To whom it may concern,

As T's mom it seems to make sense to start at the beginning, when T was my tiny baby. I was in my 30’s when T was born, she was the much anticipated first grandchild on my side. This baby was the joy of our lives, my husband and I were married 10 years before we received this great gift - a child to love. Truth be told she was a fantastic baby, she was so happy - all he time. She was infectious, when she was a toddler, old ladies in the market would stop me, being inexplicably drawn to her, and she would stroke their hand. It was as if she knew that’s what they needed. T was always a very empathetic child, she shined with goodness, kindness and patience. In school with teachers and children she was much loved. But even more than that she was admired. That has persisted to this day, her friends adore her, they lean on her and seek out her advice and friendship. She has relationships with friends she has kept throughout her life and takes the time to reach out to each of them on a regular basis.

In school she would take kids that had difficulties under her wings and they would thrive, as she grew older her soft presence would invoke a trust among her peers, they often confided in her and she would always be the the first to help, she was the one you could count on. For instance, she helped a male friend overcome the abuse he endured from his dad. A cheerleader, who was the most popular girl in school, approached T and told her she was miserable in her cool crowd of cheerleaders, T befriended her and introduced her to a few other girls during a girls night. She wrote the most beautiful page in T's yearbook saying her high school experience was awesome because of T. She intervened with a classmate’s drug addiction, delivering her personally to rehab twice, not only saving her life but for a decade now she is clean, happy and productive. She singlehandedly pulled together soft ball game against teachers and students and raised money for a teachers dying son - enough for their last trip to Disney. Her high school principle asked the town council to make a scholarship available to her as a good citizen award, and they did. In college, she not only won an award for compassion working with disabled individuals, but they made up the award just for her!! It was such an honor to see her receive that award.

I tell you these things because T is unassumingly awesome. She is the best person know, She has every friend she’s ever known, she makes people around her want to be better. With all this she is also a productive, mature, hard working woman. She has a real sense of pride in her work, and she has always accomplished all of the goals she sets for herself. I may have gotten lengthy but I wanted you to understand her character, and to understand that our family and extended family are very close, warm and supportive of one another. Our ‘village’ nurtured both of my children and the experience was both humbling, and made all of us better people.

When she met N, she was swept away. I asked her, so who is this boy who asked you out? She said it was her friend Carissa’s cousin. I asked her to tell me about him and this is exactly what she said “ He’s different than most of the guys I’ve met, he knows who he is, and he’s the most genuinely kind person I ever met”. I took me back because that’s how I describe her!

At the two months mark of dating, N told me that he wasn’t looking for a wife, but he fell in love with her and she is his future. I thought that was very impressive from someone so young, to make me feel that he valued my child. When she brought N home about a week after they were dating, he became a regular after work. We all got to know him, and as a mom who wants to understand what kind of man her daughter is dating and possibly marrying, I made sure to know him best. I found out that he was raised similar to T - in a stable, hard working, moral, home. Homes where parents loved their children, who directed their children to have a good, happy, fulfilled, productive lives. N was a serious young man, the oldest in his family he is an achiever, he is a saver, he is a planner, an avid reader, intelligent, kind, caring, with a even temperament. He has the patience of a saint, he’s proud of who he is and that’s an important trait to me because it shows that he’s committed to be the kind of man that would be a good husband, father and provider. I could tell his parents raised him and his siblings very well. In getting to know his family, there is a lot of love in their home and they are very sweet people.

N has a maternal instinct, he cooks, cleans and takes care of his home. Growing up, the family has a dog who suffers from anxiety and is easily upset, N will cradle him in his arms, walking him endlessly, calming him. When he would work all day he would come home and make dinner at least 3 nights a week, so his mom could relax after her work day. He is so sweet and attentive to his Nana, he’s a church goer and prays to God. It was a blessing that my daughter could meet a man who cherished her, and who took care of her heart.

Their wedding day was glorious, my husband and I knew that they built a solid base, had such level heads, and worked through issues as a team. Overhearing so many conversations after dinner at our house, I was so impressed that they shared so much commonality in what they saw and wanted for their future and how well they worked together to insure their goals as a married couple. I was very impressed with how they listened to each other and how they held each others best interests at heart. I loved seeing how much N respected my

daughter, her feelings and opinions and vice versa.

Naturally one of their goals is to become parents. Neither of them hesitated to explore adoption. I cannot stress enough how blessed the child they adopt will be, to be in a home filled with stability, and unconditional love, a home filled with values, faith, mutual respect, and admiration. This child will have a bolstered self esteem, will through N and T as well as grandparents and extended family will feel acceptance, love, support and will feel cherished. This child will glow in the light of our love. When T was about 2 or three my girlfriend Donna told me that some of our friends said, “Maria is spoiling that baby”, my friend said she replied “ It might look like that but this child isn’t spoiled, she is treasured”. This little darling will be a treasured member of our family with the love and support of a countless number of T and N's friends, and of warm loving support from all of their families. We will be this little sweethearts village.

Conversely, T and N cannot possible fathom how this child will deepen their lives, and this child will give their lives a richness more meaning than they can imagine. I am so excited for them and the all encompassing love they will feel and use to create their family.

My husband and I are thrilled for their journey, we love both of them as our children, are as proud of the people they have become more than you can imagine. They both are a joy and we can’t wait until they bring a little angel into all of our lives and into our family.

-Maria F