Merry CHRISTmas from the Williams'

Our 2011 Christmas letter:



This year we are looking forward to having my inlaws visit (our second Christmas with them...first since we've had kiddos!) this coming week.  We just recently finished our basement remodel and cannot wait to put it to good use;)  The kids are extremely anxious for them to come and ask everyday when Gpa and Gma from Montana will be here!


This time of year Bobby and I also celebrate our anniversary on December 17th!  Yesterday marked 7 years of marriage for us!!  We had a great date night together...and both believe this next year is going to be our best yet!  Our love for one another grows so much each year and we are thankful for the life we've been given together. 
We take a picture together each year on our anniversary evening (about the time we were married) and this year we had a talented 5 year old photographer standing on a stool taking our photo with a super heavy camera....next year we'll be sure to have the babysitter take one (we took five and this is the clearest we got!).

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  May you remember the reason we celebrate.  Take a quick lesson from 5 year old Eli and remember it is ALL about Him! 

Love from our family to yours!

One Month Waiting...and SLACKING!

I'm often asked how I get so much done all the time while being committed to so many things....the truth is, it takes a lot to stress me out, I love being busy, and the busier I am the more I get done. 

December 4th marked our 1 month waiting mark (our dossier was sent to Ethiopia on 11/4/11).  When I started this blog I had plans to write a post each month on our DTE monthly "anniversary."  Well, looks like I missed the boat on the FIRST month!  I told myself numerous times that week not to miss it....and I did. 

I guess you can say I wasn't so busy that week and found myself resting and reading when I'd usually be running in twenty directions!  BUT, this week the slack has been picked up and we are busily preparing for numerous Christmas get togethers, a going away party, and all the other fun things this time brings. 

This past Saturday was spent in the kitchen baking our yearly Christmas goodies....Friday night Ayla and Owen helped me prepare for Saturday by unwrapping two packages of kisses, a bag of rollos, and two bags of peppermint patties (and could you believe they didn't eat ONE piece of candy while working?!?!?).

Saturday we were in the kitchen baking from 10am until 10pm....my sister-in-law Ally came to help for most the day as did my grandma (she spent most of the day chasing after the 3 rugrats and giving in to all their demands!).

To be honest, this month of waiting has FLOWN by!  I have really found peace lately in knowing that God's timing is the best...we are in the final stages of designing our future house (we plan on building this spring/summer) and I can see now how building the house and getting moved in BEFORE we welcome a new little one (or ones) into our family will be a huge blessing!  When we started this process we were under the impression we'd have a child HOME by the summer/fall of 2012....which would fall directly into the craziness of us building our home (literally US building our home).  I'm not saying we won't welcome any speed up in the process that would miraculously bring us a child quicker than we are now expecting....but if we are to wait a bit longer than we had hoped, I pray we will continue to remember that God's timing is always the perfect timing!

Between the parties, school work, house work, and family time this week I'll even shoot out another post this week including our holiday letter and card:) 

Love from our family to yours!