Edgar is a native of Mexico. While Edgar was born and raised in Mexico City, he lived in over 6 different countries throughout Europe and South America pursuing his education and consulting career. Edgar was exposed to all sorts of cuisines and climates before moving to the United States to work as an Engineer in the auto industry. While Edgar's whole family is now in Texas, he grew up in the largest city in Mexico, one of the largest cities in the world, one immersed in culture and strong heritage. Being bilingual has provided Edgar the opportunity to travel the world. He's working on teaching Leyla Spanish and looks forward to a household of more than one language.

Leyla was born and raised in Michigan, but both of her parents immigrated to the United States from Europe. While growing up, Leyla and her family would visit their relatives overseas during the summertime, this allowed Leyla to not only visit her cousins, but to connect with her Eastern European heritage as well. While we may come from parts of the world that are significantly different in traditions and language, we were raised to appreciate and embrace heritage and cultural diversity.

We work hard during the week, but we know how to not let our jobs absorb our lives once the work week is over. Edgar and Leyla love to travel, we explore new areas, new cultures, and try some new things (and food) that we may never have before. We relax, but we also come home refreshed and are able to feel balance and happiness in our everyday lives. Living in Michigan, we appreciate the water that surrounds us. A nice Saturday afternoon for Edgar and Leyla can be renting a boat and enjoying some lake life! Leisure time doesn't always have to mean a vacation, Edgar and Leyla find leisure in philanthropy. We rescue animals that are without a home, and we make sure they are healthy, fed, and get them to a safe place. Edgar and Leyla are members of the St. Jude Partners in Hope. Helping children who need medical care is perhaps one of the most valuable things that we do. Edgar and Leyla pray that soon they will have a son or daughter, or both! Their leisure time may end up being a little different, but it will always incorporate things that provide balance to a family and efforts that will help humanity.

When getting to know one another, one of things that stuck out the most about Edgar to Leyla was just how passionate he is about animal welfare. Being an animal lover herself, Leyla felt so excited to share that connection with him. Leyla knew that someone as humane and caring as Edgar would make an amazing father. As donors to the ASPCA and Michigan Humane Society, helping animals is a priority in our lives. We have a white Persian kitty cat named Papacita, and until just about a year and a half ago, we had a black Pomeranian mix named Beau. Unfortunately, Beau has passed away. While it has taken time for our family to adjust, Papacita is enjoying having her food all to herself now. We love all kind of pets, but our favorite breed is rescued! Whether it's just 1 cat like today, or more than 1 pet, our pets are our family, and family is everything. We take care of them every single day making sure they are safe, healthy, engaged, and happy little creatures who feel the love. Our pets are important not only because we are animal lovers, but because it is our nature to nurture, and we have the opportunity to do that with pets. We pray for the opportunity to do that with a child very soon.

We live in the suburbs of Michigan's largest city. A place that is thriving in diversity and acceptance, a place where there is no shortage of activities allowing individuals and families to engage, learn, and have fun. We live down the street from some of the top schools in the state. There may be some snow days during the winter seasons which the kids don't mind, but there are amazing opportunities for learning and development. Who says the whole Midwest is flat? One of the favorite winter activities where we live is skiing. For a Texan, Edgar sure does know how to snowboard and he can't wait to teach his family how to ski and snowboard, he'll make sure to start on the bunny slope. We live in a quiet neighborhood where the community has a pool and a huge park right behind our neighborhood They call it the Great Lakes State for a reason, we are surrounded by water, so thankfully the seasons do change in Michigan. A 30-minute drive and we are at the beach making sandcastles and taking boat rides. We bring our sunscreen, but we sure love being on the boat. It's adventurous but also very relaxing and allows for some time to recharge. Living in an area that is safe, full of culture, and opportunities, it truly is a water and winter wonderland.

We are both blessed to have strong relationships with our families, and both our families are so excited for our plans to adopt. They have all been supportive and are eager to be grandparents, aunts, and uncles! We are fur parents who have love for all animals. While our dog Beau is now in doggy heaven, that just means that our cat Papacita doesn't have to think about her brother stealing her cat food.

Leyla's mother and sister live nearby which allows for everything from quick visits for a cup of coffee, getting together for some weekend grilling, and holiday celebrations as well. While Edgar's side of the family lives in Texas, we remain close and have frequent visits throughout the year. We always make a trip deep in the heart of Texas during the Christmas and New Years holidays where we spend quality time with Edgar's parents, brother, niece, and nephew, San Antonio style.

Leyla's mother was a nanny for over 12 years and worked in the childcare industry before then. Leyla has always said that when it comes to children, her mother is a natural and there is no situation that her mother can't handle, Being retired now and living just a few minutes away will benefit all of us, she can't wait to be a grandmother and shower the child with love, and we can't wait to have her support as we go through the journey of raising a family.

We are so incredibly thankful for you taking the time to learn more about us through our profile. You are in the process of making a significant decision that we understand can be difficult and overwhelming at times. We respect you and whatever decision you choose to make. If adoption is the path you choose and consider us further, please know that we are two nurturing people who will provide a child with love, protection, stability, and opportunity in a safe and compassionate environment. We have always wanted to be parents and would love the opportunity to tell you some more about us.

Our relationship began over 6 years ago, and we got married in 2019. Thankfully we were able to get married and have an intimate wedding that took place in the same spot where we got engaged. From the very start of our relationship, when discussing children and what our hopes are for a family, adoption was always discussed. For us, the importance of being parents was not about having a child that we created, but about creating an amazing life for a child. While some of our philanthropic efforts allow us to do that now for children who need support such as health care, food, and basic goods, we are meant to be parents. We have always felt that adoption is not a last resort for people who have no other choice in how to become parents, but a way to connect and provide for a human being who is on this earth for a reason. We are a couple who come from different ethnic backgrounds and plan to be parents who not only provide a child with a loving home, but with security, structure, opportunities to embrace culture, and so much more.

We are incredibly blessed to be approaching our 5 year wedding anniversary. We are in a loving and stable marriage and have built a solid relationship. After being together for as long as we have, our relationship is perhaps even stronger than it was in the beginning, and we feel that now is the right time to build our family. Our daily lives have good balance of work, wellness, and maintaining a strong relationship. Edgar holds a leadership position in the automotive industry while Leyla works as an advisor in higher education. The fields are quite different from one another which is good as it ends up promoting the balance in our lives. Life can be hectic and have many responsibilities, but for us, being parents to a child will always be our first priority. We see it not so much as a responsibility, but as a way for us to provide unconditional love and support to another human being. It is our dream to have a family, one where the child will be raised in an environment based on strong morals and values and will be taught to accept and respect others, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. We pray for this opportunity every day.

As adoptive parents to a child, we plan to be open and honest with him or her about their adoption. We plan to share that with them at an age where they can understand and communicate. He or she will know that their birth parent(s) went through a difficult decision-making process, a very brave decision that shows your love and selflessness for them. You will always be respected and recognized for your courage. We are happy to send emails and write letters with pictures and updates if you so choose. We are open to visits when the time is right.

Thank you again for taking the time to learn more about us. We know that there is so much more to people than a letter and some pictures, and if you are interested we would love to be able to speak with you. Thank goodness for technology these days where we can "meet" over Zoom. God bless you and the baby inside of you.

Sincerely,

Edgar & Leyla