lo amo

Oh life....

I've really been wanting to get back into blogging lately. I can't seem to figure out where to start. With so much change happening over such a short amount of time, I am not sure how much to share or with how much detail. I also feel that I cannot blog the same way as I did in the past because it is no longer just my story. It is now the story of Andres and I and our new journey together.

Let me try to fill you in.

 Lets see....... where to begin.

     Andres finally received his visa. After months of paper work, stress, skype dating, waiting, and one ridiculously expensive ticket later Andres arrived.

     I arrived at the airport an hour early, after enduring a day that crawled by at the slowest possible rate. I had no way to find out if he made it through immigrations alright and if he even made it onto his connecting flight into WI.

I was wearing the famous purple dress from the day we started dating. I saw him come down the steps to baggage claim.

It felt weird to hug him again.  His scent was unfamiliar.

It all didn't feel real.

 It felt un-natural to hold his hand again.

 I had to un-lock the passenger side door to my car. This door had been locked almost consistently since I bought the car in January. I had to put my purse in the back seat rather than the passenger seat.

I had to give him a tour of the home I had lived in for months.

I had to cook dinner for more than one person.

I got to say good night to him in person rather than via text or skype.

The next few days were a transition. It took getting used to.

I had to coordinate schedules and get him moved in.

Life got very busy after.

I was finishing up my quarter at school.

I started coaching 3 different levels rather than just one.

I was spending my weekends all over the place.

One weekend was my bachelorette party, the next we went camping.

We spent weekends up north working on wedding planning.

We spent weekends with friends here.

We spent a weekend in Chicago with Josh and Amber celebrating weddings.

Finally it was our turn. We had our courthouse wedding.

It was at noon, on a Thursday. It lasted about 10 minutes. My grandparents, great-grandma, and mother were our witnesses. My sister celebrated with us after.

I went to work a few hours after.

Then was our ceremony. The day was colder than hoped for, yet the wedding was perfect.

So many beautiful faces. So many friends that I had missed. So many laughs, and so much dancing.

I just started another quarter at school. We are working on the next round of visa papers.

I am working 2 jobs. I just started working as a barista here in town. I love it!!!

Andres is helping build a room in the basement.

Life is crazy busy and I'm not really sure how to slow down. I'm not sure what areas of my life to cut back on. I'm not sure what to not do.

I feel that the weeks just fly by and I fight to fit as much in as possible. Hopefully soon I will find a balance and things will settle down.

insatiable

Aching for culture.

Aching for people that are different than me.

For new stories,
New jokes,
New world views.
Aching for new foods,
New spices,
New smells,
New textures.

Aching for new awkward experiences.
Being in the way,
Nervous laughter,
Awkward stares.
Aching for new coffee shops,
New books,

New music,
New languages.

No matter how busy I make myself, this tugging at my heart doesn't go away.

 Going over all the papers for Andres to take to his consulate appointment.

Prayer is well appreciated!
I will probably not sleep much tonight.

I know that it's not Thanksgiving yet, but I must say.

Feeling very grateful for my Grandparents these days.

(Maybe it is the homework I am avoiding that is prompting me to write these words, or maybe not. )
 Growing up  we always lived a distance from them and I was not able to see them often or develop a very close relationship with them. 

I have now been living with my Grandma in her Green bay house and have been able to develop a relationship with her. My grandpa has been around a lot as well and we have had a lot of opportunities to go have small adventures together and have some late night talks about pretty controversial issues.
I am just feeling so grateful for the life lesson they have been teaching me, all of the support they have given me, and especially for all of the ridiculous things they say that make me about fall over laughing.
I don't have words to truly describe how much it means to have this relationship with them at this point in my life.

I am thankful beyond words. 

I am not ashamed to say that I really love my family!

I love that I finally reached a point where I feel comfortable speaking in Spanish. I may not be perfect, but I am no longer afraid to make mistakes. No longer afraid to sound like a whitey! I love this freedom!

In denial

I am not ready to let this week start.
I am trying to hold on to the last moments of tonight.
I don't want to go to bed. I don't want to do tomorrow.
I'm just not ready.

Visa update:
I realized that I did not update you all of visa happenings.
About two weeks ago I recieved a letter in the mail requesting more evidence.
They wanted evidence that would demonstrate the my fiance and I had indeed met in person within the last two years. They also wanted to know a bit more about how we came to the agreement that we would marry.
After days of stressing and gathering, and printing, and copying, I managed to cram A LOT of paperwork into the small envelope that they provided me.
On Memorial Day the letter arrived at its destination.
We are now in the "evidence reviewing" stage.
Hopefully we will hear soon.
Our hope is that he will be here in time for my sister's wedding at the end on June.
Both the bride and groom are fond of my fiance and what him to be a part of the big day.
Ill be honest, I would like to have a dance partner and someone to hold hands with.
I could also enjoy seeing my boy all dressed up.


SO anyways, that is the story.
I think I am writing this more for my benefit than anyone else. If you do read this though, feel free to pray for our situation.
This may sound whiny and selfish, but I'm kind of tired of this long distance engagement, and lets be honest, 6 months apart is too long.