bad news

we're not going to new zealand. this was only decided a few days ago so at the last minute...we're stuck here. the problem is with our immigration paperwork. we have gone through hell to get michael's travel paperwork approved in plenty of time for this trip. unfortunately, a year and half later...it's not ready. after multiple calls and internet checks, i finally made a desperate plea to an immigration agent via the phone to get some answers. there is some kind of hold on our paperwork that we know nothing about. the only answer...wait it out. we have another few months of this.

if we were to leave the country...we couldn't get back in. decision made.

we found out on tuesday and i cried like i haven't cried in years. i cried in the middle of my classroom with my kids starring at me. i cried in the closet of my classroom while breaking the news to michael. i cried while telling my family and coworkers and while cancelling my sub for the week after spring break. i talked to my mom again when i got home and sobbed until i couldn't talk or breathe. then...i slept.

for us, this trip wasn't just a vacation, although we were looking forward to that aspect. our goal in traveling across the world was to be in attendance at michael's sister's wedding. last year, claire emailed me and asked for the dates of my sprint break. she planned her wedding around when we could be there. now...we can't even go. claire and i have been emailing back and forth during her planning process and i have been dying to see everything she imagined finally come together. i wanted to be there (geez...now i'm crying again) and i wanted michael to be able to be there. not only for himself, but for claire. with their parents gone, we feel an even bigger sense of family importance. living across the globe from each other doesn't allow us to get together very often but we were certainly planning on being there for the biggest day of claire's life.

claire and bevan-
we love you so much. i am so sorry that we will not be there physically on your wedding day. we will be there in spirit and we'll be praying for you both and thinking about you. we love you.