Time for a new layout and other news...

I've had the same layout for 2 years, so it was time for a change! I used the picture of our wedding rings for my new banner.

Also, this week our immigration lawyer emailed me. The NVC got our paperwork from USCIS and they emailed our lawyer with our case number and the fees we had to pay. We had to pay a $70 fee for our affidavit of support. And $400 for our immigrant visa fee. The money was deducted from our savings account the other day. Now we are just waiting for the NVC to contact us again. Then we can prepare our financial paperwork and I-864!

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. 

Next Saturday, I'm also getting a new tattoo. I went out today to a tattoo place my cousin recommended. The artist that did my other 2 tattoos two years ago at another shop doesn't work there anymore. I scheduled an appointment for next Saturday at the new tattoo shop.

There are actually 2 tattoo's I want to get. I want to get the "love" verse on the back of my neck. (The location of the love verse to be exact.) But I'm waiting until F.B. is in the USA before I get it. That's our relationship verse and it was used a lot on our wedding day. I want to get it when our immigration is completed and F.B. is in the USA, because then it's like the final chapter in our long distance love story.

Next Saturday night, I'm getting a simple silhouette of a rat underneath on my right wrist. In a way it represents all of the rats I have owned. And also in China a rat symbolizes good luck.

Unbelievable...

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'

Out of 14, 1 finally likes the hammock!

I have now owned 14 rats. (5 have passed.) And out of all of them; none of my rats ever liked hammocks! If you put them in a hammock they would get out. Or they would just hang empty in the cage gathering dust. Well... finally, finally I have a rat that uses a hammock and likes it! Loves it in fact! Check out my Fennel boy!

Also please drop by Star's Rat Rescue. My friend Brittney is still in need of fosters, adopter's and donations for the 150+ rats her rescue has taken in!

Now we're getting somewhere!

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.

Giveaway Winner!

Four of you entered and three of you got all the questions correct except one! I had to use a random number generator to determine the winner!And the winner is.... Jacki from Keeping up with me!

Congratulations Jacki! Please email me your address to: tunaymahal8279ATyahooDOTcom so I can ship your prizes to you!

Here are the answers to the quiz and where they could be found on my blog:

1. Where did F.B. & I meet online? Lindsay Lohan Forum

2. What does F.B. stand for? His father’s initials: Felicisimo Bernardo

3. How many years have F.B. & I been in a long distance relationship? 6 years

4. How many trips to the Philippines have I taken? Four

5. The first thing I said to F.B. in person was? “You’re not so short”

6. My favorite drink at Starbucks is? White Chocolate Mocha.

7. F.B.’s favorite thing to eat is? Ruffles Chips

8. Date we were engaged? 01-10-2007

9. Our legal date of marriage is? 12-18-09

10. F & I like to watch this cartoon? Spongebob Squarepants

11. How many tattoo’s do I have? Two

12. I am obsessed with this theme- when it comes to books? Tudor Dynasty

13. How many rats have I owned altogether? 14

14. What does ‘Tunay Na Mahal’ in Tagalog mean? “True Love”

Asian Aisle Feature: Clover Chips

Last August I won the 1st Asian Aisle blog giveaway! I wasn't expecting such a big prize package! Because I wanted to thank Cindy for the great prizes, I picked out a few treats for her while I was in the Philippines. Today she featured 'Clover Chips'. Head over to Asian Aisle to check it out!

Other Asian Aisle Posts:

Choc-Nut Feature

Taste Testing

Wow!

Basil get's "snip snipped"

A few weeks ago I took Basil to the vet to find out about getting him neutered. May 20th, I dropped Basil off at the vet around 8:30am. I was able to pick him up at 2:30pm. Poor Buddy is now neutered. They used surgical glue on him and he has to take SMZ-TMP antibiotic for 2 weeks. He also has a recheck visit at the vet on May 27th. He won't take his antibiotic in the oral syringe, so I have to mix his medicine in baby food. When I brought him home Thursday night they had given him pain killers, so he had some Strawberry Ensure and then zonked out in his igloo in the cage. (This is his incision if you're squeamish don't click!)

Total vet damages... $334.00. Ouch... (thank you credit card.) at least recheck visits are free. I called just about every vet in the area and only my vet and another more expensive vet did them, so I really had no choice. And because of his aggressiveness towards his brothers, he had to be neutered. In 4 weeks Basil should be able to move in with the girl ratties!

Basil a few weeks ago eating a necco wafer candy. (Ignore the baby food on his tail, hehe!)

P.S. My awesome new bumper sticker! (The middle sticker)

There is also a new page I created on my blog called: My Pet Rats. You can find it in the top right column.

Blog Quiz Giveaway!

Time for a Blog Quiz Giveaway! If you've been a long time reader of my blog you should probably know most of the answers to these questions. If not; try utilizing the search bar on the upper left hand corner of my blog or the 'contents' list (keywords) in the right hand column of my blog. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins a $10 Walmart Gift Card, a 1.7 Fl.oz. L'Occitane Verbena Body Lotion and a Philadelphia souvenir light up key chain that I picked up at 30th Street Station!

Prizes:

How to enter:

1. Please email your quiz answers to: tunaymahal8279ATyahooDOTcom Subject line should be: Blog Quiz Giveaway

2. Leave a comment on this blog, saying you've emailed your answers. Both these steps are required for your entry to be valid.

3. This give away is only valid for USA & Canada residents because of the Walmart Store Gift Card. Friends & family are allowed to enter because it's my blog. :-p

Good Luck! Giveaway Ends: May 31st, 2010! Winners should be announced June 1st!

Quiz Questions

1. Where did F.B. & I meet online?

2. What does F.B. stand for?

3. How many years have F.B. & I been in a long distance relationship?

4. How many trips to the Philippines have I taken?

5. The first thing I said to F.B. in person was?

6. My favorite drink at Starbucks is?

7. F.B.’s favorite thing to eat is?

8. Date we were engaged?

9. Our legal date of marriage is?

10. F.B. & I like to watch this cartoon?

11. How many tattoo’s do I have?

12. I am obsessed with this theme- when it comes to books?

13. How many rats have I owned altogether?

14. What does ‘Tunay Na Mahal’ in Tagalog mean?

This post will have a future date until the giveaway is over!