Erika and Raul
Dear Expectant Mother,
We are Raul and Erika. Although we don’t know each other yet, ever since we began our adoption journey, we have prayed for your well-being and that of your baby. We cannot imagine the emotions you are feeling as you consider your options. We understand that this is probably the most difficult decision that you will ever face. We admire your courage and are grateful that you are taking the time to get to know us.
We have always known that we wanted to be parents. However, after struggling with infertility, we came to the conclusion that God had another plan for us. We turned to adoption to begin our family. We are seeking a child to love, and you are seeking a family to love and cherish your child. We hope for the opportunity to learn more about you and your hopes for your child’s future. If you select us, we will welcome any level of openness that makes you feel comfortable. Our faith is very important to us, and you will always be in our family’s prayers. Every day your child will give thanks for you and your selfless decision.
About Us:
We are a committed couple who has been happily married for 14 years. We met as children when Erika’s mother visited Raul’s family in Mexico. We met again as teenagers when Raul moved to Illinois. Erika was immediately smitten because of Raul’s smile and sense of humor, but it wasn’t until after college graduation that destiny brought us together again. We dated, fell in love, and were soon married.
On our tenth wedding anniversary, we renewed our vows, surrounded by our family and friends. It was a beautiful day that we will always treasure. Over the years, our love for one another has grown stronger. We are a team and support one another in everything. In our free time, we enjoy relaxing at home and playing with our adorable dog. We also love hosting get-togethers and spending time with our family and friends. We are huge Cubs fans and attend games annually. We love to travel and take road trips to visit the national parks. One of our favorite experiences was hiking Mount Rainier in Washington.
About Erika by Raul:
Erika is a kind, smart, and independent woman. She is resilient and has been by my side through all of the challenge s that life has thrown at us. I love her and know that she will be an incredible mother to our children. I see her with our nieces and nephews, and she is a natural. She reads and plays games with them, helps with homework, and takes them to plays and museums.
Erika is a special education teacher and has a master’s degree in education. She works with bilingual students and is a strong advocate for them and their families. She also volunteers at our church. She loves to bake, read, hang out with friends, watch romantic comedies, take pictures, play with our dog, and decorate for parties and holidays.
About Raul by Erika:
Raul is the kindest, most giving person I have ever met. He is family oriented and is there whenever needed. He does everything he can to make me happy and is always able to make me laugh. He has great sense of humor, is outgoing, and can make friends easily. Our nieces and nephews adore him. He truly has a gift with kids and is a great uncle and godfather. I love him so much and know that he is going to be a wonderful dad.
Raul works in the construction industry and is very handy. He can fix just about anything around the house or with our cars. He enjoys working outdoors and helping his brothers with their horses. He also enjoys riding his bike, walking our dog, and watching baseball.
Our Family and Friends:
We have a large, supportive family and close circle of friends who cannot wait to welcome our child. Together we have 12 siblings who will be wonderful aunts and uncles. Our child will have 33 first-cousins of all ages, and grandma is always ready to babysit! We hope to visit our loved ones, so that our child will meet all of his/her extended family and experience first-hand what life is like on the family farm in Mexico.
We are both fluent in Spanish and enjoy celebrating our Mexican culture with our family and friends, whether we’re dancing at a quinceañera, celebrating Baby Jesus at Christmas, or making tamales. Our family is composed of other ethnicities as well, and we value and promote open-mindedness, respect, and tolerance of all cultures and people.
Our Home:
We live in a three-bedroom home located in a safe, quiet, and diverse neighborhood in northern Illinois. We often see children riding bikes on the sidewalks or playing on the swings in the backyard. The elementary school and park are nearby, and it is a great place for our child to grow up.
As we look ahead into our future, we imagine our home filled with the sights and sounds of our child playing and laughing. We envision walks around the neighborhood, trips to the park, homework, baking cookies, dance class, Little League practice, bedtime stories, and lots of hugs and kisses. Our hearts are ever so anxious to share our love. We look forward to the day when our prayers are answered through the miracle of adoption.
Our Promise:
Should you choose us as the adoptive parents of your child, we promise to love your child unconditionally. We will provide your child a supportive, loving environment filled with opportunities to discover his/her passions and follow his/her dreams. He/she will grow in faith and be taught empathy, tolerance, and respect for others. We will always speak of you with gratitude and be honest with him/her. Your child will know his/her story and will never doubt that your choice was made out of love.
Please contact us anytime at raulanderikaACFB@gmail.com. You can also reach us through our adoption counselor, Maggie Benz, at:
800-869-1005
847-366-6343 (text)
maggie@centerforfamily.com
May God bless you,
Raul and Erika
