Another Fiance Visa

My future bayaw (brother-in-law) is one step closer to reaching his bride-to-be in America!

As of Tuesday, Aldean's fiance visa petition has been APPROVED [state-side] and we are really praising the Lord!!

His documentation should be on its way to the US Department of State now; and soon after, on its way to the US Embassy in the Philippines!

I am so excited for my twin sister, Jessie, and Aldean as they continue on this journey
 so unlike any other!

God has been so good to our family.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippines 4:4)


Please keep praying for Jessie and Aldean!

Love, Love, Love,
Jessie's proud twin sister,
Jewel

Staycation 2

Last Thursday, I took my second saved vacation day and my sweet husband and I took another one-day "staycation" to enjoy the blessing of a few extra hours together during the work week.

We slept until the wonderful hour of 9:00, grabbed our bathing suits, towels, and sunglasses; stopped for gas, coffee, and donuts; and headed west to Kokomo Beach.





Kokomo Beach might be one of NE Central Indiana's best-kept secrets. For only $5/each, we enjoyed hours of relaxing "togetherness" on the lazy river, in the leisure pool, and twice down the slides (then the lines became too cRaZY.)  We had lunch at a picnic table in the shade, and a few hours later, found ourselves at Markland Mall.

At Target, I found the perfect short sleeve, yellow, cardigan sweater to wear with a dress [that I can't wear without the perfect short sleeve, yellow, cardigan sweater (or some other form of covering up my shoulders!)] My husband found 2 pairs of good-looking cargo shorts on clearance for only $5/each. (I even convinced him to buy a pair that isn't plaid. Plaid doesn't go with everything you know.)  We perused a few more stores and enjoyed the best soft pretzel that I have maybe ever had (and the guaranteed first that he has ever had!)

Oh the way back home, our small corner of the world got it's first rain in more than three weeks; and it wasn't just a rain, it was a downpour - a "the windshield wipers won't move fast enough" kind of downpour.  It was both equally tense and relaxing to drive in the rain. :)

Despite the sunburn that is still bothering me six days later, the horrible embarrassment of locking my keys in the car at Culver's, and the discomfort of wearing wet clothes (due to locking my keys in the car in the downpour;) without my husband's input, I will declare it "the best day that we have spent together since our honeymoon."

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel

Our First "Just Us" Vacation

Vacation! Vacation! A happy time of year! Vacation! Vacation! With the one I hold so dear!

On Friday, my sweet husband and I enjoyed a wonderful few hours of "vacation" together in the Big City.  It was just one day, but it was so wonderful to just be together and to be away!  10-15 miles down the interstate, I realized that I had forgotten my camera at home [on the charger!] and I was so angry at myself!  10-15 miles later, I had convinced myself that we would have more fun without the distraction of a camera and needing to take pictures.  (I'm not sure the credibility of that statement, but at least I wasn't angry at myself!)

Our first stop: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where we explored the SpaceQuest Planetarium, CSI Flight Adventures, Treasures of the Earth, Dinosphere, and more.  We saved $10 using a coupon, so we each enjoyed a huge $4 ice cream cone!  I was initially hesitant to go to a Children's Musuem "just us;" we skipped a lot - legos and dress-up clothes, etc. - but we had fun! I learned a lot and had fun experiencing something new with my husband!

After the Children's Museum, we went down the road to White River State Park, and walked along the canal in downtown Indianapolis.  I couldn't convince my shade-loving husband to venture very far before he insisted on resting on the soft, green grass under a tree.  Sitting in the grass, we enjoyed a unique garden of colorful blooms, fragrant flowering shrubs, a variety of textured foliage and the sounds of water flowing down the canal.  It was the perfect spot and time for a blanket, picnic basket, and camera!

When we had just enough of the heat, we saw To The Arctic in 3D in the IMAX theater at the Indiana State Museum.  The 45-minute movie was well worth the $9.50 paid to watch polar bears in 3D on a 6-story screen! To The Arctic took us on "a never before seen journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home."

For dinner, we took the recommendation of many people and tried Jasmine Thai at 4825 East 96th Street in Indianapolis. I was pleased and would eat there again, but I had higher expectations!

I have two more vacation days that I need to use [or lose!] before June 30th.  I'm not sure yet when I will take them and what we will do, but I am very much looking forward to them!  After June 30th, I will be saving my vacation days for a trip to Cambodia!  I'm already dreaming about it!!

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel

Thankful

After a long and grueling day at the office (make it three eight in-a-row,) and a meeting that made my head spin in circles, I was physically exhausted and mentally bankrupt... and actually feeling pretty sorry for myself.  Then I decided to check my e-mail one last time before running to my car and going home.

A sweet grandpa from our church has been put on a ventilator.

How guilty I felt for feeling so sorry for myself!  How grateful I am for health and strength, for a good job with wonderful people, an amazing husband and a nice apartment to return to at the end of the day.  How truly blessed I am to have a church family that encircles those who need prayer, care, and anything else from bed frames to bicycles to rides and anything else!

God is good. His faithfulness continues to all generations. The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Please say a prayer for Charles Sexton!

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel