So close, and yet so far

I have not felt much of an urge to write lately, partly because I do not feel that anything life altering has changed with our status in the past few weeks. However, to believe that would be to believe a lie. This won't be the most exciting of updates, but it will be informative!
I have to make A LOT of certified copies for my spouse visa application. Unlike my dear friends who are moving to Chile, I have to have my visa approved before I can get to Australia (you know I love you Conce team!) I have to have copies of Matt's income from the past two years, items showing that we pay bills together, live together, own things together, copy of our marriage license, copy of my birth certificate, copy of statements verifying our relationship...the list goes on and on. I've had all the originals for a while, but had not had them notarized as certified copies yet. By the way, if you have to have certified copies of documents made, a notary can do it. You have to get notarized copies of your marriage license and birth certificate ("recordable documents", there are a few more on the list) done where you get the originals (like the county courthouse), but everything else can be taken to a notary public. There is a specific statement they write on copies, it is different to just being witness to a signature. Anyway, so I did that. Matt and I also got more passport photos made, because I need some for my visa app and Matt needs some for his citizenship app. That was over $50 by the way...getting four of each kind of stinks!
Matt and I have both been pretty discouraged by our fundraising status. We know the money we need will come from who it's meant to when it's meant to, but the waiting is wrapping us up in this fog that makes it hard to see the future (or the present for that matter) clearly. We just pray and keep trying! God is so good though, last Thursday I woke up feeling very distracted in my heart and mind about fundraising. I got to work and could not get my mind off it. Throughout the day God either trickled down one time monetary gifts or leads for possible relationships via our brothers and sisters in Christ. I think being ridiculously discouraged is a great place to be; it helps me notice more clearly when good things are happening because they seem so out of the ordinary!
Last night I drove up to Dallas so that I could go to the North Texas Irish Festival today. I spent the night with my mom, which was great. We got to go out for breakfast this morning and catch up. She is one of the most encouraging people in my life when it comes to moving to Australia to share the love of Jesus with people, and that means the world to me.
By the way, the festival was fantastic!