experience will now begin to subside. “Believe me, I have never cried as much as I did this weekend,” she says.



On November 23, twelve year old, Nathalie Garcia was rushed into Hot Spring County Court covered with a jacket and surrounded by family and friends. Nathalie's legal guardian, Vivian Villarreal, was not far behind.

A judge determined where Nathalie goes. The Wednesday emergency custody hearing determined where Nathalie now makes her home.



The Hot Spring County judge allowed Nathalie to choose to remain with her mother in Arkansas, but Villarreal still hopes to grow close to Nathalie again.

But, just as quickly as they were brought together, Villarreal lived up to her word and allowed Nathalie to choose whether to stay in Malvern with her mother or go back to San Antonio with Villarreal. Nathalie decided to stay in Arkansas with her mother, but she wants Villarreal to be a part of her life as well.



“I am happy she is in my life,” she says. “I feel in my heart that we will end up getting as close as we were before.”



Villarreal says she is happy with the outcome, “She's a very blessed child. Even the judge says she's very fortunate that she has two families that love her.”

Villarreal still won't rule out the possibility she might gain custody of Nathalie again.



“You are my daughter, you will always be my daughter and that's the way I see you. I would take her immediately. That's what I would prefer, but this is what she wants now.”



Villarreal says she is thankful she was finally being reunited with Nathalie, “I can't even tell you how I feel; I mean it's been ...