Enzo and Ruben at Work!!! Enzo E Ruben no Trabalho!!!

One more illegal alien in the States!(Just kidding ;) Mais um ilegal noss EUA! (Brincadeirinha;)

Yesterday morning I went with Ruben to work! Ontem de manha eu fui com o Ruben pro trabalho!
So I could spend sometime with him and see where he works. Para poder passar tempo com ficar com ele e ver onde ele trabalha.
He is one of the administrators of this building site. Ele e um dos administradores de uma construcao. Basically e=he getpaid to do nothing, just kidding Ruben ;) Basicamente ele recebe pra fazer nada, to brincando Ruben hehehe...
I drove one of his bulldozers. Dirigi um patrola. After that we bought food at Checkers. Depois compramos comida no Checker.


Then Paige and I went to Megan's birthday party (she's Paige's student). Entao fomos pra festa de aniversario da Megan (ela e aluna da Paige). And tol a wedding. E a um casamento. Then met Jamie and his wife at Taco Mac. E depois encontramos Jamie e sua mulher no Taco Mac. Then we went to the apt to meet Carolyn, Ruben and Victoria. Depois fomos ao apto para encontrar Carolyn, Ruben e Victoria.

Enzo goes to school!

So I drug him to school with me this week..and he had his first milk carton! Here are the pics...they explain more than I can write:)

New Friends

Lately, we've spent a whole lot of time with Victoria and Ruben...
I was friends with them but now that Enzo is here we have gotten even closer.
If you look at the last picture you can see that Enzo never changes;)

Meus Avos

Desde que cheguei em Atlanta nao tinha postado nada aqui no blog.
O tempo que tenho online tem sido pra consultar numeros de telefone e coisas que tem a ver com meu visto e proximos passos. Isso quando nao estou conhecendo pessoas e indo a lugares pra comer... Sim, so o que conheci aqui ate agora sao lugares pra se ir comer. Primeiro lugar nos EUA: Waffle House com o Jon logo apos sair do aeroporto (quando ele foi me pegar) pra tomarmos cafe da manha (um sanduiche), depois fui as escolas da Paige e da Brenda respectivamente e comi na ultim (chilllis), a noite comemos no La Cazuela para o aniversario da Carolyn, no dia seguinte almocamos com alguns membros da familia e Ruben e Victoria no Family Traditions, fomos a uma sorveteria e na janta fomos ao Buca de Beppo para o aniversario da Carolyn novamente, no domingo almocamos no La Parrilla com Ruben e Victoria apenas, jantamos batatas em casa.
Ha muitos restaurantes mexicanos aqui (mais do que eu imaginava ate)...

Hoje foi um dia muito especial, o vovo John e a vovoh Lorene vieram me pegar bem cedo pra passar o dia com eles. Fomos ao Wal-Mart pra dar uma olhadinha, vovoh comprou umas sandalias, fomos almocar no Casey's, um self-service que custou 6 dollars pra cada um, mas ela tinha um cupom de desconto de 1 dollar pra cada um de nos. Gostei da comida, arroz, frango, bife, batata e sprite. Eh muito bom conversar com o vovo. Ajudeio-o muito com seu novo computador, ele tem problemas de visao causado por diabetes e comprou um mac que o ajudara muito pois tem opcoes de zoom e outras coisas...
Eh tao bom temr avos, nunca os tive pois os pais dos meus pais ja estavam mortos quando eu nasci, agora eu tenho avos. E gosto muito deles. So agradeco a Deus por isso tambem....

NOSSA!

So I thought I was picking Enzo up at the airport this AM but I got a nice surprise at work yesterday!!! Check out the pictures!

É Difícil Deixar A Família Assim

Hoje a Renilda, amiga que há alguns anos minha mãe reencontrou depois de termos mudado para Belo Horizonte há vários anos atrás, veio nos visitar trazando também sua irmã e sua nora.
O Fabrício, seu pai e sua mãe também vieram, ela trazendo salgadinhos e seu pai seu bom papo. Conversamos sobre como hoje temos tanta informação que fica difícil lembrar de tudo (quando comentei sobre meu problema de lembrar das coisas... onde eu estava mesmo?), falamos também sobre uso de ênclise e próclise que em certos ambientes é complicado, sobre palavras mal empregadas como penalizar em vez de apenar e sobre suas lembranças de quadno disputava ovos cozidos em partidas de totó quando era jovem, etc.
A parte ruim é que világrimas nos olhos da minha mãe quando foi ao portão recebê-los e quando "despediu-de-los"... não queria que ela chorasse, quero vê-la feliz!!! :(
Todos falaram muito bem da Paige, mandando abraços e requisitando sua visita da próxima vez, claro que o faremos..farei uma lista de lugares para e pessoas para visitar da próxima vez em que viermos ao Brasil (estranho dizer isso)...
Todos também me desejaram muitas felicidades e me garantiram se tornarem mais próximo de minha mãe... não é apenas agora que penso isso, sempre quis que minha mãe tivesse mais amigos, fizesse mais coisas, ela precisa disso. Antes chegou até mesmo a ter crises depressivas, mas Deus a salvou disso... Minha mãe já sofreu muito e merece tudo de melhor como guerreira que é!!! Eu a amo!!! Embora eu seja grosso e não o diga muito, eu a amo e quero o melhor pra ela!!!
Ela não parava de mostrar o lindo jogo de toalhas que mandou bordar para a Paige e eu como presente de casamento, ficaram relamnete lindas as toalhas!!! Mamãe!!!....
O Mateus (amigo da faculdade, assim como o Fabrício, mas que frase...) também veio aqui hoje, e pra dormir. Minha mãe o chama de "fizim" (filhinho) preto, ela o adora.


(a continuar...)

Ontem Velhos Amigos

(editarei quando tiver tempo, isto é um rascunho)
Como é bom saber que pessoas das quais você às vezes se afasta ainda gostam de você, rezam por você e sempre pensam em você.
Passei a manhã toda com minha mãe separando papéis,roupas, tralhas e tudo mais, o que fica, o que vai...
Ontem fui à casa do meu irmão Élcio ver a Luzia (sua esposa) e Lorena e Gabriel (meus sobrinhos). Foi muito interessante pois havia já pelo menos um mês que eu não via as crianças, a Lorena estava tão diferente, queria vir ao meu colo o tempo todo e conversar (ela já fala coisas inteligíveis) sobre os bois do outro lado da linha do trem (como eles fazem cocô ao meio dia hahaha muito lindinha!). Gabriel, como sempre, procurando atenção, mas que menino inteligente! Parece o tio... Mas nunca vir um menino ter todos os trejeitos do pai como aquele, até a maneira de rir. Luzia me deu a maior força enquanto comiíamos a salada de frutas que ela nos fez dizendo que toda esta mudança é para melhor e tudo mais... Eu e minha mãe ficamos lá por umas 2 horas e pegamos os 2 ônibus de volta a tempo de mexer mais nas malas ( TENHO QUE ME LEMBRAR O QUE FIZEMOS A TARDE)
Liguei patra seu Gaspar e ele atá chorou ao saber como Deus está encaminhando tudo na minha vida.
- Met Flavio, Anselmo, Thiago
- Elder came to my house with Kaique and Natalia. we played a lot, he was the cutest baby.
- I hung out with Roberto, talked about our dreams from childhood, how he is happy for me...

Last days in Brazil before I move to the U.S.

(a ser modificado quando tiver tempo)

Pois é... esse vai em português mesmo, deu vontade...
Quinta-feira passada foi quando fui à UFMG para CANCELAR meus vínculos com a faculdade, então não sou mais aluno universitário :( ... encontrei o Mateus pro almoço, Fabrício também foi... o Mateus ficou o dia inteiro comigo lá, inclusive tive que ir ao hospital onde ele tem convênio para pegar um atestado para ele, pois ele faltou ao trabalho..fiquei com ele de 9 até as 11 da noite lá... almoçamos no Bandeijão e depois fomos a uma padaria comprar refrigerante e ficamos bebendo em frente à Escola de Música, rindo e pensando na vida naquele ambiente bucólico... Foi interessante e também uma sensação meio nostálgica...
Na sexta-feira, como tinha que pegar uns papíes na FUMP para pedir meu diploma, fui novamente à UFMG, desta vez com minha mãe...ela amou a Universidade, ficou espantada com o tamanho da mesma e também como conseguiu comer no Bandeijão sem muitos constrangimentos (minha mãe tem essas coisas de achar que não sabe se portar em certos ambientes, mas está melhorando)... Na volta passamos pelo centro para trocar Euros para meu irmão e compramos as passagens aéreas para mim... Minha mãe adorou estar lá comigo na agência...
Ontem, domingo, fomos juntos à casa da minha irmã, brinquei de pique-esconde com o Felipe e Mariana (meus sobrinhos) no escuro, como sempre fizemos, tomamos sorvetes com uma amiguinha da Mariana que estava lá, assistimos Pânico Na TV juntos, jogamos frisbee peteca, eu e Felipe jogamos computador (inclusive um jogo antigo arcade chamado FINAL FIGHT, irônico hein? Último joguinho juntos antes que eu volte na próxima oportunidade)..minha irmã fez as tão adoradas panquecas que há anos eu não comia, ela as recheia com carne moída... foi ótimo... miha mãe me deu toalhas gravadas com meu nome e da Paige (presente de casamento)...

Next Saturday...

...ENZO WILL BE HERE!!! He flies in March 18th! Let the adventure begin (actually it began a while back...hehehe)!!!

Graças A Deus: O Visto // Thank God: The Visa

Thank God, our families and friends that prayed for us and gave us a lot of support during this long journey that has just started (and will keep supporting us). I got the visa this morning!

I went to the Consulate by taxi (10 minutes from the little Barão de Tefé Hotel I was staying at) and the ride cost about 5 dollars.
I got there at around 7:10 a.m. The line for immigrant visas was shorter than the non-immigrante one. It was just a couple and a girl before me when i got there... later about ten more people got there.
The guard checked our documents and I had to leave my cellphone with a guy that had some kinda box outside to keep it for us because we can't enter with electronics and bags. He charged me about 2.50 dollars. It was 8 a.m. when we entered and made a little line in the Consulate to give a Brazilian agent the documents through a window. She checked mine and said the officer would call me by name later.
He called me about 2 hours later.
He was a middle-aged man that looked like a Mexican policeman and spoke very good Portuguese with a little bit of an accent. He was formal.
E=Enzo // O= Officer:

O= Good morning.
E= Good morning, sir.
O= Are you ready to swear?
E= Yes...
O= Lift your right hand.
E= Okay.
O= Do you promise to say only the truth during this interview?
E= Yes...

(then he started looking at the papers and reading carefully).

O= Who's Brenda Hall?
E= Mmmmy fiancé's mother.
O= (weird face and kept reading).
O= Will you sign these forms, please? (handing me the forms)
E= Yes... (and signed, of course).
O= (kept reading them and looked at Paige's tax returns): Here it doesn't say she is a teacher...
E= Maybe it is because she started working in 2004. And she came to visit me in May and had to go early because she had to graduate and attend to some job interviews...
O= (looking at the computer screen ad having and insight) Oh Paige just started working last year.
O= (looking at the papers). Do you have one like this (Affidavit) by Brenda?
E= Yes... (and gave it to him)
O= (now at the computer again) So you had two denials. I can see here you lied about the reason you were going to the U.S....
E= n-n-n-n-no, sir... I just didn't mention Paige and her family because I was going to the States for a Christian conference, because I met her when she came to Brazil through a ministry to talk to students about God and experience our culture...
O= I CAN SEE HERE YOU LIED!! (grouchy face and tone of voice)
E= n-n-n-n-o, sir.. I just didn't mention it because I WANTED to go to the conference and also take advantage of being there and visinting Paige because it was in the city she lives...
O= ewwww... coincidence!!!... (disdaining face)
E= well, the ministry had an "office" at her church and they went there.. that's why I was going and there are many American Missionaries that can testify that...
O= (looking at some more papers and signing and scratching a lot of them then getting a green scrap of paper and stamping: APPROVED, I could see it through the glass window) Okay, your visa was approved and you can come back here March 8th to get it. Bring this paper with you. Good Morning... oh and good luck there too!!!... (kind of a smile on his face, more like a grin but still good)...
E= Good morning and thank you, sir... (hehehe in his head and "thank you God" all over his grey cells and heart)

okay, this was the interview... it was easier then what i thought but when he gave me those faces and accused me of being a liar: OMG!!!


Thank you everybody for eveything!!! Keep praying for me as I move away from my family (I hope it is not as hard as I am thinking it is going t be...)
I might get to ATL in some days...

My Uncle's Farm

This was probably one of the last things I did in Brazil before moving to the States. I needed to take taht trip. I love my uncle (Inácio) and aunt (Maria José) and they aren't even my REAL relatives, she was adopted by my mom's aunt. When I told them how much I loved them even thought they weren't my blood she said: "I love you too, but we are the same blood: Jesus' "... ain't taht nice? It is really good to realize how everybody has a chance to know God no matter what church they go to (they are catholics) even though some protestants try to label people.

I went fishing with a nephew of my uncle's and a friend of his, I drank the milk straight from the cow (still warm with some chocolate), my aunt made doce de leite (some kinda Sweeten Condensed Milk) for me, we talked about Paige a lot (I even suggested calling the prettiest cow there after Paige, she is so cute, I mean, they are... so the cow's name is Lauren (Paige's middle name) haha) They talked all the time about Paige running away from the vulture and how she says "awww" all alot.

We also went to Church after Carnaval for Ashe Wednesday (that preceeds the Lent) . My aunt convinced me to go there and it was really nice, I thought of Paige a lot because the church there is holding a campaign to "include" people with disabilities into the Kingdom. My aunt cried and prayed for us. They really love Paige and wanna see us happy.

I think we really needa spend more time there next time Paige and I come to Brazil. They really love us with Real love in their hearts!!! I I love them too...


ENZO...

Really Loving People

Tonight I had the privledge to be able not only to listen to Donald MIller speak but I got my picture taken with him! Most of you know him because he is the author of the famous book "Blue Like Jazz"...

If you haven't read his books, you are really missing out. Go to his website and download the first chapter of some of his books and I think if you are smart (hehehe) like me you will order the book on Amazon right away.
http://www.donaldmillerwords.com/resources.php

One of the Biggest Southern Lies of ALL TIME

ok so funnny story here...
As most of you know I have this week off for Cherokee County's winter break so mom and I decided to take my wedding dress in for alterations. I am at the store standing in front of the mirror, allowing a woman named "Cookie" to alter my dress and then it happened. I started to feel all clamy and sick. Then my vision became blurry and I started to feel myself freakin' start to pass out! I had to lay down and everyone came to fan me. They were so nice and got me water and cold paper towels. My mom is going frantic and she starts to fan me. After it was over all I could think was "oh my God, I am one of those crazy brides that can't even get fitted for her dress! What a moran!"

Well afterwards mom and I did a few more errands and then I came home. I just sat on the couch thinking about my life and what had just happened. It wasn't like me at all to do something like that. I thought back on what was happening whenever the faintish feeling began and there really was not that much running through my head. My only conclusion was that there must be some sort of anxiety that just hasn't surfaced. There are some deeper issues. Enzo calls it "Enzoiety!"

I don't know, but I do know this... there is a saying we have and it goes something like "God won't give you more than you can handle." I know from experience that this is a LIE. God does give us more than we can handle. Thankfully, He does so that I am forced to give it over to him so that He can do it. I can't handle it and I am not suppose to.Look at what happens when I do take in on all by myself... I faint! This really might be one of the most important lessons I have ever learned.

Minor Detail Change;)

OK so I guess this isn't a "minor" detail but... we are no longer getting married in Las Vegas. Instead we a doing a private little sunset beach ceremony!!! Things just weren't falling into place for Las Vegas and i started to feel like it wasn't what we were suppose to do. If you know me and Enzo personally, you know that this is COMPLETELY normal for us to be fickle and make a drastic decision like this! What's funny about is that I was looking up hotels for spring break and ended up booking a wedding for June 3rd! HA!

Timeline

♥May 2003: Enzo and Paige meet at UFMG Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They spent two months getting to know each other. Conversations about what love really is were held between the two but they had no idea what was in store for them. During their first conversation, Paige made fun of Enzo not having a car.

♥July 2003-May 2004: During this time Enzo and Paige realize they want to be together and they begin online communication. This eventually turns into Yahoo instant messenger conversations and everyday phone conversations.
Also during this time Enzo applies
for 2 tourist visas but he was
denied (February 2004).

♥May 2004: The day after Paige graduates from college she gets on a plane to head back down to Brazil to several weeks with Enzo and his family. During this time Enzo and Paige fall more in love. Marriage is discussed between the two but Paige has to get back to the United States because of a job. They both decide
she will come back as soon as she can.


♥ November 2004: It is Thanksgiving Break and Paige has a week off from work. She flies down to Brazil and spends the week with Enzo.

♥November 2004- February 2005: Enzo and Paige continue communication via internet, telephone, and instant messenger.






♥ February 2005: Paige and her good friendCarolyn fly to Brazil for 1 week. Carolyn was interested in meeting Enzo and seeing the interaction between Paige and him.

♥ February 2005- June 2005: Communication between Paige and Enzo continued.

♥June 2005- July 2005: Paige and her
mom flew to Belo Horizonte. Her mom was curious to know about Enzo and in the end loved him. She stayed for only one week, however Paige stayed for 6 weeks.

♥ July 2005: towards the end of Paige’s trip to Brazil this time Enzo proposed marriage to Paige in Shopping Cidade on the mall escalator. Paige accepted. They decided that they would go through the K1 Fiance visa process. Paige would begin the paperwork as soon as she arrived back to the states.

♥ July 2005- September 2005: Paige searches for a good lawyer to help fill out paperwork in order for the process to run smoother.

♥September 2005: Paige finds a lawyer and they begin the paperwork. Documents were mailed to the Texas service center September 29th.

♥ October 6, 2005: Paperwork was receipted from Texas Service Center

♥ December 13, 2005: Petition was approved on December 13th and sent to the NVC.

♥ December 2005: NVC approved petition and sent to Rio de Janeiro.

♥January 2006: Enzo receives packet to send back to Rio. He sends it back and later receives his case number via email. He
then receives his interview date via email as well.

♥March 6th: Interview date….

♥June 3, 2006: Wedding

The Doctor's (Dis)Appointment

Well, February 8th was the day for me to get my medicals.
The doctor's appointment was at 9am. There's only one office in Belo Horizonte that has an agreement with the Consulate so I didn't really have a choice on where I wanted to go.
It's downtown, very easy to get there. I got there.
The doctor was an about-40-year-old woman. Geez, Why couldn't it have been a man? She asked me a lot of questions like "Have you ever gotten a tattoo?" or "Do you smoke?" etc... She then took me into a room. Why was the air-conditioning turned on so high? I was freezing and she said she wanted me to be only on my underwear. :0
She weighed me and all, then asked me to lay on a bed and started to get my blood pressure. Then she asked me to open my mouth, put my tongue out and say "Ahhhh.." I said "Ehhhh", i guess that was close..
At this point I was relieved, thinking "Yeah, she won't ask for it"...and then it happened. "Enzo, I have to take a look at your GLANDS, please pull down your underwear so I can see it!!!" That was embarassing! But she looked and said "Good, everything is fine..." I thought: "I know!..."

After I left the office, I went to some labs nearby to get blood tests and a chest X-ray.
The doctor's appointment plus the exams cost around U$ 115.
Yesterday I went there to get the results and two shots that were missing on my vaccination card and took them all to the doctor to analyze and put it in the top-secret envelope that I'll have to take to the Consulate's Office in Rio.
The shots cost me around U$35 more...

Well, y'all can see everything is falling into place and yesterday I got the letter from Rio confirming the interview will be on March 6 (information we already had gotten through email).
Paige already posted the dates for the wedding and the reception here and I hope all of our friends can come!

Please keep praying,

ENZO...

Wedding Date and Rececption

June 3rd: Wedding...Las Vegas baby!
June 17th: Reception

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Enzo, waiting for his interview:)

INTERVIEW DAY

Mark March 6th in your calendar...it's the big interview day. Enzo has to be there bright and early at 8:00AM. It seems kinda far away (the date) but the more I think about it, it really isn't. Considering we started the process October 6th and it will end March 6th; it has only taken 5 months exactly. Not bad when I look back and remember so many telling me and Enzo it would be a long terrible process. The worst part is planning the freakin' wedding, which I would be doing even if we weren't going through this process. It is definitely worth the extra effort to ensure that we aren't risking being together because we can't think rationally. When you love someone, we are discovering is more than immediate satisfaction; it is also taking the time and having patience to see beyond the relationship. It also thinking of what is best for the relationship in the long run.

The fiance visa might be a little extra money and a little extra time but we are discovering that (for us) to be together it is worth it.
Anywho, please pray for Enzo as he ventures into the world of consulates. Honestly, I am not worried about it. We have all the proper documents and all he needs to do is tell the truth. But please still pray...no matter how much we may have these things prepared there is always a chance of a denial.

Oh and stay tuned for Wedding plans!

The next step

We are now waiting for the interview date to be set and for a letter we will receive confirming it.

On January 11th the Rio Consulate had already processed our visa petition; on the 18th they then sent me a letter explaining what to do with the documents I got, forms to fill out, etc (I got this letter on the 19th, pretty fast, uh?).

Then I filled some forms out (which is ridiculous with so many details and so little cohese explanation there is). I wanted to make sure I got them to the criminal background check (local and Federal police) in time for an interviw hat might be set for within a month or so. Some people had told me that in their States (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, etc., this background check thing could take up to 45 days to be made by the police departments). Well the local police gave me mine in 15 minutes, the Federal Police said it would take'em 3 work days to get it done.

So realizing there would be no problem getting that accomplished, I sent Rio the letter the day before yesterday (January 24) so that it would get there the following day via SEDEX (in the US, I think this is called FEDEX).

Now either they have an interview date for me or they are on their way setting it up...
Let's wait for their letter asking for the Rio-second phase of documents (I guess there are about 4 more forms + birth certificate and stuff + Paige's affidavit of support (that means she'll be responsible for me and I won't be on welfare in the USA) + proof of relationship like pics, envelopes of letters, letters, phone bills, etc + yadda yadda yadda)

Okay, pray for us...
I'm afraid of this interview, I've been thru 2 and I know they are "dangerous"

Our Newest News

December 30, 2005

Dear Petitioner:


The State Department’s National Visa Center has recently received an approved I-129 petition filed on behalf of your fiancé. This letter is to let you know that within a week the petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where you visa interview will take place:
Our records show that you filed the I-129 petition for:

The case will be processed at:
Post: RIO DE JANEIRO
CONSULADO GERAL DOS ETADOS UNIDOS, SECAO
CONSULAR
AV PRESIDENTE WILSON, 147 CASTELO
RIO DE JANEIRO, 20030-020
BRAZIL

Your fiancé will soon receive a packet with instructions from the consular section at this post on how to apply for the K1 visa at that post and what documents will be required.

The Luggage Is Waiting

As Malas esperam...

Well it just feels weird buying luggage for the "trip" since I've never had a chance to travel abroad before. Actually, I have only traveled out of my State three times: once to Sao Paulo to meet some friends and twice to Rio... definitely NOT TO MEET FRIENDS if you know what I mean...
So the only things holding me back are for God to help me with the visa interview, buying the airfare and then leaving my family behind (i hope it is not as dramatic as I am thinking it sounds) to meet Paige... ;)


Okay,

see y'all later,

ENZO...

Update

We received a letter today that said our case has officially been sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It went on to say that the consulates in Rio will be contacting Enzo in about a week to set up an interview! OBA! Things are moving reallllly fast. A lot faster than we thought.

Feliz Ano Novo!

Here are some pics from the last night of 2005!

For those of you who don't know the American New Year's tradition is a kiss at midnight. Looks like these girls (and Boojie) took advantage of that tradition!!!
"Beija, Beija, tah calor..."

Heather "Chique" Mama

Rachel "Gatinha"Lee

Kristy "Doidinha" Simpson

and... Paige "Looks like everyone took
advantage of the tradition but me" Hall

And this picture is because we just look good...

At The Movies

Hey everybody,

I was thinking the other day how people like Paige and I must be "entertainment" for the immmigration officers... They probably get a kick at how people like us yearn and beg to be together.So this kinda inspired me to do this pic. It may also illustrate something that will soon not be true anymore (hopefully, because I have no idea when EXACTLY this can happen): American consulates only seeing me and Paige together on video and pictures. This is to entertain y'all for now... but with the help of God and our families and friends we'll soon be on the same side of the movie theater... I just hope the usher would show the way faster ;)

The End