Venturing Out Onto the Yellow Brick Interstate

So, our journey is beginning. I mean, technically, it began about a month ago when we contacted an agency (Adoption Assistance in Danville, KY) to conduct our home study (a set of "interviews" designed to see if our home is suitable for placement of an adoptive child), but the rubber is really meeting the road now. We've gotten all of our documentation together for them and we'll have our first home study appointment on the 21st.

I keep reading about a lot of reluctant fathers who seem to dread the home study. I'm a little nervous about it, for sure, but I definitely don't dread it. I don't really mind answering questions about my life or my parenting style.

We also submitted a pre-application with Adoption Associates, Inc, and they have sent their formal application to us.

Wow. This thing is huge...

But that's okay. We realize that any time you're dealing with a government or two, some grunt work will be involved. I suppose we're a little different from the average adoptive couple, in that we aren't in a hurry to get through this process as soon as possible. I mean, don't get me wrong, we don't want anything to drag out any longer than is necessary, but we just don't have the "NOW! NOW! NOW!" feeling, as far as a child being placed in our arms.

But definitely don't mistake patience for a lack of motivation...

I (Adam) have been devouring anything I can get my hands on concerning Ethiopian/trans-racial adoption (did I mention in the last blog that we've chosen Ethiopia?). I've listen to podcasts, checked out books, read articles, perused blogs. And I know Amanda has done the same. We just want to feel as informed as possible going into this thing. (I was sorely disappointed by our local library branch yesterday when I couldn't find any travel books on Ethiopia.)

Looks like I'll be headed to Joseph Beth soon...

1. Here we go...

Well, here we are.

We're beginning our adoption journey and joining the blogging community all in one. I know that for now, no one will really see this, but I (Adam) think it'll be a great way to chronicle our journey through the adoption process and to eventually keep folks up to date on what's going on with us.

I'm assuming most visitors here will be familiar with us, but for those that aren't, my name is Adam Higginbotham (yes, I know it's a mouthful). I live in Lexington, KY with my wife Amanda and our three daughters, ages 4, 2 and 1.

"Three children under five, and you want another?!?!?"

Yes, we're crazy for wanting to go ahead and add another kiddo to that mix. Bear with me...

It's actually part of the reason for the title. Honestly, no matter where we go, the statement we hear from passers-by is the same: "You've got your hands full, don't you?". Yes, but our hands are a reflection of our hearts.

Full.

Which is also the reason for our decision to adopt. There's a lot of love in our house and it seems selfish to keep it all bottled up just amongst the five of us. So many kids out there will never know the blessing of a mother or a father. They will never have someone to hug them or tuck them in at night with a story and a song. They would never know "home".

As many other adoptive parents put it, we're aiming to make that number "one less".

So there you have it. Hopefully, this is the beginning of something wonderful. Most other posts after this will probably be much less flowery, but I figure if we're going to start this thing, let's do it with purpose.

Onward and upward...