And Away We Go

On Thursday we got notification that we had PA (Pre-Approval). This simply means that our preliminary paperwork has been reviewed overseas and we are cleared thus far. It means that our Letter of Intent (LOI) has been received and reviewed favorably. We are officially matched up with Kingston. The big approval comes much further down the line, the LOA (Letter of Acceptence). We also got our homestudy approved. Our paperwork will be headed out to our government next week and a big chunk of our wait will officially start. Fun.

Tonight we headed out to the Irish Pub to check out the scene of our fundraiser. They are doing some renovations and it looks great. I'm a little worried about size but I think that we can spill out into the downstairs area. I am feeling a little more relieved now that we've seen it but we still have a lot to do to prepare. To be honest, I only feel stressed out about it when I close my eyes to go to sleep at night. That's the only time my mind is free to digest everything that is going on.

I am tired.

Goodnight, time to think.

Let the Frustration Begin

We are waiting for our home study approval.

It is taking its sweet time.

No, that's being too diplomatic.

IT IS TAKING BLOODY FOREVER!!!!

It was approved by our branch office almost two weeks ago.

It is held up somewhere, on someone's desk in Michigan.

And so we wait as is the case on every step of every adoption.

I
am
no
different

than anyone else.

I just didn't think the frustration would start this soon.

Motherhood

You become more than yourself when you become a mother. I have struggled because I am no longer....

Melissa Armstrong....

or

Melissa Lentz.

I am no longer just a University of Wisconsin grad.

I am no longer just Ryan's wife.

I am Everest's mom.

I have an appreciation like never before for what my mother gave me and gave up by simply or un-simply becoming my mom. She will always be Melissa's mom although I am now grown and no longer just a University of Wisconsin grad and no longer just Ryan's wife. She is still my mom even though I am now Everest's mom.

My identity revolves around my son. I do not choose this. It chooses me. It's something a mother cannot escape. We are our children's accomplishments and failures. We are their sadness and celebration.

I now sit here and think about the future and about becoming Everest and Kingston's mom and about what that means to me....

and to

Everest.

Raise a Glass (of beer or chocolate milk) for Kingston!

So our fundraiser is in its beginning planning phase. All I know for certain is that it is March 5th at 6:00 at The Irish Pub (upstairs) in Milwaukee's Third Ward on Water Street. It's a great little space. Kid friendly, good food, good drink, good company! We are planning on having a silent auction so if anyone has any donations for it, please let me know. I'm not sure how to do it but I will try to put an entry form to the event on this blog. However, if you plan on attending, please e-mail me at mlentz04@yahoo.com and I can send you one. I also have sponsorship forms if you happen to know of any businesses that would sponsor the event. I hope to see you, your friends and family there!!