We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to extend a heartfelt thank you for your kindness and blessings you will be bestowing on our family. Your generosity has already touched our family deeply, and we are immensely grateful.

Our family consists of [His name], who will be the father of our children and who has stepped into that role for the oldest that is not his biologically. [Her name], who is the carrier and mother of our children. S., who will FINALLY become a big sister. This baby will be loved by so many in our church family and have been praying every step of the way on this long journey. They will have grandparents who will swoon over them and love them along with the 3 other grandchildren. Aunts and uncles on each side. Cousins and friends who are our chosen family. Each of us has been profoundly impacted by your thoughtful gesture, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have a part in our lives.

We will share more about us and share more about our family to follow. May you have many blessings bestowed upon you and the gifts that you are willing to share.

[Her name] and parents:

I was born in [City], [State]. Brown hair, blue eyes little girl who loved playing outdoors with her friends in the neighborhood. Growing up I was in girl scouts, cheerleading, and dance. We traveled as a family, especially to see my grandparents who lived in [Town/State]. I love [Town] beach as it holds a special place in my heart. Just how special, that you can find out in just a bit. We would visit my Aunt, Uncle and my 2 cousins in [Town/City]. I loved visiting [...] Parks. [His name] and I both enjoy theme parks and this little one will be no different. My family would drive 3 hours just to have a late lunch or early dinner. Christian or Patriotic holidays are generally spent celebrated in our home with chosen family.

I started out in childcare before I was in childcare. I started babysitting when I was twelve years old. I worked at Opryland USA when I was fifteen years old for about 5 years. After graduating from high school, I continued into childcare in different centers. I opened my own center for three years in the state. I was the first three star in home program in Madison County. I was very proud of this accomplishment. I moved back to [State], I decided to go back to school so I worked with adults with disabilities for several years. After graduating with my Bachelors, in business management, I helped my aunt as a general manager in her ice cream shop in [State] and assisted with running a party store until moving back south. I now am a Cruise Vacation Consultant with Disney Cruise Line and love what I do.

What I like about myself is the honesty and love that I have, especially for children and our family. I am passionate, empathetic, and patient. I would change my self-doubt, self-worth, and self-esteem. I love doing different crafts, camping, swimming, theme parks, and family time. I am involved with our church Wildwood UMC on the worship team and we are the video sound team. We donate to our clothing ministry Twice Blessed. Some challenges I have faced is letting my daughter become an adult and finding a career, I am truly happy in. I want to move up in the company and not change to another career. My greatest accomplishment thus far is my daughter. She is truly beautiful inside and out.

My parents: My father is a veteran of the United States Air force and served in Vietnam for two terms. They have been married for over 50 years. They now live in [Town/State] and I do have contact with them several times a week, at least with my mother. They do visit from time to time and with a new little one, I expect they will be visiting more often. We visit them as work allows. They are both retired and enjoying the beach and lots of traveling when they can. I have one brother,  who has 2 boys.

S.:

I have one daughter; she is truly the light of my life from the day I found out I was pregnant in May 1996. She loved competing in different natural pageants, Girl Scouts through Juniors, I was her troop leader for three years. She was in gymnastics very early in parent and me classes. She was a happy, outgoing, golden heart child. She loved volunteering in different ways, such as feeding the homeless and working with our church Holy Trinity with Room In The Inn. She loves traveling just as much as I do, we started traveling with her when she was just a few months old. She is now happily married to her wife and living in [State]. We do talk to her phone and facetime a few times a week, She has always wanted a sibling and is so excited that we are taking this step.

[His name] and parents:

I was born in a small town in [State] called [Town]. It was a wonderful place to grow up, in a safe neighborhood with quiet neighbors. My parents' house is situated on a hill overlooking a lake that provided ample opportunities for boating, sailing, canoeing, and swimming. Across the street was a tract of forest that was perfect for exploring and camping. I lived in that same house until I joined the army at the age of 21. Serving as military police for 5 years, one year in Korea. I went to a small Christian school connected with our church. To give you an idea how small, my graduating class was only ten people. It was a great place to see my friends and there were subjects I really enjoyed, like science and history. I played soccer and basketball, but I wasn't the typical jock. I would play chess with my friends on lunch. Playing the bass with my father and brother for our church. I still have many friends that I made in school, some that are closer now than they were then, although many live in other parts of the country.

Our adventures of traveling revolved around our trips around the country, seeing Niagara Falls, the geysers at Yellowstone National Park, and of course our trips to Walt Disney World. One year we camped at the Fort Wilderness campground and enjoyed my first water park at the now defunct River Country.

I'm currently a security sergeant at Seaworld. My choice of both military police and security mostly comes from my desire to help and protect others. I enjoy working at Seaworld where I can assist both my fellow employees and guests while at the same time being able to observe the animals in their care.

What I like about myself is the honesty and acceptance of my real self and others. I would change how I stand up for myself.

My parents: They were married for 48 years before my mother's passing. My father is a dreamer, very intelligent and imaginative. He has a wonderful imagination and was quite a talented singer and musician. He was able to play both the guitar and banjo and had an excellent voice. My mom opened a daycare where my father was very good with the children, reading to them, singing songs and playing games with them. He would keep them entertained while my mother took care of the day-to-day operations. My mother was heavily invested in our church, and we were there any time the doors were open. She was a Sunday School teacher, a den mother when I was in the cub scouts, and was generally always there when someone needed help or there was a position that needed filling. She passed away of cancer in 2008 at the age of 67 and I miss her terribly. I do have contact with my father via phone. I have one brother.

I have had desires of becoming a parent, I did not become a parent until I met [Her name] and her daughter. I stepped into the role of S. father with no hesitation, even if she was an adult at that time.

 [His name] and [Her name]:

We met online and already had two things in common, we corresponded back and forth a bit before agreeing to meet in person at Hollywood Studios. [Her name] got the call her grandmother had passed, and she had to return to [State] for the funeral. We kept in touch with one another, and our first date was when she returned. [His name] compassion and understanding is what knocked it out of the park. Sept 21, 2020 in Magic Kingdom he, proposed. I was in shock but knew in my heart that he understood who I was.

Our wedding was small and intimate in Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic, on Marvel Day at Sea March 7, 2022. It was magical and celebrated it with a handful of family and friends. We learned that we were the first couple to be married in that venue. We wrote our own vows and tied a unity knot with the help of S. We incorporated different characters from the movie, Tangled, into our ceremony, such as Maximus and Flynn. We still talk about it over 3 years later. You know how I mentioned earlier how [Town] holds a special place? We had our civil ceremony before our cruise wedding, that was very intimate. This took place the Sunday afternoon before the cruise on [Town] Beach in the same area she remembered growing up. It included family and friends that could not be on the cruise. Bringing the sand pouring that included S. was the highlight. Having [His name] best friend, TJ there as his best man. Both were amazing and beautiful. And a reminder throughout our home.

• Hobbies and daily activities

[Her name]: Hobbies include theme parks, traveling, beaches and camping time are just a few big ones. I enjoy doing different crafts of different mediums. Daily activities can vary but one thing I do enjoy is cooking with my husband.

We both enjoy playing different games together as in cards (we have a weekly card night with family) board games, or video games. Attend church regularly

[His name]: Hobbies include arts and crafts, theme parks, playing the bass, beaches and camping are a few. Daily activities can vary working, family time no matter where it is.

• Description of your neighborhood or local area

Our neighborhood is full of younglings that are out playing across the street or down the street. I enjoy seeing them playing and engaging and not in front of a screen all the time.

• Family traditions

Family traditions is really around the holidays, we like to include ALL holidays and learning about different traditions. Christmas, we do decorate together, especially the Christmas tree. Easter, we attend church, and the Easter bunny does come to the house even childless at this time. We attend Epcot and SeaWorld for around the world holiday celebrations.

• Notable vacations, places you'd love to visit

We LOVE Disney cruises. Traveling to new places and visiting our hometowns to visit family and friends. Disney Castaway Cay is a favorite spot. We want to visit different SeaWorld parks around the US. A bucket list if money was not an option would be the Disney parks around the world.

• If you're a couple, how and when did you meet?

We met on an online site and met in person at Disney Hollywood Studios in July 2019. We agreed to be theme park friends and it escalated from there. [His name] proposed at Magic Kingdom in September 2020 and we were married on the Disney Magic on Marvel Day at Sea March in March 2022.

• What will be each other's greatest assets as parents?

[her name] assets would be her loving nurturing with experience and knowledge with the birth of her daughter.

[His name] assets would be his patience, quiet and calm.

• Who do you have to support you during your journey and once you become parents?

We have a support system of [Her name] parents, daughter and daughter in law, [His name] brother and sister-in-law; church family that has been there every step of the way from the difficult times to the celebratory times, and friends that are chosen that will celebrate when we announce we will be parents.

• How do you envision your family in the future?

We envision our family to have communication that will be open and honest which is key to maintaining healthy relationships and what our relationship is based upon. To have a way to express thoughts and feelings. To never give up and find a way to make it work.

• How many children would you like to have?

We would like to have a minimum of two children, preferably very close together in age.

• What are some of the things you would like to do with your child(ren)?

The things we would like to do with our children is to create that loving family bond and introduce them to a world of positive activities that is not always on the go but be supportive in what they want to pursue. Building those special memories: traveling, camping, going to state parks, museums, giving them access to different cultures.

• What would you like to teach your child(ren)?

Honesty and kindness are the biggest things we want to teach, to love and to be loved. To be able to teach hands on experiences and to learn that kindness will always win. To love themselves as they are and to stand up for what is right.

• Why is this the right time for you to pursue egg donation?

[Her name] has struggled with infertility for many years and was unaware that she had a tumor on her left ovary that was removed in 2021. Having gone through different fertility treatments in the past with no success. [Her name] never wanted S. to be an only child. After meeting and talking we knew we wanted to raise children together as [His name] does not have any past children and always wanted children.

• Who will care for the child(ren) once he or she is born?

We will find a schedule that will work for us in caring for our children, we do have family if needed for childcare and if need be, pursue daycare as a last resort.

• What do you plan to tell your child(ren) about the embryo donor?

That at this time we are undecided as we will want them to know the medical history when the time is needed. If asked about it, we will be completely honest about the process and why we chose this path.

• How will you feel if your child(ren) wants to meet the embryo donor in the future?

If they are old enough to question, it would be a conversation we would have with them and the embryo donor at that time.

• What are the qualities you are looking for in an embryo donor?

Good genetics, no recreational drug use of any kind, the attributes we share but keeping our options open at this time.

• What kind of relationship are you hoping to have with your embryo donor?

We do not plan on having a relationship with the embryo donors. Preference is an ID release at most, If the child decides at the time of maturity and they inquire more information at that time a discussion could be had.