1 year, 4 months, 2 weeks and 2 days!

As you can see from the ticker on the side, that is how long it took from our first paperwork to the word, "Approved." That doesn't count the prep, or the other visa tries.

Wow. I don't even know what to say. It's still sinking in. I woke up at 2:30 this morning and prayed and prayed until I finally heard from G a few hours later. His time at the embassy took longer than it should have (more than 3 hours, 2+ was just waiting to be seen). All of the 'what ifs' starting running through my head. I began to calculate how many months I would need to work, what I would need to sell, and how long it would take to move me and all of my remaining belongings to Ghana. There were so many things going through my head and I didn't even know what/how to pray. The minutes seemed to pass slower than normal as I pondered the unknown.

Then I got the call....

"Hello MY LOVE!"

...I knew it, we were okay.

I could breathe again....mostly. It's not really over until he's here (sorry, it had to be said).

My head is still spinning, this has been quite the journey. I can't believe my man will be here soon....for real.

Thank you, Lord....I don't know what else to say, just thank you so, so much!

APPROVED!!!! APPROVED!!!!! APPROVED!!!!

YAY!!!!

George will pick up his visa on January 15th.

Post-Christmas Slump

Normally there is this bizarre post-Christmas slump of sorts. The anticipation and excitement for all things Christmas has abruptly stopped and now all that's left is the mess, which isn't festive anymore, and thoughts of what the past year held (which can be hard). Ugh.

Not this year, I am excited about life and the things to come!

No doubt, 2009 has NOT been easy! It's been my most difficult year and while I could never truly explain what happened in my circumstances, relationships or in my heart, somehow, I feel like a recap would be appropriate.

I began the year sad and anxious as our immigration case had not moved at all in the 4 months it had been processing. I saw my future slipping away and no amount of success, family time, or festivities could change how I felt. My one glimmer of hope was the airline ticket I had for a very short visit...I had to wait 3 months though.

I trudged on in my job and my faith and things started to move. There were many looong weeks of waiting, followed by looong nights of filling out paperwork and paying fees, we were finally on our way!

Before I knew it, I was off to Ghana to be with my man! It was the sweetest two weeks of my life. We made more progress in the immigration department and I left Ghana with no tears, "I'll see you in a couple of months." Ghana gave me a malaria parting gift (again!) and the recovery took a bit longer than I had hoped, but soon enough I was back to myself.

Then came April 3rd. The high of the year so far: CASE COMPLETE! Soon this whole mess would be over, all we needed was an interview. My faith was renewed, God had moved. We rejoiced in this progress and rested easy in the knowledge that G would be in the States very soon.

Friends and family rejoiced with us and we were showered with wonderful things for our home and life together. Wedding plans were in the works. Then, 2 weeks became 4, became 6, became 8. The promised 8 week maximum wait had come and gone and slowly, agonizingly, we waited for that interview. Week after week our hopes were dashed. We were crushed. We continually cried out to our Father. Where was God?

In the midst of this, my parents sold our home of 12 years and we ended up (all 5 of us) living in a pretty small apartment. Soon, we all moved to our more permanent places. I was in my own apartment, waiting for my man to come any time and make it our home....7 months have passed and I'm still waiting. My haven was gone and it was time for me to truly grow up.

I trudged on, seeking God like I had never done and hoping for the best. He seemed silent.

I had everything most people would ever want and none of the stuff mattered.

My sister soon announced on the eve of a "big news" day, that her 6 month relationship was now an engagement. She would be getting married shortly, my wedding was her only roadblock. I was shocked by my strength....and then by my anger. I was inexplicably hurt beyond words. I didn't know how to pray, but I prayed anyway. Where was God?

Week after week continued to pass, our promised hope did not arrive. At least I had my work, 45+ hours a week sure did help. My church, on the other hand, didn't. They hurt me more than I knew. I wondered, where was God? And I didn't want the god they were touting...

My beloved job soon ended, I didn't know what to do. I had faith for a while, but it began to waiver. I had been calling out to God for so, so long and He did not answer me. I withdrew.

I cried a lot. I begged God to show us what to do-staying apart was killing me. What hurt more was the silence I felt so strongly from my God and the pain from "His people"- I wasn't sure what my faith had become or who I would be when all of this ended. I endured many, many hurtful comments, relationships and suggestions. Some friendships ended, but others grew.

I continued in my daze, picking up work here and there, still praying to a God I hoped actually cared. I needed more.

Our situation continued to change and become more stressful, I can't share all of it, but it wasn't easy. I wanted to give up and say goodbye to this American life forever, but I couldn't even afford to do that. The waiting continued...

I started church again and the different churches I went to started to help me. I began to find strength in the Word again and hope where I had none. I started to understand better who God is and where I fit in. My spiritual life was starting to change and mature and I was becoming me again. My anger was being stripped away. I had no assurance of what would come, but I began to believe that whatever it was, we would make it work.

George and I had a plan to be together, that got smashed too. While we were so very disappointed, we waited and tried to figure out what was next. We prayed, again. And waited some more.

October 30th, things changed. We got the long awaited interview appointment!! Words cannot describe the joy we felt...we could hardly believe it. The next 5 weeks were filled with hope, excitement, and preparation for the big arrival. It looked like God finally heard our prayers. We had faith again, we were our old selves again.

We KNEW G would be coming. All his paperwork was in order and wedding plans were being made. The interview came. It was not good. For some unknown reason, we needed more paperwork. We begged God and everyone else we knew to change the return date and bring G here for Christmas and the wedding. It didn't work. G did not make Christmas. The wedding was canceled. Our hearts were broken, again.

We felt like God had strung us along. For years we had been waiting, for months we had been waiting for that very moment. We had false hope all along, God knew, but we didn't. Then there was an attitude adjustment. We weren't going to let this small setback ruin our holidays, for us or our families. So we moved on, we mustered up some more faith and found many things to be thankful for.

Here we are again. Hoping for things to change. Anxious. Bruised. Praying. Yet we are different. We have grown and learned so much this year. God is bigger and more mysterious than He ever has been. He does great things, and allows some not so great things. He doesn't owe us an explanation.

This has been a year of growing, pain, waiting, silence and trusting. We are hoping and believing that 2010 will be a year of healing, living and learning, together. That God will continue to show Himself in our lives and that we will experience peace. We are hoping for wonderful things and mindful that much of that is in the perspective we have.

I am SO ready to close 2009 and start 2010...we'll see what happens this final and first week.

Party-tude!!

Merry Christmas y'all!

I have surprised myself with how ready I am for Christmas and how much joy I have for this holiday. My 2nd oldest brother told me to put my party-tude on for Christmas, and especially for the festivities at his house tonight. Well said, brother. So I have. I am choosing to see the joy and positive this year and to delight in what I do have going for me.

God has been so good to us and I'm not gonna grouse around on His holiday. :) I am not sad because George isn't here (again), I am hopeful, because he's almost here. I'm not angry that we are still waiting, I'm excited that the waiting will be over very soon and that I have a Love who is worth the wait. I'm not grieved for the loss of the wedding, I'm thankful for flexible vendors and loving family and friends who have rallied around us. I do miss George terribly, but I'm so glad for a big and awesome family who help to pass the time and fill up the silence. Isn't it great that God put us in families?

I'm a happy girl and ready to party!

Everybody needs an Ellen.

I have a really great friend, her name is Ellen. Ellen and I met in the Heathrow airport almost 3 years ago on our way to Ghana to volunteer. I never would have imagined that I would be blessed with such an amazing friend.

We were roommates for a couple of months in Ghana and experienced many new and sometimes hard things together. At times we were the only Christian volunteers and the only ones from THE South. We laughed and grew and challenged one another and cried our eyes out when it was time to part. She is also one of my few friends who actually knows George and that is so special to me.

Our friendship continued when were back in the states-she in South Carolina and me, in Texas. She loves my family and my family loves her, we would adopt her if we could.

Ellen has taught me so much and been so supportive through everything. There is so much to say about Ellen, but I'll condense. She ALWAYS tells me how strong I am, especially when I feel the opposite. She is honest and loving, but never makes me feel bad. She knows when to call me and make sure I'm not isolating myself from the world, and when to give me space. She can make me laugh and is quick to call or text something funny-this is vitally important to my well being. Ellen is always on my side. I hope I can be a friend like her and I am so, so thankful for her! I think everybody needs an "Ellen" in their life.

Ellen may flip out about this picture, because it is not flattering (AT ALL) for either of us, but I die laughing every time I see it. We were being awesome by taking newbies to a traditional chop house and eating real Ghanaian food. The pic was snapped as someone announced that they found tongue too big and intestines too small for the meat we were supposedly eating. Hahahaha!! How I love Ghana...

Namesake...

I'm big on name meanings. It matters to me what a name means and I'm glad it mattered to my parents too. When I was young, I dreaded my grown-up uber Christian name, I just wanted to have a cool name, like Ashley or Stephanie. I'm glad now that I am Bethany instead.

Do you know what your name means? Sorry if you have a made up or trendy name that means "soap opera-ish". I'm learning more about my namesake recently and it all comes from my favorite story in the Bible. The raising of Lazarus. I figure most of my readership is Christian or educated, so you're all probably familiar with this story. If not, you can find it here.

The whole bringing a man back to life thing is not really the important part of this story for me. It's the trust and sorrow and faith part.

Lazarus was sick, so his sisters sent word to Jesus and He told them that this sickness would not end in death. I'm sure that was a great comfort them, they knew Jesus would show up. Except for one thing, Lazarus DIED!!! Can you imagine? This friend you have, who loves you and you love back happens to be God incarnate and he seemingly lied to you? I don't know what sorrow was greater, that their brother died or that GOD, their beloved friend, didn't show up for them. My money is on the latter.

Four days into their heart broken grief fest, Jesus showed up. Martha came to meet Jesus and said two things (which I love). First, she let Jesus know that had He been there, this would NOT have happened. Second, she showed faith and said she knew God would give Jesus whatever He asked for (I can only imagine what was going through her head: pleasebringmybrotherbackfromthedead x1,000 ). Then, my favorite, Jesus told her her brother would rise and she over spiritualized it. Ha! She over spiritualized a conversation with GOD! I think Christians do that a lot-sometimes, it really is what it is. Anywho-then they reiterated that she believed he was indeed God and they got Mary in on everything. Mary had similar sentiments to Martha. Jesus had compassion on them and then the famous, "Jesus wept." happened.

Before they knew it, Lazarus had been raised from the dead. Pretty awesome. But you know, I don't think that un-did the days of sorrow and heartache they went through. I don't think it all of the sudden clicked why He did that-Jesus could have showed his glory in healing Lazarus just as well as raising him from the dead, and it would have been a lot easier on his family. Jesus did show up for them, but it wasn't without pain or sorrow, it wasn't without doubt, and there was some hard waiting involved.

So what on earth does this have to do with my name? Bethany is where all of this went down (as well as the perfume and hair thing). Bethany is where Jesus loved to be. Bethany has meant 'Dwelling place of God' all of my life, but now I also see it meaning other things. Bethany-trust, sorrow, waiting, joy...the place where God showed up.

More sadness...

It's official, the return interview date will not be moved up. No George for Christmas and the wedding has been canceled. Sad, sad day.

How to be a good dad...

My dad is pretty great. We don't have heart-to-hearts very often, because he always makes me cry. He makes me cry because he says (and almost always validates) the things I am suppressing, in order that I won't cry. But sometimes, it has to be done. Yesterday, was one of those times. My dad is in the trenches with me, he doesn't understand this crap either and he believes in George and Me and knows we have a wonderful future ahead. Good to hear, but lots of tears were included.

He has been great at trying to distract me and keep me busy during this terrible time of waiting and hoping. It's usually something simple, like going to a cool mall and getting some treat. Last night topped it though. My parents don't have a TV. They used to, but what started as a 'we spend entirely too much money on entertainment and watch too much' type of thing, morphed into 'we don't need a TV at all'...this is being reconsidered. Anyway, it's hard to watch mind numbing, time passing things, when you have to look it up on Fancast and watch it alone on a laptop. So my dad did something about this. He mysteriously left and returned with a borrowed TV from my bro (who has a few extras), movie treats, The Muppet Christmas Carol and a cheeseburger Happy Meal for dinner. While obviously nothing will actually make George not being here better, this did help. The movie choice was great; we have outlawed It's A Wonderful Life this year. I used to love it, but the crappier and more depressing my life gets the more challenging my life gets, the harder it is to watch that movie. So not this year, not when I'm right there on that bridge with George Bailey. I'll take Gonzo instead, thank you. I'm glad I have a dad who gets it. Maybe Elf will be on the agenda tonight.

honesty

I truly do not know how much more or how much longer I can handle this immigration game. I'm crushed. We haven't heard anything about pushing up the return interview and if something doesn't happen this week, the wedding that I finally let myself get excited about will be cancelled. My heart hurts. I am crying out to God to make a way where there is no way. My need for George and heartache over the death of this dream grows each day. In addition to the wedding possibly getting cancelled, I cannot imagine Christmas without George-just don't know how I'll get through it. I didn't go to Ghana (for the holidays) because G got an interview and would be coming here. That may not be the case anymore, it somehow feels like a sick joke. I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong. I am so, so weary of this.

Thank you Lord that we didn't get AP.

Thank you Lord for parents who have been so, so helpful.

Thank you Lord for giving me such an amazing man.

PLEASE LORD, don't stop there-bring George home now!!!!

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13

The documents made it to Ghana! Still no known progress in getting George into the consulate early. PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!!!

A new day, a new week.

Today was another great church morning (I really had no idea what I was missing out on). I am encouraged and looking forward to what this week may hold.

I have come to grips with the new airfare price, but am still praying for God to somehow work that out. As if I would say, "Sorry Babe, it's too much money, wait 'til it goes down." That's just silly and not even a possibility, so I guess I shouldn't really make that big of a deal out of it.

Praying, praying, praying that God will make a way where there is no way. That the right people will see our quick compliance (to the changing rules) and our desire to be together and look on that with favor. We're praying George will be called back in immediately and that he will be granted and printed a visa-on the spot. Please join us!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143: 7-8

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. -Psalm 40:5

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26

The good, the bad, the vomitous and the DOUBLE vomitous!

GOOD:

• An organized mom who had ALL the info needed to co-sponsor...made things super fast.
• Getting all the needed forms notarized, for free, at 8pm!
• The sweet lady at the bank who wrote a letter on behalf of the co-sponsor.
• Nice wedding gifts on my doorstep-2 nights in a row!
• Supportive family and friends who are lifting us up in prayer.
• An AMAZING man who is worth all this "trouble"
• Lots of work this week.
• Friends with connections.
• 12 hours of sleep and a fresh outlook.
• Brownie a la mode for lunch.
• I'm gonna be an Aunt.

BAD:

• No one informing us until now that we even needed a co-sponsor.
• My man not coming this weekend.
• Squashed dreams.
• The first mail place not being able to express mail to Ghana.

VOMITOUS:

• The post office express mailing our documents to Ghana. The total: $106.00!

DOUBLE VOMITOUS:

• Thanks to the delay, airfare has doubled...ugh.

More prayers...

I have a friend who has some connections, she's trying to speed up the 2nd interview. I don't even care about them asking for extra paperwork anymore, whatever it takes! We have filled out the needed co-sponsorship and I'm about to go get a title loan on my car so I can mail it to Ghana in no time...ok, I'm kidding about the title loan. Please pray that this does something. I think the mountain is trembling...

Say to this mountain...

It's with a heavy heart that I am writing that George did not get approved today. He didn't get denied either though.

The (expletive) consulate is requiring that we have a co-sponsor, thus another form is needed. The kicker? He has to go back on the 30th to present this form!! I'm really upset by this for a couple of reasons. 1. I am his sponsor and I make enough money to "support" him by the guidelines given to us by the government. I submitted the correct form and paid $70 for someone to look at it and OK us to move forward. Now, the embassy is saying it's not enough and we need a co-sponsor. That is so wrong. On the other hand, my parents don't mind co-sponsoring at all and we could have the paperwork finished and notarized in less than hour. 2. The 30th?!? Give me a break!! I want my man for Christmas!!!

I have already sent 2 e-mails to the consulate and will try as hard as I can to call (during the tiny window of time which I'm permitted to bother them with my voice) and talk to someone. *I just got an auto-response from the consulate saying that they no longer take immigrant visa inquiries over the phone, but they'll get back to me in 5-7 days. I'm calling anyway. **45 minutes, 42 tries and about $8 later, I finally got through. The operator was no help at all, said I should send an e-mail and a supervisor should look at it. Praying someone reads at least one of my 3 e-mails soon...

Please pray that we can either get this new requirement reversed or that they will except a faxed copy right away and there will be no need to wait until the 30th. My God is big...I'm tryin' not to be freaked right now.

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Pumped and ready to go!!

I hardly slept last night. I kept waking up and praying for tomorrow! George and I are so excited. We just spoke and he is VERY prepared. I didn't realize how sentimental he was- he has saved everything I have sent him for our entire relationship! We went over some prep questions and reviewed everything he'll be taking with him. I think he has more than enough evidence and we both feel very confident about the interview. We are still praying constantly for God's favor and FAST visa printing. Please join us!!

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143: 7-8

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. -Proverbs 13:12

Texas is smelling...

Today I was reminiscing some of the funnier stories from George and my relationship with my family, they got a kick out of them, so I thought I would share. I love laughing while I wait!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ George's mom had a dog. This was most certainly not the kind of dog that "co-habitates" the way we crazy Americans have dogs. This was an outside dog, who ate scraps and scared chickens out of the garden. No one pet this dog, played with this dog, or named this dog! I was often gently chastised for petting and playing with this dog.

"Oh BETA!" George's mom would exclaim! "Ao," she would say (meaning 'no') and continue on in Ewe that this dog was dirty, and I should NOT be touching IT! However, the dog soon came to love me and follow me around and protect me. It was pretty cute.

After years of having this dog, no one had named here, so naturally, I did. Texas was her name and it stuck. Shortly before I arrived last summer, Texas died. :( George was in school so his sister and cousin ended up burying Texas in the backyard.

Fast forward to me being in Ghana and at George's mom's place. George and I were happily lounging in the tropical backyard. It was a gorgeous evening (I was probably getting malaria, but that's beside the point) the weather was perfect, the day had been great, it was, dare I say, romantic. The roosters had settled down, there was a nice breeze and we were blissfully together....ahhhhh.

Then, the moment was smashed.

"Something is smelling," George said, twisting his face in disgust and acting personally offended by this odor.

"OH!" I said, "Something does stink! ....I think....it's Texas," Whispering the last part.

"No," George said, " Surely not. Let's go inside"

Buzz kill.

This happened on a few more occasions of trying to enjoy the backyard. The same conversation and the same outcome-going inside.

A few nights later, it was gorgeous again. So we went back out, enjoying all the wonderfulness that Ghana has to offer.

Again, in disgust and personal offense that something dare to smell around him and ruin our moment, George exclaimed, "Something is somehow smelling! What is that?!"

"It's Texas," I said. I was sure of it, slightly regretting my name choice and grossed out all at once. Roadkill is shockingly not as common in Ghana as it is here, so that smell is not familiar.

George still thought this was unlikely....

"Where is Texas buried?" I insisted.

George pointed. So we got up and walked towards the grave of my canine friend.

Before we even got there, the smell was strong enough to knock us down.

"It IS Texas!" George exclaimed in shock. "We gotta get outa here!"

So we went inside and stopped hanging out in the backyard on warm breezy nights. Bummer.

The moral of the story? Don't let skinny girls bury a dog...they dig a grave too shallow. Also, don't name an animal after your home, if they die and stink, it leaves a bad impression. That, and don't take life too seriously, laugh! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lost in translation.

Most of the time, George and I perfectly understand what the other is saying. But every now and then, his English is different from my English. Case in point...

We were going to visit friends or family members I hadn't met yet, something like that. So we wanted to look good.

"What are you going to wear?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, but not pants!" I said.

"WHAT?!?" He choked out.

"I'm not wearing pants, it's too hot."

"So...you're gonna wear a skirt or dress and NO pants?!"

"Yes, that's how it usually works. I don't know how you wear pants all the time, I don't want to wear them."

"You have to," George said, "I'm not taking you without pants on."

"What?" I said, I was totally confused. "I didn't wear pants yesterday."

"You didn't?" the puzzled look on his face was quite comical and frankly, shocked me. We went around and around a little while longer before one of us finally asked, "What exactly are we talking about here?"

"Um, me not wanting to wear jeans...right?" I asked...way confused.

"That's what you're talking about?"

"Yes, what did you think?"

George burst out laughing! A deep belly laugh that took a while to recover from. Somehow he managed to find a way to tell me that 'pants' in Ghana means underwear, he thought I was going to wear a skirt and go commando! Geez, what kind of a girl did he think I was? The story loses something being typed, but I still think it's funny. The question now is, "Pants with legs, or without?" I'm, still learning to call pants trousers and shorts knickers (or trousah and neeekah). Hee hee.

The moral of this story- know what your significant other calls underwear? I don't know, it just makes me laugh.

PLEASE keep PRAYING!!! Just a little while longer!!

Psalm 39:12

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the Lord, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:5-13

This morning's sermon was about persistence in prayer. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!

...starting this week with more prayer, prayer and prayer!!!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12

ONE week!!!

Just one week until the interview!! Actually, by this time next week, the interview will already be over!! I just got off the phone with G (terrible connection) but it sounds like he got everything he needs from the clinic and they told him, "When you get your approval on the 10th, come back for this final injection." That's a very positive statement-the stuff I like to hear!

Today I am praying for the interviewer. I'm praying that he/she will be for us and not against us, that they will be kind, that their eyes would be open to see our relationship is real and that they would grant the visa immediately-no delays!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26

December already!

Time is just flying by! I can't believe it's December already! Today I dropped off my last rent check until George comes....awesome!

I also did my final Skype load-up for our remaining cross continental phone calls! It feels so good and so weird! I'm mostly excited and a little nervous.

Tomorrow, George should get the actual hard copy medical results to take to his interview. However, they (people at the clinic, I'm not sure who exactly) say he needs more immunizations! This is puzzling to me since they already said everything was finished. I think it's all part of the plan. They wait 'til it's almost interview time and then spring another important immunization requirement- people have no choice. We obviously have no choice. A shot and $150 are NOT keeping me from my man...even though I think it's a silly rip-off. Hopefully G can sort everything out.

Please keep praying that everything will go smoothly with the interview and that George will get a visa quickly!

Buster and LaFawnda

As you know, I L-O-V-E Christmas!! And this year, Christmas time is GeorgeIsComing time! So in honor and extreme excitement of that fact, I got a head start on my Christmas decor.

This is my first independent Christmas and will be our first Christmas together, so I really want to do it right. I skipped the long drive and over-priced tree farm experience and went to Lowes with Little Brother.

It took both of us to situate our new tree friend into my car (yes, in-not on top) so no pictures....

[use imagination here]

It also took both of us to get the tree and other decor up to the third floor.

[use imagination again]

Prepping for Buster the tree...he didn't get a name 'til we got him home. You know, just in case.

Buster got a few trims....

Little Brother got artistic and took a picture through the vacuum handle. I couldn't resist sharing.

Little Brother got a different kind of artistic in front of the camera.

My beautiful angel. Little Brother named her LaFawnda! It's not the greatest picture, but LaFAWNDA?!? I think she's more of a Halle or Angelique. Little Brother is lucky he's so cute and nice or he wouldn't get away with stuff like this...I think the name has stuck-forever.

After Buster and LaFawnda were dressed for the party of my life, it was time for our INFAMOUS Creeper Dance! Beware, this WILL be at the wedding....

I love the skirt, everything is color coordinated to my apartment. (Doesn't Lil Bro have cute shoes?)

The End.

We had a blast! My apartment is full of life again, my life is full of life again.

Wonderful, WONDERFUL day!!

This has truly been a fabulous and blessed Thanksgiving! There is so, SO MUCH to be thankful for and I couldn't possibly type it all!

I hate to say it, because it sounds so dramatic, but this has been my first good Holiday without George. It's also my last!!

This will probably be boring to some of y'all, so I'll breeze through the deets...

My grandma is recovering from sickness and our plans changed a lot, so this year my mom, little brother and I took food to she and my grandpa. It was a hoot! Thankfully, she is feeling much better! She was very funny today and proud to show off many of her recent projects!

I got a call from George's mom today. She is doing better than expected! She doesn't know when she'll leave the hospital, but seemed to be in great spirits and was speaking well. She told me over and over again not to worry, just pray! :)

George got his medical reports back. All is well and we're one step closer! The interview is two weeks from today!!

My dad worked today-that is fabulous! Earlier this year (several times, actually) we didn't know if he would continue to have his job or not, now he's getting overtime. Doubling the awesomeness-he got off in time for food and Wii tourneys.

My siblings who live near by came over to the rents' house and we had a blast eating, laughing, playing and being thankful together! Yay family and YAY Thanksgiving!!

Sad news...

I found out yesterday that George's mom, Gertrude had a stroke. I'm not sure of all of the details, but at this point George has been told it was a minor stroke, more tests are being run and that she will remain in the hospital for several more days. Please pray that it was indeed a minor stroke and that she will recover fully. George will go see her this weekend.

Craziness!!

Time is flying by-woohoo!! I'm trying to get everything I need to do for the wedding, Christmas, little apartment odds and ends and everything else I can think of, BEFORE George comes! It's wonderfully crazy!

I had a huge accomplishment this week- programs! Over the last 4 days, I have worked on and finally completed our wedding programs (with the able assistance of my MOM!). You probably don't know this, but I'm a paper freak! I don't scrapbook, but when it comes to other paper crafts, watch out!! My mom and I went to about a zillion stores that carry specialty paper on the hunt for the right color and the right texture. The color was pretty much an impossible task. After much ado, we found something pretty darn close, so we went with it! I had a design, an awesome one. I didn't realize I would need to use my Bro's Mac for the printing part-ugh. Let me tell you, Microsoft Word, on a Mac, with VERY specific design wants, is a tough job! It took hours to format! Then I had to customize the ink color and the heavy card stock didn't want to go through the fancy printer. I went through 4 cutting blades on the cute little paper cutter and had to return to go out for more adhesive. I wondered why I started this very involved project in the first place! But alas, it's finished! I LOVE the programs. Little details like this really matter to me. If you are coming to my wedding, please note the programs! I'm glad we did this before George is here!

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and planning out all my other to-dos! In case you were wondering, I'm still pretty excited about my free tires! Yay God! Yay life!

Love my church!

I had become a church hater earlier this year. I am so thankful that that has changed! I've been going to a new church and I LOVE IT! The people are real, the sermons are applicable and the church is having an amazing impact on the community.

Today two things especially stood out to me. The first is the "Thanksgiving Back" push the church has. We were asked to bring specific food items to make Thanksgiving baskets for people who could not afford a Thanksgiving dinner (as well as donation for the benevolence ministry throughout the year). The food donations were amazing! Gorgeous, FULL baskets were made for families, with good food that they will actually eat (not a basket full of spicy hominy or all the other crap people clean out of their pantries). There was tons of food! It was so great to be a part of that!

The other thing that was great today were the baptisms. I love baptisms. What I especially loved today were the number of children who were baptised. There were several kids who got saved around age five, their faith is real and people are taking them seriously. In the past (ahem, my last church) when people have asked about my salvation story, I have shared that I came to Christ as a child. The response was usually some tacky, jerky thing like this, "Oh really? Well, when did you actually get saved??" I won't go into how I feel about those people. What I will say is, seeing how these children were received into the body of Christ made me feel like I truly will fit as well. I'm thankful for this new church!

Thankful, right?

I tried to write this post earlier, but it wasn't quite coming out right. The reason? The story wasn't over...

This morning I really had to muster up my thankfulness because of this tire situation. To be quite frank, tires were/are simply not in my budget right now. However, a dangerous blowout was not in the budget or life plan either...so new tires were a better option! I was trying not to fret over this and was reminding myself about all of the goodness going on right now-trying to make this expense not quite a big deal. It only sort of worked...I braced for impact and prayed that God would make a way.

I waited for the rain to subside this morning, but it didn't. After postponing the inevitable long enough, I arrived at the packed tire store around 9. The salesman explained to me that if I did have a gash in the tire it would be replaced free of charge, IF the tire had been purchased from them. I breathed a sigh of relief-I had faithfully purchased ALL of my tires from this very shop...in my mind my bill had just been cut in half (YESSSSSS!!!). I waited for 40 minutes for the salesman to come tell me that I did indeed have a gash in my tire, but that my tires were not from his store (that is a lie, but I had no proof). I had him search every phone number that could be tied to my car, but to no avail. I had to pay for BOTH tires. The total, $253.77. Not. Fun.

They finished my car about 20 minutes later and I left, in the driving rain, to seek comfort (and help tracking down tire purchase proof) from my mommy.

The day continued and I relaxed a little about the money, safety truly is more important.

It finally stopped raining so my mom and I went to run some errands. As we were walking out of a store, I stopped and made a comment about my new tires...you know, to make me feel better. "Look at these new tires with all the little rubber belly buttons on them. Yep! Nice, new tires!" Wait, only one of the "new" tires had the little rubber belly buttons. In fact, the other tire was cracked and looked like the tread might just come off. I did not have new tires, I had new tire.

WHAT?!? I just paid $253.77 for ONE TIRE?!?!? I was mad, I was really mad. Luckily, I had the manager's card in my purse. I called him immediately, as I drove to my mom's house to get the receipt. I informed him that I paid for two tires and only got one, and that I would be there in 20 minutes-he better be ready.

20 minutes later, I arrived with my mom and towering younger brother, my posse, if you will. I parked my car in a fire zone, because I meant business! I marched in (fortunately for me, I happened to have high heels on-the purposeful click-clack on the tile made it's own statement) and firmly placed my keys and receipt on the counter. "Refund these items, please." I said, pointing to the warranty and lifetime rotation fees. "I no longer need them, I will NOT be coming back." And then, I stood there. No was not an option. And do you know what he did? This manager put someone on my car immediately, apologized for the problem, taking full responsibility, and then.....THEN, he refunded all $253.77. I got my two new tires for free. He asked me to reconsider coming back to his shop. I have, and I will.

Today I am thankful for free tires, safety, and parents who taught me stand up for myself in a firm and courteous way.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving isn't until next Thursday, but I don't want to do the typical Thanksgiving post on that day-too cliche for me. I'm gonna mix it up.

I am really, really thankful for my mom. You've heard bits and pieces about her, but here is her real shout out. I don't know where I would be or where WE (G and I) would be if it wasn't for my mom. She knows me better than anyone and is always there for me. She believed in George and my relationship from the start and stood by me even when no one else did. She knows just how to walk with me through hard times. She is a wonderful cook and can throw a great party. She has taught me how to be a strong woman. She is funny and makes me laugh a LOT! While others were critical, she believed in me and trusted in God- she has said "goodbye" to me at the airport countless times, sometimes not knowing when the "welcome home" would happen. She is bold, she is confident, she is awesome. She has instilled in me an incredible love for grocery shopping as well as making a beautiful home. She is super organized. She has gracefully shifted her mothering position to a position of friend and mentor. I could not ask for better.

Update on life...

I feel like it's been a long time since I've posted, but it really hasn't. There's not a ton to update on.

Things are going great! I am busy with wedding stuff and preparing for the holidays and George's arrival (Woohoo!!! Saying that just doesn't get old!). I'd like to be working a little more, for the financial benefit. However, I'm very aware that things are going to get very busy once George is here, so I'm trying to enjoy my down time and take advantage of the rest it allows me (that, and be thankful for the savings I have-thanks Mom, for teaching me money management!).

My dad did me a sweet favor this week and got my car inspected and my oil changed. Isn't that nice? The down side was, the mechanic found a "gash" in my tire. Ugh. So on Friday I'm off to Discount Tire to see what I can do (it will be ok 'til then). I'm dreading this task as my silly Saturn has "performance tires" that don't come cheap. However, in light of all the wonderfulness going on, this is pretty much a nothing. Funny how perspective changes. :)

Things are pretty chill for now. We are continuing to pray for a smooth interview and a visa printed immediately. 3 weeks from tomorrow is the big day!

EDIT: After I wrote this I got on the visa forum and read about a recent interview in Ghana. For no particular reason, with no extra proof needed, this applicant was told to come back a MONTH later due to Administrative Processing (AP). When the guy went back, he was told that he was approved and got his actual visa two days later. This worries me. I had only heard of AP when people hadn't given enough or the right info and needed to collect it. AP for no real reason freaks me out! (This person had different circumstances than we do, but it's the whole AP thing...) I was totally confident about our case, but now I'm a bit nervous. Please pray with us that George will get approved on the day of his interview-NO AP!!!!

Proof....check!

George has received the packet of proof! I am so glad. It made it in one piece and there was no bribe. He is now "studying" everything I sent and is a little shocked by the amount of papers included. We are one step closer! Now he just needs the medical results and he'll be ready for the interview!

Medicals....check!

I just got of the phone with George and the medicals are finished! I'm so excited! That's one step closer!

George is such a trooper. He went to THREE different clinics today and got LOTS of injections...have I mentioned he HATES injections? Poor guy. He will need to go back in two weeks to get the results so he can take them to the interview. Everything went very smoothly. We are so excited! George told me he thought he would be nervous, but he hasn't been at all-thanks for your prayers!

The packet I sent still hasn't made it. We're hoping it gets there soon. It has a tracking number, but USPS stopped tracking it once it left the country...gee, thanks!

I got a call from John Carter's office today. I had sent a letter asking for help the day before we found out about the interview. The woman who talked to me told me not to get too excited though, because it wasn't over (I know, but talk about buzz kill!). The lady was ancient, and nice, and very talkative, and ancient, and didn't really know more than I do, and pronounce Ghana "geee-AH-nuh", and she was really old. She told me about what another constituent is going through (which didn't really seem similar to our case at all, but I listened anyway) and warned me about trouble we may/will have (buuuuzzzzzzz kill!). I seemed to know more than she did, but it was nice to finally have someone care. She did say that George would probably have 3-5 minutes to basically sell our relationship and proof that I have continued to go to Ghana would be key. I copied the stamp pages of my passport as well as the page with an extended Ghana visa- I hope that's enough. I was pumped and confident about the interview and our proof...now I'm wondering if I need more, I'm kind of second guessing all that I've put together.

Even though I'm still a little worried, my faith is being renewed and I believe God will guide us through this. It's kind of like in a video game, when your player gets beat up. The player starts to fade as their "life" is getting used up-you know, when the bad guy is shooting at you or punching you. Then, when the player stops getting beat up, the life slowly comes backs. Yep, it's like that, my life/faith is coming back (I'm not a geek, I just have 4 brothers and spend lots of time with little boys).

ONE month!

One month from today, at 3:30 in the morning, my time, George will have his Immigrant Visa Interview. Oh. My. GOD! That is still so fun and unbelievable to say! Whatever the outcome, that day will change our lives. I'm not dreading it, I'm ExCiTeD!!

This is the second week of the month, what has been affectionately referred to as 'hell week" or, interview scheduling. Finally-I don't care and it doesn't matter! Last month, I guessed we would be painfully waiting to hear something, but doubting that good news would come. Never would I have guessed that we would be in full swing of wedding planning and that THE INTERVIEW would already be scheduled! God is wonderful!

Things are really moving along. Please keep praying for us! George has his medicals on Thursday this week! Please pray that everything would go smoothly and that he gets all that he needs. Also, George is a little bit nervous (maybe that's not quite the word, apprehensive?) about getting out of his National Service. Please pray for favor in that and that he would have the right words to say to his boss when the time comes for him to leave. Oh yeah, all the documents and proof I sent him are now somewhere "in-transit" please pray they make it to George in one piece without a pricey bribe to pay. Thanks, readers!!

Birthday Boy!

Happy 28th Birthday, George!!

This is our LAST Birthday apart! Yay!

My dear phone.

I got a new cell phone about the time we began this visa process- it's been through a lot. It has sustained me this past year and a half and done everything I needed it to do. It has been THE connection to George, it has never been too far away. It has been the deliverer of all of my bad news and most of my good news. It has connected me to people who care about me and agencies that scare me. It has been my exercise buddy, my alarm, my secretary and my distraction. It has been around the world and back. It has called the National Visa Center THOUSANDS of times, and as a result, been thrown several times. Sorry, phone.

My phone has finally quit on me. My sweet, battered, ghetto phone, finally gave up.

This was an issue. Immigration is not over. I still REALLY need a reliable phone! So I went to my trusty AT&T store- dressed cute and with a smile on my face (hoping sexism would work in my favor-so wrong, but so true). There was a problem. AT&T would not give me an upgrade, no matter how nice or cute I was; no matter how captivating my story was. No upgrade. There was nothing they could do except sell me a phone at a tiny discount. Meaning, a new one would cost more than $200. Um....no! That just wasn't going to happen.

Dear At&T, Welcome to my short list.

Long and confusing story short-I got a great new phone for free! My boss has some connections and had a brand new phone sitting in a drawer that I got to have! It's the same model as my old one, which is perfect! Only the new one has all of it's buttons, no cracked buttons or case, opens when you try to open it-and here's the kicker, it WORKS!! I'm so excited! It's a small thing, but it was huge to me. I am so thankful for my new phone!

I don't know why things are all of the sudden starting be good for me, but I'll take it! I keep catching myself doing this unusual thing-smiling! I smile just because-it's awesome! This week has been so great.

In other news, I mailed George's "proof" yesterday! I was so relieved to do so. Another blessing was that it didn't cost what I thought it would-it was only $48! Yay! That was the LAST TIME I had to mail anything across the ocean to him! My days are now full of things I'm either doing for the last time or have only one more time before he comes (one more rent check before George is here!). It's so exciting!

Please keep praying for the visa and medicals. George is going to try and get all of his medicals done next week! He needs favor getting off of work to do them and to actually be seen, there are no appointments, it's just first come, first serve.

Surreal!

This has been the most surreal week of my life. I can hardly believe that we found out our good news not quite a week ago...it seems so much longer! My dad was right, "..in a day..." EVERYTHING changed! It took many, many, MANY days to get here, but I'm trying not to think about that!

One of my concerns through all of this was that the stress, the worry, the constant disappointment and the silence from God would turn me into a person I don't like. In the midst of what seemed like my world falling apart, I was worried I wouldn't be ME anymore. I was worried about what I would think about life and God and church and people. I was afraid of being a jaded jerk forever. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to keep from changing for the worse.

However, now that the finish line is in view and this piece of waiting is almost over, I'm not so worried. I am still me. I feel like a MUCH older me, but me, nonetheless. I've learned a lot, a lot about me, people, God and the world. I've learned people are hard to deal with and they let you down (this is not the first time I've learned this-I guess it didn't stick). I've learned it's okay to be sad and angry, just not to let it define me. I've learned that friends worth having will always be there for you-even when you don't answer their calls and are depressing to talk to. I've learned I am not a Southern Baptist. I've learned that looking good, really does make life seem a little bit better-no spending the day in my jammies! I've learned to question what I thought I knew. I've learned God is more mysterious than I realized. I've learned how truly extraordinary my man is. I've learned how meaningless money and success are. I've learned that no matter how old or responsible or "adult" I am, I can always go home to my mommy, and she will be there for me, 100%.

This has not been fun, this has not been easy. This is almost over!

These are the things I have done so far in preparation, it's been so much fun!

• Cleaned out my closet and filled it with awesome stuff for George (I went to B Republic right away and my little bro had a lot things he can't wear anymore that he was saving. George has quite the set-up!).
• Met with the wedding venue, we actually have a date now!
• Collected an insane amount of proof for the consulate-I feel VERY confident!
• Set up cake tastings...heck yes!!
• Put together travel info for G.
• Started eating real food and exercising again...I used to be a healthy person.
• Squeal EVERY time I see Christmas stuff! I'm going to be here and so is GEORGE!!
• Picked out my pick-George-up-at-the-airport dress, it's RED! :)

I've done more than that, but didn't want to bore you. Things are fabulously crazy right now. For one thing, I've been working more. I L-O-V-E it! There is something completely amazing about a newborn. I've spent tons of time with babies and kids, but not a ton with newborns. It is so incredible to see their perfect, tiny features and recognize that God knit this little person together in secret. The little girl I watch is so gorgeous. It has renewed my faith and I love every second of it...even when I'm holding both crying kids and the toddler is trying to push his sister out of my arms. It's still wonderful and I am so thankful to have my job back.

In all of this excitement, I am still acutely aware that this is not quite over. I continue to pray for the next several weeks and all that it entails, as well as the transition into American life. Please pray with me.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3

WOW!

My head is spinning! I'm not gonna lie, I really wasn't sure an interview would ever come. Now that it has, there is a LOT to do!

My lists keep growing and I'm constantly afraid that I've forgotten something very important. In addition to new and wonderful things to stress about, I decided to finally start living like a human being. I have actually quit living on Diet Dr. Pepper and chocolate. The result? Headaches! Like you care, but I said it anyway.

The wedding is being planned! I'm excited about that, but nervous all at the same time. Immigration is still my biggest priority and we really have no true guarantee until George is actually in the US. Maybe a more patient person would continue to wait and plan a wedding after the groom was actually in the country. That's not how we're doing it! A bit of a gamble? Eh, slightly. I think everything will be fine though.

To ensure that everything will be fine, I am working fast and furious to "prove" our relationship. Meaning the consulate is going to need as much tangible proof that we are legit and not together for a visa. As if! It makes me kind of mad that they would assume that, but I understand at the same time. Here's the deal though, if you aren't in a relationship in order to prove it to someone, then you haven't adequately prepared to prove it. I'm trying to track down phone records, but Time Warner, AT&T, Skype and Yahoo! Messenger don't keep records from 2006. In fact, they only keep records for a year or LESS! Once I've collected as much "proof" as possible, as well as travelling tips and info for George, I need to express mail them. That means, I get to go spend more money at the post office than I ever have (at once, but maybe even put together)! Boy do I love "firsts" like that! So I'm trying to work with what we have and praying that it's enough. That's pretty much the extent of what I can do. George has to get the medicals and he is the one who has to interview. I wish I could do that part for him. I should have come to grips by now with the fact that there is only so much I can do! It's just not up to us.

With all that said, this is a different kind of anxious than before. It's excited anxious. It's anticipation for great things! It's looking toward the future with HOPE, real hope...not the kind I trick myself into having. It's the real deal!

I really can't tell you how happy I am to have this news. Even with all the things to do, I am still just ecstatic! I know it's not over yet, but we can finally see the finish line (please don't move, finish line!). Thanks to all of you who e-mailed me, commented, called me and texted me with congrats. I feel very loved and supported.

Details!!!

For those of you eager to know how all of this went down and what happens next, read on!

Yesterday was a normal, Dear-God-help-me-get-through-this-day-and-not-go-crazy sort of day. As you know, the years of long distance and the particularly difficult last several months have really been wearing on me. So I was chillin' at my parents' house, blog cruising and checking out an adorable picture of my little I-man (the kid I nanny) in his new Halloween costume. I was basically doing anything possible to occupy my mind!

Then, I checked my e-mail. I had a letter from the NVC and the subject line was the case number and something about an interview. Even though it looked a little different, I was thinking it was probably a 9 week late response or something, which is what I typically get, so calmly opened it(calmly meaning, I started shaking and my heart rate went up, but I didn't say anything). The body was generic, but there was an Adobe attachment with the real info. That's when the drama began. In a recent cleaning spree (one that included vacuuming my mattress and curtains, as well as "cleaning up" my computer) I dumped Adobe Reader, because I "rarely" used it. Mistake. So I quickly and again, "calmly" barked to my brother something along the lines of:

"Oh my God, I have something that may very well change my life forever and need to open it with Adobe, get off that computer now! I need it."

Only there were no spaces or breaths between the words. Then, it happened! I opened the attachment to read these BEAUTIFUL words:

....blurrr, blurrr, blurrr......An immigrant visa interview has been scheduled......ACCRA on December 10, 2009...blurrr, blurrr.....

Then the insanity ensued! I started screaming, I started yelling....it was contagious. My mom, who had chicken all over her hands, started screaming as well and Jeremy did the soccer victory dance, with screaming, of course. Then I started sobbing, so Jeremy victory danced away and my mom awkwardly hugged me (chicken hands, you know). It was wonderful! I couldn't believe it, Iwas shaking, I was shocked, I thought I might faint, but I didn't..... We looked a little like this....

Then it was time to let George know. Unfortunately, he was asleep and we had major connection issues. After about 10 tries, I woke the man up with the best news he could have imagined. His reaction? "God is WONDERFUL!" Yep, I'm gonna marry that man! Then he said, "Are you sure?" Haha! So blabbering and blubbering continued and then the whole world found out. Well, not the whole world, but it's on Facebook, so almost.

I celebrated with a new purse, Champagne and FOOD! With my family, of course.

And now, the all important question: What's next?

Medicals are next! Before George has his interview, he has to have an x-ray, blood tests, immunizations and a physical. This won't exactly be simple. He has to get these done at specific clinics and not one clinic can do all 4. There will probably be "fast money" involved as well, so we're not sure of the exact cost. Do I care? Absolutely not!

Then, he has to get some MORE passport pictures taken, which never seem to be the right ones.

Finally, it's interview time! The point of this interview will be to prove the legitimacy of our relationship, so George needs LOTS of proof. No one ever knows until they are actually being interviewed how intense it will be. He may be asked 3 questions or 30 questions. They may want to see all of our pictures or just see that he actually has pictures. We'll just have to wait to know what he gets.

George will find out whether he was granted a visa at the interview. They could deny a visa, which is not likely at all; they could ask for more proof, which I doubt will happen; or they could APPROVE his visa! Approval truly is the most likely outcome, but we can't be certain until it actually happens. Then his visa will be printed, that could take anywhere from 3 hours to a week! Once visa is in hand and checked for errors, we will be able to buy a ticket and cement wedding plans!

I'm still wrapping my mind around this. We're not out of the woods yet, but it's finally starting to feel like this will actually happen! I'm so shocked and so thankful!

Please continue to pray for the following:

• Quick medicals, with good results and fair prices.
• No changes in interview date!
• A good interviewer, who is for us and not against us.
• APPROVED visa!
• Fast visa printing, with no mistakes.
• Good flights with great connections.
• Easy entry into the States.

Thanks for your support! We so appreciate it!!!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

GEORGE GOT AN INTERVIEW!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!

Glimmer of hope!

Okay people! I have a smile on my face and a little glimmer of hope!

I just got an e-mail from my boss, her husband got a job! It doesn't make as much as his last job, but they really want to find a way to keep me. So, they are going to try and give me as many hours through the end of the year as they can (she's still on maternity leave and grandma wants time with the kiddies). For next year they are going to try and make things work for full time. If George is here and has a job, my salary won't be quite the big deal that it is now. It will be more important that I have an understanding boss who gets our situation and is flexible to our needs...this family is just that. I love this family like they are mine and their kids are so precious to me. I am praying, praying, praying that everything will work out. Please pray with me! This has really renewed my strength and hope and I am so thankful.

Please also keep praying that George gets an interview this next round! Obviously we really want to be together, but it would simplify so many things and help us out financially if he would just get an interview!

Fake...

As you know from reading my blog, I'm fairly honest...at times, I can be brutally honest. I don't like fake, and I try hard not to be. Life is a struggle and it doesn't help anyone to pretend that it isn't.

I met an interesting person last night who wanted to hear my story. Unfortunately, she didn't just want to hear my story, she want to comment and advise me. (I should get a badge or a shirt or something made that warns people not to do that.)

Her comments were very Sunday School type answers, kind of fake. They left me wondering: 'Are you for real? Did you think before you said that, and who taught you that, Miley Cyrus?' Here are some things I heard from said young lady, and my thoughts, in purple:

• What a cool story!
• Uh, yeah...but it's not just a story dumb-dumb, it's my life!
• Wow, God must really be teaching you so much, how wonderful!
• Maybe, has He told you that? Why are you so excited?
• What an experience, God is really using you!
• Okay, I'll give on that one...I guess. But again, don't sound so impressed or excited...I'm standing right here!
• It's all about the journey, not the destination.
• No, it is not ALL about the journey, did the Disney channel teach you that? Think please, before you speak. In this case it is very much about the destination.
• I'm sure everything will be ok...
• Or maybe it won't, how do you know? (I could be a tad on the cynical side, but we have no guarantee.)
• Oh, but you need the body of Christ. *In response to my current church sitch.
• The thing about that is, when the "body" does more harm than good, they are not being "the body" and it's time to move on, so that's what I did. *I actually said that one. Bethany-1, Little Girl-0

The thing is, this girl is still young and maybe hasn't learned or been taught to think critically. She isn't the only person who has said things like that though. I know I have mentioned this before, a lot actually, but since it's ongoing, I will continue to blog about it...sorry if that bores you.

I'm not sure why people don't think, and why God is this fluffy, in-a-box type guy. Don't people want more? Are they afraid to find it?

I don't know if he came up with or not, but my dad recently told me, "He who made the mind, isn't afraid of it." I love that. It's okay to not have the answers. It's okay to search for them and ask questions. God is not threatened by that, Christians shouldn't be either.

This most recent transaction came while I am considering going to a new church's get-together on Thursday. I can't imagine 50 people who don't know me, asking questions about me and my life and similar things not coming up. I think I'll pass. Instead, I will continue to be a hermit who daily migrates to my mommy's house...

New things for George

Today was George's first day of orientation for his National Service. He woke up at 3:30am and left his friend's place around 4:30am...he finally arrived at his orientation place around 7:20am. That's Accra traffic folks! He is staying a little bit outside of the city, but not THAT outside-this route would normally take possibly an hour, but not during rush hour. Poor guy, hopefully he'll get a shorter commute soon. He's not complaining, but I am for him!

He isn't sure if he'll actually be working for the Ministry of Defense and will find out his actual posting on Thursday. His desire is to be placed at The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (that's a mouthful!). That would be a job much better suited to his degree, talents, experience and desires for the future. It would also offer some pretty great connections, which we may need. So please pray with us that he will be able to work at the Kofi Annan Centre!

As for me, nothing is new. Still waiting and hoping and searching on so many levels. No job luck, but I keep trying. I'm pretty proud of my man, so that's good enough for now.

Sunday...a good day.

Today has been a good day. Shocking, I know. It's been a while since I've said that.

I was awakened at 7am by a call from my sweet man. Early? Yes. But I didn't mind and it started my day with a smile. We've been having completely terrible connection issues lately, so this call was especially sweet.

Since I was awake earlier than planned, I had a few more church options. I have been hesitant to go to a church that I think I really like because I just don't want to meet people right now. I don't want to be the needy girl, the girl with a story, the sad girl, the stand-offish girl, the girl with a fictional fiance, or any other weird or maladjusted persona. I am not really me right now, so I just don't want to share my current self. However, my parents were going to try that church today, so I decided strength in numbers was the way to go (growing up in a family of 8 makes it hard not to think that way). It was a wonderful experience and I'm glad I went....still not sure about "connecting" though.

Lunch conversation was great, considering church was not a boring or painful place. Nice. Who knew?

Afternoon conversations were great, again when church is good and the opposite of painful, the day is completely different!

Then came snack time! Have you ever had a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory caramel apple? Oh. My. GAAWWWD. They are beyond amazing! There aren't really words to describe these apples, just moans. Yum, yum, YUM!

So for a day without George, it was pretty good.

Tomorrow, G starts his new job (National Service) with the Ministry of Defense. He's excited and a little bit nervous (he got his hair barbered today for a good first impression...SO cute!). He's glad for forward progress in life and hoping for some wonderful opportunities. His first week will be fairly packed and quite the adjustment. He'll be staying with a friend for a while and will start searching for another place to stay in a week or two. It would be great if we got an interview before that is necessary, but as we all know, that is not exactly likely. Please keep praying...it's hard to have faith right now.

Insanity

We've all heard the saying, "You either laugh or you cry." Or something like that.

Well, in my case, that is very true...only to the extreme. I will either be a four days dirty, sobbing, depressed mess in my bed. (Well maybe not, but maybe.) Or....a fairly goofy and hilarious person, that begs the question, "Is she okay?!?" I choose the latter.

Whether it's singing, dancing, silly voices, silly faces, mockery in general, faux craigslist postings, jokes, or food art...I have taken the need for laughter to a whole new level. Is this healthy? I'm not sure, but for now any distraction will do and I'll take it over sadness.

Nothing good has happened, but I'm not posting about that, because, well, it's sad and depressing.

Also, no Chick-Fil-A, I do not drink lemonade, it makes my spit thick...so don't offer it to me anymore!

Reality.

Last night, I called the NVC. We didn't get an interview. We were given a glimmer of hope last week, just to have it smashed to bits. Not sure why we didn't just hear "no" last week...this somehow seems worse.

So this is my reality. No interview, months more 'til George can actually be here. No place to stay in Ghana, so I can't go see him until there is a place for me to stay. No work for me, all my money making opportunities have fallen off. I'm looking for work, but it's hard to know what to do and the job market is pretty tight right now. My reality is, this sucks.

There are a lot of other hurtful things going on in my life right now, that I haven't posted about. I am seeking God with all that I am and trying to do what He has for us. But He is silent and I feel lost. Meanwhile, so many people around me are doing whatever the heck they want, or with little regard to God and they are just moving along, getting what they want and more. I wish I didn't care, but it hurts me. I feel very stuck right now, very lost, very lonely.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord,who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121

It's not over, but I'm still bummed...

I got up this morning full of excitement. Why? Because it's a work day, so the NVC should schedule our interview...of course!

....I wish I would have stayed in bed.

I haven't heard bad news from the NVC and I am most certainly NOT calling them today. However, my fabulous back up plan has taken a beating, and that makes me sad. The platinum lining of not getting an interview this round was that I would quickly hop on a plane, fly across the ocean and see my man. Since when have things worked the way they are supposed to? I should have expected something to get in the way.

In comes the Ghana government....as if we could get away with only one country ruining our plans! In Ghana they have a program called National Service. It's an internship of sorts that benefits the country and people of Ghana in some way. All college graduates are supposed to do a National Service and getting a job in Ghana without doing NS is pretty much impossible. If you leave the country however, it's not that big of a deal. So, George finally got called up for his NS and after MUCH ado, he is being sent to Accra!

Accra is huge! Accra is EXPENSIVE. Accra is complicated. Accra is PACKED with people and cars and trash. Accra is not MY lovely Volta Region. {gloom, despair, etc., etc.} So....George has no place to say, and there is (as of today) no place for me to stay either. So George will go to Accra later this week, start to figure out his new job and life in Accra and search like gangbusters for a place to say. So until something happens...I'm on hold again. Really?! REALLY?!?

What would make this all better? A VISA INTERVIEW!! I haven't given up hope completely, but I'm still bummed.

Thank you, for letting me vent.

How have I made it this long??

We've been waiting for an interview for 28 weeks now. The last 24 hours however, have pretty much killed me!! After yesterday's answer, I have been expecting an e-mail saying that we got an interview. I keep checking, but it still hasn't come. It just needs to work. So many things seem to be falling into place that make it look like, no Ghana, yes, Texas. Come on, NVC...give us an interview!!!! I even found airfare for George for $1300!! For those of you who don't know, that is completely FANTASTIC! I'm so sick of this waiting and injustice. I NEED MY MAN!

...I might seriously die if we don't get a breakthrough soon. I'm not being dramatic, just honest.

Keep on waiting...

Today is the day I was supposed to call about an interview (as told by a supervisor last month). I called...I dreaded it, but I called anyway. Then answer, we don't have an interview YET, but they aren't finished scheduling. So we keep waiting. This is good news...ish. PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!!!!

In other news, today was totally awesome, as I spent some time with my regular nanny family. My buddy I-man (19 months) and his brand new baby sister, Colette.

OH! MY! GOODNESS!!!! P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S!

I'll take two please, only make mine chocolate.

...can I say that?

Future Identity Crisis...

As we ALL well know, I do a lot of thinking. I always have, but recently I have had more time to just think. Think, and read blogs. I read all sorts of blogs, but I especially love to read blogs that have something to do with Ghana or other parts of Africa. Whether someone is adopting from Ghana or is from Ghana or what have you, it's somehow comforting to me.

I recently read a blog by a woman lamenting the question, "Where are you from?" She was Ghanaian born, and raised in a Ghanaian home, but had lived most of her life in London and spent a few years in the U.S. She went on to say how she hated this question, and while she didn't come right out and say it, girlfriend had a serious identity crisis going on. I felt bad for her.

This is not the case for me. I look like, sound like and act like an American from a large southern city (my accent is only slight, but I have southern girl manners). I like that I am Texan, when people ask me where I'm from, I don't say, "America." I say, "Texas!" But that's not who I am, it's just where I am from....and I don't really care. I don't identify myself by my nationality, or my race. I'm surprised by the number of people who do, and who feel lost without that identity. It makes me sad for them. My parents never told me, "Don't identify yourself as a Texan, American or white girl, that's not who you are." But somehow, they got that point across to me. I certainly identify myself as someone who loves Jesus (though the word Christian isn't one I always prefer) and as a member of my family (they rock, you would want to be a part of us too;) but everything else is extra. G and his friends laugh at me because when we are together, I make fun of the junky looking white foreigners right along with them!

....Oh yeah, I'm white too...

I don't see myself (or George, for that matter) struggling with identity. It does make me concerned for our future children though. Will they experience this identity crisis that so many displaced Ghanaians feel? What will they be? Can they be proud Ghanaian-Americans? Should they be proud of such a trivial thing? Our uniqueness is great, but how great should it be? I love the blending of cultures that our family [to be] has, but I certainly don't want to over-emphasize it. God has made such marvelous colors and cultures in this world, but the fact still remains that we are (or should be) citizens of Heaven-our time here is temporary. How far should people go to recognize and hold on to their differences? I don't know...maybe one day I will figure it out.

Dear God,

Please, please, PLEEEAAAASSSSSEEEE!! Give us a visa interview!

Aaaamen!

Finding my place.

I've had trouble sleeping lately, thus, even more time to think about life. I often find myself conflicted and searching hard to find my place in life. I've decided though, that most thinking people struggle with this and though I may have the bi-continental aspect that some don't; we're all searching for something and most of us want to be doing what we were created to do. That's only a semi-comforting thought though.

With immigration up in the air, it takes away the simplicity and comfort of knowing what life will be like. The flip side is that it keeps things interesting...interesting is overrated. It's amazing how comforting (yet, possibly dangerous) having a plan, that works, can be. I know many people who literally have a 5 year plan (or longer!) and are actually sticking to the plan. I seriously cannot even imagine! I don't know what my life will look like in 5 months, let alone 5 years!

Life in Ghana is simple and wonderful-in my opinion. People don't expect you to have a five year plan, for one thing. More importantly, I am able to do so much to help people with so little. I can impact people's lives to the glory of God with nearly nothing. I can see amazing things happen on a regular basis. Christianity is socially acceptable and the people are warm and hospitable. It's awesome! It can also be very hard though. It's hard to see people living in poverty. It's hard to see children caned or beaten. It's hard to know of people dying from preventable illness. But it's also exhilarating to know you can do something about it! The dangerous side is that 'do-good high' that comes with all the wonderful do-gooding. Who's really getting the glory and what is the motive? What happens when you can't help someone? It's hard, but so easy, all at the same time.

Life in America is complicated and wonderful as well. I think my 'wonderful' has to do with my family though. The pressure put on people here-especially women to "do it all" can be crushing! There is so much input from all sides to be or do the unattainable. Christianity is not socially acceptable and people are not always warm and hospitable. It takes so much of what you make to even pay all the bills, that there is hardly any left to help people with...that's where the guilt creeps in. And...aaaannnd(!) there are those stinkin' Michael Kors stores begging you to come in and buy the beautiful things!! Consumerism...yuck! It's everywhere, but especially in America. Life is hard here. It's hard to be outspoken about your faith, it's hard to help people, and when you do, even the church criticizes how it was done. Life here is just complicated.

And do you know what? Here is my problem...I want both!! I love Ghana and living in Ghana. But I love America, too. I do want it all. I don't want to be living my life by default, I want to be purposeful and I want to love it. There's not a lot of loving-my-life going on right now, but I hope and pray that will change soon. In the mean time, I'm searching for my place, longing for joy and peace.