Carmen and I finally received our fiance VISA approval from the United Stated Immigration and Naturalization office in late October, 2004. It was a a long and dificult process. We applied for the K129F VISA at the end of June, 2004 and after many applications and suppling copies of very important documents we received our date for the interview in the U.S. Consulate of the Dominican Republic. Our interview will take place January 31, 2005. We have been apart for so long and hopefully we will finally be able to begin our lives together in Florida.

I traveled to Santo Domingo December 8th, 2004 to visit my dearest Carmen. Almost 4 months had past since we had last been together. The day before I departed, Carmen wrote me an e-mail to inform me that we had received our interview date. We were very excited. We hoped that I could wait to travel to Santo Domingo when we knew the exact interview date but, too much time had past and we needed to see each other. The heart ache was terrible.

The past 2 years have past very quickly. I never imagined that I would meet the woman of my dreams and the woman I would wish to make my wife in another country so far away. It is like a dream. We are looking forward for the long distance travel to come to an end soon and settle in our South Florida home.

Carmen is preparing for her adventure to a strange new land. She will enroll in English classes as soon as she arrives in the United States and will begin seeking employment as soon as she receives her work permit. As I write these words in an aiport terminal, I imagine what our lives will be like a year from now. All of the turmoil and travel will come to and end and we will be living comfortably in our loving home and enjoying each other's company every day for the rest of our lives. I could never imagine myselft saying those words a few short years ago.

I am looking forward to introducing Carmen to many new experiences in the United States. We will visit Disney World so Carmen can meet Mickey Mouse. I feel every person, no mater their age should have the opportunity to visit such a magic place.

I am looking forward to holding Carmen's hand and giving her the window seat on her very first airplane ride so, she can look out the window as we approach Miami. It will be a very special moment for us and I will cherish it for a lifetime.

For now, we count each passing day and month as we look forward to that magical day when we can finally begin our lives together.

This story will continue as I am sure Carmen and I have many new adventures ahead of us to share with you.

TO BE CONTINUED...