Life is going on

I went for a week long vacation to Disney World with my parents. It was lots of fun. My son got a great tan and I had some much needed relaxation. I felt very guilty for going on vacation while my husband was being detained, but he made it very clear that we needed an escape from reality(even if only short-lived).

My son visited his father for the first time yesterday. It wasn't as difficult as I had expected, and my husband loved seeing him. He looked good. Well, about as good as anyone can look in an orange jumpsuit. We gave a goodbye hug and kiss to the video monitor. He will be on a one-way trip back to Algeria some time next week.

I'm busy packing his suitcase. I cleaned his clothes and folded them really nice. I got a coffee cup and saucer for his mom and some nice soap and lotion for his sister. I'm hoping to put a card and some pictures in there too.

Life is going on. I'm still working. I'm still loving it.

Today I made succotash and rice, cleaned my entire house, and looked for jobs in gulf countries.
There are quite a few openings at hospitals throughout the region, and inshaAllah I can get one of them.

Thanks to everyone for their support. Just keep making duaa for us.

The worst day

It was a Tuesday, three weeks ago today, when she received that dreaded letter. It was the letter that told her it all might be over.

She called her husband's lawyers. After reading him the letter he replied, "oh SHIT!" That wasn't exactly the response she wanted to hear. The meeting was rescheduled for the following Wednesday.

The night before she cooked his favorite meal. They sat and talked. They put their son to bed and cuddled on the sofa for over an hour. She couldn't help but think this was their last night together. She had to wake up at 1am for work so there wasn't much time to enjoy.

She woke up and put in her 8 hour shift. She came home to find the man, whom she called her husband for five years, finishing packing his belongings. He had written down all important phone numbers and addresses. He left all his credit cards and bank account information on the table. As she cried he wiped her tears and hugged her tightly. He whispered in her ears that InshaAllah they would be returning home together. The whole drive there he clenched her hands tightly. She didn't want to go inside. They met their lawyers in the lobby.

Soon after they were walking through a door that read: Detention and Removal. There wasn't enough space in the small room for him, his two lawyers, her and their son. She waited outside not knowing this would be the last time she saw her husband face to face. The little one needed to go to the bathroom. One of the lawyers found her and said she needed to go home and get his passport. Things weren't looking good. They were negotiating very hard. They were pulling everyone in the building that they thought could help, but no one could. She came back with the passport a mere 20 minutes later and heard those dreaded words, "I'm so sorry about your husband." She nearly fell to the ground. She still didnt' believe they would take him.

She went downstairs and had to talk to her husband from behind a glass window. They gave her his belt and the money from his pocket. Was this really what their life has come to.

I tell this story, still not really believing that we are the same person. I don't know if I really realized that this is my life. Some days I try and tell myself that this i some other woman and not me. How could this happen? I am a U.S. citizen and so is our son. We have been married for nearly 5 years. He is a model resident. He works hard, pays his taxes, showed up for every meeting and interview, and has never EVER got into one bit of trouble. So, why did they take my husband? Quite simply, because they can. Because some bitch of a judge ruled that he was in assylum only proceedings and cannot get his visa through our very valid 5 year marriage. They don't seem to care that our son has a congenital heart defect or that we have not one single family member in this entire state to help us. I have to drive over an hour to visit him for only 20 minutes over a video monitoring system. He is treated like a common criminal although he has committed no crime. I guess when you look like the "bad guys" you get treated as such even if you are of the good ones.

Thank you to the entire U.S. Immigration System for screwing up our life. For losing every bit of human like qualities you once had, and making me explain to my 3 year old son why his dad was crying and where did he go.

I don't usually talk about my personal life, but I am asking that you all please make duaa for our family that we can be reunited soon. With faith and trust in Allah anything can happen and that is just about all I have at this moment.