FAMILY -- We love children, and they sense it when they are around us. Children of our friends who are usually shy around adults climb into Jewel's lap, or chase Paul around the house. Some of our happiest times are when we spend time playing with our niece and nephews. We want to share our life with children, we want to encourage them and help them to be the best possible people they can be.

Our baby will receive a lot of love and affection, as well as many opportunities to learn and grow by being a part of our family. Spending time with our extended family is very important to both of us. We talk with our family members regularly and we get together as often as we can both sides of our families. We look forward to passing on the tradition of family closeness to our children. Our spiritual values are very family oriented -- for example, we celebrate the Sabbath with a special dinner together on Friday nights, and we often celebrate religious holidays with our extended family.

OUR INTERESTS -- We both love reading. We look forward to reading bedtime stories to our children and awaking their curiosity about reading for themselves. We both like to do creative things. Paul likes making models and woodworking, and Jewel likes painting and making pottery. Our child can look forward to fun, creative times.

We understand that children are born with their own special talents - in the neighborhood we have swimming and tennis teams. Nearby we have soccer, little league, ice-skating and horseback riding to list a few. We are ready to nurture whatever interests and talents our child has.

PETS - Our gentle and friendly cats, Kitka, Emma and Black Beauty, join us in waiting with open arms/paws to welcome your baby into our lives.

We would love to get to know you better, and for you to have all of your questions about us answered. Please call us at 1-800-484-8728 (when it asks for a security code, dial 9970), or call the Independent Adoption Center at 1-800-877-OPEN. You can reach us by e-mail at Jewel@Rubin.net. We hope to hear from you.