Dear Donor Family,

 

From a young age, I have always loved being around children. In fact, a few of my friends have even called me a "Baby Whisperer". As a teenager, I dreamed of eventually falling in love, getting married, and raising a family of my own. Alas, life has not turned out the way I planned. I have yet to meet Mr. Right, and as such have been unable to even try to conceive naturally. But, I don't want to let that prevent me from pursuing my dream of having children of my own.

 

While I work towards that goal, I also believe in living my best life. I enjoy an active lifestyle and do my best to stay in shape and be healthy. Several times a year, I can be found going on a weekend hike with some of my friends. While less frequent, I always enjoy an opportunity to go on a snow or water skiing trip. I have also been able to recently go on a few international trips with my newly retired parents. While we have mostly been in Europe so far, I do hope to experience more cultures in the future.

 

As exciting as these adventures are, most of my daily life is rather routine. I put my MBA in Healthcare Admin to good use as a reporting and financial analyst for a large healthcare institution in the area. While I do work in office, it is close enough that I can commute via bicycle. With an alternative work schedule, I do have every Friday afternoon off to be able to run errands or spend extra time with family. My evenings are often spent unwinding at home and prepping for the next day.

 

Home happens to be a two story, two bed & bath condo close to historic downtown, which I own. It comes with a small fenced-in backyard between the kitchen and detached garage. The house is currently run by a senior Siamese cat. At 17 years old, he now spends most of his time sleeping, but is very quick to let me know when more food is required. When he was younger, he spent a decent time around my youngest cousins and seems to be unfazed by either children or kittens.

 

Living close to downtown puts me within walking distance of several great small-town attractions. There is a playground and park just down the street and a great school on the other side of the block. One block up is the street that everyone goes to trick-or-treat on Halloween. They even shut it down to traffic and set up street vendors! During the summer months, there is a free music festival with weekly performances at an outside amphitheater. And the city puts on an annual Christmas parade, drawing participants from all the neighboring towns.

 

Weekends are family/friend time. I regularly attend the church I grew up in, followed by dinner with my parents and sister. My mother, a retired music teacher, has instilled in me a love of all things musical and the belief that music is an important part of learning and growing as a well-rounded individual. From my father, I inherited a wicked sense of humor and a belief that laughter is truly the best medicine. Now that they have retired, I know they would step naturally into the grandparent role. I have one sister, who is eager to step into the position of favorite aunt.

Both of my grandmothers are still living, and love spending time with the newest generation. In addition, there are several aunts, uncles, and cousins, some of whom are creating new cousins.

 

Beyond my family is the rest of my village. I have a small group of close friends, and we try to get together on a regular basis. In addition to the hikes, we also have weekend game nights, occasional brunches, and special events, like watching the Super Bowl or World Series. In addition to my friend group, I also have the support of my church at large, some of whom have known me my whole life. I am a member of the church handbell choir and am a trusted member of the money counting team. The church has a variety of programs designed for children, including weekly classes based upon age, a club for school age children, and a special group for high school youth. Being a part of this community had a big impact upon me growing up and is still a valuable resource for me today.

 

It is my dearest hope to one day be able to share all these things with a child of my own. I look forward to teaching them how to ride a bike and swim. I also look forward to sharing the world of music, art, and culture with them and helping them grow to appreciate the crazy and beautiful world we live in. I know it won't be easy, but I will do my best to help them become a well rounded and respected member of society. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit more about me and my wishes and dreams.