Hello from Lisa and Francisco.
We are excited that you are reading our letter and giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves. Although we have not met you yet, our love is with you during what must be difficult and challenging time for you. We have no children, and so look forward to giving our adopted child all of our love and support.
About Us
We met on the campus of the University of North Texas State. We dated for one year and then we married. We have been married for twenty-two years. Francisco is a high school math teacher at a very prestigious public school in San Francisco. He has been a teacher for fifteen years. He also plays the piano beautifully and plays any chance he can get. Lisa is an elementary school teacher who has taught kindergarten for the past thirteen years. She is taking one year off to work on obtaining her bilingual Spanish credential and to plan for our adoption. She intends to be a stay-at-home mom. She will use her bilingual credential when she goes back to work, once our child reaches school age.
Lisa describes Francisco
Francisco was born in Caracas, Venezuela. His grandparents raised him and his younger brother. His grandfather was a music director in their church. His grandmother was a homemaker who loved to sew. Francisco was taught to value education. His family encouraged him to go to college. When given the opportunity to study in Texas, Francisco accepted. He attended the University of North Texas State. Francisco is a person who likes structure and routine. He loves getting things done in the morning, so we wake up at 5:00 a.m. every day and walk two miles together with our dog Abigail. After exercising, Francisco reviews his math lecture notes for an hour. Then he practices the piano with the time that is left before going to work. To me, he has an un-stoppable attitude. I am in awe of his level of discipline and confidence. Whether he is lecturing in front of math students or performing a difficult piano piece in a crowded concert hall, he is always sure of himself. I can envision Francisco giving piano lessons to our child as well as guiding our child in lessons of life. And when things get tough, Francisco knows all the right things to say. One of his maxims is: "One day at a time and one lesson at a time." He has a wonderful approach to life and to living. I would marry him all over again!
Francisco describes Lisa
Lisa was raised in Amarillo, Texas with a twin sister and older brother. She grew up in a great neighborhood, where everyone looked out for each other, and with a close-knit, stable family. Her parents have been married for 56 years, her mother was a school teacher and her father a CPA. Lisa is very close to her family and friends in Texas and visits about every eight weeks. Her parents are already wonderful grandparents and Lisa looks forward to introducing her folks to a new addition to the family! Lisa is warm and full of humor, but one of her strongest characteristics is her common sense and practical thinking. She knows how to succeed by setting attainable goals that lead to big results. For example, she has encouraged me to practice the piano every day for at least thirty minutes. For herself, she watches the news in Spanish every evening knowing that this will improve her Spanish skills dramatically. It was Lisa who persuaded me to agree to the house we finally bought with a rental unit, a move which has given us much greater financial security. I know this discipline and practicality will be as important a trait in raising a child as her loving nature. But Lisa is also light-hearted, fun and creative. She has begun to write stories based on her childhood and has developed quite a fan club! Lisa talks a lot about motherhood, and I know she is more than ready to jump into that role. I believe that she will be a fun, loving and wonderful mother.
About Community and Home
We are privileged to live in San Francisco. While the City is a busy place, the street that we live on is very quiet, and our property is even quieter. We call our home "El Rancho Rosales." Whenever we want to feel the energy of the city, we simply take a family walk up our street and around the corner to our neighborhood shops. All the merchants on the street know us because we are constantly in and out of their stores with our fluffy dog, Abigail. Families with their children and pets often stop and chat, and there is a strong sense of community in the area. It is a good neighborhood for children and it is a wonderful place to start and maintain friendships.
In 1997 we purchased a duplex with two "stacked" apartments, which gives us
the option of renting one of the units. We have made many improvements to the house over the years and we love the results. The dining room upstairs houses Francisco's piano and other musical equipment, where Francisco and his salsa band rehearse on Monday nights. Our home is a lively place, often filled with music and never a dull moment!
Our Values
Naturally, since we are both teachers, we value education. We feel fortunate that we have the resources to provide our child with a good education. We also value having more than one language. We both speak Spanish and English and would raise a child with both languages. We also cherish what Christianity has given to us. We have learned important things such as forgiveness and facing the future with hope and confidence through the teachings of the church. We would pass that on to our child. We also believe that one needs to cultivate a sense of humor in order to survive in this world. We would also assist our child in developing that. It will be our most important life's work to raise a child as a loving,compassionate, kind and happy person.
A Poem for Our Child
by Lisa Rosales
Should we paint the wooden wagon
Or act out a poem?
Maybe plant some daisy seeds,
Or scribble on paper that is placed
On tops of coins.
We could decorate our dragon kite,
Or compare and measure feathers,
Whatever we decide to do,
We know we'll be together.
Each day should have some magic,
Some discovery, some charm,
We see the world with the eyes
Of our hearts,
Steady step, step in faith,
As we journey on.
Contact Us
Thank you for taking the time to get to know us in this letter. We are deeply touched that you are thinking about entrusting us with the greatest responsibility we can have. We look forward to learning more about you. You can contact us any time directly at 1-855-242-8812 or by email to lisa_rosales@sbcglobal.net. You can also call our friendly adoption attorney, Susan Romer, at 1-800-U-ADOPT-US (1-800-823-6788), or email her at adamsromer@aol.com.
We want to be there for you and with you as you make these decisions. We are excited about having an open adoption and having a relationship with you. We are looking forward to talking with you.
Take Care, Lisa and Francisco
