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This week we heard from the Department of State regarding our visa petition, they assigned it a case number and were in the process of forwarding it to the embassy in Trinidad for the remainder of the process.  So now we wait in anticipation for the embassy to contact me and give us an interview date.  Continue to pray for us, that this process is not delayed by any process.

Well life goes on while all of this is happening.  We've been researching apartments for a bit online, and Sarah goes apartment hunting tomorrow.  She's gonna look for a place that we're gonna live in.  We've decided that although she's gonna move in, she's not going to settle in until I get there.  We want the place to be our place, so we decide where everything goes.  So here's our quandry.  We have no idea when I'll get a work permit after I arrive to start working in the US, then we have no idea where I might get a job. Apartments in this area typically require a one year lease.  So based on those unknowns, we need to find an apartment which is centralized to public transport for me to work either east or west of it, with minimum problems.  We're thinking of Oak Park right now, because of it's proximity to the Metra and the CTA lines.  Again.. we have no clue when I can start working in the US, and thereafter, where I might get a job... so it's all a guessing game.  So that's what's happening now.

Okay, so I was very saddened last week that a really good friend of mine, who I’d asked to be my best man couldn’t make it to our wedding.  To not dwell on that any longer, we prayed about it last night when we realized the effect that is was having on me and our wedding.  That God would provide a friend, a good friend of mine in Trinidad who will stand with me in support at my wedding. God is really funny sometimes in how He orchestrates events.

He sent my good friend, confidante and old roommate, Jason to come visit me to get caught up over the last few weeks in each other’s lives.  I shared with Jason, rather cautiously that I would like him to come to our wedding.  Actually I wasn’t being too optimistic initially when I asked him, not to get my hopes up, and not to ask him to stand with me as a best man.  I’d laboured over it for weeks in prayer, and there were three guys who I wanted to ask, each with a unique imprint on my life.  Not only was he glad to be asked, he was honoured to be thought of as special in that regard.  Honestly I sure hid my glee well, but I was leaping with joy that this young man with whom I briefly shared an apartment at University with who remained a life friend was willing and honoured to stand with me on my wedding day as my best man.

That is right! We actually have a date! So now when everyone asks me, "So when are you getting married?" I can answer, "October 22nd! God willing!"  Yes! The first part of our fiance visa was approved by the USCIS (United States Center of Immigration Services) office in Nebraska. Which means we can set our wedding date, 99% sure on October 22nd, but we still need your prayers. The date won't be set in stone until Kirk receives an official interview date with the US Embassy in Trinidad. And although it is the US Embassy, they still run on Trini time. We will go when I am there to petition an interview date in plenty of time for Kirk to come to the US for our wedding. After all, we can't have our wedding with out him! You can also pray for Kirk's family and friends who wish to come to our wedding, but are hindered by job situations and visa difficulties. It gives me great pain that because we are getting married in the US, some of his closest friends are not able to celebrate with him.

So it's been exactly a week now since I've returned to Trinidad.  Phew! That was hard.  Imagine, working during the day, planning a wedding a night, trying to enjoy our engagement and attending other people's weddings all in a five week period.  Most people would say we're mad.  Actually I'd even venture to call us that as well.  But I'm back in Trinidad now.  Sarah and I had a wonderful time together in Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Winnipeg and Indiana.

So now we're apart again, for a four week period that has swiftly made itself into two weeks and five days.  At least that's how long I have to wait until Sarah comes to spend three weeks in my life.  So what's the good news? well I'll let Sarah tell you that.  I just wanted to let you know that I was back, I've got lots to write about and to say, so I'll drop back in later this week with my thoughts on my action packed five weeks being exposed to this culture.

YAY! Kirk arrived in Chicago on Friday, May 13. As you can see he has already been here a week, which will clue you into how busy we are. One down, two to go - weddings that is. Convienently my family and closest friends scheduled their weddings while Kirk was visiting (I am sure they did that just for us ). This past weekend we attended the wedding of my brother, Randy, and his now new wife, Heather. It was very beautiful and good to spend time with family. In the last 10 days we also have celebrated three birthdays of friends, two graduations, had a Kirk and Sarah day (we need those!), enjoyed downtown Chicago and began marriage counseling! Whew - and that is just the beginning. We are meeting with our number one choice photographer tonight, praying that whatever date our wedding happens to fall on, they would be free.

The Dalai Lama once said that simplicity is the key to happiness in the modern world. Fun acronyms like (KISS - keep it simple, stupid) were developed to apply to things like web design and user interfaces recognizing that simplicity beats complexity, and will keep you and your users happy.

Yesterday I got to visit a wedding planner to get an idea of what the celebration in Trinidad might cost and of what help she might be able to deliver.  I'm basically in charge of the Trinidad leg of our wedding, so the budget isn't terribly large taking into consideration my migration costs and the fact that we have another wedding after in Lombard.  My mom has these grand plans for our wedding here.  I guess its because she thinks it's the only one that she will get to host.  However it's Sarah's and my wedding, and we're all about fun, practicality and simplicity.  Listening to my mom trying to get the wedding planner on her side, made me realize that this was exactly not what I wanted.  I wanted this to be Sarah's and my wedding - not some ceremony put on for us.  We don't care about tradition.  What's a groom's cake?  Why do I even care?  As much as I like black cake for Christmas, I'd like alternatives for our wedding cake.  Do I want a professional decorating staff and deprive my friends the opportunity to be involved in my wedding the way I've been involved in theirs? No, I really don't want it so complex.

Since Kirk and I have a lot of unknowns about our wedding (mainly WHEN!), we have begun with what we do know. And we know I need some special clothes! So a few weekends ago my mom and Bob came up to go dress shopping with my maid of honor (and current roomie), Julie. And we found THE dress!! It was a day of great fun! We went to three different shops. I tried on like 35 dress and quickly discovered bright white is not the color for me -made me look very pale. The dress that we bought (on sale - woohoo!), is an ivory/champagne color with light beaded embroidery from the curved neckline cascading down the dress in vines. Being a petite woman, the vines elongate my figure. There will be a very short train once I get the dress hemmed in the front. I am very excited about my dress and excited that I get to wear it twice! We will carefully fly it down to Trinidad as a carry on for the first part of our wedding then fly it back up for the second part here in Lombard/Chicago. Yesterday I bought shoes! I had two goals: 1. Comfort 2. Danceablity (is that a word?) - anyway so I bought some extremely comfortable character dance shoes :) They are tan and will look just wonderful.

Did you ever wonder how you plan for a wedding that you don't know when it will happen? Or budget for a life that you've never lived? Well that's precisely what we're doing. Today as I was on the phone with Sarah as she got home she was flipping through her mail, and one of our prayers was answered... we got our first notice of action from the USCIS regarding our fiancé petition. What this means is that they opened the package, and sent us a receipt number that we could check the status of our case at any time. So like a textbook answer it says this case typically takes between 150 to 180 days to process.

S&K : So glad you guys are commiting to this adventure together. I knew it would happen even before S started talking non-stop about being with K. Sometimes people in love just have that glow even before their mouths start bubbling with the joy of it. What a blessing to have it official now & to begin on your challenging but amazing journey together. I'll be praying for you both & that God will use his big scissors to cut all the red tape you may have to go through. Best blessings to you! K, Hope to see you again soon. The limes have been fun & I hope to be a part of limes to come! Love to you both!

Kirk and Sarah,

Congratulations to you both ...
Please let me know if u are ever in San Diego .. would love to have you visit us.

-Patrick