Something’s wrong with my blog. I didn’t know it but just now, I am trying to view my entry regarding Fiancee Petition but the page just doesn’t come up. It keeps saying “opps, this link is broken” or “URL not found”.

What is wrong with this? Must have happened when my little bro switched servers again??

I’ve already been a licensed driver since July 1st of this year but to tell you the truth, because of my fear of driving, I have not yet driven a car if my husband or my driving instructor isn’t beside me, or with me.

Not till last week though.

My husband’s work schedule got changed to 10am to 6pm so the three of us, my husband, my son and I can’t carpool anymore. Because of the new sked, I had no choice but to drive myself to work and to drop off and pick up my son at his daycare. It wasn’t easy confronting my fears as I am a first-time driver but I didn’t have much choice but to take this new challenge head on.

I absolutely think though that this was all God’s plan. He changed my husband’s sked so I will be forced to do this.  He knows that I have been putting off driving by myself ever since I got my driver’s license. But  I am not upset at all, though I was I admit , for about five minutes after my husband told me of the schedule change. But I guess being put in a tight spot where you had no choice is all I needed.  It was like getting a kick in the butt so I can get out there and get the courage to drive by myself.

Right now, I am still learning, I still feel apprehensive everytime I go out to drive but I then know that in time, I will all be alright.

I am until now waiting for the approval of my petition for my Mom to come here to the US. I don’t know what’s taking them so long to approve it since I have already sent all the papers that they possibly need. I am just so excited for my Mom to get here and all this waiting is such a damper. But I guess I cannot really do anything but wait patiently and know that the Lord knows the perfect time and moment for Mama to come here.

Anyway, does anyone know just how long a petition for a parent goes? I filed last July 1st and all I got was their receipt notice, no approval notice yet. I checked at the USCIS website, it says the processing takes 5 months. If  anybody knows anything can you share it with me, please ?

I have filed a  petition for my Mom last July 1st and now I am still waiting for the USCIS approval. I try not to think too much about it but of course I can’t help but keep thinking about it.

I am excited to receive the approval letter so every day I tell my husband, ” The petition, Honey, the petition… ” which means he should go out and check the mail. And when he doesn’t budge, John and I  do a duet,  ” Daddy, the petition , the petition!!”   (John says it like this, “pah-te-tion”)

All of us are excited for my Mother’s arrival. This early we are already thinking about things to do, where to go. It’s going to be fun. And it won’t be too boring anymore ’cause there’ll be four of us in the house.

I hope she’ll be here before December comes.

So bored!!! It’s Friday but we’re still on furlough so no work on Fridays. It’s good that I don’t have to wake up early but , it’s so boring and I am earning less because of this Friday no work day !

I am currently venting my boredom by eating Dreyer’s Rocky Road ice cream and kill time. I know it’s bad for my weight but I am not in the mood to care today. And anyway, when did I ever care about my weight?

Boo-hoo-hoo.. so boring, so bad. It would’ve been nice if my Mom was here so I have somebody to talk to and hang out with .

So last July 1st , I took a day-off again from work to go to Tracy, California to do my behind-the-wheel driving test. We went there early, around 9am so I can practice the routes. I have never been to Tracy but I had to take the driving test there since that is the only earliest appointment I can get online.

Anyway, I was a bit nervous before the test, and my husband’s scolding about my driving skill wasn’t helping me at all. I almost backed out when he scolded me. While having a lunch break of sort, he kept reprimanding me about how I drive, how I don’t listen. Well I was crying , I was already thinking of ” let’s just go home then if you think I can’t make it” , but I thought of giving it a try before giving up. I don’t want to give up before even trying it out.
When it was time for the driving test, I reported to one of those  windows, somebody checked my papers,  and I was instructed to  park the car on the driving test waiting area. While waiting for the DMV officer, I kept praying.  I told the Lord to stay with me, because I really really need to pass this test. I can do it again but the stress and everything, I don’t really want to go through them again .

When the DMV officer came, I was ready. And when we drove off out of the DMV parking lot, I secretly told myself , ” This is it! Stay with me Lord! ” .

I did  some mistakes and I know I did so after 20 minutes when we went back, and she told me to park, I wasn’t expecting for any good outcome. She told me of my mistakes, and what I should do about it and afterwards said, ” Congratulations, you passed! “. I was so incredulous that I shrieked , ” Huh? I passed?? !!! ” . And with tears, (really,  I am a “crier”  I tell you) , I told her,  ” You are so nice, thank you so much for making me pass”. She said that I did a good job handling the car and the road, that I should have more confidence in myself and  remember not to make the mistakes again.

So there, I passed my driving test! And there is nobody  that I would want to give thanks to first but God since He really lead me out of this. I was expecting the worst already, but  God  helped me again, as always.

I am glad HE always looks out for me. Thanks Lord, I really, truly appreciate all the love and help You are giving me.

I want to thank the people who taught me, my Ate Ludy, she’s my Kumare and the one who has always encouraged me to learn driving. She was the one who took me to DMV to take the written exam and taught me how to drive for about 5 Saturdays.

I also want to thank my husband for letting me drive to work after we’ve dropped off John to the daycare. It wasn’t everyday but just the same, I thank him for trusting me.

To those of you thinking of taking the driving test too, just have faith in yourself, faith in Him and just try to relax during the test. Be attentive to what the DMV personnel will tell you and  I know you will pass the test too, just like me.

Finally last June 17, I was sworn-in as a US citizen. I took a day-off for this special day since the ceremony will be starting at 9:15 am. We just drove to Oakland rather than take the BART (train).

We got there around 8:30 and the ceremony ended at 10:30. I am glad this last step of my immigration journey is finally over. No more immigration filing to do, I am now officially a US citizen, yehey!!!

Go to my USApinoy.com website for more of this citizenship event.

I have been doing some driving practice for some time now and my friends have been urging me to take the DMV driving test now so that if I fail, I would know where I need improvement on. Last week I was thinking of giving it a shot but when I got to the DMV online appointment for the actual driving test, I chickened-out. I just felt so scared suddenly. I felt so not ready yet.

I have to get my driver’s license this July before my driving permit expires again, for the third time. This is my second driving permit and if it expires again, I will need to get another one for 30 dollars again.

Argggh, I just feel a bit upset. I want to do it, but I feel I need more time especially with doing parking, changing lanes and freeway driving. Just thinking about doing the test gives me cold sweat.

Today the driving instructor will pick me up, I’ll see what he says about my driving skills. But whatever he says, I think I should definitely take the driving test this June.

But my mind is screaming,” DON’T, I AM NOT READY YET!!!”

I’m so scared…