What a difference a YEAR makes... and then there was JOY...

 A year ago we posted these photos sharing that we were hoping to expand our family through adoption... We were waiting to be matched...

Little did we know that a mama had already contacted our agency after seeking out alternatives to carrying her baby full term... but it was too costly for her to end her pregnancy... She had now decided to seek out to make an adoption plan...

Little did we know what the Lord had already put in place and that just a mere 3 1/2 weeks later we would get a call that we had been chosen by this sweet mama to raise her baby...

Little did we know that in less than 3 months we would hold that babygirl in our arms...

All we knew that day was that we had opened up the door for the Lord to work...

We were just going to step forward in faith waiting on God's plans to unfold and His will to be done...

(Truth be told when we first had started to pursue finding an agency to do our Illinois homestudy, I was flat out told that "NO ONE would pick our family with 7 other kids in the house" 

Truth be told, I was discouraged that day... but within minutes of that really downer conversation, our case worker from Isaiah's adoption agency had called to talk to me about something new their agency was going to possibly try in a different area of adoptions... 

God knew I needed to talk with her and my heart was immediately encouraged in what I already knew but needed to be reminded of... It was all in His perfect hands... The BEST place for it to be...

Little did I know that He was already working much out behind the scenes... 

And work He did... and fast!  

And just like that (with a whole lot of added drama, a birthmom changing her mind on Christmas day, an extended 5 week stay in Arizona to get paperwork through... ) She was in our arms!!!

Kaliyah Joy, is just that! Filled with JOY!  She is such a little sweet heart! 

She has become a bit more serious as of late and she checks out people who aren't family with a little more intensity than normal:)

But she knows her family... She knows loads of attention... Loads of hugs, holding, kisses, snuggles, laughs, and LOVE!  

We can't get enough of her and her sweet squishy self! 

God knew she needed us...

And more importantly, God knew we needed her just as much!  

She is a perfect fit for our family! 

Adoption isn't ever easy... but worth every penny, sacrifice, heartbreak, stretching, and beautiful moment along the journey! (I have a story of God's incredible faithfulness to provide that I will share soon! We are blown away!) 

We are BLOWN away by the gift of this sweet sweet baby girl...

BLOWN away that He chose us for her...

And that just like we have adopted her and taken her as our own...

God does the same for us...

adopts us as HIS children...

Just like we love her... He loves us a million times more!

Just like God saw sweet Kaliyah so close to not ever having a chance to live a full life outside her birthmom... 

God saw us with out any chance of living a full life in eternity and He redeemed us through His son...

She is ours... and we are HIS...

My heart is full... 

My heart is overflowing...

Just a year later... What a difference HE can make in our lives... 

FOR LIKE EVER!!!! Our hearts are filled with joy!!

This little beauty is officially a Hintz!!! We found out today that her adoption is indeed finalized!!! We are rejoicing and praising God for this great news!!!

From this little peanut right after birth to a beautiful 6 month baby girl... We are so grateful to have had this precious time her!!

1 day old with her birth mom... Oh the emotions that flood my heart when I think of her and her sacrifice and love for Kaliyah!!!

This beautiful little baby whose life almost never made it out of the womb, was perfectly and wonderfully knit together by a creator who never makes mistakes....

This little one's life who came into being much to the surprise of many...

Wasn't a surprise to the one who so perfectly formed her little being... All with a great and special plan for her life!!

This little one, whose mom almost took her back as her own on Christmas Day, changing her mind about the adoption and deciding to parent her...

Only later did she painstakingly choose the ultimate love for her baby... to sacrifice her own desires instead for giving kaliyah's a future she could not... ( One of the absolute very HARDEST things I have ever witnessed!!!)  She is such a strong loving mama!!

What a roller coaster of emotions!!

And now she is ours FOR EVER!! 

She is a gift... She is good natured, easy going, happy, smiley, a great hugger, and just downright sweet!  And we are overwhelmed to be able to have a front row seat to watch the Lord show off by all he has planned for her life!!

My heart is blown away by this gift!  We are so undeserving!! 

Court in the city... the homeless and what God teaches us...

Hello windy city... and that is what it was... WINDY, RAINY, AND COLD on the day we headed downtown to have our petition to adopt Kaliyah heard in court... 

When I finally put two and two together that our court date downtown would fall on the Thursday before Easter, I was so excited.  Back in Tulsa, we had made snack bags, written up Easter notes and taken them to some of the homeless in the city...

On the few occasions that we have made it downtown here,  there are always many needy people on the main streets.  So the kids and I got to working on Easter bags, getting the snacks together, and making a list of downtown churches that folks might be able to walk to on Easter.

My heart got to praying for those we might meet out on the streets of downtown... 

We packed up the crew, plus a couple of friends and headed for down town... in the POURING RAIN!  

The whole way downtown, I was praying that the storm would lift... We obviously had Kaliyah, since it was her special day... and the others little ones, Hope, Levi, and Isaiah... It wasn't going to be easy hustling through the city on a day like that with the little guys... 

We drove down Michigan Ave wondering if we would even see any new friends... But there they were in the pouring rain sitting outside.  We decided it was best to leave the little ones in the car with Greg while these 4 kids below ran down Michigan Ave with me.

 SNACK BAGS AND LOTS OF LOVE IN HAND!!! 

This picture above was right before a HUGE gust of wind and rain literally almost knocked us over and did bend up 2 of our "cheap, garage sale" umbrellas!

These 4 were TROOPERS!  Not a one batted an eye to walk right up to our new homeless friends and talk with them... Not to mention in the freezing rain...

Since working in Uganda with usually kids in the slums, my heart has been burdened for the people right in our own back yard who are hurting and in need... If I can fly across the ocean to help... I really need to be willing to do it right here as well.

One of my main reasons for blogging is to document our regular life for our kids and myself... If you ask the kids, I can't remember what we did yesterday let alone a year ago... And I can tell you that my hearts desire isn't at all to get a pat on the back.

Mainly, I want these sweet people to honestly know deep down inside that despite the tough circumstances  they might be in, that God truly does love them.... deeply... with an everlasting love... That no matter what they have done, or I have done... that Jesus forgives it all!

And as usual, God shows up and does so much more than what we were thinking might happen.  I am always amazed by the people we meet and what they share and teach me... It was beautiful...

We met Doris, Palmer and her husband of 32 years, Jeff, Roosevelt, John, and many more... 

In our bags we also put a note from me explaining about how in our time of deepest sorrow and need the Lord reached out to be with us, comfort us, and to heal our hearts. 

After hearing some of their stories, I know many of them could relate to loss for sure... 

Oh the sweet conversations we had... Honestly my heart was torn in two and so touched that they would share their stories with us... What an eye opener for the kids, and me, to see the trouble and trial that these sweet friends go through daily... And yet so many of them had great attitudes despite all that they are going through.

Our sweet new friend and sister in Christ, Palmer, has diabetes, is in a wheelchair, just lost her mother... and  has an unstoppable faith that she said she will NEVER let go!  Talk about inspiring... 

We met Jeff who had lost both his wife and son about 10 years ago... 

We met a gentleman who is still 70 miles from home, but had a made it all the way here from Austin, Texas.  The kids noticed the bible sitting next to him.  

We met an Iraqi war Veteran who is suffering from PTSD...  He has served on 3 tours of duty... He Fought for our freedom and there he sits homeless, freezing, unappreciated, and totally  humiliated... I am so glad we were able to thank him for his service...

(Even Isaiah got in on drawing pictures for our cards)

We met new friends whom I already know we will see again in Heaven... 

And new friends that I could tell didn't share our same faith as us...

How very sad that makes me... 

But let me tell you this... 

Not a single person turned us down when we asked if we could pray for them... 

And it didn't matter if we have a home and they don't... Or if we know where our next meal is coming from and they don't... we prayed together on that freezing cold day... 

 

And honestly, if any of them were being dishonest about their circumstances... that is between them and the Lord... It is not my place to stand in judgment... If our Savior would have died for just Roosevelt, Doris, Palmer, or me... It is His job to do the work in their hearts and lives... And I am praying He will do just that... I know He did mine on that chilly day... 

After walking to pass out our bags, we hit family court on the 17th floor of the courthouse to officially petition the court for custody of Kaliyah... FOREVER!!! 

Craziest thing ever... The judge that presided over our case that day, who wasn't the normal Thursday judge, actually has children that live in our same city...

She has a grandson who did his eagle scout project here in the picnic area on campus where we live...

Her kids are members of our church... Out of all the people in this HUGE city, we get a judge who practically knows us already... wild!

They were so sweet, after the court discussion she allowed all of the kids to pick out their own stufffed animal.  Illinois is different in how the court proceedings go... Here, this is the only court date we will go to with Kaliyah... We won't even go for the finalization of her adoption...  Because this was it, we knew we wanted all the kids to be a part of it... (Louis was the only one who wasn't able to make it:(

 And this judge did not disappoint... 

She asked us all questions (even the kids and our company),

And she let each child pick out a beanie baby and sucker.... 

She was very kind... 

She made it memorable... and I love that... 

As we left the court house... The sun was actually shining for the first time all day!  We are praising God that everything is in place to make Kaliyah a Hintz forever.

Sweet smiles...

And... This little gem is smiling... And she lights up the room!

She has stolen our hearts... 

We love her so much and are so thankful for her precious life... Seriously, I am totally in awe of God's miraculous work he has done through adoption again in our family.  What an honor to watch his workings unfold!! And what a joy to watch this precious pumpkin grow... She is amazing! 

Between lots of sickness, work, school conferences, company, and life... We haven't had too much time to post...

Our hearts are a bit tired ... But so thankful and full!!!  Seriously, Could she be any cuter??

Her first few days...

The crew welcoming baby Kaliyah home from the hospital in Arizona... They were TOTALLY enamored with her right from the start...

Sisters...  I am so thankful to have this picture...

Jojo is like a little baby whisperer... seriously so good with her... 

Hopie, our very busy little girl, shone when she held her! And she still is such a big helper!

Caleb enjoying some snuggles before we opened gifts on Christmas Day!  (These were all taken before her birth mom changed her mind that day... everybody was falling in love already... it took like 1.5 seconds!:)

Totally Isaiah... in the midst of crazy circumstances this is what you get... A little bit of Zay Crazy!!

Kaliyah Joy... Christmas Day... 2 days old!

 Sweet Baby Girl!  Looking back at these pics makes me realize how light her skin was at birth... She has already changed so much!  What a treasure every moment with her is...

Enjoying baby Kaliyah...

Louis and Emma with Kaliyah 2 days old:)

Mom and Anna enjoying snuggles with this little sweetie...

She loves Jojo so much... and he is so good with her:)

She is just the sweetest, softest, most wonderful Christmas gift ever!!!

I have gotten behind on blogging since we got home 2 1/2 weeks ago...

That was mostly due to the fact that I came home to the crew sharing a stomach bug, literally days after we were clear of that one, almost everyone got a really bad respiratory bug... Dad and mom included.  

I think we are all on the mend and praising God for that! Thankfully Kaliyah is the only one who didn't get either bug!  I still am in shock!  I think the sanitizing and donated breast milk have had a lot to do with her staying healthy!  So grateful!

We are enjoying every second with her... She is a really easy baby and is so sweet!