You decide whether you would like to let them adopt your baby.

We are here for you to help make the decision that best suits your needs.

Hello,

Thank you for reading this and allowing us to introduce ourselves. We are Jesse and Gus, and in our years preparing to start a family through adoption we have often imagined the heart of the woman who would one day choose to make this a reality for us. We want you to know that we are truly honored at the thought that you might consider being this person.

Perhaps the most important thing for you to know about us is that we are two kind, loving, and understanding people, and that we make no judgment on the circumstances that have brought you to this letter. We are also enormously fortunate to have a large and diverse group of friends and family who are all supportive of our efforts to adopt.

HOW WE MET:
This year we celebrated 10 years together. Although we met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in New York City, we were both born and raised in the City of Chicago. The day we met we discovered many other coincidences... we actually went to the same high school for the arts, but we just missed each other, as we are four years apart. After high school, Jesse studied abroad in Greece, where Gus spent his summers as a child visiting his grandmothers. Jesse’s parents opened the first natural foods restaurant in Chicago, and Gus – a vegetarian – had been eating there for years. And the week we met, Gus was preparing to start graduate school at the same college in New York’s Hudson Valley that Jesse went to for his undergraduate degree. From that very first day it seemed our meeting was meant to be, and we’ve been together ever since.

OUR FAMILIES:
Even with these similarities, our own childhoods were quite different – yet both were surrounded by the love and encouragement that makes us who we are as men today, and who we hope to be as parents. Gus was raised as the only child of two immigrant parents who came to the United States from Greece seeking work, and the opportunity to create a better life. And Jesse was raised in a big, warm, and unique family with parents and stepparents, and lots of brothers and sisters of the half, step, and full variety. We have always been very close to our families, from Gus’ 6-year-old nephew Thanáse all the way up to Gram, Jesse’s 92-year-old grandmother Florence. Our friends often point out that in spite of how wildly complicated our family can be to explain, every person is honored and appreciated.

OUR WORK:
The life we have built together is full and rich with detail. Gus is a published poet who has received numerous grants, and is the founder of an award-winning journal. And for years now Gus has worked with Jesse at the company that Jesse is a partner in, which represents decorative home products to boutiques and design stores nationwide. We are both very good at what we do, and the company today is a thriving organization with 18 employees across the country. In preparing to start a family, we feel lucky that our work schedule is extremely flexible, as this will allow us to be fully and actively involved in our child’s daily life. And we are equally fortunate to have the financial freedom to access the things that will continue to be important to us as a growing family, like travel and education.

WHERE WE LIVE:
We own two homes – one in the city and one in the country – and we love them both, though their locations couldn’t be more different. We live primarily in New York City, in a neighborhood called Jackson Heights, and our country home is in the beautiful Catskill Mountains several hours north.

IN THE CITY:
Jackson Heights is said to be the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the United States. It is a vibrant, bustling neighborhood that attracts people from all walks of life, and it has some of the best schools in the city. We live in a beautiful three-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood’s historic district, and we have had fun over the last few years renovating and furnishing it… it’s even been in a few magazines! There’s a strong sense of community here, and although we didn’t know a soul when we bought our apartment three years ago, more than a dozen of our friends have moved here since. Together we’ve started a neighborhood book club and an organic produce farm-share, and the latest talk amongst our close friends is to develop a day care network as all of our families grow.

IN THE COUNTRY:
Our house in the country is a great escape from city life. It is an old, cozy farmhouse with 4 bedrooms and lots of room for kids and company, and it’s tucked away in a tiny mountain village beside a rushing stream. On long summer weekends we love to spend the days swimming at the nearby waterfall, exploring the lush landscape, or shopping the local antique markets. Then we head home with the groceries from the roadside fruit and vegetable stands to cook up a big meal with friends. When the snow comes we love decorating the house and hosting winter holidays there.

OUR PHILOSOPHY:
In many ways we have been preparing for adoption since the day we met, and we have worked hard at preparing an environment that offers great comfort, joy, and security. There are children all around us, and it is our greatest wish to begin the next chapter of our lives as parents through adoption. Both of us have always known that it would be through a woman facing a difficult decision that this would come to be, and you need to know that we respect you – and that we always will – for the choice you make. Whatever it may be.

Families are complicated, and we understand that there are no guarantees or foolproof formulas. But we feel so lucky to live in a culture where love and nurturing are increasingly recognized as the most important components of a healthy, fulfilling childhood. We are surrounded by so many funny, warm, interesting and spirited people, and everywhere we turn we see folks who were raised in the happiest of non-traditional households. As two men together we have certainly faced our challenges, but we can honestly say that we have a very good life. We believe that a home filled with warmth and opportunity, structure, stability, and unconditional love and encouragement will offer a child a great chance at happiness. This kind of home – we promise you – we can provide. We truly hope that you will consider being a part of this journey.

If you want to talk, or would like to meet us, please call our toll free number, 1-800-614-3029, or send us an email at jesse@keenaco.com. You can also feel free to contact our friendly adoption attorney, Susan Romer, at 1-800-U-ADOPT-US.

With hopes of meeting you,
Gus & Jesse

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