Well… as it worked out, I had my Visa interview in Minneapolis on the Monday before Thanksgiving! So I booked a flight, arriving Saturday evening. We drove the 10 hours to Minneapolis on the Sunday, picking up Marvin and Blake from their deer hunting trip, for company along the way. They were successful on the first day and had a doe and buck all ready for the years eating!
We very gratefully stayed at Marvin's long time Pheasant hunting friends place – Thanks Tom & Patty!
The immigration interview went very well on Monday morning, with the officer saying… “so why didn’t you just go through a green-card renewal process instead of applying all over again...” (because I already had a green card previously). To which I replied, “I would have, if I had known about it.” She then laughed and said… “Yes, that’s a fair point”!
Later in the day, I got a text notification that the application was successful, and the green card was being issued! Very grateful for smooth sailing with the Immigration Department.
But I also had some catching up to do with the kids! They had lots of knew tricks to show me… like head-standing against their drawers.
Lots of fun!
We also had Marvin’s birthday to celebrate, as well as Thanksgiving!
House Progress:
While I was gone, Blake and Marvin finished up nearly all of the Sheet-rocking (Plastering). Thomas had fun showing me all the progress!
Then… it was back on a Plane, early Thursday morning (thanksgiving) for a flight back to Australia. On the plane I sat next to a guy with a broken arm, collarbone and ribs. He was an Aussie heading back to Australia to get taken care of, because he didn’t have the money to do it in the states. The mind boggles…
Remnants of the previous front veranda.
Tank, meet Tractor. 
Afternoon Tea. 
White ant picnic was had. Not any more, with steel stumps and treated timbers to replace what was there.
