Trust Restored

[Jaystone]

 Hello Everyone, As some of you may recall, I took a second trip to the Phils last summer to see my fiancée and she told me one of the 3 kids she was raising was actually hers.   She previously told me it was her niece.  She told me of this finally because she did not want to burden me with her child and she did not think I would accept her as a single mom.   She did not expect me take the child with her to the states, and she did not expect me to help support her daughter.  After that initially shock, I postponed the visa process to rethink everything, and to see if trust can be restored.

When I came back…..I had everything I felt necessary checked out: her birth certificate, NBI clearance, and her daughter’s birth certificate and her passport, and the child’s birth certificate.   Everything checked out.  We spoke almost everyday since I came back and the trust slowly came back.  I believe her when she told me she did not want burden me with a child to raise, even though I told her when we initially met children were okay…she also told me that guys she was talking to online were either playing games or not very serious when they knew she had a child.  Well, after months of communicating, I gave her the second chance and I have not regretted it.  Everything is going great, and I finally filed the visa in June and I received the NOA2 notice September 19^th.  Today, I just got my case number!  I will calling the embassy soon for her interview.   I am hoping to have her here by Christmas or shortly soon after. We also plan on having her daughter with us within the 1 year window we have to bring her over with the K2 visa that I filed.  I am actually planning on going back to visit in November for a week, and this time I am taking a friend with me!  I told my best friend about my experiences in the Phils and he went online and met someone in Lapu-Lapu- the same town where my girl is!.   They have already met each other and will be meeting us at the airport!  How great is that?

On a personal note, like jm21-2,I had some losses of loved ones in my life.  In July, I lost a dear friend of mine whom I have known since the 7^th grade to a heart attack…he was only 46 years old! On top of that, his wife died just this past Saturday of the same thing….she was 40 years old, and she died in front of her 18 year old daughter.   I also lost my father in August.  He was 84 years old, and really took care of himself and was healthy....It was not until he hit is 80s when things started going downhill.   I miss them all very much everyday and seeing my loved ones die like this in the past few months has really made me really appreciate life and how precious life is.  If anyone out there still has parents that are still alive, try to be with them as much as you can because you never know how much time you will have left with them.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
 
Jaystone

[robert angel]

Congratulations Jaystone!
 
You have been down quite a path! It's been a while since we'd heard from you and it sounds like you have given things a lot of thought and reflection. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person who was wondering  how things were coming along for you and your lady.
 
It's too bad about you, like Jm21, losing loved ones, but it sounds like in some sort of way that you channeled that into a new perspective on life.
 
The paperwork you've been doing must be a handful. It's neat that your friend also has met someone from Lapu Lapu! I've been there and although it's been a while and I usually stay mostly in Cebu City when on Cebu, I don't think Lapu Lapu or Mactan is that big, unless it's really boomed, so that's kind of an amazing coincidence.
 
You still in Michigan? We'll be up in Royal Oak and Birmingham next month. Maybe this time, we'll get some snow--that'd be lovely--for a while anyway. Wish I could get up for the Michigan--Ohio State game, but I don't think THAT's going to be too pretty...
 
Anyhow, thanks for sharing, congrats again on making a thoughtful decision and putting actions to your thoughts!
 
Rob

[Tanuki]

Jaystone, sorry about your losses.  I am happy to hear everything is going well for you and your girl.  I wish you the best and hope you keep the updates coming.
Take care.

[Jaystone]

Congratulations Jaystone!
 
You have been down quite a path! It's been a while since we'd heard from you and it sounds like you have given things a lot of thought and reflection. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person who was wondering  how things were coming along for you and your lady.
 
It's too bad about you, like Jm21, losing loved ones, but it sounds like in some sort of way that you channeled that into a new perspective on life.
 
The paperwork you've been doing must be a handful. It's neat that your friend also has met someone from Lapu Lapu! I've been there and although it's been a while and I usually stay mostly in Cebu City when on Cebu, I don't think Lapu Lapu or Mactan is that big, unless it's really boomed, so that's kind of an amazing coincidence.
 
You still in Michigan? We'll be up in Royal Oak and Birmingham next month. Maybe this time, we'll get some snow--that'd be lovely--for a while anyway. Wish I could get up for the Michigan--Ohio State game, but I don't think THAT's going to be too pretty...
 
Anyhow, thanks for sharing, congrats again on making a thoughtful decision and putting actions to your thoughts!
 
Rob

Thanks Rob,  I appreciate the thoughts.  Yes, I feel good about my decision and have not looked back.  I really look forward to her being here with me.   Filing that Visa was a pain in the butt, but it was well worth it. I actually used one of those visa companies to help me...it was not that expensive and it was well worth it!  The hard part is over...now it is just getting that interview done.   The plan is to have her here 1 month after her approval, so I have time to get the house ready.....that is my challenge right now.  I really could make any improvements inside because I have a roomate...once they are gone I can really get to work.
Yep, I am still in Michigan...Royal Oak and Birmingham is about 30 mins from Redford where I live.....maybe we can meet up?  I will be back in town November 5th...snow usually does not hit until late November early December.
 
Jaystone
 

[Jaystone]

Jaystone, sorry about your losses.  I am happy to hear everything is going well for you and your girl.  I wish you the best and hope you keep the updates coming.
Take care.

Thanks for the thoughts, Tanuki...I appreciate it!  I cannot tell you how exciting that she could be here within the next couple of months! Wow....this journey has taken a little over two years...time flies when you are having fun!
I will be a little more active now that the fall is here-I have a small landscape business on the side and that is almost over so I will have more time to write.
Jaystone