Finally, on Friday, after waiting for a month and 17 days we got our permits valid up to October 2009. We hoped for three years but maybe that was asking too much.
Last week, I was on the verge of giving up. It was so frustrating just sitting at home waiting for that all important call from the lawyer. When she didn't call by 4 PM we called her office only to hear no welcome news. The Friday before, October 10, she already said, it was good to go and the permit would be released by Monday or Tuesday. We were already in high spirits, my husband already informed his boss and he was ready to go to work by Wednesday. But, Wednesday came and there was nothing - I could cry. While I tried to sleep the hours away, I later learned that my husband was so anxious he could hardly sleep. Of course what made it more nerve-wracking was literally seeing our money dwindle down to the last few dollars.
We would not last another week with rent and utilities to pay. I already got a notice from the power company. By Thursday the tension in the house was heavy I could hardly breathe. I tried to avoid confrontation but on that day there was nowhere to go. My husband and I had to discuss a Plan B no matter how difficult it would be.
Plan B was in case the application was disapproved or approved with no residence in sight:
1. How much money do we need to go home? With holidays coming tickets were almost double the usual price. There was no way we could go back home without having to borrow money.
2. Assess how much money and disposable assets we still have back home to START AGAIN.
3. List possible sources of income for my husband. I did not offer to go back to teaching - I might just stay home.
When we both agreed that there was still something to go back to (no matter how difficult) the load became lighter. Now all we had to do was wait for our passports.
Meanwhile I still had to borrow money for the following week's expense.
While he had nothing to do, my husband busied himself with guitar licks (blues) and painting (his other love). He already had some materials and small canvasses were on sale for a little over a dollar so he started drawing and painting. He did Sting (half of his brooding face) in black and white - impressive. He gave it to his sister who encouraged him to do more to sell at her shop for Christmas. Recently he finished beautiful Liv Tyler. So, that afternoon we went out looking to buy some more canvas and white acrylic paint. While at a shop we got a call from the lawyer who finally (Thank God) was able to inform us that the permit will be approved and we could get the passports the following day.
You should know, all these time I never gave up praying. Everyday I prayed for a positive result. Even when there were setbacks I claimed He would not make us suffer and we were thankful that at least we had some money to get us through each week even without my husband's work. More importantly I guess, I always prayed for patience enough to wait for the result and understanding for the anxiety and frustration my husband was feeling. If I just count each day I know we have been continually blessed. All we could do is thank Him each day.
My husband finally started Sunday (it was his weekend on) and it has been another adjustment - there is a lot of expectation.
Although the permits have been approved for work and study there we really are praying for PR because otherwise we would not be able to afford my daughter's university fees. That is another thing to tackle and pray for. We will just take it one step at a time. I believe we will be all right. For now I can exhale.
