit family with her identical twin sister. There was an emphasis on education, travel, family, and quality time together in the household. She attended private school and went on to graduate from a university in Texas. As a family, they traveled all over the world from New Zealand, Europe, Canada to ski, and annually to the beach in South Carolina, often with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They spent summers and weekends at their lake house outside town which was always full of friends and family. Emily is excited to continue making these kinds of memories.

Emily works at a K-12 school and loves getting to be on a school campus each day. After much consideration and with Paul's support, Emily decided when the time comes to add a child to their family, she would like to stay home and be a full-time mom.

Emily started babysitting when she was young and enjoyed spending time in homes filled with energy, love, and happy chaos, a feeling she's eager to embrace as a mom. She has loved supporting her friends and twin sister as they have welcomed their children and cherishes her role as Aunt Emily.

Paul about Emily, "I wouldn't be complete without Emily, who is my true partner in every sense of the word complimenting my strengths with her own grace, wisdom, and warmth. Together we are creating a life filled with love, laughter, and shared goals. Emily is well respected by everyone she meets but especially in my family. She has brought a fresh and thoughtful perspective that has already had a lasting impact. She inspires me daily. We are excited to grow our family with open hearts."

Earl, our pug, is 24 pounds of love and fur. We adopted him when he was six months old from a local pug rescue. He has brought us lots of laughter and constant company. He is now three years old. Earl loves every person or animal he meets - big or small! He dresses up on Halloween for the trick or treaters. This year he was a bumble bee. Most of the day he can be found napping on something fluffy. If you sit down on our couch, Earl will come curl up on your lap and go back to sleep.

We have made our home in Texas in a neighborhood filled with young families and a strong school district. Our city offers so much to love: beautiful parks, a major league baseball team, diverse food, and fantastic museums. In addition to Paul's brother, we're also fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends here who feel like family, many of whom have young children excited for another playmate.

We cherish our neighborhood's blend of city living with a close-knit feel. It's full of beautiful old trees, and we genuinely know our neighbors. Just down the street are a community pool and playground, and there is an annual parade on the 4th of July. Earl is a neighborhood favorite - some neighbors even stock treats to give him on our nightly walks!

Our home is a ranch style with three bedrooms. The kitchen opens to a dining room and living room. Most nights you can find us in the kitchen cooking dinner with music playing or a baseball game on. Off the living room, there is the library where we keep our record collection we have built together over the years and shelves of books and photos. We have a screened in porch in our backyard. Paul enjoys grilling and we like spending time out there with friends when the weather is nice.

Emily shares a special bond with her identical twin sister and one-year-old nephew. They stay in constant contact with daily texts and FaceTimes. Emily's mom has thrived in her new grandmother role and jumps at every chance she gets to visit us or meet somewhere warm and beachy. Emily and her twin sister have ten cousins who are close in age. Growing up they saw family daily - at school, at church or family dinners. They still have annual "cousin trips" where they all meet up in a city (growing number of spouses included!).

Paul is the oldest of three very close brothers; they talk daily and genuinely enjoy spending time together. His middle brother lives in town, leading to frequent family dinners.

Paul's parents, high school sweethearts married for over 35 years, exemplify a strong and loving partnership that's an example to the whole family. Their warm family home is a hub for family gatherings, filled with music, coffee, and long conversations. They love hosting family meals. In recent years, Paul's parents have enjoyed boating. Exploring quiet waters and finding new swimming spots has become a fun and family summer tradition.

We love to explore new restaurants and catch concerts, but we equally cherish cozy nights at home with takeout Thai and a movie. Hosting is one of our favorite things; Emily masterminds the details while Paul crafts the perfect playlist and menu. Whether it's a quick weekend getaway for two or a big family trip to Europe, travel is a huge part of our lives.

Our favorite places to travel: Maui, HI; London, England; Napa, CA; and New Orleans, LA

We live near a park where Paul likes to run. He trains with his brothers and they have run multiple races together. Emily is their enthusiastic cheer squad, complete with signs! We also love going to baseball games or cheering on our favorite football teams on television.

For her 30th birthday, Emily completed her scuba diving certification, a lifelong goal. She loves to be in the water whenever she can. She's a walking encyclopedia of old country music and loves unwinding with Friends or Seinfeld reruns.

We promise to honor you, your hopes for this child, and the story that brought us all together as family. We vow to be the safe place where this child can always turn to for unwavering love, comfort, and encouragement. We promise to provide a stable environment from which this child can explore the big wide world and any interests or dreams they develop. We will nurture and celebrate what makes them special and speak positively about the role of adoption every chance we get.