Green Card Me.......please?

Last Tuesday Jill and I had the remarkable experience of getting up at the wee hours of the morning and driving up to Salt Lake to be interviewed by the government so they could determine if our marriage was legitimate or not, so that they could then in turn grant me with the illustrious and illusive Green Card.

If you have never had an interview with the government, let me explain a few things for you.

The waiting room is quieter than a graveyard. It's not that there aren't any people in it, it's just that everyone is too terrified to say anything. Big Brother, as they say, is watching. And listening. And if you choose to go to Big Brother's house, you are asking them to listen in on everything you say. Now, who knows if that's actually true or not, but everyone in there waiting sure thought so. Jill, being not-foreign, has apparently yet to have that innate fear instilled in her, because she was talking about all sorts of things, cracking jokes, and being her usual charming self. Bless her soul.

So is Little Sister

When we finally were ushered in to our interview room, we sat down, and our interviewer, in his fancy Russian accent, made a few jokes. I didn't know how to react to that. I mean, a government agent was using humor to make us comfortable! I don't think I have ever seen that before in my life. Except for the time when I was crossing the border and one of the US Customs officers started laughing at something her customs pal had said. I looked quizzical at her and she said that he wanted to know if I had any ketchup potato chips with me.

Uh, yeah, actually, I did.

I even offered them some, but they declined. Probably for the best, since ketchup chips are absolute rubbish and they probably would have denied me entry because of the abomination they are (the chips, not the people). Don't ask why I had them. I had my reasons.

Anyway, so our Russian-American interviewer told us to raise our right arms. I thought he was still joking around, but apparently he wasn't, so Jill and I hesitantly raised our arms. After we swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (so help us God), he reverted back to his uncharacteristically good-natured self.

That's why when he asked where my old passport was, I thought he was joking.

When I told him I had no idea where it was, he asked for other proof of entry. Which I did have, just not the kind he wanted. I had the electronic I-94, but he wanted to see one before that. Which was in my old passport. Which I didn't have.

I'm pretty sure I could hear the sirens growing louder and the shuffle of officers behind me before they clapped my wrists with manacles and sent me off to the slammer before deporting me for ever.

That's when he told us that he really didn't need it anyway.

Well, there goes five years off my life. But I did show him other documents that worked just fine.

Then he realized something, opened a brown envelope, and tossed me my old passport. Apparently I had sent it in previously (which I shouldn't have done, by the way, since passports are government property and not mine to give). He then took the picture of our little boy that's still cooking inside my poor wife (the image to which I am referring is what most people call an "ultrasound" image) and made a copy of it, stamped his approval stamp on our application, and sent us on our way.

And then we drove away quickly (while still obeying the speed limit, of course).

It was a stressful time, but we stood firm (or rather, sat shaking) and were granted the coveted Card o' the Green. So it looks like I won't be carrying Jill away to some foreign land of snow and ice (you can thank me later, her family).

All in all, it really was an easy interview. We just had to show that yes, we were married, and yes, we plan on staying married. They don't like people to get married just for the permanent resident status. Don't worry, Government. We're gonna be together for a very. Long. Time (ie. forever).

The best part about being approved for the green card, however, is that I can finally stop playing that blasted Apples to Apples game.

Got my green card (still not a citizen, but close enough) 

Star Struck Me

I've never been big into tabloids or knowing what was going on in the celebrity drama. I figure, they don't don't know me so why should I care to know them? And I don't mean that in a rude way. But I'd rather stalk someone on Facebook that I already know and catch up on their life. Drama is better when you know the people anyway, am I right? Now that doesn't mean I don't have a favorite actor/actress. I still appreciate them for their talent and I'll even pay a few bucks here and there to be mildly entertained for an hour or two. But that's about as far I take it, or so I thought until this weekend.

I didn't realize it but maybe I'm a little more "star struck" in a different way. Not so much with the Hollywood celebs but more in the Mormon world. There are people in the Mormon culture that everyone would just love to meet one day, like the prophet, David Archuleta, Steve Young, and so forth. So on the mission I became a big fan of watching Mormon Message videos. They are just so inspiring and can really change my mood in an instant. One that has always stuck out to me is called My New Life about a couple who gets in an private airplane crash and live. Their story of survival and recovery is so powerful and I've never forgotten Stephanie Nielson's story of faith and pressing forward with five children after such a tragic event.

So here is it Valentine's Day and I'm just sitting at my "station" in the temple entryway when Stephanie and her husband walk in. I was pretty shocked seeing as I didn't even know she lived in Utah. But I found myself just staring in awe like the prophet had just walked in himself. Before they even got through the line I was released from my spot and I went along to the next. I just sat and wondered what it would be like to talk to her for just one moment. I found myself talking to another temple worker about it to see if she knew who she was too. Looking back I realized that I was being a total fan girl through all of this. What a weirdo. But not too long after that I found myself face to face with her and I was so excited! It was one of those moments where I had to tell myself not to be a idiot or to say anything stupid. But as I talked to her for one brief moment I saw something I never would had known if I had never met her in person. Amongst the heavy scarring on her face from the burns she had the most beautiful eyes, and shining through them was the light of Christ. I had already thought that she was inspiring and strong but her eyes told a another story, one that can't be said with words. For that moment I didn't only know of her faith and dedication to Jesus Christ but I could feel it. She didn't have to say anything at all.

As she walked away I just told her how inspiring she was, thanked her, and we went on our merry way. When I recalled the excitement that I felt I realized that it was maybe the same excitement that people feel when they meet someone from Hollywood and I felt a little bit sheepish.  Now I figure why not admire someone so humble and Christlike. We need more people like that to be admired and sought after. But just like Christ I'm sure she has no intent to be famous or popular, but merely wants to share the message of peace and joy. She did it without words and you can tell that she lives her life in a way that makes her a true disciple of Christ.

So folks, that's my lesson learned for the week. Quiet dignity and true discipleship. It's not something you can really preach about but it just shows when it's been achieved.

P.S. Here is her blog address just in case you wanted to know more :) http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/