Our Letter

Dear Friend(s),

First off, thank you for reading our letter! We can’t imagine how hard and overwhelming this entire process and journey is for you. We have spent a lot of time on this letter, hoping to compose it in a way that will show you our love for you. We want you to know how much we respect and admire your strength. We pray that whatever direction you choose you will receive peace and comfort. We believe for you to even consider adoption, you are redefining what it is to love your child unconditionally. We hope through this letter you gain a better understanding of who we are.

We will start with how we became Seth and Lacey Jay. Seth is five years older than me. He served a mission in Tijuana, Mexico and was in the third year of college. I was a social butterfly fresh out of High School and away at college for the first time, ready to have the time of my life. We definitely noticed each other from the beginning. However, with Seth being shy and me wanting to ‘experience college’ we avoided the pull towards each other. It took a few months but the stars finally aligned and we had our first conversation. Starting the next day, Seth made up any reason he could to come by my apartment. The next few weeks we became inseparable! We were both smitten. That was in 2003 and since then we have built an amazing life together. I will never forget how I shamefully fell for the shy guy downstairs my first six months away at college;) It changed my life and now I’m married to my very best friend.

Seth’s words about LACEY: Let me tell you a little bit about my wife. She is funny and can bring a smile to your face. She is so good at knowing when I need a ‘pick me up.’ She’ll leave a note on the mirror written in make-up or prepare my lunch and have a reminder on the door for me in the morning (and even then, I manage to walk out the door without my lunch some days). Lacey has been a great strength and support to me, whether it’s moving out of state or starting a new career, she is always behind me 100%. Lacey has a heart of gold and is always thinking of others. If she sees or knows of someone who is having a hard time, she will go out of her way to cheer them up. She brings a warmth and love into our home and our lives. The thing I love most about her is her ability to love unconditionally. She values family. Lacey was born to be a mother. She has an amazing love and caring spirit for children that I noticed even before Mason and Aiden joined our family. To see her interact with our boys, read to them, research what food to make for them, help one of them crawl or learn to walk has helped me love her even more. She puts their needs before her own, cares for them when they are sick, cleans up after their messes… and does it with so much love. She’s wonderful! Lacey is an excellent cook and is always trying new recipes. Lacey has an amazing eye for photography. She also loves to scrapbook, read, write and do yoga. She loves the great outdoors: camping, riding 4-wheelers, snow shoeing, fishing (catch & release) or accomplishing some insane hike with her mom.

Lacey’s words about SETH: Where do I begin? Seth is my best friend. He is truly the most humble person I know. He has never needed material things to make him happy. He seriously has t-shirts from high school that are falling apart that I won’t let him wear out in public. But I love what that says about him. To him, clothes are just clothes and that reflects how he views a lot of the material things. Seth is extremely hard working and would do anything to support his family. The neatest thing with Seth is everything about him is honest and genuine. He is one of those people that you could find anybody from his past and they would have nothing but good to say about him. He’s calm, laid back and very funny. You wouldn’t know it at first but he has quite a sense of humor. He makes me laugh every day. Seth is so good to me. Even now, he still opens my door for me. He makes me want to be a better person by just being with him. He is so good with children, especially our boys. Seeing him as a dad has allowed me to fall in love with him even more and in a whole new way. I don’t know who has a bigger smile on their face, Seth or the boys when he comes home from work. Seth takes time to be a dad. He interacts with them from the moment he walks in the door until the boys go to bed. Seth loves adventure and anything outside. He enjoys running, hunting, watching as well as participating in any sport, paint balling, rock climbing, fishing, camping and traveling. Seth actually really likes to cook. Believe it or not he taught me a lot in the kitchen. He also plays the piano and has a healthy appreciation for music.

As a family we love to have a good time. We enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, 4-wheeling, going to the park, traveling, sledding, swimming and playing games. We also love to stay at home, build a fort and have a movie night. We spend a lot of time with our extended family having bbq’s and slippin’ slide parties!

Before we were married, we were blessed with a strong feeling about adoption. We knew it would be a part of our lives. We soon realized that feeling and love for adoption was the Lord preparing us for a journey that would change our lives. Since then we have been given a gift from someone else, two times. In 2008 we were chosen to be the parents of our first son, Mason Cole. Again in 2010 we were chosen to be the parents of our second little man, Aiden Michael. It has been the most life changing and incredible blessing we’ve ever received! Our sons, as well their birth families, have filled our hearts and lives in a way words cannot explain.

 Since the moment our first son came into our lives we knew the Lord indeed had a deeper plan for us and this was the beginning of it. We can’t wait to experience this miracle again and grow even more as a family.

Mason is our oldest son. He was born with a personality and spunk! He makes us laugh every day. He says and does the funniest things! We always tell him he’s awesome when he accomplishes something new so now he has started saying “You’re Aw-some mom/dad” when we do something. It’s so funny! Whenever Black Eyed Peas comes on the radio, Mason breaks out in a full dance concert! He is all boy. He loves the dirt and to be outside. On a normal day you can find him playing dinosaurs or with his collection of cars.

Aiden is our second son. He is so sweet and tender yet has a determination to get what he wants. He is so cute and loves to laugh. He also likes to be right in the middle of things. He’ll carry all of his toys out to the kitchen right when Lacey is trying to make dinner. One time he sat there with a book held up to her until she stopped and sat down in the middle of the floor and read it to him. He loves to read and craves to learn new things.

As we were putting this letter together we felt like the best way to get to know us is through someone who has been in your shoes. We invited our sons’ birthmoms to write a little something in our letter about their experience and they eagerly accepted the invitation.

Melissa’s words: My name is Melissa, I’m 24. When I decided I wanted to go through the adoption process I came to LDS Family Services to talk about the family I was going to choose to raise my baby. My social worker mentioned Lacey & Seth, so I looked through their profile. I prayed about it and felt the spirit so strong that I couldn’t breathe. I began to cry. I knew without a doubt in my mind that it was them. I knew it was going to be the best thing to meet the future parents of my son, but I knew it would also be a little hard. As they walked in Lacey just smiled and looked at me; I knew that this was supposed to be Mason’s other mommy. We both held each other so tight and wept. Lacey is very sweet, she is so calming and has the best personality, she adores Mason. Seth and Lacey are very giving. Seth is kind of quiet but is so funny. They are the best parents for Mason. I couldn’t be happier. It makes me feel so secure that my child is being loved by everyone around him. Their family is the best. They are the most loving people I’ve ever met. I hope you listen to your heart and pray. The Lord will guide you to the right family. Trust yourself to make the right decision. From one mother to another, Melissa.

Darcie’s words: I've been in your shoes before and can empathize with how you are feeling. The search for a family to raise your child is overwhelming and can be so difficult. I couldn't believe how hard it was to determine personal criteria for the future parents of my child. They had to be perfect, which Lacey and Seth absolutely are. They were warm, welcoming, and honest from the first moment and have continued to be. They are incredible parents and I have never doubted my decision a single time. They are more than just the parents of our son, they are my family. Seth and Lacey are undoubtedly some of the most kind and genuine people I have ever met. I will forever be grateful to them for the wonderful open adoption that we share and for welcoming me into their lives and Aiden’s as well. It brings me such peace and joy knowing that he will grow up knowing who I am and what I did for him. I couldn't have chosen better people and am happy to have been able to contribute to their family. From one birth mother to another, Darcie

Our hearts we leave with you while you make this difficult decision. If you decide to place, we pray you will follow your heart and are guided by the Lord to the right family, even if it’s not us. We sincerely pray for your happiness in reaching the destination that is meant for you and your child. If it is us, we have faith you’ll know and feel it as you read these words. We are extremely blessed in loving, knowing and interacting with both sides of our sons’ birth families. We are completely open to building a relationship that works for all of us. If you decide to place your child with us they will always know you as their birth mother. Your child will always know they grew in your belly and in our hearts. We will do our best to show your love and teach them of your self-sacrifice throughout their life. Your child will always know you and be aware of our appreciation, gratitude and our love.

Thank you for considering us. Thank you for taking the time to read a little about us. We hope you have a clear picture of who we are and what it is we hold dear to our hearts. We pray for your strength and peace throughout this journey.

Sincerely,

Seth & Lacey Jay