Christine + Blake

I have no idea what my plan b would be! I guess I would try and fight the denial and would probably look into hiring a lawyer to help me. ACK I don't want to think about it!

Yes, it feels real good to be organized and ready for the interview! And we might find we missed something every time we look at our organized folders or binders.

You're one up on me buying stationery at the dollar store. I bought three folders (1/2" thick) with 24 plastic sleeves each at Office Depot I wanted something thin enough to slight under the glass window at the interview booth.

I sent one folder stuffed with documents and photos to my fiancee, and she felt it's better with 2 folders, so I created another set of two presentation folders and added more stuff I'll hand carry those to her a few days before her interview

Soon, I'll make travel arrangements and tell my boss I'll be gone for two weeks in July Traveling to China is a lot harder and more expensive then going to Canada It's not merely across the border to the neighbor country, it's the other side of the world with 11 to 14 hours time difference and all BUT, it's exciting and worth it

That sounds very exciting, I'd love to take a big trip like that! (although I'm sure the novelty would wear off doing it more regularly )

I went to the dollar store today and got one of those file folder dividers, and two binders full of clear plastic sleeves so I can protect and organize all my documents for the interview and medical. It feels SO good to have things so organized!

Looking through them I realized we dated Blake's letter of intent to marry wrong so he'll have to send me a new signed copy (if the mail ever gets up and running again here!)

Christine, where do you live? My city police's website had a number of forms listed and I selected the Basic Criminal Records Search and the form has two checks that are done. One states "DOES NOT have a criminal record in the RCMP National Repository for Criminal Records in Canada" and the other says the same thing but for the city I live in. If you haven't gotten an answer yet, and you're from a bigger city try that first. If not (and you're in Ontario) used this link for the OPP site http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=499 . The last one listed is criminal record checks and it tells you what you need and how to go about getting a background check (and you don't need one for vulnerable population..those take a lot longer and cost more). If you need more info, message me.

Thanks, I am in a small city so I had to go to the OPP detachment.. they gave me a short white form but I'm not sure exactly which one it was.. I get it back on tuesday and it costs me 25 dollars so I will double check when I get it (I tried to call montreal but of course they are on vacation until wednesday!), thank you for that link!

Going to get my police check today was very frustrating - no one at either office I went to had ANY clue what form to give me or what I was supposed to do. I'm very frustrated with the whole process right now and am getting way too frazzled and crazy.

My appointment is August 31st at 8:31 am Going for my medical July 8th

I just made my appointment for my medical, July 8th The guy I talked to at the clinic was SO nice and pretty much just told me I could pick any day I wanted, it was a breeze! Finally a part of this process that was easy! haha

congrats to everyone on the progress and good news lately, I hope this continues to everyone still waiting for NOA2s

Decemberites cannot be stopped or contained!!

Thanks Mari and Lise!

Turns out I need my Hep A shot(s) and my booster for my measles/mumps/rubella, darn. Gotta be tough for love though!

That's great news about the harpist Lise

hey everyone, I just did my first day of Couch to 5K and it went great! It was difficult but i did the whole thing and I feel great

Later today I am going by my doctors to get my vaccination records and make an appointment to get the ones I need :\ bleh, needles!

Derek and Callie I am so thrilled for you two!!!!!

30 days today since VSC acknowledged that they received our RFE response. So disappointed.

aw hang in there Piefre, you'll get there eventually <3

Hi!December Family!!

Just wanted to tell you that yesterday I had my interview at the consulate in my country and I have approved the visa I hope they go really well with you too! good luck

Congratulations!!! When are you planning on making the trip?

Question for Decemberites:

You have just picked up your Sweetheart from the POE. You were so nervous and excited to see them, you forgot to stock up at the grocery. Because you two are so happy to see one another, you RUSH home for a romantic evening alone. Since it's your first night alone and he/she is starving from their travel, you lovingly say you will make them food.

So....

1). What's in your pantry right NOW?

2). What can you creatively make from that (that is edible) and can be considered cuisine from your Beneficiary's country??

** Rules***

A. You must not go outside house for more groceries or order take out.

B. You may add any other ingredients to incorporate their culture that is in the house, subject and not limited to anything toxic or poisonous.

C. You would be willing to eat it yourself when plated for the table!

D. Looks and presentation count. (you may include pic of said cuisine from random pics on the net)

@ Bec, Nea and Nicola: LOL See what you started??? LOL LOL

Have fun with this!

Mari

Jeez Mari that's a tough challenge! We have no meat in the house at all really, so that is a challenge since Blake won't eat many veggies (I'm pretending I live here and Blake is coming here). I have milk, cheese, noodles, breadcrumbs, a few spices.. so I will make Blake some good old macaroni and cheese! He loves that and I just started eating cheese recently so I would even eat it too. Oh we also have some leftover cooked chicken in the fridge so he could have some chicken and green beans too - a full meal!

oh Rallybug you reminded me, we're also doing a celebration in Canada (I've dubbed it the 'pre-ception' since its just like the reception, no ceremony, but its BEFORE the other wedding) for everyone there who can't make it down, and as sort of a going away party. PHEW.

Next month Blake is going to start looking around for a place for us (he lives with roommates right now, but once he finds somewhere good he's going to move in somewhere just for us) and I'm super excited! Everything is getting so close and so real!

Oh and Derek I'm totally jealous! I've always wanted to show up and surprise Blake, but I guess I'm out of time on that one now! I'll have to do the opposite, and surprise my mom sometime.

Nikola - that's awesome! Kristen_maroc is doing it right now and she's doing AMAZING so that's what got me into the idea again (I had thought about it before but had never actually tried it)

Lise - I know what you mean, we've been through so much crazy stuff planning this wedding..and now we have to do a separate justice of the peace thing since we (in the end needlessly) moved the wedding. AUGH! Now I'm resigned to the '2 weddings' thing, except I still don't know what day we'll celebrate as our anniversary! I could never give up having a big wedding. I hope everything works out for the day you're planning on <3

KiwiJen - congratulations!!!!!

I just wrote up a post and then accidentally lost the whole thing! To summarize: I'm probably starting the "Couch to 5K" running program next week, if anyone is interested in joining me as part of the fitness challenge.

The rest of the post was just thinking of how crazy busy I'm going to be starting like the minute I get back to Canada (I get in at midnight, then at 9am I have a dentist appointment for some cavities and a consultation on my crumbling root canal, ugh) but its all very exciting, if though stressful. Good thing I have you guys!

Lise and April&Adam, thank you! I have to wait until I get home anyway to see when I can book my medical for, but I will get right on that next week

Gathering up interview paperwork while I'm here in Atlanta so that we don't have to worry about Blake mailing me the stuff when the time comes.. I'm going to print up a couple letters of intent to marry so we can date them different dates and Blake can sign them, just in case something happens and we need to move my interview lol.

Luckily he makes enough money that we don't need a co-sponsor, phew one less set of paperwork to worry about!

Can any Canadians help me out on when I can book my medical exam? Do I have to wait until they get my packet 3? (that's my understanding of it right now)

Only one week left here in Atlanta before its back to Canada until moving day!

I'm confused at you people who have said you've had your medicals already before getting packet 4.. I thought you have to wait until you get packet four before you can book your medical?

When filling out the forms, there are questions asking where I intend to live when I get here - the thing is, my fiance is moving this summer before I get there but we don't know where to yet! On the last set of forms I just wrote 'unknown - petitioner moving' but I don't want it to sound like he's just floating in the breeze out here.

I'm getting really excited!

I hope you're all enjoying the time you're spending right now in your current countries - Blake said to me the other day 'you really have to treasure the time you're spending in Canada this summer' and he's totally right. This is the last stretch of time that I'll live at home with my parents, close to my family, with my best friends close by.. I think this last stretch is going to be our easiest apart, both because I know its the last one and because I'm going to be busy having an amazing summer.

Guess what came in the mail today......packet 4 saying I am ready for my interview!!! It was postmarked May 27th; received June 2nd. Never did receive packet 3 in the mail

I am slightly confused at the instruction to bring the appointment letter showing the date and time of your interview, is it the website confirmation? And I packed box 19 for the POE, butterfly city in my stomach...can't wait for August!!!

Hope everyone has a nice day,

Lise

Congratulations, that's awesome!! I assume its the website confirmation, yeah.

I don't know about your picture box, the picture box on the New Delhi photo instructions page stated that it was 2x2 but it lied. I measured.

In the past it has always said 2x2 and this box I think said 50mm x 50mm? I don't know. Its just a teeny bit tall so I don't think it will be a big deal (at least I hope not!)

I messaged you, but what sorts of problems are you having with DHL?

I would figure it out rather than sending things this week via Canada Post...especially with their threat of striking this Thursday.

Take care,

Lise

Thanks for the message Lise. Yes I did go to that link and sign up but it doesn't automatically take you to explain how to send your packet through DHL (I eventually found it on the sidebar, thats how I ended up booking an interview - I just kept hitting 'continue'! haha). Then once I found the instructions, the PDF page wouldn't load for me so I couldn't really go any further. I ended up sending it today via UPS and they said it would get there on tuesday.

I really hope I did everything right, I'm a little concerned about my photo since it didn't completely 'fit' in that box on the form you need to send two of, but I got it at CVS and it said it was for use with visa applications, so.. fingers crossed!

Need to figure this DHL stuff out..