We have a variety of activities we enjoy on our leisure time. We love taking walks with our dog, Bella, either around the neighborhood or at a nearby park. One of our favorite activities is camping. We enjoying taking our RV to new places near or far from our city to explore new locations. This allows us the opportunity to hike, kayak, fish or just lounge together as a family in new places. We make time every week to play tennis at our local high school courts as well. If we are inside, we enjoy watching sports, mainly football and soccer, playing cards and board games, or reading. Ashley spends down time inside practicing her instruments as well. Most weekdays, you can find us on our front porch or playing with Bella in the front yard or a neighbors porch enjoying the company of friends while we watch the neighborhood children play in the cul-de-sac.

Maintaining family traditions, we were raised with as well as building our own traditions is extremely important to both of us as well as our extended families. Every year, no matter where we have been stationed with the Navy, Ashley's parents travel to join us for Thanksgiving and spend 1-2 weeks with us exploring where we live and spending time together. Additionally, during that visit we take the time to pick out a Christmas tree together to bring home and decorate. On New Year's Eve, we have fondue with friends and family to end one year and ring in the next, which is a tradition from Ashley's childhood. Kyla's family alternates a family reunion each December that is hosted between family homes in Arizona and California. This affords the opportunity to catch up with Kyla's numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles as well as meet new members of the family each year.

We believe that early and often communication about a child's life is important. We want to ensure a child has a sense of belonging and roots which requires that early, open and honest communication. We plan to be honest about adoption and that this was the journey by which we became a family. We believe it is important that they know of their heritage, culture, and family - especially as they get older and have a better understanding. Sharing with them about their adoption will never be with any negative connotation but instead how our family came about. We believe as a child gets older this will be important as other children will talk of their different family make ups, and they may not have been exposed to adoption before. We will never shy away from the hard questions that they bring up about being adopted as they come up while the child is growing up.

Our community has numerous family events throughout the year. We have a semi annual fair at one of the local parks, a zoo that host events throughout the year and a local minor league baseball and hockey league that host events in addition to the regular games. One place that we love to visit annually are the strawberry gardens that we pick strawberries with friends.

We live in Virginia where our home is nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac. We have a large fenced in back yard with a pond behind our home. Our home is a two-story single-family home with four bedrooms, and two and a half bathrooms. We have a back deck and front patio and a fireplace in our living room.

Our neighborhood has a wide age range of children in multiple homes. Our neighbors have a two year old daughter and there are additional families that have children in kindergarten to high school that are routinely outdoors playing in the afternoons and over the weekend.

Our neighborhood has numerous parks nearby that have walking/bike trails as well as water features such as lakes. We spend time at those parks with our dog Bella enjoying the outdoors and relaxing in the evenings and over the weekends. Additionally, we have a local YMCA that has play areas as well as an indoor and outdoor pool where we spend time with neighborhood families over the summer.

Kyla's extended family is full of siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is a tight knit group that will always go out of the way to see each other and make family a priority. Every year we see each other at least once but, on several occasions, we meet up on a trip away from home and enjoy each other's company. They are all extremely supportive and excited about us adopting! They are already ready to help our family in any way needed.

Ashley's extended family consists of numerous nieces, nephews, her parents and two siblings. While they live in another state, we make the time to call and Facetime regularly. Additionally, we travel to see each other regularly, normally over the summer and during holidays. The entire family is extremely excited for Kyla and I to welcome a new member to the family and ready to share their knowledge and experiences raising a child.

We hope this letter finds you well. We are Ashley and Kyla, and want to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for this difficult decision you are making. We are writing to share a little about ourselves and our hopes for the future, as well as to reassure you that any child will be loved and cherished in our home.

First and foremost, we want you to know that your child will always be surrounded by an abundance of love. Our home is filled with warmth and laughter, and we are committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment. We have long dreamed of becoming parents and have spent years preparing for this journey. We are dedicated to ensuring that any child grows up in an environment where they can thrive and be their true self.

A little about us: We are both passionate about being outdoors and active. We love camping in our RV and experiencing new places. If we are not outside, we enjoy watching college and professional football, soccer and baseball. Kyla has been involved in many sports leagues throughout the years and enjoys meeting new people. Ashley loves to curl up with a good book on our porch, watch movies, or cook new recipes. Our home is in a vibrant, family-friendly community with excellent schools and plenty of parks and recreational areas we frequent. The cul-de-sac we live on has several children of all ages who spend a great deal of time outside playing with one another. We value education, creativity, and the importance of strong family bonds. We envision a future filled with family adventures, educational milestones, and the simple joys of everyday life.

Family is at the heart of everything we do. We are fortunate to have a close-knit extended family who are all excited about welcoming a child into the family. Our parents, siblings, and extended relatives are eagerly looking forward to becoming a part of a child's life, offering their support, love, and guidance. We celebrate our family traditions with enthusiasm and are committed to creating new traditions that will honor and respect the unique story of a child.

We understand that this journey is emotional for you, and we want to acknowledge the courage and love it takes to make this decision. We deeply respect your wishes and are committed to honoring your child's heritage. We plan to incorporate elements of your culture and values into their upbringing, ensuring they know their roots and the immense love that brought them into our lives.

We are open to maintaining contact with you, should you wish, through letters, photos, updates, and visits. We believe that having a connection with you can be an important part of your child's identity and understanding of their story. Your comfort and preferences are important to us, and we are more than willing to discuss how we can best navigate this aspect of our relationship.

We want to thank you for considering us to have the incredible privilege of becoming parents. We are committed to providing a life filled with love, respect, and opportunities. We look forward to the future with great hope and are excited about the journey ahead.

With heartfelt gratitude and respect,

Ashley & Kyla