"Don't worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God's shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua." Philippians 4:6-7 (CJB)
~Quote~
The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next Abraham Lincoln
~Books I'm Reading~
Bible
A Heart Strangely Warmed Louise A. Vernon
Letters Of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
I'm sorry this is late. When we got home yesterday afternoon, we had some computer problems, so I couldn't post anything. I made my post this morning and by accident deleted the whole thing. Thank you my sweet friends who left messages on my C-Box concerning this.
I had the most delightful and wonderful day yesterday. Yes, I am an official American citizen, I wish you all could have been there.
Let me walk you through my experience. I was told to be there at 9 AM. Each of us who was taking the oath yesterday was called to sign our Certificate of Naturalization and were assigned a seat. I set by two gentlemen, one from Korea and the other from Kenya. The official ceremony was scheduled to start at 10 AM, and it did. This gave everyone plenty of time to finish some paper work and guests to be seated.
The very friendly and sweet Judge came and commenced the ceremony by welcoming us and telling us about this historical occasion and how more special it was for it have taken place in such a Historic beautiful place. If, you live near Indianapolis, you might consider taking a tour of this beautiful building.
I was doing really well emotionally, until the Judge called for the oath to be read and for us to stand up. I tell you, I'm glad I didn't have to repeat it word by word, for as the oath was being read, I had a lump in my throat, and when we said “I do” I lost it….. We then were told to face the flag and put our right hand over our heart and recite the Pledge of allegiance, I barely could even recite it, I had tears and they were flowing like a river. I remember (through my tears) that it wasn't very loud, I thought since I was a little overwhelmed I wasn't hearing too well.... Later on, I was told that the whole place was very solemn, even the guests had tears. It was the most solemn Pledge everyone in that room ever heard. Something so special that so many take it for granted.
And now for some pictures. My pictures weren't as good as normal, we had troubles with the lights in there.
My Citizenship Certificate
DD Anna, Esther and Connie
Mark my wonderful husband, sweet Anna and the Judge
My friends Rex, Connie and Esther. Thank you for coming and celebrating this special day with me. Rex filmed the whole ceremony, thank you Rex! I know my wonderful Rabbi really wanted to be there, but was unable to attend due to being sick, thank you Rabbi for your love.
This room is a beautiful work of art. There is a picture of everyone of the first thirteen states painted near the ceiling. These columns are real marble.
Celebrating afterwards at a downtown restaurant.
Esther, Anna and Mark
Connie, myself and Rex.
We were given several special letters...one of them was from the President, a flag, and several wonderful books. Very neat!!!!!
I thought some of you might like to read the oath and the pledge.
United States Citizenship Oath
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Pledge of Allegiance
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
Ok, Some of you are wondering if I really have come back from Brazil. It's been hard to catch up with everyday life and blog land. While I was in brazil, a letter arrived from immigration letting me know that my Citizenship Oath Ceremony will take place on November, 6 2007. You are all invited to come and celebrate with my family and I .
I've seen this in several blogs, so here is mine. This is hilarious to me, considering that I am from another country and have a foreigner accent.
What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Midland
"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
I am so blessed by my sweet sisters here in this small Cyber place we call HSB. You all are so wonderful! Thank you for the e-mails and c-box messages about my test today. After the test this morning DD and I did some shopping and then she had a bowling game this afternoon, this is the reason why I haven't been on. You are all so kind, I'm sure you all are dying to know the results......
......I PASSED.....
The test was so easy, I was asked ten questions and could miss only 4.... well, I didn't miss any, I got 100%.
The interview went like this:
_ Lots of personal questions about my life.
_ Sign papers.
_ English test
_ History/civics oral test
I can tell you that DD and I, know a lot more about the American government than we did before Sunday Did I tell you she found a CD on the back of the book with all of the manual on it? ..... I don't think I could have passed this test without that CD, I don't study well reading from a manual.
The next step will be the oath ceremony, then I am an official American citizen, can't wait! I love this country! May God continue to bless America and our beloved troops.
I wish I could visit you all this evening, but I have a class this evening, life has been very busy here.
(((((brazilian hugs)))))
Being that today is 911, may we never forget this day, may we never allow what happened 6 years ago to die, the future generations should be told. I wish they would make today an official Holiday. I am always very sad when this day rolls around. I sure wish my test wasn't today..... how odd is it that it was today..... Every year my heart mourns for what took place on 911.
I know my post is getting very long, but I would like to ask you all to remember my best friend's son who is in Iraq. He is her only son. There were 30 troops in his division when they first went to Iraq last winter, there are only five left and he is one of them. PM me if you would like to know his name to pray for him.
May the Lord bless our troops! We are very proud of you guys
This last week was so busy for me. I can’t believe as to how much has happened. I wonder if I am coming or going.
We had a wonderful fourth....... the next day I cleaned the house, packed my bags and left for Ohio......I'm back.......Hot in Indiana ......... Oh boy, does it feel like Brasil!!!!!!!
OK, for the wonderful news. (*K* -singing - God is so good, He is so good, He is so good to me)
Today, I had an appointment with the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services), they took my finger prints. Wow, things have changed.....I got to the machine and she entered my name and with a blink of an eye, there I was, cool
The lady took, three impression of everyone of my fingers and one of each hand, can you believe it? I asked her if she would allow DD to take my picture while I was being finger printed, but was denied the request, no cameras allowed. :(
When I was done, I asked if I could ask some question and she directed me to the same lady that helped me before. She was so nice to me……. The wait time for the process is about 9 months, I won’t be making to the next Oath ceremony. The good news, this lady asked me when I was planning on going to Brazil, and I told her this fall or sooner. I asked if I could leave the country and she said: Yes. I asked if I would need to make an appointment to have some sort of stamp on my passport, since my green card is old, (but not expired) and she paused for a moment and said: have a seat (she took my passport with her to another room)……waiting…….waiting……. she called me and said my passport is stamped and I can go anytime I would like, within one year. I don’t even have to show my old green card. She thinks because the wait is so long that I will be back before they even call me to the interview. Well, now I got to pack my suitcases….. Finding the tickets on sale is my next step. They are booking for the end of August…..I am thinking that I would like to go by the end of September for mom’s birthday, which is September 30th. I can’t wait!
This week is going to be very busy for me. I have some planting to do, my FIL. gave me some plants. I need to sell my books on E-bay, finish ordering DD's books and I need to get my house in order for I might be having family coming over next week. So, I will use c-box most of the time.
Have a wonderful blessed week.
Some of you asked, "what's going on with my immigration stuff?" (Thank you for both your concern and your prayers.) I'm doing the happy dance at the moment. I received an official letter stating the date and time to go for my finger printing - July 9, at 2 PM. The next step after the finger printing is my USA History teste.
If there are no problems along the way, I could be in the next swearing in ceremony (September). No guarantes at all, but God can be make it happen.
Some of you have asked what's happening with my immigration situation. So, here is how my last week went.
I was all ready to order my ticket and somehow I did not have peace within my heart about it..."the gut feeling"..... I like to describe this as, the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit within us.
_ Next morning I decided to surf the net for my tickets again........... I clicked on a site concerning immigration.....Green Cards ........It couldn't apply to me, ???? I am a permanent resident, I pay my taxes faithfully, I am married to an American....... There is no expiration date on my card...???????... I was told my Green card was permanent.......
_ More search....can't reach the INS.......it's now USCIS, (U. S. Citizenship and immigration Services) I can't talk to anyone via telephone......... you have to an appointment and it's done via their web site.
_ Appointment made for Friday, 9:30 AM (15 minutes only, to ask questions).
This is what I found out:
_ My (forever) Permanent Green Card, (which I was told would never expire) is no longer acceptable. I need a new one; the cards have changed, they are like credit cards. Somehow I never heard of this before. If, it was on the evening news, for some reason I missed it.
_ If, I go out of US with my permanent GC, I could be detained for questions upon my return to the US. They can cause a huge stink for me. I have read some sad stories about this in the Internet.
_ If, I apply for a new card, it can take 3-6 months before I receive the new one.
_ If, I apply for citizenship, it could take 6-12 months. By a cheer miracle, it could take only 3 months.
The officer showed me the law, and it says I have a valid green Card. Now, go figure this out!!!!!!....... Somehow, the government has not figured a way to deal with all of the permanent green cards lawfully issued before 1989. The last time I went to Brazil, which was 1992, this law was already established, why wasn't I told of this, when I entered the US then? I believe, things were OK with the old GC until 9/11 took place.
Ok, I want to make sure you all know, I am sad about it, but I also know this happened for a reason. I am so thankful for the security measures the US has taken. Freedom is a wonderful gift and it does not come without a price.
Pray with me, that somehow I can have this taken care of it. I'm thinking I should just renew my GC, and then when I return apply for my citizenship.
As you finish reading this, whisper a prayer for America. More then ever we need God in this country. Our security does not come from man it comes form Him. We need revival in the church.
This Blog is about my life and the different adventures that I experience being a wife, homeschooling mother, homemaker, friend, and daughter of the king of the Universe. I am a follower of Yeshua (Jesus' name in Hebrew) He was born a Jew and lived as a Jew on this earth. It's because of him, and his incredible love towards me, that my ashes were turned into beauty.
I'm a native of Brazil. I have been married to my DH, for 22 years. We met while he was there on a Mission's trip. We have one wonderful 13 years DD.
I remember (through my tears) that it wasn't very loud, I thought since I was a little overwhelmed I wasn't hearing too well.... Later on, I was told that the whole place was very solemn, even the guests had tears. It was the most solemn Pledge everyone in that room ever heard. Something so special that so many take it for granted.
.
Did I tell you she found a CD on the back of the book with all of the manual on it? ..... I don't think I could have passed this test without that CD, I don't study well reading from a manual.
