Marie

Keith

Our dog Dora

Franz Joseph Glacier, New Zealand

Our wedding day

Hi, we’re excited for the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you. We’ve been trying to start a family for years, and after a number of unsuccessful infertility treatments, have decided to pursue adoption as a means to that end. What matters most to us is the opportunity to be parents and to share our love, lives, and spirit of adventure with a child. Please contact our attorney, toll free, at any time: David Keene Leavitt 1-800-345-6789

About Marie
I was born in Boston, MA. I have an older brother and younger sister, along with an extended family the size of a small army (my mom was one of twelve). My childhood was spent on horses and skis, and so began a love of nature that has lasted throughout my life. I pursued these interests in college and thereafter, working for the Forest Service in the mountains of Montana, and as a fisheries observer for NOAA in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I eventually became a middle-school science teacher and had a chance to teach in many environments, from the inner city to rural Illinois and a couple places in between. My career path has changed in recent years, allowing me to focus on higher-level scientific learning. However, working with children remains a passion and I continue to volunteer as a tutor and work as a substitute for the local school district. Being a teacher is the most rewarding job I have ever had, and I can hardly put into words how amazing it will be to help my own child learn and grow.

About Keith
I was born and raised in Southern California, the oldest of six children. My parents imparted a love of the outdoors to all of us at an early age, and I spent most of my childhood summers camping and fishing with my brothers. After graduating high school, I was accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where I played football and majored in Physics. I was commissioned as a naval officer in 1997 and completed flight school in 1999. Since then, I have had the privilege of serving as a Naval Aviator, flying P-3 patrol aircraft throughout the Pacific. In 2007, the Navy gave me the opportunity to go back to school in Monterey, CA. After obtaining a Masters degree and learning to speak Hindi, I was designated a Foreign Area Officer with a specialization in South Asia. My career has brought travel, adventure, and a lot of fun, but most importantly, it led me to Hawaii where I met my beautiful wife. In my spare time, I enjoy almost any outdoor sports (running, swimming, hiking, etc) and continue to indulge my passion for flying.

About Us
We met in early 2004 through a mutual friend in Hawaii. Although it took a little while for our friendship to blossom into romance, we started dating in 2005 and have been inseparable ever since. We were married in October 2008 in an intimate ceremony on the beach in Carmel, California. Despite our difficulty conceiving, the years since have been full of love, laughter, friends, and family.

We live in a beautiful town on the East coast of Oahu, with a very sweet dog named Dora. Our house is two blocks from the ocean and all three of us love taking evening walks on the beach. The neighborhood is full of kids, and many of our friends have young children of their own. There is a huge recreation center a block away, with tennis courts, a pool, playground, and baseball/soccer/football fields.

Most of our family lives on the mainland. Though it’s far away, we spend many holidays and other special occasions together. It is very important to us that our extended families be an integral part of our child’s life.

We share a love and respect for the great outdoors, and enjoy most activities on the water or in the woods. We love to travel, especially to places where we can enjoy the snow (there’s not too much here in Hawaii). Regardless of where our children come from, we look forward to parenthood as the next great adventure.

When we think about our future family, many things come to mind. We envision Marie staying home with the child, at least until school starts. Once it does, education will be a priority but there will always be time for fun, be it sports, the arts, or whatever our child is passionate about. We’re both open minded people and hope we can foster a wide range of interests. In this regard, a military lifestyle offers a number of unique advantages. While it’s true that we may have to move a bit more frequently than your average family, that challenge is more than made up for by exposure to diverse cultures, places, and experiences, and the built-in social and support networks present wherever we go. Our goal is to raise a responsible, self-assured, and well-rounded child who knows they will always have our love and support, through thick and thin.

We could go on about why we think we would make great parents, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to how you feel if and when you meet us. Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and considering us as prospective parents. We wish you the best of luck.

Keith & Marie