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…

I have never been a poem lover, but I love to read Desiderata when I feel down and weary with life…

Read on, maybe you will find some solace in its words just like I did.

Desiderata

– written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s –

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

I watched American Idol’s Finale tonight and yes, it ’s unbelievable that Kris Allen won over Adam Lambert. I was wishing that Kris wins AI and he did!

I am  happy for him, he seems like a real nice boy and he  can sing without having to wail and scream unlike the other one.  I couldn’t believe he won over Adam since I’ve read a lot of comments favoring Adam Lambert and not Kris.

I like Kris because when he sings, I can still  understand the lyrics and his voice is really clear even if he’s trying to reach the high notes. Especially during the day before this finale, Kris Allen really shone with the way he sang those songs, I could understand what he was singing, the melody was there but not Adam who as always was screaming at the top of his lungs.

During the announcement he just couldn’t believe it was he who won. He said  ” This is crazy” and he couldn’t say anything more. I think Ryan Seacrest wanted him to show some excitement and say something but he looked really unprepared and lost for words. But me thinks that he was really happy that he won but he just couldn’t show it too much because he knows that Adam also  wanted to win really bad.  Well now, don’t feel bad Kris, a lot of the voting public still loves simplicity, humility and real talent.

I am happy for you Kris. You deserved to win. Stay humble.