We met at Haris’s work. Haris was already a seasoned nurse working in the inpatient behavioral health unit at the hospital—basically a pro at his job. Kalee, on the other hand, had just started her last year of nursing school and was doing her clinical rotation on that very unit. It didn’t take long for Haris to to notice her, and try to win her affections in his own charming way. Kalee, being the sweet nurse-in-training, didn’t quite pick up on his signals right away.

Fast forward to the very last day of her rotation, and Haris casually slipped her his number like it was no big deal. They went on their first date, and while most people talk about movies or dinner, they dove right into life’s big questions. And yes, the topic of adoption came up on that first date. Honestly, it just felt natural to both of us. From the beginning, we were both on the same page—dating with the hope of something long-term, something meaningful, and adoption was always part of that vision.

It’s safe to say, we didn’t just find each other; we found the person we wanted to build a life—and a family—with. And here we are, ready to make that dream a reality. 

We believe that honesty, openness, and love are key. We will tell our child as much or as little as the birth family is comfortable with, ensuring that the story we share is true to who they are and where they come from. To make this journey even more special, we plan to create a personalized "My Story" or "My Family" book. This book will be filled with details unique to this child’s adoption journey, and we will read it together often. Each of the six books we've read so far (and counting, we have 30 total on our list) has reinforced the importance of a semi-open or open adoption and how vital it is to be transparent and honest with this child about their background. We plan to be in close communication with the birth family as much as possible, and we would love to accommodate requests they might have. We also want to make sure that as this child grows, they feel comfortable reaching out to us with any questions or concerns about their adoption story. We want to be a source of support and love, and we want them to know they can always turn to us with open hearts. Our ultimate hope is to build a strong, loving family connection where our child feels valued, heard, and supported—now and always.

We love spending our leisure time together, and our activities reflect our close-knit bond and shared passions. We’ve had a camper for a few years now, and we take it out for camping trips in the spring, summer, and fall, often inviting family and friends to join us for hiking, biking, board games, campfires, paddleboarding, tubing, and fishing. It’s always an adventure! We also enjoy cooking together, making dinner 3-4 nights a week and trying new recipes. Our weekly date nights are something we cherish—whether we’re being silly or simply enjoying each other’s company, they keep our relationship strong and fun. We look forward to sharing these activities with a child. Kalee is passionate about pottery, crafts, and scuba diving. She also volunteers at an early pregnancy education center to help women in crisis, and she loves planning family events. Haris is energetic, generous, and loves anything mechanical, especially fixing cars. He’s also into inline skating, ice skating, biking, and skiing, and can’t wait to share these skills with a child. Both of us have lived abroad, and we’re excited to share our love for travel and learning about different cultures. Next year, we hope to start a family garden, which will be another fun and rewarding activity to do together. We look forward to building a life full of adventure, creativity, and love with a child.

We live in a quiet, diverse suburb of Denver, Colorado, a community full of charm and variety. Our neighborhood is home to people of many different ethnicities. We have three schools within walking distance, making it easy for this child to form lasting friendships from an early age. The area also offers several parks, bike paths, and a couple of lovely lakes, perfect for family outings. We frequently visit the nearby recreation center, where Kalee enjoys taking her nieces to the warm pool to teach them how to swim. It's a place where we bond, laugh, and learn together. Kalee also loves using the pottery studio there to create her unique pieces, and we envision taking this child there regularly as they grow.

Our home is a cozy, older one that we’re slowly remodeling. We recently finished the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, and the baby’s nursery is a brand-new space we’re excited about. It’s painted in soft tones with a travel theme, filled with world maps and adventure posters. We can’t wait to rock and feed this little one there while reading stories about all the places we’ll explore as a family.

Kalee’s favorite room is her craft room, where she makes epoxy tumblers and carves pottery. Haris loves the garage, where he works on cars and welding projects. Together, we love experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. We also dream of planting a garden next year, and Kalee is eager to learn to grow and pickle vegetables.

Hi, we’re Kalee and Haris! While we can’t wait to become parents, we’re just one part of a big, loving family that’s ready to welcome a child with open arms. This child will have four adoring grandparents. Nana and Dedo (Haris’s parents) live 10 minutes away, and Grammi and Grandpa (Kalee’s parents) are 40 minutes from us. This will be Kalee’s parents’ first grandchild and the first grandchild in this country for Haris’s parents—they’re all overjoyed! They’re already planning weekend visits, special traditions, and yes—fighting over who gets to babysit first. Nana and Dedo can’t wait to teach their grandchild Bosnian, their native language, while Grammi and Grandpa are excited to share their love of nature and the outdoors. We have four nieces—two in Germany (Haris’s sister’s kids) and two nearby from Kalee’s lifelong best friend, Ashley. Our families have been close for generations, and we celebrate holidays, go on trips, and do “Auntie dates” with the kids. Ashley’s daughters call us “Auntie and Uncy Caris.” Kalee’s extended family lives nearby and includes her grandma, aunts, uncles, 11 cousins, and their children. We gather for holidays, performances, camping, and game nights. It’s a tight-knit crew that can’t wait to love on this child. Right now, the whole family is helping set up the nursery and planning the baby shower—it’s a community effort full of joy, anticipation, and love.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We can only imagine the depth of emotion and love that brought you to this moment. We admire your strength and your courage, and we hope that by opening our hearts to you here, you will feel seen, respected, and supported - no matter what path you choose.

We are a married couple in a committed, loving relationship of 11 years. Our partnership is grounded in trust, deep friendship, and shared values. We’ve grown through life’s changes side by side, and always dreamed of becoming parents together. We’re excited to expand our family - but even more than our excitement, we hold space for the weight of this decision. We know adoption is not just about gain, but also about loss. We recognize that you are a real person, with very real feelings, who is reading this letter. In many ways, we want to extend to you the same love that we will give to your child - compassionate, unconditional love.

Our home is filled with warmth, laughter, and creativity. Story time will be a nightly tradition, and we can already picture our future child curled up with us, asking for “just one more book.” We will offer a life full of opportunity - whether it’s gymnastics, community theater, soccer, science camps, or college. Whatever lights them up, we will nurture it wholeheartedly. We want to give a child not just a safe and loving home, but the freedom to explore who they are and dream big.

We genuinely believe that love is limitless. The love your child has for you will never take away from the love they have for us - and the love they feel for us will never limit their love for you. We will always support their love for you, their curiosity about you, and the story that connects us all. We will tell them their adoption story early and often, so they always know that your love and courage are the foundation of their life.

One night, Kalee had a dream that has stayed with us. In it, our child opened a letter on their birthday from their birth mother or father. Inside was a photo of their birth parent at the same age, and a note sharing what they loved at that time - their favorite food, a song they played on repeat, or what they dreamed of becoming. This dream inspired a tradition we hope could become real - something beautiful and meaningful for everyone involved. We imagine it bringing joy and connection to your child and to you, and helping strengthen the bond we all share.

We want to maintain contact with you. At the very least, we will send letters and photos to you as your child grows. We are also open to sharing updates through email or phone calls, and we welcome the idea of in-person visits if that’s something you’d want. We understand that your needs and preferences may change over time, and we will honor those changes with compassion and respect. No matter your level of contact, you will always be spoken of with love and positivity in our home.

Your confidence in your decision is incredibly important to us. If you choose us to raise your child, we will never take that trust for granted. We will raise them with honesty, joy, patience, and a love that never wavers. They will grow up surrounded by encouragement, laughter, and belonging - and with a deep understanding of where they come from, and how deeply they are loved by you.

Thank you, again, for considering us. We are holding you in our hearts and wish you peace and clarity as you make this important decision.

Haris & Kalee