For some reason that I can not imagine, I did not get to sleep
Fridaynight until 4AM or so. Then I kind of lingered on the couch
until 10:30 AM.

Their flight from Manila arrived in Detroit on
Saturady at 10:05 AM..25 mintues early. Eleonor said they have no
problem with Immigtation. The inspector took the brown envelope, opened
it, and asked her the following questions:

1. What is the purpose of
your trip to the United States
2. Who petitioned you?
3. Where does he
live?
4. What is his birthdate?
5. What day were you married on?
6.
How long have you known each other total?

After she answered those
questions, he smiled and told them, "Welcome to the United States!" and
on she went. I guess it took a long time for her bags to come up from
the plane and she made it to the connection with just enough time. She
arrived in Memphis on time and then in Florida at 4:31 PM....15 mintues
ahead of time.

I had my two boys with me at the airport....they were
surprised as well as they did not think she would be arriving until
Wednesday so it was a wonderful reunion!! After a stop at Sbarro pizza
(that is my daughter's favorite pizza in Cebu)..we finally arrived home
where we are in the process of getting the kids into bed! After they
are asleep, we will have some time for ourselves!!!

It is almost
surreal for me now.....the woman whom I love more than anything else in
the world is no longer at the other end of the keyboard, or the other
end of the phone, or the other end of a Fed Ex package! She is just in
the other room taking a shower and here with me for the rest of our
lives. I certainly dont expect everyting to be perfect 100% of the
time, but to me, this is what family is supposed to be about....just
being together and going through the ups and downs of every day living
having each other there....IT DOES NOT GET ANY
BETTER.

Many thanks to all who have offered support, words
of encouragement and everything else as we have gone through this first
part of the journey.

Mom and Dad of 3


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Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Many congrats. How long was it since you'd last seen each other? Had
the kids met each other before?


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Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by sibsie Many congrats. How long
was it since you'd last seen each other? Had the kids met each other
before?


Than you so much Sibsie. From the day I left Cebu
until her arrival was exactly six calendar months. They children had
never met each other and so far they are doing pretty well together.
When Mom of 3 and I were listening to them from the other room
yesterday, we could hear the giggling and playing. Music to our ears.


Mom and Dad of 3


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Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Dad of 3 Than you so much Sibsie.
From the day I left Cebu until her arrival was exactly six calendar
months. They children had never met each other and so far they are
doing pretty well together. When Mom of 3 and I were listening to them
from the other room yesterday, we could hear the giggling and playing.
Music to our ears. Mom and Dad of 3


Congratulations


Just curious you continually call your wife's daughter, "your"
daughter or "my" daughter. Is she your biological child and if so does
she now have US citizenship through you. Or if she is your
stepdaughter, do you have plans to adopt her in the near future? And is
your new wife free to adopt your sons?

Rete


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Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Rete Congratulations Just
curious you continually call your wife's daughter, "your" daughter or
"my" daughter. Is she your biological child and if so does she now have
US citizenship through you. Or if she is your stepdaughter, do you have
plans to adopt her in the near future? And is your new wife free to
adopt your sons? Rete


Rete:

Good question! Denise is
NOT my biological daughter and we do have plans for me to adopt her at
sometime in the future. The best way to describe Denise's sperm donor,
who lives in the same town as she did, is a deadbeat dad. He refused to
ever acknowlege existance of Denise let alone paternity. He arranged to
meet her on one occasion four years ago and spent all of 3 minutes in
the same room as the child. He is currently married and has another
biological child with that woman. It is my personal belief that when
one marries someone who has children, one also accepts a certain amount
of responsibility for the person's minor children if there are any. In
this case, Denise has never had a father.....and when Eleonor and I
decided to spend our lives together, I also very willingly agreed to
become Denise's father. There has never been a difference between being
a father and a step father in my mind.....the only difference as it
relates to Denise I will be her first DAD, where as my boys have gained
a second mom since their mom is very much a part of their lives.

Thanks
for asking...

Mom and Dad of 3


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Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Denise is a lucky little lady ;-)

We differ only in the one area and it
is a personal one. To me, since Denise has not yet lived in your
household for more than one day you have not yet been anything more than
a distant figure to her as someone her mother married and who was going
to take her away from her present living environment and place her in
another. As perhaps someone who has sent money and presents. The role
of parent and the right to be called mom or dad comes not with the act
of marriage but with the act of being a parent. This includes love,
disclipine, interest, sacrifice, emotional and physical displays that
only time can offer. I'm sure that you will, as you have already seemed
to have shown, that Denise will be as much your child as your sons.


Again, Denise is a lucky little lady as are you for having her in your
life.

Rete


Originally posted by Dad of 3 Rete:
Good question! Denise is NOT my biological daughter and we do have
plans for me to adopt her at sometime in the future. The best way to
describe Denise's sperm donor, who lives in the same town as she did, is
a deadbeat dad. He refused to ever acknowlege existance of Denise let
alone paternity. He arranged to meet her on one occasion four years ago
and spent all of 3 minutes in the same room as the child. He is
currently married and has another biological child with that woman. It
is my personal belief that when one marries someone who has children,
one also accepts a certain amount of responsibility for the person's
minor children if there are any. In this case, Denise has never had a
father.....and when Eleonor and I decided to spend our lives together, I
also very willingly agreed to become Denise's father. There has never
been a difference between being a father and a step father in my
mind.....the only difference as it relates to Denise I will be her first
DAD, where as my boys have gained a second mom since their mom is very
much a part of their lives. Thanks for asking...
Mom and Dad of
3


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

May you, Mom of 3 & the kids will have a wonderful & happy life
together!!!


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Rete Denise is a lucky little lady
;-) We differ only in the one area and it is a personal one. To
me, since Denise has not yet lived in your household for more than one
day you have not yet been anything more than a distant figure to her as
someone her mother married and who was going to take her away from her
present living environment and place her in another. As perhaps someone
who has sent money and presents. The role of parent and the right to be
called mom or dad comes not with the act of marriage but with the act of
being a parent. This includes love, disclipine, interest, sacrifice,
emotional and physical displays that only time can offer. I'm sure that
you will, as you have already seemed to have shown, that Denise will be
as much your child as your sons. Again, Denise is a lucky little
lady as are you for having her in your life. Rete


Rete:


I think we do not differ much at all. You are 100% correct in what
you say. In her eyes I am probably exactly as you say. Over time, I
hope Denise will decide for herself that I am her "daddy. In my eyes
and heart, to me she is my daughter and the rest, as you wrote, will
evolve over time.

Thanks Rete for your kind words

Dad and Mom of 3


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Hi Dad and Mom,

Excellent and thrilling and fabulous and brilliant. :D
More wonderful news from the early class of 2004!

Congratulations and
good luck with everything.

Leslie


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