The First Step...

Martin and I spent last week in Dallas with my sister Liza working on the house and working on Martin's petition.

We're all pretty worn out from all the work we did. There was a lot of work done round the outside of the house. Things we did involved: trees, bushes, gutters, trellises, bricks, painting, and probably a few other things I can't remember.  We worked on computers, curtains, shades, front doors, and probably more.  Oh and the mailbox.  I think we did most, if not all of the outdoor items on the list.

Martin and I worked for a few nights into the wee hours of the morning to get the supporting evidence gathered for the I-129F petition for K-1 Visa.  The form itself is 3 pages long and fairly simple to complete.  It's the gathering and sorting through and organizing of everything we have to send with it that takes all the work.

We ended up with a 1 inch thick 3-ring binder full of stuff.  Our life together condensed down into a 1 inch binder.  It is pretty mind blowing.  And that is not even all of it.  Seven years is a long time to be together and you can't even imagine what it is like (until you actually do it) to try and pick out the right things to send to prove that you really are intending to get married.  How do you prove love?

So, Liza, Martin and I headed out to the post office yesterday morning to send it off.  That photo right there is the first set of "proof" we have starting as of submission of the petition.  Liza did us the favor of taking photos as we wrote out the label and put the petition in the envelope.  Once that was done, we went back to the house, packed, ate lunch and headed out to the airport.

All in all a very productive week.  And now we wait while the gears of the immigration machine begin to turn for us. There are many more steps to go, much more "evidence of relationship" to collect, more forms to fill out and submit.  I'll keep you posted as we go through the process.

It is exciting and scary all at once.  Exciting because Martin and I will be together once the visa is approved. There is much more to do after, but that is the first big hurdle.  It is scary because what if they don't like what we've sent?  Can't help but be paranoid.  There is a lot on the line here.

Anyhoo, wish us luck.  We are hoping for a quick and smooth process.

I Miss You Mom

Mom and Dad at their wedding reception, August 18, 1956

Dear Mom,

It has been a year already.  I miss you something awful.  I think of you all the time and can't tell you how many times I've picked up the phone to ask you something only to realize as I start dialing that you won't be on the other end.

As usual, I needed some help with the "most fabulous stuffing ever" for Christmas.  As you can probably guess, it didn't come out quite right, but it was still edible. I know I missed something, but I can't tell what it was, I'll just have to try again next year.

I've gotten back into sewing a bit and could have used some advice about fixing a zipper and the inevitable buying of new jeans.  You could have told me right away to give it up, I would have believed you more than my inner doubting voice.

Oh, and you could always tell your grandson the exact same thing I just told him, but he'd listen to you more than he did to me.

Wish you were here this week while Martin and I have been in town.  Along with Liza, we've done quite a bit of work around the house.  Hope you don't mind that we've had cable and internet installed.  Now Liza can work easier from home.  It's been nice for all of us to be on the interwebs all at the same time instead of taking turns at the mobile hot spot.

Martin has been quite handy to have around.  I'm going to miss him when he goes back to the UK.  He's a good man Mom, and very good with tools.  He's put quite of few of Dad's tools to work this week and things are looking good round the house.

Going to miss you at the wedding, whenever that will be.  If you were here, I'd ask you to light a candle and rattle the ol' beads because we are submitting the K-1 Visa petition for Martin to come over.  We've been working on all our evidence and so forth and will put it all together and take it to the post office tomorrow first thing.

I know you and Dad are together, so instead of teasing us down here (you guys are enjoying it, I know you are) see if you can pull a few strings and whatnot and get us a smooth and quick process.

Love and Miss you Mom,

Donna

I miss you Dad.

Mom, Me, Big Sis Liza, and Dad...hanging mid 60's style at a wedding.

Dear Dad,

It's 15 years today and it still hurts just as much as it did in 1998.

I think of you often.  I wish you were around to dispense words of wisdom when I need them.  Especially concerning your Grandson.  Or when I break things or need to make things.  I really  miss your hugs.

I wish you could be here to see how Spence has grown.  He's quite the man now, but still a pain in the ass sometimes, but that's what kids do.  You'd be proud of him.  I sure am.

I wish you could have met my Honey, Martin.  You'd like him, he's a good man.  I'm sure you could have convinced him to sneak off for a banana split at the Baskin Robins across the street.  He's easy that way.

I know you'll be there along side Mom 'watching' us at the wedding, whenever that will be.  I'll be thinking of you both and wishing you guys were there.

I know you and Mom are together now, the way you guys always were.  That gives me some comfort.

Love and miss you Dad,

Donna

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This break from working on the K-1 Visa form is brought to you by Gollum...