KURT, ISAAC, AND MOLLY Dear Expectant Parent, Kurt enjoys exercising and playing the trumpet. Kurt also likes to work in the yard We appreciate you taking time to read about and takes pride keeping our home very nice our family and our desire to adopt. We hope and comfortable. that through this letter you will get an idea of our family, our parenting approach, and our Molly enjoys scrapbooking. She started lives. scrapbooking shortly after marriage. It’s fun to look back at some of our first pictures We met while volunteering through Big together, taking our first vacation to Arizona Brothers/Big Sisters. We both had “Littles” (Kurt’s first plane ride), our wedding pictures, through the program and met at a volunteer and Isaac’s first days while bonding with him appreciation dinner. in the hospital. We have been married for eight years and, from the beginning of our relationship, knew About Isaac we wanted to become . Early in our Isaac is a . He loves music, loves to dance, marriage we learned it would be very difficult and loves to sing. Recently we started a to have children by birth. Although this was music class, Kindermusik, with him. Isaac and Molly a difficult time for us, we knew that our Isaac’s first hayride through the family woods and dream to build a family would become a hills. He loved it! reality through adoption.

Two years ago we were blessed to become parents to our first child, Isaac Maxwell, through adoption. He is the joy of our lives and we are very grateful that Isaac’s birthmother chose us to be his parents. He is adored by our entire family and is a gift that we cherish every day.

Our faith is very important to us. We go to church every Sunday. We hope our children grow up with a strong sense of love and respect for being a Christian. Our home We live in a mid-size city in the Midwest. Kurt works at a college and Molly is a management professional. One of Isaac’s favorite things is playing outside. He loves to play with his toys, leaves, water, and dirt (such a boy!).

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All three of us attend the class. He plays pour outside. We still laugh about that different instruments, sings, dances, and adventure. Actually, it’s funnier now plays. It’s just as much fun for Molly and Kurt than it was then! as it is for Isaac. Isaac’s favorite songs are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, ABC’s, and Jesus My family is extremely important to me. Loves Me. Growing up with two older sisters and a younger brother was a true blessing. Isaac loves Sesame Street. His favorite We did not have a lot of material characters are Cookie Monster, Elmo, and possessions, but what we did have was a Oscar the Grouch. He says “Cookie Monster” stable and happy home where we knew with a scratchy voice. we were loved.

For Christmas he got a small basketball goal One of the family moments that I and loves to shoot baskets with Molly and cherish from the past and continue to Kurt. When he misses he says, “Aw man” cherish now is the family dinner table. and when he makes it, he says, “I did it!” Even as we’ve grown up, dinner has been an important part of our lives. I About Molly (in her words) love to hear everyone’s voices as we say our mealtime prayer together. And I was blessed to grow up in a wonderful after eating, we sit around the table and family, including my mom, dad, two sisters, talk about anything and everything. It is and one brother. We lived in the country one of the greatest gifts I have received where my dad was a farmer and my mom from my parents and my siblings. That time ISAAC AT DADDY’S WORK was a stay-at-home mom. My parents is precious to me for a number of reasons, instilled in us a strong work ethic, high but perhaps, most importantly, because my Isaac loves to “type” on computers. morals, and a dedication to our family. They brother passed away eleven years ago. His live just thirty minutes from us and are an untimely death illustrated to me even more active part of our lives. They are very how we must not take life for granted but supportive of our adoption plan and cannot embrace it, live it every day, be generous to wait to have another grandchild to spoil. others, and tell those we love how much they mean to us. While growing up, my mom always had dinner at 12 noon and supper at 6:00 p.m. on Molly Talks About Kurt the dot. I am still amazed at how she could Kurt is a kind man. When I described the have all the food done at the same moment. man I wanted to marry (prior to meeting The smell of homemade peach cobbler or him), I was unknowingly describing Kurt. He apple pie throughout my parents’ is never has any cross words to say to me. He is one of my favorite things. As a hobby, my the ultimate gentleman. mom quilts. I am anxiously waiting to see the beautiful quilt she will make for your Kurt is a wonderful dad to Isaac. He is a child. It will be pieced together by hand with hands-on Dad who is a true partner in love that only a grandma has. parenting. Kurt and Isaac love to play together. It can be stacking building blocks, My dad continues to farm on land that has playing cars, or reading books. Isaac loves been in the family for over a hundred years. his Dad. The look on both of their faces He loves what he does. My dad was always when Kurt gets home from work or from the driver during our annual family vacations. running errands is priceless. For years we camped out while on vacation instead of staying in hotels. One year, our Kurt makes me laugh. Although I would not “home away from home” was a large tent. describe him as goofy, he sometimes acts We took a day trip and while we were gone, it goofy on purpose to brighten my day. For rained, no it poured. When we got back to example, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if the campsite, our tent was wet and he would walk by me in the house with his everything in it was drenched, including all pants pulled up high near his chest. He won’t six sleeping bags. Mom & Dad loaded up say a thing but simply walk by and look at me Isaac loved going to the pumpkin patch and the apple what they could and off we went to a small, funny. Instantly, he makes me laugh. We orchard. Another one of his favorite words is “apple”. and quite old, motel. I remember all six of us laugh a lot when we are together. Laughter cooped up in tiny motel room watching it is great medicine for our souls. Isaac’s Favorite Things:

Dancing ~ Singing ~ Playing Outside ~ Elmo and Cookie Monster ~ Tractors ~ Trains 3

About Kurt (In his words) I was raised primarily by my grandmother although my mother was very much a part of my life throughout childhood and adolescent life. My grandmother was an amazing woman. She had to quit school in the 8th grade to help her family survive. She raised four girls on her own, one of whom was my mother, while working multiple low paying, labor intensive jobs until her kids were on their own. When my mother was ill after my birth, my grandmother took care of me. My mom recovered and remarried. Although I continued to live with my grandmother, I remained close to my mom. She cannot wait to have her another grandchild to love on.

I learned the importance of hard work from my grandmother, as well as the importance of being a responsible person. I was raised “old school” which meant very strict rules and being grounded was not ruled out. We did not have a great deal of extras growing up that other kids around us had; however, she and my mother worked hard and Isaac and Kurt reading before bed time. provided a Catholic school education for me, as well as, gifts for Christmas and birthdays. Love filled our home. We prayed together in the mornings, as well as before bed. I was always taught to say “Yes ma’am” and “Yes sir” when talking with adults. My grandmother instilled the importance of family and she always wanted me to be a good husband and father.

My family is very small in number, yet we are big in love. In addition to my Mom, stepfather, and cousin (who I call my sister), I have a brother, another sister, and another cousin. They all live within twenty minutes of us. They are all excited to have another grandbaby join the family which will bring them so much joy and laughter.

My father was a Vietnam and Korean War veteran. I only saw him sparingly during childhood. We were reunited when I was in my mid- twenties and I remember him telling me that he failed as a father and that he hoped that I could become the father that he was not. My most important goal in life after that was to become a good husband and father. I have been blessed by God to have Molly as a wife and Isaac as a son. Isaac loves swinging in his backyard.

Kurt’s Favorite Things:

University of Kentucky Football ~ University of Louisville Basketball ~ Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ Listening to Jazz ~ Playing Golf

Molly’s Favorite Things:

Scrapbooking with Friends ~ Yoga ~ McDonald’s Diet Coke ~ Decorating the House ~ Christmas Music

Isaac and Molly climbing their front yard tree.

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Kurt Talks About Molly Molly is an amazing woman. When we met, I was working as a collector for a finance company and living in a small apartment, yet she looked past all of that and saw the person that I was and accepted me for who I was. I always believed the term “better half” when referring to one’s wife because Molly has made me a better person from the moment we met. She instilled the confidence in me to apply for the current job that I have held for over eight years.

Her family is really special. Her mother and father have welcomed me into the family from the first time I met them. The rest of her family always accepted me, as well. I love the way her family keeps their traditions going strong.

My family loves Molly. My mother raves about her to everyone in my hometown. After only four months of dating, my father passed away and Molly was at my side at his funeral. This was a first time for me meeting members of my father’s side of the family. They were impressed with Molly and predicted that she would be the woman whom I would marry.

Our Final Thoughts We love being parents to Isaac. He brings us so much laughter, joy, and happiness. We look forward to sharing that love with another child. We would love for Isaac to have a brother or sister to grow up with. Our goal for our children is a lifetime of happiness and love. Also, we want our children to be respectful of all people, have a strong sense well-being, and understand the importance of education. We want to give our children every opportunity we can afford them. We are not perfect parents nor do we ever expect to be perfect. What we strive for every day is to be the best parents we can to Isaac and his future sister or brother. We would be happy to provide you updates via pictures and letters as your child grows.

We hope that you can see from our letter our desire to provide for your child. We would love to answer any questions you might have about us. If you have questions, would like to talk with us, or meet us in person, please call Steve or Joel Kirsh at 1-800-333-5736.

With prayers and much gratitude, Kurt, Molly, and Isaac