thank you for the warm welcome to this group... -its exciting to read whatever is happening at the moment,... After all that it is a great feeling to know that there are some people, going through the same junk I do.... thanks to everybody

i kinda like that hat with jeans... cant wait to see ur wedding pictures...

well, I baught my dress a week ago at Davids and the veil was about 79$ but its a long one...till the ellbow I am pretty sure that there are cheaper options...

Well now that our plans have changed for our legal wedding, I will prolly get all dressed up in my wedding dress for a third time so I can take it over with me - yippee!!

i was thinking about doing that, too. but i would need to have it drycleaned and to have some things fixed and stuff.
it would somehow not feel "right". the dress already had its big day.
but i just called davids (i bought my dress and my jacket there (i never wore the jacket as it looks dumb), and they are willing to trade in the jacket for a veil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i miss my friends tonight. and i miss eric. its great to spend time with my parents, but tonite i feel lonely.

Yay for the veil!! That is so cool!!!!

Boo to feeling lonely though *hugs*

thanks.... all my friends are in other cities, or they somehow can't relate to me being engaged/married/emigrating anymore. *sigh*

and nothing exciting on tv either.

I've tried on my wedding dress about 437824729 times since August...
P is here now until the 20th, but I know he's going back and I know I won't see him agan until right before the wedding. However, I am amazed at the quickness of Frankfurt. Honestly, we are thinking we'll have to ask for an extension because he can't get here before the middle of July so he can finish his Diplom. So, we're sending the papers back to Frankfurt today, but including a request for a mid-April interview. The people at the Consulate there are pretty awesome.

Tuscon, how did your interview go and was your fiance there with you?

Aww Agnes - you'll be together soon!! See if you can grab a good ol' movie and sit down with a glass of wine

Wow you guys have all your wedding plans made.....I cannot even decide where we are getting married. I guess I am afraid to make plans until he has visa in hand and we know a travel date. But after listening and reading all of your plans I guess I better get busy. .

Cheryl

PS---Our interview is in 11 days....Pray we do not get any AP after and the visa will be in hand shortly after the interview. Then I really will have to get busy on those wedding plans. I am sooooo nervous and worried....So pray everyone!!
Cheryl

Prayers your way !

I definitely relate to the hesitancy for wedding plans. Peter and I know where we WANT to get married, but we haven't set a date either. We thought the 08/08/08 would be unforgettable (literally), but don't want to wait that long.

We're hoping to tie the knot in gorgeous Golden Colorado at the Foothills Chapel and then skip over the Red Rocks amphtheatre for some awesome pictures. We're going to do just the family short n sweet wedding in one hour thing though and then blow the big bucks on a trip to Telluride or something since we can't leave the country. We may make it legal first in the courthouse close to home first.

Here's the website to our little venue http://www.foothillschapel.com/index.htm

Okay what do you guys think of this Dress? I am pretty sure it is what I will get. However they are having a huge sale this weekend at David's Bridal......Wedding Gowns for $99.00. Unfortunately this one is only available online so it is not included in the sale. But I am going to look to see if they have something similar. If not I will just get this one. I do no want a really fancy one because our wedding is going to be small. Anyway.....what do you think?
Cheryl



My Wedding Gown

Not a bad start for someone who had no plans this morning.....hehehe

Our wedding will be small and we have not decided if it will be outdoor in the Botanical Gardens or at a small wedding chapel. I am leaning toward the gardens (saves on decorations). We will be on a budget when he gets here and he will not be able to work for a while. I am not rich. I plan to take off for 2 weeks when he comes and I spent alot of money on the 2 trips I made to Egypt already. So we are going simple for our wedding. So check it out and see what you think.
Cheryl

My Wedding Dress

sorry guys....I am working on wedding stuff since Ahmed has no connection tonight. Got another choice made. How do you think this veil will look with the dress I posted?

My Veil

Thanks for your input.
Cheryl

first of all i like r dress. i got an almost simple one already as well--- as for r wedding plans. i know exactely how u feel. i jst got started on those as well. and we have the same problem = money. but and we will be fine as long the wedding has both of u. we r planning a small wedding too, down at santa monica the got some pretty cute wedding packages as well (somewhat similar to Las Vegas offers)... Getting married at the beach is so romantic.. cant wait to book a date - bt we also wait until we got the visa in our hands.

Dress is lovely and simple and I am sure the veil will look lovely with it

The only reason we have wedding plans is because we jumped the gun and are now doing things the risky way - thankfully our wedding planner has been brilliant about things so hopefully it will all tie together in the end I can't wait for it to all be over though - I just want to move now and get on with my life!!!

I think the dress is great!

Also, I love how that site has models in a variety of sizes

The dress is lovely, and importantly as well, it looks like you'll be comfortable in it. The veil is pretty too! A very nice start to plans!

Thanks guys.....I appreciate your input and thoughts. I am happy with it. I cannot wait to share it with Ahmed. There has been no connection in Egypt for 2 days so we have not got to talk except on phone. And that is not always good either. So he has not seen it. He did find one net cafe today with a connection so maybe he will have it in his home by tonight. But the net cafe PC could not open the link when I sent it to him. He said PC were very old there. We have a tenative date.....March 29th.....if he gets his visa quickly after his interview. Hmmmmmm forgot to tell him the date part. LOOOOOL Anyway, I can always postpone the date. I have not booked anything yet. I will do that when visa is in hand. Everyone have a great day!! I have to get to work. See you tonight.
Cheryl

"Woot! That should move me up on the list...right? smile.gif

Dangit Aly, it's too bad Nadya isn't out here already. We'd have just talked you into coming up to Monterey (or us driving down to L.A.) so we could do the witness thing.

That's ok, we'll be content to see pics!"

Natasha tells me that Russian custom dictates that the witnesses be un-married, which I find curious (as I do many Russian customs).

"packing (can't decide wheter to take my blue stapler with me or the red one)"

Ok, Milton, I think you should bring whichever stapler keeps the voices in your head at bay....

Interesting, I didn't know that. But then I didn't know you were supposed to do that thing with your credit cards in front of a full moon or whatever to bring financial success. (she explained it to me once, I can't remember how it goes.) All I have to remember is "no shoes on the bed" and I should be ok.

Cheryl, I think the dress is very pretty and looks comfy too. The veil will look great with it.
I think I may check out David's and see how a dress like that looks on me. I really don't think i'd be comfy in the strapless kind. Constantly worrying about my dress falling down would not be fun and I don't want one so tight I can't breathe, yuck.

Also to not be forgotten - NO WHISTLING IN YOUR HOME!

@cheryll: wow, the dress is gorgous! i am looking at a similar veil from davids, as they offered to trade-in my bolero jacket for a veil


http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_d...p;prodgroup=123

this is mine!
i loved davids as they are used to brides who are on a budget. my dream gown would have been $6000, so i was looking for a 2nd choice anyway. i told my consultant my budget and there was a huge sale going on, so i got it for 250

oh, btw: i decided on the red stapler.


as for the wedding: we will go to the Justice of the Peace with our best friends (a married couple ) and afterwards to our most favorite mexican restaurant. i will probably wear jeans, highheels, black strapless top and a veil. didn't tell eric about the veil yet, but there is not way he would be allowed to veto.

Oohhhh - I know I've seen pics but not full frontal of the dress - it is lovely!!

I can't believe how cheap they are (in a good way ) My mum bought my dress for me so I shouldn't complain but wow - I will defo have to remember to recommend

I fully expect to be repeatedly knocked senseless for this one. I have a terrible habit of whistling when I'm cleaning or doing something repetitive. I try to catch myself but I think it's hopeless.

By the way ladies, the dresses are LOVELY, as are the brides who will be wearing them.

I love all the dresses. Mine is simple too. I have just a simple A-line skirt and a victorian style bodice with very light beading on it. My extravagant parts are my 10ft veil and my victorian tiara that I'll be the 5th generation of my family to wear! My whole outfit worth just over $1000, $750 is the tiara!

I've just had a knock at my door and a bottle of swedish vodka handed to me with my name carved into a wee metal plate imbedded in the bottle. One of my friends said a box of 12 bottles with names of 12 of my friends landed at his door this morning. They are presents from my friends from sweden for "up helly a" which was tuesday in the shetlands. Celebrating the viking heritage of scotland.

Aww - my wine seems a bit sad by comparison now!!

*sits in her chat room alone with her wine in her PJs... feels like an engaged Bridget Jones*

Well, if you don't have anything else to do, try getting rid of that ****** logo on your bean bag! Or, send me the gif and I'll take a whack at it.


Wee? Up helly a? Shetlands? It's like she's from another country or something.....

;-)

Awwww - sorry to hear you are lonesome. Unfortunately, I'm still at work - doesn't seem fair does it? Just another hour and I'll be hitting the door running. TGIF

Haha - well we have a veritable partay going on in our chatroom right now - Hannah, Debz, babbles... moxie I think is hiding Jeremy was in there as well but he just left for work...

KG - if you fancy having a go then I will pm you the URL I just haven't got round to downloading the gimp

For Julez

Thanks CBR. That dress is available online only but should fit like most A-Line dresses and the A -Line cut usually flatters any figure. That is why I decided to go with that cut. But I am going to the store tomorrow to see if they have any on sale that resembles it. They are haivng a $99 Bridal gown sale until February 4th. But when I called to make the appointment she said it was $50 to $200 off all dresses depending on starting price. But worth looking anyway. Otherwise I will order this one online.

Thanks KG for my lovely new advert-less avvie!!! Yippee!!!

Ok - onto vows again now... this is what I have now:

Haha - my mum just read them and got all teary at the last line!!!

Ok... another revision:



I would like to get something about learning and growing together in there somewhere, something maybe to symbolise where we have come from... I think the length is ok now but there are just bits that kinda need re-jigging, change some words etc...

Ideas?

This is the best draft yet, imo. Very nice!

Yay!!! But come on - constructive criticism is welcomed.. as long as it isn't *too* much Can always improve on things I'm kinda taking a break on it til tomorrow now so I can take on board any ideas and hopefully tomorrow I will be done and can print my vows Ooohhhhh that is so scary!!! These are the words with which I commit myself!!!

Well...I just think there should be more in there about robots and vampires and Batman. But otherwise...it's nice. I guess.



Honestly I can't see anything that immediately jumps out to me as needing fixed. I'll come back to it later and see if anything jumps out at me.

Yay! Thanks!! I thought about mentioning batman but figured Jeremy might get jealous

Almost time to start my red wine and TV extravaganza... and I want a bath somehow before... not sure how I am going to fit it all in - crappy cop shows start in about 25 minutes!!!

*Ehm*

May I join in although we filed in June?

I promise to show some wedding pics when I figure out how to

As the day of the interview draws closer, things are getting very difficult for Natasha. She has never been apart for very long from her family, and she is very close to her sister. When circumstances required that she move in with her parents 5 or 6 years ago, I am sure this was not easy for her either. But having experienced the love that her family has for each other during my month spent in their embrace, and as the day of her interview and departure grows near, Natasha's heart grows heavy. During our online chats she often begins to cry when she thinks of leaving, as she must do as we make our preparations for the interview. She tells me that when she meets me at the airport in Moscow, she will likely be crying too - not because she is unhappy to see me, but because it will be at the end of the first train trip she has taken where she will not be returning home soon. I do not know how long AP takes to receive, but we cannot start the AOS process until we are married, which is currently scheduled for early May (it is considered improper to marry during most of March and April, by the Russian Church). It is likely to be many many months before we can return to Russia, and the finality of everything is setting in for her.

The ray of sunshine is that she knows things will be easier once the waiting is over and the actual travelling begins. Life with me (he says, trying to at least sound humble) will have much happiness in store for her, and she knows this. She will have her own cell phone immediately upon arrival here, and I have promised to pay for all the calls and all the hours she desires to speak with her family while she adjusts to her (our) new life. She will also have the computer and can see her family when they gather around the web camera, as often as they are able to do so.

But whatever the intellect may grasp, the heart will not be denied and there are many tears and many long nights ahead. It is so difficult to see my angel cry, and to know there is nothing I can do. Nothing but try and be strong, and supportive, and give to her all the love that I have in my possession.

These past 6 hours as I have been chatting with Natasha have been emotionally draining, and I desire to lessen my burden by sharing it with you all, my friends here on visa journey. I know everyone wishes me well, just as I wish everyone here success, health, and happiness.

Sorry to hear Natasha is having such a hard time right now. Well I can tell you from my experience that about two weeks prior to my arrival to USA I had major problems too. I didn´t wanna leave my home country at all and was very sad and was thinking it was a bad idea for me to go so far away. I spent almost 6 months in USA last year with my fiance and it was great. Cuz last year I knew that I had to go back to my home country and things seemed much easier than now. Now it seemed like final and I was flying to USA now with a one way ticket only so that was quite depressing. Scott had a really tough time with me and it continued about a week after I arrived to USA, but then I started looking at the possitive things and I´m very thankful that Scott stood by me during those two or three weeks cuz it must have been terrible for him. Make sure to be supportive of her and let her know she can travel back home to see her family again as soon as it´s possible. Wish you both good luck and don´t give up

WOW!!! How did I get so behind? I am not even going to try to comment on all and catch up. I will just say Hi everyone. Congrats to Gillain and our first CSC arrival. Sorry solate with that. Jeraly I used some of those wrods in my vows too Someone posted them...was it you that posted the examples? My mind is failing me and I am too lazy to go back and look. But they sound good. I will share mine later. Maybe tomorrow. I am tired tonight from dress shopping I did buy my dress tonight....It is alot like the frist one I posted but it has a halter neck insead of spaghetti straps.

Wedding Dress I Bought

We are doing a very simple wedding...It is my second although I have been divorced for 14 years I decided to wear Ivory and not white. Will be an outside Garden wedding or a backyard ceremony. I did not buy the veil. After trying it on I did not like it with the dress.

And I am sorry I am the winner for the age difference.....I am 16 years older than Ahmed. But love knows no numbers so age does not matter. However, at frist I was unsure about it. But each day I love him more and each day I am more sure he is who I want to spend the rest of my life with.Sorry to take the winners sash..............lol

KG I am sorry to hear Natasha is sad and having a hard time righ now. I will put her on my prayer list. Hang in there!!

Happy Bithday Weedebz!!

Okay guys that is all I can rememeber about what I read....I have CRS syndrome (Can't Remember S- - - !!) Hope you all are having a great Saturday. Take Care!! See you soon.
Cheryl

PS Jeraly I see u got the Advertisement off your beanbag sparkles....NOW I am jealous again......LOL

Kevin, sorry to hear of the internal turmoil Natasha's experiencing right now. I'm sure you've been expecting it of course, but now the reality really sets in for both of you. How is Vika handling it?

You and I share pretty similar situations (as we've noted before) so I'll be eagerly anticipating your narrative about your new life with Natasha and Vika, living vicariously through your adventures as it were. Hopefully you'll blaze a few trails for me that will smooth my path out when Nadya arrives.

KG, i am sorry for the hard time you guys are having. i had a very similar conversation with eric basically each day for about 1 week now. he keeps telling me that i am draining him with my emotional state and all the negativeness and the reassurance that i constantly need.

but there is not a whole lot i can do about it. i mean, i am leaving my family and my friends behind. my flight leaves in 5 days and i already know that i will need a ton of tissues.

and it doesn't mean that i don't love him, or that i don't want to close to him or anything. it's just the two sides of one coin called: K1 and immigration.

i hope everybody has a sunny, happy, bright sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


FREE HUGS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

Yay!! Sure you can join us! You can be an honorary July filer like Moxie I'll make certificates in a little bit... in fact as we will all be filing AOS at different times anyway then I will even add your AOS progress to our spreadsheet Let me know all the details and things and I will fill it all in - I am anxious to add something to it as I made it all myself!!

Aly <------------ big girl now





KG/Agnes/Pretty much most of us:

It is really hard - it is harder because when we seem upset about it, it can easily be interpreted as not wanting to go by our friends/family - last thing we need is them asking if we made the right decisions, have any regrets, that there is still time to change our minds(!) etc!!!

Kevin - I know that I will be the same - I peak and trough between feeling totally chilled out and excited to panicking and wondering how I will cope. I am sure it is natural and I am sure things will settle down. Sometimes the buildup/wait is the worst part of it all.

Agnes - I know how you feel hunny *hugs* I am sure part of you just wants to go now so you can get it over and done with rather than hang around waiting for your life to be turned upside down. Just think - when you are there things will settle down - *AND* as if you wanted anything else to look forward to (some might say it is even better than being with your fiance) you will get a SHINY NEW CERTIFICATE from me Will take pre-orders

*hugs* to all

Am feeling totally chilled today actually so

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!

I was thinking the same thing when I was writing that post, Mox, but decided not to mention it. I'll definitely keep you updated on things. Vika seems to be very excited by the entire prospect of turning her life upside down, but being only 10 she is probably not completely aware of what she will feel or experience after she arrives.

Also kids are pretty resilient so you'll prolly find that once she starts school she'll develop a social network right away and settle down quite well

Have changed from being chilled to somewhat nervous now - it's crunch time. We had family over and the next time I will see them is when I am in the States so it is sinking in how close it is getting. Now I just kinda want to skip to Thursday post-immigration so I can chill again!!

Also the first day I am there (Friday), Jeremy is working so I will be on here chatting and freaking out