December Filers

[Lise+Michael 13]

oh Rallybug you reminded me, we're also doing a celebration in Canada (I've dubbed it the 'pre-ception' since its just like the reception, no ceremony, but its BEFORE the other wedding) for everyone there who can't make it down, and as sort of a going away party. PHEW.

Next month Blake is going to start looking around for a place for us (he lives with roommates right now, but once he finds somewhere good he's going to move in somewhere just for us) and I'm super excited! Everything is getting so close and so real!

Oh and Derek I'm totally jealous! I've always wanted to show up and surprise Blake, but I guess I'm out of time on that one now! I'll have to do the opposite, and surprise my mom sometime.

I am jealous of all you young people who have the energy to plan 'pre-receptions' and actual wedding receptions. With the stress of this process, family life, and work - only one wedding is being planned for me, whether it is Michael, me and witnesses or with family and friends who can make it. My only real stressor is that I want my 3 children and 4 grandchildren to be there. In the end, what will be will be! I am looking forward to be done this part and chat in the OAS thread.

Off topic, my daughter planned a destination wedding, got married in Canada because she had read that some destination weddings are not legitmate in your home country. So, off to city hall they went, without telling anyone so that the wedding would be 'the wedding'. As it turned out her husband had emergency surgery in Punta Cana during the exact time the ceremony would have take place. This was 2 years ago, and she is still trying to replan a wedding where her father can walk her down an aisle and she can wear her dress. As of now she is shooting for 2013...making sure I can return to Canada.

And I am banking on a immigration wedding to go smoothly??????????

Good thing I can still laugh and smile! Lise

[Mariye & Ky 172]

I don't want to add to the envy around here but I am. LOL

K just called to say that if I am coming to Istanbul than HE is going to meet me there instead of my fly to him via a Turkish domestic flight --- Istanbul to Adana. OK I love it he's anxious to see me, but it's 15 hours by bus for him to get to me in Istanbul. LOL I do not want to wear him out before I get there for heaven sakes! We have things to do.... He said we'll probably just fly back to Adana --- both of us, instead of take the bus "because really bebegim, you very crunkee [cranky] when you no sleep bus."

<I give him "that" Mari look on cam and he smiles like HE is innocent> LOL

Today is clean the house day. I wish I could just lounge but if I don't do it today, I'll have to make time for it this week.

What's everyone up to today?

Love,

Mari

[Lise+Michael 13]

I don't want to add to the envy around here but I am. LOL

K just called to say that if I am coming to Istanbul than HE is going to meet me there instead of my fly to him via a Turkish domestic flight --- Istanbul to Adana. OK I love it he's anxious to see me, but it's 15 hours by bus for him to get to me in Istanbul. LOL I do not want to wear him out before I get there for heaven sakes! We have things to do.... He said we'll probably just fly back to Adana --- both of us, instead of take the bus "because really bebegim, you very crunkee [cranky] when you no sleep bus."

<I give him "that" Mari look on cam and he smiles like HE is innocent> LOL

Today is clean the house day. I wish I could just lounge but if I don't do it today, I'll have to make time for it this week.

What's everyone up to today?

Love,

Mari

Are you going to Instabul? Or does he have to wait to come see you?

Don't forget about self-care...take some time to lounge, soak up some vitamin D!

I just got back from an adventure with Mariah (5 yr granddaughter) and Nemo (cocker spaniel). We had snacks down by a river, Nemo decided to jump in so she got to come home and have a bath to wash off the river ickys lol. It was fun, Mariah always brings a smile to my face. The rest of her family is coming for supper, guess I should get cooking!

I am counting days to see Michael, it has been a long time for us.

Hope everyone is having fun with family and friends before their POE.

P.S. Have you accessed the recipes Mari?

Take care,

Lise

[kristen_maroc 126]

Aww, thanks Christine! I LOVE COUCH 2 5k but you know that! Ha! It only took 6.5 weeks for me to be able to struggle running 60 seconds at a time to being able to do 30 minutes of jogging and it is somewhat life-changing with how it makes me feel. I haven't lost any weight yet but I LOVE how I feel, not getting tired walking up hills, the endorphin rush, etc. And I am not an athlete. If I can do it, anyone can.

(and I didn't even join the fitness challenge but I should!)

Question for y'all. For the I-134, I have the tax forms that I have submitted for the last three years... that's sufficient for tax records, right? I have bank statements, etc. as well... everything else. But those forms are all I can find in my records for tax evidence.

My fiance is coming back to visit and get stuff for the interview in less than two weeks! I AM SO EXCITED to see him again. It's been 2 months (I know, small potatoes compared to most of you). I'm just really in love. I'm sure we all are.

I'm leading my last program: public health students in Morocco. It's fun... a great group to leave on to start my life state-side, but really stressful too. 12-15 hour days until June 22; they started 3 days ago...

Miss you guys. Where is this new link for the Decemberite Fam??

[Gsummit 14]

I have decluttered the entire apartment and made room for his stuff in the closets and drawers. I cant say the shoes arent going to be an issue because we both have quite a few pair The wedding planning is going smoothly since it will be a small beach wedding approximately 2 weeks after his visa is approved and he arrives on August 20th (in Jesus name). Good luck to everyone on receiving whatever they are waiting for and on their interviews. Love you all and couldnt have gotten this far without you.

[Piefre 15]

I'm one of the few Decemberites still waiting for their NOA2 so I wish I was making plans to go in for my medical or interview. Instead I'm still waiting to see if my petition fell behind the fridge in the lunchroom or something. We got an RFE acknowledgement from VSC in mid May. In a few days, it'll be one full month since they acknowledged that they got our RFE response. We missed one checkbox on our forms. I'm really sad that one silly mistake sets us back a month and probably more because Vermont is not approving RFEs at any sort of logical pace. And I am always afraid that they have forgotten about us and will never approve us. I guess that's a lesson learned for us to always check and recheck our paperwork until our eyes bleed because it is a really crappy feeling to be left behind.

Are any other Decemberites waiting on RFE responses still checking this thread? Or Decemberites who haven't heard anything regarding their petition yet?

Edited June 13, 2011 by Piefre

[Shawn-n-Sonoko 9]

I don't want to add to the envy around here but I am. LOL

K just called to say that if I am coming to Istanbul than HE is going to meet me there instead of my fly to him via a Turkish domestic flight --- Istanbul to Adana. OK I love it he's anxious to see me, but it's 15 hours by bus for him to get to me in Istanbul. LOL I do not want to wear him out before I get there for heaven sakes! We have things to do.... He said we'll probably just fly back to Adana --- both of us, instead of take the bus "because really bebegim, you very crunkee [cranky] when you no sleep bus."

<I give him "that" Mari look on cam and he smiles like HE is innocent> LOL

Today is clean the house day. I wish I could just lounge but if I don't do it today, I'll have to make time for it this week.

What's everyone up to today?

Love,

Mari

Woo hoo!! Time for a trip! It will be some well deserved time for you and K to spend together and happy to hear that is soon!

Well, recently work has been hell and then adjusting to having someone around all the time has wore me out! Well work is wearing me out more than Sonoko, that has been a great adjustment! I am proud of myself cause I successfully cleared out enough space in drawers and the closet for her stuff.

Today we did a trip down to San Diego to goto the county fair, so she got a taste of American festivities and JUNK food. I think we both gained 10 pounds today (blah). Time to work out and look good for the ceremony in October. On that note though, we are currently planning to "tie the knot" and make everything legal this upcoming Friday. It would be great to wait until the wedding but 1) it will be after the 90 days, 2) we want to get her AOS submitted sooner than later... she wants to work! and 3) I can get her the on base benefits!

Well, back to filling out paperwork... if you though the K-1 was tough, this AOS is a pain.. oh and there is ANOTHER interview!?! The things we do for love!!

Any luck on the cookbook??? I can't seem to find the post it was in or anything!

Have a great week if I don't see you until then!

-Shawn

[Lise+Michael 13]

Shawn,

Glad things are going well and Sonoko seems to be adjusting well.

I look forward to hearing about your AOS process, have you found your way to Dizzy's AOA thread? The recipe book can found on page 148, Post 2215, it is in a zip file. Hope you find it and can open it!

Keep Sonoko away from that fattening American food!

Have a wonderful day,

Lise

[DiZZyLoX 114]

I am jealous of all you young people who have the energy to plan 'pre-receptions' and actual wedding receptions. With the stress of this process, family life, and work - only one wedding is being planned for me, whether it is Michael, me and witnesses or with family and friends who can make it. My only real stressor is that I want my 3 children and 4 grandchildren to be there. In the end, what will be will be! I am looking forward to be done this part and chat in the OAS thread.

Off topic, my daughter planned a destination wedding, got married in Canada because she had read that some destination weddings are not legitmate in your home country. So, off to city hall they went, without telling anyone so that the wedding would be 'the wedding'. As it turned out her husband had emergency surgery in Punta Cana during the exact time the ceremony would have take place. This was 2 years ago, and she is still trying to replan a wedding where her father can walk her down an aisle and she can wear her dress. As of now she is shooting for 2013...making sure I can return to Canada.

And I am banking on a immigration wedding to go smoothly??????????

Good thing I can still laugh and smile! Lise

Young has nothing to do with it, Lise! Determination and straight up CRAZY has everything to do with it.

We're planning a wedding, going through immigration AND buying a house (building it from the ground up). Trust me, I want to kill myself every day. Life so sucks right now

[DiZZyLoX 114]

I'm one of the few Decemberites still waiting for their NOA2 so I wish I was making plans to go in for my medical or interview. Instead I'm still waiting to see if my petition fell behind the fridge in the lunchroom or something. We got an RFE acknowledgement from VSC in mid May. In a few days, it'll be one full month since they acknowledged that they got our RFE response. We missed one checkbox on our forms. I'm really sad that one silly mistake sets us back a month and probably more because Vermont is not approving RFEs at any sort of logical pace. And I am always afraid that they have forgotten about us and will never approve us. I guess that's a lesson learned for us to always check and recheck our paperwork until our eyes bleed because it is a really crappy feeling to be left behind.

Are any other Decemberites waiting on RFE responses still checking this thread? Or Decemberites who haven't heard anything regarding their petition yet?

Don't fear. I believe Tim/Mav is still waiting on RFE response from CSC. I think since it's been a month, you should be hearing something very very soon. Get your congressman involved, as well.

xoxo It's coming! and things move SO fast once you get it.

I have decluttered the entire apartment and made room for his stuff in the closets and drawers. I cant say the shoes arent going to be an issue because we both have quite a few pair The wedding planning is going smoothly since it will be a small beach wedding approximately 2 weeks after his visa is approved and he arrives on August 20th (in Jesus name). Good luck to everyone on receiving whatever they are waiting for and on their interviews. Love you all and couldnt have gotten this far without you.

sounds awesome! you have just reminded me I need to start decluttering. ohhhhhhh man. this is gonna suck!

[DiZZyLoX 114]

I don't want to add to the envy around here but I am. LOL

K just called to say that if I am coming to Istanbul than HE is going to meet me there instead of my fly to him via a Turkish domestic flight --- Istanbul to Adana. OK I love it he's anxious to see me, but it's 15 hours by bus for him to get to me in Istanbul. LOL I do not want to wear him out before I get there for heaven sakes! We have things to do.... He said we'll probably just fly back to Adana --- both of us, instead of take the bus "because really bebegim, you very crunkee [cranky] when you no sleep bus."

<I give him "that" Mari look on cam and he smiles like HE is innocent> LOL

Today is clean the house day. I wish I could just lounge but if I don't do it today, I'll have to make time for it this week.

What's everyone up to today?

Love,

Mari

go girl!

[DiZZyLoX 114]

USMC has started filling out his AOS paperwork! Lots of useful information and questions going up in the AOS forum for Decemberites. You can reach the forum anytime from my signature below any of my post! For those of you currently single ladies filing AOS after you're married, which name do you put on your AOS forms? Your maiden or married? Hmmmm.. All this and more at the AOS Forum! Go go GO!

Edited June 13, 2011 by DiZZyLoX

[Bec_Dipu 103]

I'm one of the few Decemberites still waiting for their NOA2 so I wish I was making plans to go in for my medical or interview. Instead I'm still waiting to see if my petition fell behind the fridge in the lunchroom or something. We got an RFE acknowledgement from VSC in mid May. In a few days, it'll be one full month since they acknowledged that they got our RFE response. We missed one checkbox on our forms. I'm really sad that one silly mistake sets us back a month and probably more because Vermont is not approving RFEs at any sort of logical pace. And I am always afraid that they have forgotten about us and will never approve us. I guess that's a lesson learned for us to always check and recheck our paperwork until our eyes bleed because it is a really crappy feeling to be left behind.

Are any other Decemberites waiting on RFE responses still checking this thread? Or Decemberites who haven't heard anything regarding their petition yet?

We received our NOA2 on 04/21/11 and STILL can't turn in our packet 3

We've been waiting and waiting and waiting for Dipu's passport clearance certificate. He's used 3 weeks of vacation and spent a ton of money to make two trips back to his hometown to work on it. Unfortunately, he's stuck going through a passport office that serves 7 states and is in one of the most corrupt states in India.

Not to further rain on your parade, but I thought once we got our NOA2, it would be a breeze. Now I'm wondering if we'll even be able to get an interview before our petition expires on 08/22. This is TERRIBLE.

[Piefre 15]

We received our NOA2 on 04/21/11 and STILL can't turn in our packet 3

We've been waiting and waiting and waiting for Dipu's passport clearance certificate. He's used 3 weeks of vacation and spent a ton of money to make two trips back to his hometown to work on it. Unfortunately, he's stuck going through a passport office that serves 7 states and is in one of the most corrupt states in India.

Not to further rain on your parade, but I thought once we got our NOA2, it would be a breeze. Now I'm wondering if we'll even be able to get an interview before our petition expires on 08/22. This is TERRIBLE.

I'm sorry to hear you guys are having such huge issues with the passport. I think there's a way to extend the expiry date of the petition, right? I think the embassy is supposed to be able to do it.

[Mariye & Ky 172]

Good Morning Everyone!

It's Monday and I wish to God that I could use my day off to sit and gel. Not the case, but what's new in the life of Mari? lol. I keep thinking the delays on life will cease sometime soon! Anyway, after a week of overkill on the 'thinking' mode, I have decided that I am pau (islander for finished) stressing myself out for nothing.

So yesterday, Sunday, I did what I love to do best! I cooked!!! I was so happy in my little kitchen making Turkish food from only the ingredients that I had on hand. It was kinda a game for me to get creative like that show on the Food Channel, "CHOPPED". Not sure if you have ever seen it but they challenge the Chefs by giving them a basket with 4 key misc. ingredients and they must create a dish that will win the judges very hard critisms over for $10K.

While I didn't win $10K, I keep in mind that my rule is I have to use ingredients in the house and I have to create a Turkish recipe. I was able to make Sarma (stuffed grape leaves with a buckwheat/pearl barley/fresh herbs & 7 spices -- a nice filling mixture). I did something called, Etli Kuru Fasulye (beef cooked till it falls apart with red beans, chard, yellow bell pepper, onion, garlic, pomegranted molasses and spices). I made a pilav (that's just rice with lightly toasted orzo pasta). Lastly, my Pilaki (an olive oil dish using white beans with potato, carrot, onion & fresh dill--- a "mezze" -- served before the main course, rm temp or cold). Basically, I didn't have anyone to feed .... lol so I was little bummed and brought a plate full to a friend who fell in love with Turkish food! Ahhhhhh the joys of cooking.

My prize? The heart of the man I am fully in love with when he takes that first bite and savours memories of his home country.

It's great to see everyone's progress here! You have no idea how much I appreciate you all and what a blessing it is to have such a positively engaging group of friends from around the world!

Love you all,

Mari

PS: Anybody hungry? lol