It has officially been OVER 4 months since Joaquim and I have seen each other...and we are really feeling the separation! Over the years (Yes, 2 years TOMORROW!) we have gotten good at steeling ourselves to the weight of long distance relationships. We love our webcams and our headphones which allow us to see each others faces and hear each others voices. We use a phone card to call each other when time doesn't allow us to be at the computer. We email each other and send cute e-cards and little memories on Facebook. And we don't expect anything more, because to do that would just be contemplating the impossible.
Well, when the countdown gets to weeks instead of months, things always get interesting. It's like we are on our last string of patience, and are not always so...well...patient.
I told Joaquim last night that I could tell he was starting to get grumpy because of the wait, and he replied with a hearty "Yea, I REALLY am. It's just time for you to be here with me." I agree!
We would appreciate advanced prayers for my last single trip to Brazil, for which I leave on June 11th. It is beginning to hit me that this is the last time I will travel alone (a GOOD thing...) and is also the last time I will be in Brazil for a longer period of time than I am used to...which is not such a good thing. Even now I miss it so much, I miss the language and the people and the sounds of birds singing (tropical birds, not just robins or mourning doves) and I miss having coffee in the afternoon around a crowded table with everyone chatting and laughing. I can't wait to someday have my OWN crowded table in my own home there...that will be a dream come true!
Whooo, I got a little distracted there. What was I saying? Prayers? Oh yea...so, please pray for safety during the trip. I am increasingly NOT a fan of flying, so pray for my own nerves to just calm the heck down, and pray for smooth travel on the way home, as I am flying from Iguassu Falls to Rio, to New York, to the other major airport in New York, to Chicago. Yea. It will be interesting. Gotta love Travelocity deals! I just hope I rack up some sweet frequent flier miles!
Love to all, and Happy 2 year dating anniversary to my lindo tomorrow!
-Christine for the ALMOST Joaquim da Silva Fragoso family. :-D
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
4 months
Wednesday was our negative 4 month anniversary! We are getting so close to that altar I can hear the music now! Actually, I am having trouble thinking of music for the ceremony. My thoughts so far include piano and cello. I LOVE the cello. If anyone has any suggestions/connections, send them my way!
Well you are probably wondering how it has been living at home. Really, I have been loving it...now that I got Comcast installed of course. But seriously, it's a real blessing to have such a present and supportive family, especially as the planning starts to heat up. Everything is falling into place though! I signed with a caterer today and we will have such a cool menu. 4 different stations, each with different food...mmmmm and Joaquim and I will probably eat none of it haha.
One of my DEAREST friends and bridesmaids will be in Chicago this coming weekend for her sister's graduation and I am stealing her for Thursday night/Friday morning. We have so much planned for an approximately 15 hour time period, much of it that will have to include sleeping, so I don't know how it will all work out, but it will be fun. Pedicures, starbucks, LAUGHING, dinner, LAUGHING, bridesmaid dress try-on, LAUGHING...all included in the plans. She is just one of the funniest and most precious people I know and I can't wait to see her!
In MORE exciting news, Joaquim and I booked our honeymoon!! We are officially going to HAWAII for 4 nights and 5 days, staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. (Travelocity has some sweet deals...) We just could not be more excited. A get-away with just the two of us...something that has never happened and that we have so wished for, and it will be the perfect location.
Well I think those are all the updates for now. The month of May is already flying by and I am sure June, July, and August will go just as quickly if not moreso! The wedding is really starting to take shape and feel real...and it better because it's in 120 days!! Oh my goodness....
Well you are probably wondering how it has been living at home. Really, I have been loving it...now that I got Comcast installed of course. But seriously, it's a real blessing to have such a present and supportive family, especially as the planning starts to heat up. Everything is falling into place though! I signed with a caterer today and we will have such a cool menu. 4 different stations, each with different food...mmmmm and Joaquim and I will probably eat none of it haha.
One of my DEAREST friends and bridesmaids will be in Chicago this coming weekend for her sister's graduation and I am stealing her for Thursday night/Friday morning. We have so much planned for an approximately 15 hour time period, much of it that will have to include sleeping, so I don't know how it will all work out, but it will be fun. Pedicures, starbucks, LAUGHING, dinner, LAUGHING, bridesmaid dress try-on, LAUGHING...all included in the plans. She is just one of the funniest and most precious people I know and I can't wait to see her!
In MORE exciting news, Joaquim and I booked our honeymoon!! We are officially going to HAWAII for 4 nights and 5 days, staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. (Travelocity has some sweet deals...) We just could not be more excited. A get-away with just the two of us...something that has never happened and that we have so wished for, and it will be the perfect location.
Well I think those are all the updates for now. The month of May is already flying by and I am sure June, July, and August will go just as quickly if not moreso! The wedding is really starting to take shape and feel real...and it better because it's in 120 days!! Oh my goodness....
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Moving!
It's always nice to have a guy around, isn't it? This weekend I'll really miss mine, as I am moving out of my apartment and into my parents house for a few months. This is a huge step into the official waiting/transitional period before getting married! Joaquim and I are already thinking about where we will live in 4 1/2 months. Feel free to browse the "for rent" sections of the newspaper for us.
Last year on April 25th, Janell and I moved into our fun home for the year, and it has really been a nice place. I think we got a bit spoiled. I'm moving back in with 'rents, and she's moving into a SUPER cute one-bedroom that unfortunately has no dishwasher. Our move-in day was quite the experience! Joaquim was still here, so he and my dad pretty much did the heavy lifting. (Sunday my dad and Brian get to do it again! They're such gems.) We got all settled in, and then went back to my parents' house for a farewell dinner of Portillo's...then to O'Hare airport and a hurried goodbye. At least we were too worried about getting him onto the plane to really be sad.
All that to say it's been (almost) a year since Miss Janell Keller and I moved into apartment 206, and we are going to have a moment of silence on Tuesday, our last night there! By then, I will be sleeping on an air mattress and we'll be using plastic utensils.
Joaquim is excited for me to move out, and wishes he were here to help. So do I! And I am excited about having a tv in my room at home, because I am sure I will be holing up in there quite a bit, maybe doing my Jillian Michaels workout routine.
Should be a busy weekend, and we are on to a new phase!
Last year on April 25th, Janell and I moved into our fun home for the year, and it has really been a nice place. I think we got a bit spoiled. I'm moving back in with 'rents, and she's moving into a SUPER cute one-bedroom that unfortunately has no dishwasher. Our move-in day was quite the experience! Joaquim was still here, so he and my dad pretty much did the heavy lifting. (Sunday my dad and Brian get to do it again! They're such gems.) We got all settled in, and then went back to my parents' house for a farewell dinner of Portillo's...then to O'Hare airport and a hurried goodbye. At least we were too worried about getting him onto the plane to really be sad.
All that to say it's been (almost) a year since Miss Janell Keller and I moved into apartment 206, and we are going to have a moment of silence on Tuesday, our last night there! By then, I will be sleeping on an air mattress and we'll be using plastic utensils.
Joaquim is excited for me to move out, and wishes he were here to help. So do I! And I am excited about having a tv in my room at home, because I am sure I will be holing up in there quite a bit, maybe doing my Jillian Michaels workout routine.
Should be a busy weekend, and we are on to a new phase!
Friday, April 17, 2009
"Oops"
The best laid plans of mice and men, right? My thoughts of pontificating about every detail of our exciting life were quickly thwarted by the fact that we indeed DO have an exciting life, containing lots of details. Too many to document on a regular basis! It's exhausting!
Well the biggest detail to write about is the fact that Joaquim GOT HIS VISA!!!!!!!!!!!! He has had his passport back in his hand for a week or two, with a big pretty K-1 visa. We also just bought his plane ticket! August 26th, my handsome fiance will be landing at O'Hare airport. And I will be waiting with a smile, a kiss, and...a to-do list.
That brings me to my second point. Planning a wedding is ridiculous! So is working a full time job and growing my Mary Kay business. All of those involve to-do lists! And guess what...I'm behind on all of them. But little by little, it is all getting done. Here's a summary:
Our wedding will be held at the lovely Yorkfield Presbyterian Church in Elmhurst.
Our reception will be held at the INCREDIBLE Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst.
The flowers will be beautiful and we are working on signing with a caterer and finalizing our tasty menu.
Save the date cards are going in the mail soon! (Buying stamps are on my to-do list. Have been for a few weeks. Oops.)
My dress (no link here, surprise!) is completed, and has been waiting for me to pick it up for a month. That's on my list for Monday. I promise. (My dad is worried the store will go out of business before I get my dress. Ohhhhh dad.)
Joaquim and I are just counting down the days. 142 until we get married. To be exact. And 57 until we see each other in June. This is a LONG haul, our longest ever. We have now been apart for 3 1/2 months. But God is good and is certainly keeping us busy. Is that an answer to prayer? I guess so. We have been learning a lot, and are more excited every day.
On a deeper note, we have been feeling more and more at peace with where God has us after we get married. We will be in Chicagoland for a bit, exact timeframe still to be determiend. We are excited about how God will use that time in our lives, and especially as we start our life together. God has been speaking to us both about the principle of taking a year off. (Joaquim recently shared this on his facebook: http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001426.cfm)
Well, that's all for now. Hey...maybe more comments will mean more updates. Any thoughts??
Well the biggest detail to write about is the fact that Joaquim GOT HIS VISA!!!!!!!!!!!! He has had his passport back in his hand for a week or two, with a big pretty K-1 visa. We also just bought his plane ticket! August 26th, my handsome fiance will be landing at O'Hare airport. And I will be waiting with a smile, a kiss, and...a to-do list.
That brings me to my second point. Planning a wedding is ridiculous! So is working a full time job and growing my Mary Kay business. All of those involve to-do lists! And guess what...I'm behind on all of them. But little by little, it is all getting done. Here's a summary:
Our wedding will be held at the lovely Yorkfield Presbyterian Church in Elmhurst.
Our reception will be held at the INCREDIBLE Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst.
The flowers will be beautiful and we are working on signing with a caterer and finalizing our tasty menu.
Save the date cards are going in the mail soon! (Buying stamps are on my to-do list. Have been for a few weeks. Oops.)
My dress (no link here, surprise!) is completed, and has been waiting for me to pick it up for a month. That's on my list for Monday. I promise. (My dad is worried the store will go out of business before I get my dress. Ohhhhh dad.)
Joaquim and I are just counting down the days. 142 until we get married. To be exact. And 57 until we see each other in June. This is a LONG haul, our longest ever. We have now been apart for 3 1/2 months. But God is good and is certainly keeping us busy. Is that an answer to prayer? I guess so. We have been learning a lot, and are more excited every day.
On a deeper note, we have been feeling more and more at peace with where God has us after we get married. We will be in Chicagoland for a bit, exact timeframe still to be determiend. We are excited about how God will use that time in our lives, and especially as we start our life together. God has been speaking to us both about the principle of taking a year off. (Joaquim recently shared this on his facebook: http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001426.cfm)
Well, that's all for now. Hey...maybe more comments will mean more updates. Any thoughts??
Friday, March 20, 2009
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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, March 2, 2009
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!
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!
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