Aloha, we are Jemma and Peter. Thank you for reading our letter to you and giving us the chance to introduce ourselves. We understand that you have an important decision to make, and we are very grateful that you are considering us as possible parents for your baby. It is courageous for you to explore adoption, and we hope this letter will express our heartfelt desire and sincere commitment to providing a warm, loving and safe home for your child.

There is so much we want you to know about us: our love for each other and our families, our passion for education, our openness and compassion, our senses of humor, and especially our genuine desire to become parents. Jemma’s niece was adopted and we have experienced firsthand how fulfilling it can be to create a family through adoption.

Our life paths crossed on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where we had the same circle of friends. We’ve known each other for over nine years, have been together for six years and were married in March 2008. We love being part of a community, hosting gatherings and bringing friends and family together to enjoy food, music and laughter. Our friends fully support us and are excited about our adoption. We live in a bright, happy home in the suburbs of Honolulu with parks and beaches nearby, and enjoy exploring our island home by hiking the gorgeous trails and swimming at the beautiful beaches.

Being the youngest of five siblings, Jemma comes from a large family. She grew up in San Diego, and graduated from college with a degree in theatre arts. Jemma’s strong family ties bring her and Peter to visit her family members in both Northern and Southern California often. Her love for travel has taken her to many different states in the U.S. and to different countries as well. Jemma has always enjoyed being with children, and became an elementary school teacher ten years ago. She taught on Maui for eight years and is currently enjoying being a first grade teacher here in Honolulu. She is excited to become a parent and plans on taking time off to be a full-time mom.

Originally from the East Coast, Peter was raised by his parents, grandparents and older sister. After graduating college in Boston with a degree in music he moved to be with his sister in Maui and to play and teach music. This led him to positions in several youth centers and schools. Having recently earned a certificate to teach grades one though eight, he is currently a sixth grade teacher. He enjoys singing with his class and playing percussion, guitar and ukulele.

Both of us are looking forward to growing our family and sharing our love. Building sand castles on the beach, reading books in bed, and singing and playing music are just some of the joys that we are excited to share with our child. We will provide a nurturing home full of joy, where a child can thrive. We have learned that tending to relationships is what makes us happy and successful as people. We know that your story will be a part of our child’s life forever. We believe in open adoption, and trust that it can be the basis for a beautiful and loving relationship for everyone involved.

We would love to have the opportunity to get to know you and are open to your questions and thoughts. If you think we could be the right parents for your child, we invite you to contact us anytime on our special toll free number: 1.888.588.0188. If you wish to discuss this with our adoption counselors, Lisa Clark or Lynne Jacobs, please call them at 1.800.969.6665.

We look forward to speaking with you!

With Love and Aloha,

~Jemma and Peter