Springtime is the time for love!

Happy first day of spring!

March 20th is going to be in the 30's, though sunny, here in Chicago. I'm sure it's nicer in Brazil though. I remember how beautiful spring always seemed at Taylor. Flowers seemed to appear overnight, and everyone suddenly wore pastel and light coats. Then of course there was the blinding rain and wind, but...that's another story for another time. Spring is here, and in a month or so it will actually start to feel like it, and soon after that comes summer with the sunshine and warmth and capris and sandals and...at the end...a WEDDING!

Speaking of weddings, Joaquim is heading off on an adventure this evening. He is going to São Paulo with his mom and then to Rio for the day on Monday night, getting back to São Paulo on Wednesday morning and getting back home on Thursday morning, and probably getting back to talk to me, his soon-to-be-anxious fiancée, on...well...maybe Saturday? ::deep breath::

He's encouraging me to go to the gym and work off the stress and worry. And of course, not to worry but just to pray. I think he wants me to go to the gym to keep up with my wedding motivated workout regimine. To be honest, I have been enjoying it! Let's forget the fact that I tried to cancel my membership with Women's Workout World, only to find I inadvertantly signed a 2 year contract and will be paying $20/month until June of 2010. So...off I go to Women's Workout World. Hey, for $20 this month my pants are fitting better.

A very defining moment is coming on Tuesday. (I almost said it could be the defining moment of our wedding preparations, but that's not true because no matter the outcome, we're still going to get married this year...) Joaquim will go to his interview at the American consulate in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. He will get there at 6am and wait probably all day before he and Mãe leave, hopefully both with visas in hand. (Mãe is applying for a new tourist visa on Tuesday as well, in order to come to our wedding. Please pray for that too!) We are confident in God's presence throughout this whole process, and He has been opening doors faster and more smoothly than we were anticipating. We are praying for His will to be done on Tuesday!

Most people know Rio is not one of the safest cities...in fact it is quite the opposite. I'm trying not to think about that too much, because it is what it is. They have to go there, so I'd rather not dwell on the nasty possibilities. But, that being said, please pray for protection for Joaquim and for Mãe while they are there! Of course they will take every precaution, and will only be there for the day, so all we can ask is for their protection.

And, last but not least, I will not talk to my love for a week! That does not seem fun. So...pray for my sanity, and perhaps my workouts. :)

Que será, será!!!

I have had a funny little feeling these last few days. As I have been praying over Joaquim's visa interview in a week and a half, I have found myself just begging for God to do whatever He wants. I have been learning more and more each day that He is SO good.

I mean...we know that, right? But really. He IS good, all the time. Seeing blessings and experiencing the fact that God is always there for us and that His timing is perfect, what is there to worry about? Whether or not Joaquim gets the visa (and there's no foreseeable reason he wouldn't...) it will be good, because God is good. It may not be easy, it may make life harder for now, but it will be right.

So, if you pray for us on March 24th, just pray that God's will be done! It's as easy as that. And we have complete and utter faith that the safest place to be is in His will.

Persevering!

I'm not going to lie, it has been a rough week for Joaquim and I! I think the stress of the documentation, and that which is lacking, is getting to our brains. But we will be fine! And how many times do we have to hear "communication is key" until we finally get it? I was the culprit these past few days...

Joaquim went to Sao Paulo last Sunday evening, and was there until Thursday morning. His physical went well, everything is in order, which is no surprise as Joaquim is quite the organized and responsible fellow. He is now waiting anxiously...aka an attempt at patiently...for the doctor's letter to arrive. He also has to go to Cascavel in the next week or two, to pick up another document he needs. There are so many documents here that I am not quite sure which is which.

Anyway, upon his return from Sao Paulo, he was a bit of a stress case, which resulted in me trying to be the calming influence. However, I am far from calm at the moment because I, too, am trying to get some affidavits together (and I think I am driving my dad crazy in the process...thanks for your help, dad and forgive my outbursts!) So I was trying to withhold my stress in order to relieve Joaquim's. Did that work? No, no it did not.

These are the times we both whine about how it would be better to be together! Because in a pinch, a smooch goes a long way. ;)

But guess what? March 24th, baby! In God's will, Joaquim will have his visa and we will just go back to normal wedding planning, and all will be well!