We love to vacation at the beach (any beach)! Living in central Maryland, our default spots are along the Maryland and Delaware shorelines. However, we have also been fortunate to be able to vacation in Hawaii, and we are hoping to get to the Outer Banks in the Carolinas at some point.

We enjoy the natural beauty found along the shorelines, such as sand dunes and the gentle sound of the waves.

We also enjoy all the food options available to us when we vacation at the beach, from freshly made donuts and ice cream to steamed crabs to beach pizza and everything in between! It’s also fun to take advantage of the boardwalks in many of the beach towns we visit.

Our pets have always been an important aspect of our relationship, and we consider them full members of our family. When we met, we each had a cat, and they became step brothers when we moved in together. When they each passed, we mourned their losses equally. Since being together we have adopted a dog and another cat from rescue shelters, and we plan to have animals in our household for the rest of our lives.

Our dog came along at a time where our relationship was going through some rough times, and caring for her together helped our marriage grow. They have given us opportunities to experience the joy in nurturing another life, and they have helped us learn the value of patience!

Many of our family traditions are focused around the holidays we celebrate. We traditionally host both sides of our family for Thanksgiving dinner, with Phil preparing the turkey that we buy from a local farm and Alisha taking care of all the sides. Like many families, we have our own set of foods that always come out at Thanksgiving including mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pineapple casserole! We traditionally spend Christmas Eve with Alisha’s family, and then we celebrate Christmas morning in our home before heading to spend the rest of the day with Phil’s family.

We always enjoy decorating for Halloween and watching the neighborhood kids come to our door for candy. Living in Maryland, we always find at least one opportunity to enjoy steamed crabs, and then pick out the meat from the leftovers to freeze for crabcakes later in the year.

We are also both huge fans of Dave Matthews Band, and we make a point to attend at least one concert per year, preferably in a venue we have not visited before.

Phil has a younger brother, and both his brother and father live about two hours away on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where Phil grew up. His dad is retired after careers in the trucking and corrections industries, and he volunteers his time at the local humane society. Phil's brother works as a manager for a public library system.

He also has an uncle and adopted cousin who live in Delaware, and lots of extended family in that area who he sees occasionally. Phil talks to his father and brother several times per week, and we love to get together with them to celebrate the holidays, watch our favorite sports teams, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Ocean City, MD Boardwalk. Alisha grew up as an only child, but she has two older half-siblings from her dad’s first marriage.

Her parents live about 30 minutes from us, still in the house that she grew up in. Her dad is a retired software engineer, and her mom will be retiring soon after a long career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Alisha’s sister lives in Virginia with her husband, and they have two grown children. Her brother and his wife live just outside Philadelphia and their five-year-old daughter has “Uncle Phil” wrapped around her finger! Alisha also has extended family in northeast Tennessee, in particular some cousins who she grew up with and with whom she remains close. We both have lots of family members who live fairly close and are excited to support us and love our child as we grow our family!

We have lived in Howard County, Maryland since 2010, and depending on which way we drive we can be in Baltimore, Annapolis, or Washington, DC in 20-30 minutes. We feel fortunate to have such easy access to all the culture, entertainment, and great food that these wonderful cities offer!

Our townhouse is in a neighborhood that was built about 40 years ago, and our neighbors are truly a melting pot of ages, races, cultures, occupations, and backgrounds.

Our neighborhood is in the shape of a triangle, and the area inside that triangle is all green space with a well-maintained tot lot. We also have a larger neighborhood park and swimming pool within a 5-10 minute drive.

Our community is well-known for its parks and walking trails, with access to over 100 miles of trails and dozens of parks. Our school system is consistently ranked as the best in Maryland, and our town has been named one of the best places to live and one of the best places to raise a family in the entire United States.

We absolutely love living here and have no plans to leave the area!

We hope this letter finds you well and that you are surrounded by comfort and peace. First and foremost, we want to express our deepest gratitude for considering us to be the parents of your child. We understand the gravity of this decision and the love and courage it reflects, and we hope we can share a little about who we are and why we believe we will be wonderful parents for your child.

Our journey together has been filled with love, adventure, and a deep commitment to family. We’ve known for some time we wanted to build a family together. After much thought and consideration, we have chosen adoption as the path to becoming parents, and we believe this journey is meant to be. Family is the cornerstone of our lives. We both come from families that have taught us the values of love, support, and resilience. Our parents and extended families have been incredible role models, demonstrating the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect. We have learned from their example and are eager to pass these values on to your child. We are excited to share that we have a warm and loving home ready to welcome your child. We have been together since 2009 and married since 2013. Our house is a place where laughter echoes throughout, and where we celebrate both the big and small moments of life. We have created a nurturing environment that is both safe and stimulating, filled with books, toys, and activities that encourage creativity and growth. We believe that a happy home fosters a happy child, and we are dedicated to providing a space where your child can thrive.

One of the most important aspects of our lives is our commitment to education and personal development. We both value learning and growth and are passionate about instilling these values in a child. We plan to encourage curiosity, support educational endeavors, and celebrate each achievement, no matter how small. We believe that every child has unique strengths and talents, and we are committed to helping your child discover and cultivate these gifts. Our journey has also been shaped by our experiences and passions. We both have a love for music and we are excited to share that love with your child. Alisha has a background in biology and astronomy and is eager to introduce those interests to your child. And Phil has always been passionate about sports, especially our local sports teams, and he is excited to instill that same passion in your child. We believe the interests and hobbies we share with your child will be both fun and educational.

Beyond our home and interests, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. We understand the importance of diversity and are committed to ensuring that your child grows up with a strong sense of self-worth and belonging. We plan to introduce them to a wide range of cultures, traditions, and experiences, helping them to appreciate the richness of the world around them.

We also want to acknowledge and honor the significance of your role in your child’s life. We deeply respect the decision you have made and the immense love that underpins it. We are committed to providing a life filled with love, security, and opportunity, while always acknowledging and honoring the profound connection you will have with your child. We are open to many forms of post-adoption communication, including letters, photos, emails, and visits. We want to ensure that your child knows and understands their story and the special place you hold in it.

In closing, we want you to know that we are incredibly excited and hopeful about the future. Your child will grow up knowing they are deeply loved, cherished, and supported. We are dedicated to being the best parents we can be, providing a nurturing environment where they can flourish and become their best selves. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering us as the parents for your precious child. We are honored by your trust and are committed to making this journey one filled with love and respect.

Phil & Alisha