WooHoo!!

Last night we got a sweet Christmas present...we got our NOC from India (also known as getting through the 2nd and hardest court system). We have the "old" paperwork and the last family with similiar paperwork, had to negotiate with the India courts for 6 months before receiving it! Though it's been a way longer overall process, this step took only 1 month but has been our biggest concern! I am praising God that we are through this process. But we continue to pray for the other families who are still waiting, but hopefully soon will get it! We now have one more court system (that has been taking 1-2 months) and then wait for our visa to travel and go get our little Dawson...our long awaited Dawson!

OK, many of you know that we have been waiting to adopt a little girl from China for 5 years as well! Our "log in date" (the date when China received our completed paperwork) is May 30, 2006. Last night the China gov't matched up to May 29, 2006, so we are next in line to get a match with a little girl from China! That may take another month or month and a half...but I never thought we would get to this day, either!! Last night I couldn't fall asleep until midnight!! It's been and still is such a faith walk and trusting God each step of the way has been really difficult and is still difficult, but the peace and joy I felt last night and this morning is like no other and something I have not felt in a while and want to bathe in that right now. This journey is so far from being over...it's still a fight in prayer and death to my plans and expectations, but I want to celebrate these small steps that we get to take that bring us a little closer to our children. Thank you, Jesus! He is a father to the fatherless and I know He is taking care of our sweet ones many miles away.

San Antonio Christmas

We had quite the celebrations the week the Yutzy's were in San Antonio! The Friday after Thanksgiving the kids decorated the tree and we started Christmas celebrations. We watched the San Antonio River Parade from the 12th floor of the Westin and came back to play another hilarious game of cards...making new rules and laughing so hard that well, no need for an ab workout. Saturday morning was "Christmas" and Grandma read the Jesus story and we opened presents. The kids thought all was done, when their grandparents pulled out HUGE bags and realized presents had just begun! They were soooo excited! Saturday afternoon the kids played and played and even ate our Christmas dinner outside! In the evening we played "Steal Sticks" where we steal each other's sticks and get back before caught. It was a great game of wit and agility. These are the family memories that are so sweet and remembered...thanks everyone for making it so special!

the Feldt's Christmas lights

Brent and Maggie went all out this year!

Family Pics

After our superb Thanksgiving Dinner, Maggie came over and took family pictures. They turned out great...the weather dropped like 20 degrees an hour after this photo shoot...so just in time! I have to admit, I didn't put the best pics in because you may see them on Christmas cards in the future:)

San Antonio Thanksgiving

Fun filled memories flood my brain when I think of Thanksgiving week this year. My whole family came to Texas for Thanksgiving and we had a ball! We started out on Wednesday with the guys going to the Toyota tour and the gals and cousins going to Majik Theatre. Most of the kids enjoyed it, except for Elli who got frightened by all the entertainment and enjoyed the outdoor playground more! Elli cannot get enough of her cousins...she knows them well and remembers their names and they play and play with her!! I feel like I hardly see her when they are here...she wakes up saying their names and wants out of crib to see them. Wednesday evening we enjoyed with the Feldts and Yutzys playing outdoors while picnicking in our front yard with ribs.
Ok so the food at Thanksgiving was amazing! I could not believe how everything tasted soooo good...Paul and I still talk about it. Again we played outside and enjoyed being in the company of family...thank you, Jesus, for the blessing of family.

Way to Go, Paul!!

This weekend Paul ran the 1/2 marathon downtown with his buddy/co-worker, Brett. We decided to make a weekend of it and used points to stay downtown. It was a fun getaway...as we jogged down to King William area and ate at Mad Hatters the night before and enjoyed our suite overlooking the River Walk. Paul had a blast running with Brett...nice job, P.J.!

Our Butterfly is Two!!

Elli turned two on Saturday and we had a small birthday party (she's not a fan of big crowds) at the zoo. She was a huge fan of the butterfly pavilion...where Uncle Brian taught her how to hold butterflies and she was so gentle with them. The sweetest memory that will be remembered forever is of Elli and the girls running around the grassy field with butterfly wings. They were so free and innocent, enjoying the flight. Landon and Griffin spontaneously became the butterfly catchers and what a game it became! Everyday is such a joy to spend with Elli, out butterfly blessing. Thanks to Maggie for the pics.

Our Lil' Holstein

We had so much fun on Halloween! We visited/met many of our neighbors and Elli was the cutest cow ever:) We also had an adorable Dalmation and Fire Fighter who collected candy with us.

Tea Party with George and the Dolls

Today Elli and I had a little tea party. I told her she could bring who she wanted and Dollies and Monkey George are her favorites. She set it all up and helped all of them drink "their tea". I love being a mom to this girl!

Happy Birthday Dawson (yes, that it his name)!!

Dawson's (AKA Vikram) first birthday was on the 21st while I was in Kansas. So we celebrated his and Elli's birthday while we were there...and boy do they know how to celebrate! We had a safari theme and the kids helped us make animal cupcakes. Elli loved her gifts so much that she didn't want to eat her cupcake...we put the tiger in front of her and she said, "all done, all done!" She had lots of dolly diapers to change, and there was no time for cupcakes! It was so sweet to celebrate their birthdays with Grandpa and Grandma and Mike and Tina and her cousins. She had a blast, but of course it's bittersweet in that we wish Dawson was celebrating with us, too. I did get an email today that he weighs 20.9 lbs. He's a growing! And no new words on the when we can go get him. The last pic I am wearing a shirt that says, "he's growing in my heart"...so appropriate.

Visiting Family and Friends in Kansas!

Last week was such a blast! Paul was supposed to go to DC for a conference and it was Elli and I's last hoorah before she turned 2 when we have to buy 2 plane tickets instead of just 1. So we headed to Kansas and she enjoyed her cousins, grandpa and grandma and her friend, Will. Bethany and Abby are so good to her and Elli just adores them. We got to meet Julia and Will for a day at Emporia zoo and the coolest toddler playground I have ever seen. That was a treat for all! And Grandpa and Grandma....well we'll just say that the first night back home in Texas, Elli screamed and screamed for them until I called them and she got to say good-night to them. It makes me sad she lives so far from both her grandparents...she loves them so much!