I am so exhausted! It has been a busy day! I woke up at 7am this morning and my brother Scotty and I went to Starbucks for breakfast. For some reason they were offering Pumpkin Spice coffee today (Whoo Hoo!) so we got two of those. And we also got the new Bacon, Egg & Gouda Cheese sandwiches they have.

Then we came home and got everything ready to repaint my room. The color I picked up at Lowe's is called 'Minty'. I wanted a similar color to what was already on the walls to make it less complicated. Everything just needed to be refreshed. We were done painting around 11am.

After painting I transferred some money out of my savings and we headed off to a 2nd hand store, Big Lot's and Walmart. At the 2nd hand store I got 2 nice comforters, 2 big fleece blankets, and a few pillow cases. At Big Lot's I got two full bed sheet sets for $12.00 and 2 nice big towels for $4.50 each. At Walmart, I got new pillows on sale for $2.50, a rice cooker for $13.00. I also got F.B. a lot of toiletries for his arrival. I spent more than I have ever spent at Walmart, but I got everything I needed. Including a Hane's flannel pajama pants & t-shirt set for him.

All of F.B.'s toiletries.

And I may or may not have spent $21 on nail polish... why oh why does Walmart now sell Essie & OPI... I couldn't pass up these colors!

(Turquoise &  Caicos, Merino Cool, The Next CEO)

F.B. finished up his seminar that was required by the Philippines before he leaves for the USA. He still has to go get an international drivers permit before he leaves. So he can drive over here for a year. (He will need to take the test again for a PA drivers license.)

He also booked his plane ticket! He will be in Philadelphia on March 6th at 10:25am!!! Lucky boy doesn't even have to stopover in Hong Kong or Shanghai or even Tokyo, he gets to fly from Manila Philippines straight to Los Angeles, CA. Then to Dallas, TX and finally Philadelphia!

It's going to be a very busy 2 weeks. I spent all evening cleaning and organizing after the paint dried and I still have some more to do tomorrow. The new bed arrives next weekend. I was approved to take March 7th-11th off so I'll have a week off work to spend with F.B. and help him get settled in.

Also, on March 5th, I will be getting my 2 boys and 2 girls from Star's Rat Rescue in SD! They will be traveling 1,500 miles to Philadelphia! There are a few others adopting rats in Philly too we'll be meeting our Rat Train driver at a Petco in the area.

One year ago today F.B. & I were married in the Philippines! We started off as friends who met online which turned into a long distance relationship. We've been through good times & bad times together and last December 19th, 2009 after 6 years of being together we were finally married. Our long distance adventures are not over yet- as we are still currently working with our immigration lawyer on getting F.B. to the USA, hopefully by early 2011! ♥♥♥

Wanted to share some picture & video memories of our wedding day last year:

Wedding Videos: (The 1st video was made by my sister in law. It originally had the song 'Happy Together' but due to copyright laws I had to remove the music to upload it).





♥♥♥ Happy Anniversary F.B. I Love You ♥♥♥
To view more of our wedding & honeymoon photos you can view our Photobucket album here!

or here:

Wedding Photographer Photos

Our Wedding & Honeymoon

I can't believe it's already November. I'm excited for Thanksgiving this year! Why? Well, I've spent the last 2 years in the Philippines during Thanksgiving. While it was wonderful being with my husband, I have also missed being at home for Thanksgiving with my family.

F.B. and I always set that day aside to go out and have dinner, since Thanksgiving is an American holiday and not celebrated in the Philippines. We would pick up Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider, which we always have at every holiday meal with my family (Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years). I was so happy they sell it in the Philippines!

Thanksgiving 2008 in the Philippines


Thanksgiving 2009 in the Philippines

Hopefully next year F.B. will be here in the USA to celebrate his first Thanksgiving. I'm excited to share that with him and have him some taste pumpkin pie, hehehe!

My sister in law was married a month ago on 9/25/10. Her wedding was featured online at Bridal Book Philippines:


In immigration news, F.B. mailed off all the documents to our immigration lawyer the other day. He should receive them by this Tuesday.

I've been stressed out over dealing with unemployment. I had to reopen my claim from last year. It expires on October 30th. I'm only going to get 2 payments out of the rest of this claim. I filed for my first checks last Sunday. Friday the money had still not been deposited so I had to call them. (They don't answer calls anymore- you have to schedule a call back.) When they got back to me they said there had been some sort of "stop" on my account. The lady had to update stuff on the computer so my payments would go through. They really make you work for your money.

November 1st, I will have to file a new claim and it's always a hassle as well because they deny me at first. Our payroll department is never timely and usually half my wages are missing so unemployment never has a record that I worked during the year. I always have to mail all my pay stub copies to them, meanwhile 3-4 weeks go by with no money until they straighten it out. They do give you back payments. But it's a hassle every year. (The woes of a seasonal employee, lol.) I should be called back to work the beginning of January if not sooner.

My cousin Jessica has started a blog! Yay! So excited! You can check out her blog at: I Believe in Pink. Stop by and welcome her to the blogging world! She is just getting started. She has a beautiful baby girl named Kayleigh who just turned one month old on October 3rd.

Jessica & Kayleigh (Photo credit: Christina)

Our immigration case is still with the National Visa Center. We are currently on step 4 of 6 with the NVC. Our lawyer contacted us yesterday to request more paperwork so we can complete F.B.'s DS-230 forms. (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration.)

F.B. needs to email our lawyer a questionnaire he sent and then mail, certified copies of our marriage certificate, his birth certificate, 3 passport photos and a copy of his passport. He also needs clearance from the NBI. (Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation.) F.B. hopes to have all the paperwork mailed to our immigration lawyer by next week.

So we are getting closer! We have two more steps with the NVC.

Step 5 is: Review and Interview Scheduling by the NVC. 

Step 6 is: Visa Interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate Abroad.

We can't strike off a step on our immigration process list yet but we're getting closer!!!

10/23/10 edited to add: F.B. got NBI clearance and mailed off all the required documents to our immigration lawyer. He should have them by 10/26/10.

NOTE: Our lawyers Peter J. Gonzales & Shanna Stanton have changed firms. They are no longer with Kahiga Tiagha. They are now with Green and Spiegel LLC, but still located in Philadelphia. 

Today is my birthday. Another Birthday, another year older. Thursday my birthday package from my husband arrived from the Philippines. He got me some cute little rat/mouse items! Sachets of one of my favorite Philippine shampoo's: Palm Olive coconut, and 2 Nivea Star Fruits lip balms: Cherry & Strawberry. (The USA version is called 'A kiss of flavor'. They are hard to find & are too waxy feeling.) The ones F.B. sent me from the Philippines are made in Thailand.



































I treated myself to some L’Occitane. :) Verbena Perfume, Shea Butter Lip Balm, Verbena Ice Hand Gel and Exfoliating Almond Soap.

I think for sure my favorite (early) birthday gift this year was my 3 new girls from SRR!

Spent the day relaxing and we ordered in for dinner. Philadelphia Cheese steak! And Hesh's Bakery chocolate chip cake for dessert. Mmmm.
























My parents got me the purse I wanted from Hot Topic. Hello Kitty at 28... lol. Gotta love it. :)

Today it's been 6 months since F.B. & I were married. Wow... half a year already. We only got to spend 1 month after the wedding together though... hurry up immigration!

My regular black & white Converse were getting ratty. The rubber was cracking. So I needed a new pair. I've wanted to try the slip on kind. For $12 more you can customize a pair of converse on their website! So check out my custom Converse sneakers! I got 'Love8279' embroidered on them. (I was born in '82. F.B. was born in '79.) I love them!

Tonight I went with my cousin Jessica to The Inkwell Tattoo to get my rat tattoo! It only took a half hour to have it done. And it didn't hurt very much at all. Jess and I pretty much talked the whole time when I was having it done. I did have to stop talking when he was shading it in a few times, it hurt a little then. But really you would think getting a tattoo would hurt much worse and they don't at all! Just feels like little scratches.

Here is my new tattoo. I just LOVE the little toes! My tattoo artist retraced the clip art design for me to make it clearer. It looks so good in person. Now I just have to wait for it to heal and peel... lol. The design always looks 10x's better after it peels. Very happy with how it turned out! (The picture makes it look bigger than it actually is though. It's smaller in person!)

This past weekend I was contacted on Facebook by an old friend F.B. & I used to know on the forum we met on 6 years ago. We had a misunderstanding (complicated story) with this person and hadn't spoken with them in 5-6 years. Making amends and catching up, it took me back and made me stop and think... I met my husband... online... 6 years ago. Sometimes it's unbelievable to stop and think back to then. The risks we took. How everything has worked out in God's timing in this long distance relationship of ours to bring us to where we are now. It's crazy to look back and think about how we met in person for the first time, or how 6 years later we're now married and working on immigration. That hopefully later this year we'll be together for good in the same place and not living in two different country's 12 hours apart. We've come a long way. ♥♥♥

If you don't know our story you can start here at 'The Beginning' Start at the bottom and work your way up. Click 'newer posts' to go to the next page. There are 2 pages.

Or you can also view our relationship 'Time Line'

I got back our approval notice from USCIS today! They have forwarded our I-130 paperwork to the National Visa Center!

Here is our check sheet for our immigration process. The strike through's are completed steps.

1. USCIS will send our lawyer a receipt notice sometime in the next few weeks confirming they received our I-130.

2. In approximately 3-5 months the USCIS will make a decision on the I-130 and will forward our file to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire.

3. The NVC will then send a packet with instructions to complete our I-864. (There will be a fee.)

4. Once the packet is returned to the NVC, they will review everything and within 45-90 days they will forward the packet to the U.S. consulate in Manila.

5. The Consulate will send a packet with instructions for F.B. to complete a medical examination & obtain a police clearance certificate prior to scheduling his visa interview.

I emailed our immigration lawyer today to ask what other paperwork I need to get together. (USCIS sent our lawyer a receipt notice as well.) Let's hope things keep moving along. *Fingers Crossed*

Other blog entries about our immigration process:

The Waiting Game...

Moving Along In Our Immigration Process

1st Meeting : Immigration Lawyer

NOTE: Our lawyers Peter J. Gonzales & Shanna Stanton have changed firms. They are no longer with Kahiga Tiagha. They are now with Green and Spiegel LLC, but still located in Philadelphia.

I have A LOT of people say to me, "You must be heart broken. I don't know how you bear being away from your husband now that you're married." My cousin & I were talking about this on Saturday....

F.B. & I have been in this long distance relationship for 6 years now. We had never seen a picture of each other when we started talking. We've settled into a pattern, a way of handling the long distance. We meet online every weekend. And every day on my lunch break he signs onto Yahoo Messenger so we can talk for a little while. Of course some days he may want to sleep in or I may want to, but we make it work. (12 hour time difference!)

When we are together we try not think about when we'll be apart. I think that is the worst... especially when we are together every day for 2 months. It's hard for the first week or so after I come back to the USA, but then we settle into our routine. Chatting online, phone calls, emails, letters...

We've been doing this so long now, that we are used to the long distance. We do miss each other and miss spending time with each other every day, (he is my best friend!) but we don't fall apart, sink into a depression, etc. It is a bit weird being married now and still living apart, but we make it work. Just like we have every day for the past 6 years. This is what we've known for so long, what we are familiar with. It is tough, but it's like 2nd nature to us. We've mastered this long distance relationship stuff!

I think what will be weirder is when F.B. is in the USA, when we're finally together. Getting used to living with each other every day, 365 days a year. It will be so nice to finally be together, but it will definitely be a big adjustment for both of us. Especially for F.B. moving to a new country and culture.


P.S. ♥♥♥ We've been married 4 months today! ♥♥♥

I haven't posted about our immigration process in a few months, because right now it is a waiting game. We did receive our I-130 receipt back in February.

But... it is going to be 3-5 months before are able to move to the next step. We are waiting for the USCIS to make a determination on our I-130. From there they will forward our application to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire and then the NVC will send a packet with instructions to complete our I-864. Hopefully by May or July we will hear from them.


---Our Immigration Steps & Process---
What is this mess? It is all the documentation of our relationship. Copies of all the letters I've sent to F.B. & all the letter's he has sent to me from 2004-current. Copies of plane ticket stubs, receipts, income tax returns, photos with F.B.'s family. Pretty much everything we will need when we prepare the rest of our paperwork with our immigration lawyer.

I'm almost done making copies. All that's left now is the trip journals F.B. gave me from the past 4 trips I've been to the Philippines. I've gotten 2 of those copied. So, that is the updated news for now! Until we hear from the NVC, our immigration process right now is a waiting game...

NOTE: Our lawyers Peter J. Gonzales & Shanna Stanton have changed firms. They are no longer with Kahiga Tiagha. They are now with Green and Spiegel LLC, but still located in Philadelphia. 

Thursday, March 18, 2004:

I cannot forget
Refuse to regret
So glad I met you
Take my breath away
Make everyday
Worth all of the pain
I have gone through

Those are lines from another Maroon5 song- "The Sun". It's pretty straightforward really- I'm glad that I got the chance to know you, Sarah.....Well, that's my junk mail. See ya.

F.B.

Maroon 5's album 'Songs About Jane' was one of the albums F.B. & I listened to back in 2004 when we started our relationship.

(Song Preview Here.)

April 1st, 2004:

I've never seen You
And yet I know You're beautiful
I've never spoken to You
And yet I feel that I can tell You anything
I've only known You for awhile
And yet I trust every word You say
I've never met You
And yet I feel that I've known You all my life
I've never been anywhere close to You
And yet I feel You here with me
Why?
I ask myself
Perhaps it's because
I Love You

[NEO]

Sarah: Aw, did you write that last night, or did you write it up after you saw mine? lol. I wrote my poem/thoughts whatever last night before I went to bed. It was one of those times, where I needed to get my thoughts out. When I read your poem, I apply it to you F. Right down to the last line.

F.B: I'm glad you like it. I actually wrote that 2 nights ago but I wasn't sure of posting it cuz you might think I'm some psycho freak. LoL!

Sarah: I think you're the opposite of a psycho freak. You're just a freak. I'm kidding, kidding F! And I think I do love ya.

F.B: WOW! Ya think?.....I know I love ya, Sarah.

Sarah: Well, I guess I say I 'think' I love you. Because, the way I grew up, love was like- two neighbors or friends, falling in love and getting married. And that's what I thought would happen to me. But I don't know... maybe that's not what God has planned. I've never met you F. I've never seen your interactions, or expressions, looked into your eyes, or even heard your voice. But I do know your personality, thoughts, emotion's, and heart. And I know I love you when it comes to that. Ack... holy crap. I said those three little words! Love you much.

F.B.: Gotta go now, Sarah. Good night. I love you too.

Sarah: By the way, you do realize it's April Fools day? Are we a couple of fools? LOL! Take care, sweet dreams. I love you.

F.B: Fools in love.....perhaps. LoL! Love you.

Six years ago today F.B. & I took a huge risk. April 1st, 2004 was the 1st time we told each other "I love you." The day we defined our relationship. This is a big step for any relationship, but our relationship was a little different. We had never seen each other in person or spoken to each other on the phone when we took that risk. We met each other online in Sept/Oct 2003. We weren't looking for a relationship, it just sort of happened... and 6 years later here we are, married working on our immigration process and working towards being together in one place for good!

To read our story see: The Beginning. (Click Newer Posts at the bottom to work your way up.)

This video below was from our wedding reception. We had a giveaway at the reception. Whoever guessed the date we started our relationship, won the prize. No one outright guessed it was April Fools Day! (The closest guess won.) F.B. and I crack up because in the video his uncle comes running up to our table and you can hear him say, "April 1?!" like he can't believe it was on April Fools Day! Heehee!

Today F.B. & I have been married 3 months! ♥♥♥

I wanted to share my favorite wedding video. After we were married when we arrived back to F.B.'s house. His family showered us with rice and rose petals!


I have more wedding videos on Facebook. But you have to add me as a friend to view them.

And if you've been reading my blog long enough. "Tunay Na Mahal" means "True Love" in Tagalog. ♥♥♥

The day after F.B. & I were married we were in the parking garage at Robinson's Galleria. He was calling me "Poopsie Pie" & "Sweet-ems", "Snookums" to annoy me & I simply answered, "Dickhead." He says, "We've been married 1 whole day & already you're calling me a dickhead?!" Haha! Yes, I'm a bad wife.

F.B. said to me a few weeks after we were married. "You must be allergic to being married to me. You've been sick since the wedding & you're getting peely skin now where you wear your wedding band!"

Sarah Lynn: I miss you
FB: I miss you too
Sarah Lynn: I still don't take my wedding band off
Sarah Lynn: don't worry I'm not allergic to being married to you anymore
Sarah Lynn: I don't get peely skin there anymore lol!
FB: I haven't worn mine since you left....just kidding. LoL!
Sarah Lynn: you're terrible, LOL
Sarah Lynn: and on valentines day too!
FB: haha
FB: oops, I forgot LoL!
Sarah Lynn: tsk tsk... you better be wearing it at the mall right now!
FB: hmmm
FB: haha! of course I'm wearing it baby
FB: I just take it off at night when I go to sleep. haha
Sarah Lynn: I know
Sarah Lynn: hehe

I have weird nightmares where I literally start screaming in my sleep sometimes. F.B. has experienced this quite a few times... the one time he said I sat up, was screaming and saying "Where am I?" And then when I went to lay back down I smacked him real hard above his brow bone with my elbow! I actually left a bruise! We have photographic proof!

This past trip, I had a lot of those scream-mares again. I don't even know I'm doing it. In the morning, I have a small recollection, and I'll say to F, "Did I scream last night?" Right before I left I had one and he said I woke him up screaming and I would just scream more when he would try to put his arm around me. So he kinda moved over and braced himself hoping I wouldn't hit him in my sleep again. Then he said he couldn't get back to sleep because his heart was pounding, lol. My poor husband!

Sarah Lynn: I miss sleeping with you, Mr. Snore.
FB: I miss that too baby
Sarah Lynn: oh wait... I'm, Miss scream. Hahaha!
FB: I know
Sarah Lynn: I'm sorry, my mom said I should buy you ear plugs and a ski mask
Sarah Lynn: so you'll be protected from me when I have my scream-mares haha!
FB: LoL!
Sarah Lynn: well I did hit you that time and didn't know it, and you said it hurt so bad you wanted to cry lol!
FB: You didn't know it eh...ok... LoL!
Sarah Lynn: I didn't, lol!
Sarah Lynn: I thought you were teasing me, until I saw the bruise, lol
FB: ok baby, I believe you. haha
Sarah Lynn: haha, I'm an abusive wife, I beat you up
Sarah Lynn: and call you dickhead
Sarah Lynn: and give you the finger
Sarah Lynn: why did you marry me again? LOL
FB: cuz you'd beat me up more if I didn't. LoL!
Sarah Lynn: Ohhhhh lol!
Sarah Lynn: I never beat you up- liar
Sarah Lynn: I just tickled you a hell of a lot though
Sarah Lynn: so much you have no tickles left lol!
FB: I know. haha!

(This is true... F.B. & I used to have tickle wars. I tickled him one too many times under his arms and he's not ticklish there anymore! Darn!)

As you can tell F.B & I are a couple of dorks, hehe. I think that's why we get along so well. We both have weird warped senses of humor. We're always joking around with each other and we laugh a lot. ♥♥♥ He's my best friend. ♥♥♥
♥♥♥ Happy Valentines Baby, I miss you and I love you! ♥♥♥
Hopefully by next year... we'll be celebrating Valentines Day in the same place!