A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT:)

I have been dying to post about this... and finally got the go ahead to do it... so here it is:)

We are so happy to be able to share with you about the sweet little (really not so little:) 10 month old Christmas gift we have received... Her name is HOPE JUBILEE HINTZ. We picked her up about 2 weeks ago, but due to the circumstances regarding her placement with us we were unable to really share anything about it until now. The agency director came and did our first post placement visit with us last Tuesday and she said she thinks it is now safe to say that she will be staying with us... hopefully FOREVER. She still wanted me to wait a little while to post a picture... (The circumstances of how she came to us are quite unique... so we need to hold off a little longer) As soon as I get a go ahead I will post a picture of her on here.

She is such a sweet baby girl. ( Really she is not a baby, she is over 20 lbs. and at times seems more like a toddler) She is already doing a lot of walking... it is crazy, none of my other kiddos walked this early. She is super good natured and really goes with the flow... she fits right in with us in that regard. She is a very easy baby. When we went to pick her up we were praying that the Lord would set her mind at ease with us and that He would fill her with peace. We spent a lot of time in prayer those first few days. But He certainly answered those prayers. She was very quiet the first few days... but did very little crying. About 5 days later, she really started to come out of her shell. She is quite noisy and boisterous now... it is so cute. I think she feels comfortable and is cutting lose.

The kids are over the top in love with her. And I think she really loves them too. They have been the perfect distraction to her in getting used to our home, and adjusting to a new environment. The kids almost fight over who gets to sit by her, hold her, and walk by her when I have her in my arms. It is pretty precious... They have been waiting so long to be able to shower a little one with love... they are truly enjoying it.

When we first got her, we knew we maybe wouldn't be able to keep her. But immediately Greg said, "It is going to be hard not to fall in love with her." It just melts my heart to see this little girl in his arms. He is such a good daddy. When she sees him up in church she just reaches out and grunts for him.

So much of this is not how we had envisioned it to go... her to not be a newborn... and even how she came to us. When we woke up in the morning of the day that we got her, we never could have imagined the day to turn out the way that it did. Yet, we have been praying for this precious little girl for months, actually about a year. We didn't know how God was going to grow our family... but we have been praying that He would answer that prayer... and who are we to question how He answers it? We are so thankful!

We are absolutely thrilled that HOPE is with us. She has brought much joy to our hearts already. We are so thankful to God for this precious gift. We can't wait to share our Savior with her as she grows and we can't wait to share about her big brother Samuel who touched us all so deeply and who still is such a big part of who we are as a family. I would be lying if I said that having her here didn't bring up a whole slew of different emotions... but right now we are reveling in JOY in the faithfulness of our God to bring her to us. THANKYOU GOD FOR THIS LITTLE MIRACLE BLESSING OF HOPE JUBILEE:)

THE CHRISTMAS SNOW:)

ANNA NOEL

THE HINTZ AND DINKLEMAN KIDS

ANNA OUT ENJOYING THE FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW...

YES, IN OKLAHOMA... WHAT A TREAT.

CHRISTMAS CRAZINESS...

AT HOME LATE CHRISTMAS DAY

THE KIDDOS HAVING BREAKFAST CHRISTMAS MORNING AFTER AN UNEXPECTED SLEEPOVER.

ME AND MY SWEET, CARING, UNBELIEVABLY FLEXIBLE FRIEND NIKKI:)



THE KIDS PLAYING

Wow, we have had a crazy last couple of days... here is the play by play...


Christmas Eve around 11:30 am we lost power at our house. We had plans to hang out with our friends, the Dinklemans, we would go there to feed the kids, all 11 of them, then go to 7:00 church, then spend and have dinner with Greg, back at their house. Then I would go home and Greg would go up to church to do the Candlelight service at 11:00pm. Well, all of that was the plan even with the impending snowstorm.

So when we lost power, we decided to head to their house early... I really didn't want to be stuck at my house with all of the kids, with out any power, with Greg possibly stuck in town. We packed things, just in case we needed to stay over in town. By the time 4:00 rolled around it was already determined that the only service we would have at church would be the 5:00. We hurried and got all the kids ready and headed to church in the snowstorm. The roads weren't bad. But by the time we left church, it was like a blizzard outside, and blowing like crazy. We decided to head back to their house and not try to get home. Our big white van has rear wheel drive and I almost got stuck in the parking lot. And what still surprises this northern girl, is that here in a city like Tulsa, they just don't get to the roads. The one plow we saw on the way home, didn't even have the plow down... weird. We did encounter a car abandoned at a stop sign..., it was still running, but he owner just left it there in the middle of the road.

We had a delightful night. We had lots of good laughs, good food, and really just enjoyed visiting and hanging out. The kids all slept well. Christmas dawned bright with a beautiful blue sky and a blanket of white snow. A white Christmas in Tulsa, we didn't see this much snow at all last year... I loved seeing it, and quite honestly, just the snow energizes me, it felt like a Wisconsin Christmas... so nice!

We had kind of an episode (that is an understatement:) with one of the foster girls in the morning. Wow! We sent the kids out to play in the snow and decided we would try to head home in the afternoon. Our friends were incredible to open up their home to all 10 of us... They were so incredibly gracious and hospitable, all on Christmas. They didn't bat an eye at all the extra commotion. I am sure it was much more peaceful once we left, but they made us all feel truly welcome.

When we left for home yesterday afternoon... we made it to our city, but couldn't get our van home. We would hit a small hill and just spin like crazy. We were going no where on those hills... Anna was scared and crying in the back... (that totally would have been me as a child) The roads were slick and not at all cleared. We know how to drive in snow, we have done it for years... but boy our big van is terrible in the snow, and the fact that they don't put sand or salt down... made it even harder. We had to call our neighbor to shuttle all us home. We were so thankful.

Greg and I then wrapped all the kids presents... we hadn't gotten that done. We had a nice Christmas evening. Today the kids had a blast in the snow. They were out for hours. Now we get ready for company to come, my brother and family tomorrow... Yeah, can't wait. I will try to post some snow pics... and then I have been given permission to share some great news, hopefully tomorrow.

Praying that you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

UPDATED: GOOD TIMES AND A WHITE CHRISTMAS:)

LOUIS, ANNA, AND GRANDMA SKIPPING THROUGH THE LIGHT TUNNEL, I JUST LOVE THAT I CAUGHT THEM IN ACTION:)
VERY TYPICAL JOJO:)

UPDATE: IT LOOKS LIKE TULSA WILL HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS... YEAH, A PREDICTED 3-8 INCHES!!! THAT IS LOTS FOR A CITY THAT CAN'T REALLY PREPARE FOR IT... WE WILL SEE IF IT MATERIALIZES. WHAT A FUN CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THIS NORTHERN GIRL... AND THE BUNCH OF KIDDOS WITH US THIS CHRISTMAS:)

We have been really busy... I want to get a post up about a little early Christmas present that we received... but seeing that it is past 2:00 am, I better leave that for another night. The kiddos, all of them will be up early, much earlier than I will want to be if I don't hit the hay. I will try to post tomorrow.

Merry Christmas everyone... I can't believe it is Christmas Eve... I still have all the presents to wrap... I think we may need to pop in a Christmas movie tomorrow so I can get that done:)

CHRISTMAS WEEK!

THE KIDS WITH THE FAUST FAMILY FROM CHURCH... THE NEIGHBOR YOUNGSTER AS WELL... YEAH, FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK AND THE ABILITY FOR PLAY DATES:)... DO YOU STILL CALL THEM PLAY DATES WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE 12 YEARS OLD? THE KIDS HAD A BLAST PLAYING... AND I LOVED GETTING A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH MY FRIEND SHELLEY:)


YES, THIS IS A REMOTE CONTROL CAR... AND YES, YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS WHAT IS ON TOP OF IT... "THE BUNNYMOBILE" IS WHAT CALEB CALLED IT. THE KIDS TAPED A BOX ON TOP, PUT ONE OF THE SWEET BABY BUNNIES IN IT, AND COVERED THE TOP WITH TAPE SO THE BUNNY COULD "FALL OUT" OR "ESCAPE". SO THE BUNNIES GOT RIDES DOWN THE STREET... I LOVED THE CREATIVITY, BUT WORRIED A LITTLE FOR THE BUNNIES SAKE...
EVERYONE SURVIVED... INCLUDING THE BUNNIES:)


JOEY CRUISING THROUGH THE TUNNEL UNDER OUR DRIVEWAY... I JUST LOVE THAT LITTLE GUYS CHEEKS.

WHAT A BUSY WEEKEND... IT WAS SO NICE TO HAVE MY PARENTS HERE, IT WAS TOO SHORT OF A VISIT. WE HAVE HAD THE 3 GIRLS FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS... WOW, THEY ARE FULL OF ENERGY, BUT REALLY SWEET AND PRECIOUS. ANNA IS ENJOYING HAVING SOME OTHER GIRLS IN THE HOUSE. WE ALL SAT IN THE FRONT ROW OF CHURCH... AND SURVIVED. REALLY, THE KIDS DID VERY WELL. JOJO DID FALL ASLEEP IN MY SWEET FRIEND NIKKI'S LAP...MY HANDS WERE A LITTLE FULL:)

I CAN'T BELIEVE CHRISTMAS IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY... HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS, WE DON'T GO OVER BOARD ON CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, JUST A FEW FOR EACH CHILD. HERE IS THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS, IT IS JUST 4 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND I HAVEN'T CONSCIOUSLY SHOPPED FOR ANYONE... YIKES! (I DID GET FOR EXTENDED FAMILY, JUST NOT OUR LITTLE FAMILY YET.) I LOOKED OVER WHAT I HAVE IN MY STOCK PILE:), BUT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET OUT AND GET A COUPLE OF THINGS. I AM KIND OF, MORE LIKE TOTALLY, DREADING THE CROWDS. IT IS A LITTLE LATE FOR ONLINE SHOPPING. MAYBE I WILL JUST HIT THE WALMART IN TOWN. WE SHALL SEE...

MY EMOTIONS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE MAP... I MISS SAMUEL SO MUCH! EVEN WITH ALL WE HAVE GOING ON, AND ALL THE DISTRACTIONS, HE IS NEVER FAR FROM MY MIND. I HAVE LOTS I WANT TO SHARE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT (NO I AM NOT PREGNANT) , AND I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL GOD IS DOING IN OUR LIVES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS HARD TO JOURNEY FORWARD KNOWING THIS MISSING SAMUEL WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF ME. I LONG FOR THAT DAY WHEN WE WILL BE REUNITED... THAT DAY WHEN ALL THINGS WILL BE MADE RIGHT! AHHH, WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE:)

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT SWEET LITTLE BROWN HAIRED, FULL FACED SAMUEL WHO WAS BORN JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER!

I AM ALSO SO THANKFUL FOR THE BABY THAT WAS BORN SO MANY YEARS AGO WHO CHANGED THIS WORLD AND MY HEART FOREVER. WHAT WOULD I DO WITH OUT THAT HOPE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE ETERNITY WE WILL SPEND WITH HIM? I AM SO GLAD THAT WE SERVE A GOD WHO TOO WALKED THIS EARTH... CAME AS A LITTLE BABE, BUT GREW TO BE A MAN, WHO KNEW DEEP SORROW, PAIN AND SACRIFICE. I KNOW OUR SADNESS DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED BY HIM. THAT BRINGS ME COMFORT THIS CHRISTMAS AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH. PRAYING YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

JUST SOME MORE PROOF:)

Can you say precious???

Just some more proof that this little guy will do anything for a donut... see post below:)

CHRISTMAS COMPANY, PROGRAM AND BRIBERY:)

JOJO IS ON THE FAR RIGHT... THIS IS HIM SINGING THE "GO" FROM "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" THE FUNNY THING IS, THE DAY BEFORE THE PROGRAM THE KIDS WERE TELLING ME HOW JOJO NEVER DOES ANY OF THE MOTIONS AND BARELY SINGS... JOJO'S EXCUSE, "I'M SHY."

LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT MY DAD RAN INTO JOJO IN THE HALLWAY BEFORE THE PROGRAM, AND HE TOLD JOJO THAT IF HE DID A GOOD JOB, HE WOULD TAKE HIM OUT FOR DONUTS AT STICKY BUNS THIS MORNING.

WELL, BRIBERY WORKS ON THIS LITTLE GUY. HE SAID ALL OF THE WORDS AND WAS MORE ANIMATED IN HIS ACTIONS THAN MOST OF THE OTHER LITTLE KIDDOS. TODAY IN THE CAR, HE TOLD ME THAT WHILE HE WAS UP THERE HE WAS THINKING ABOUT DONUTS... YEP, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT DONUTS, NOT BABY JESUS, OR THE MANGER... BUT DONUTS. WHAT A RASCAL.

CALEB AND ANNA BEING A PART OF THE CHOIR... ANNA IN ALL HER GLORY:)

CALEB, LOOKING A LITTLE TORTURED:) HE DID A GREAT JOB, I WAS PROUD OF HIM, CONSIDERING HE WOULD RATHER BE IN THE BACK YARD TOSSING THE FOOTBALL.



LOUIS, WORKING IT ON STAGE:)



AFTERWARDS WE TOOK MY PARENTS TO THE RHEMA DISPLAY OF LIGHTS... HOLY COW, DO THEY HAVE THE LIGHTS... IT IS BEAUTIFUL!

JOJO AND ANNA TAKING ON GRANDMA IN CONNECT FOUR.

We are plugging along. We had a really nice week. I was amazed at the kids Christmas program. They all did such a good job, and the message was awesome... I actually felt a little choked up just by the message of the play. It was really neat.

We have so much going on, so much I want to share, but now isn't the time. As always we appreciate your prayers for us.

As we plug along through this week, tomorrow my mom and I will go to my ladies small group Christmas get together. Then we will meet up with the men and all of the kids and go on a blue bell icecream factory tour....(there is always time for ice cream right?) Then we have our couples small group bible study tomorrow night, the 3 girls come on Saturday, and my parents leave on Sunday.

I prayed for distractions and I certainly got them:) Even with all of the distractions... I can't help but to be thinking of my Samuel... Man, do I miss him. Sometimes I wonder, how can I miss someone SO much who I only shared 9 mos in my womb, and 5 hours in our arms. How, I wish I had understood grief before, and how I realize how much I have probably misunderstood people, did not reached out like I should have, or just plain didn't understand how someone else was grieving... especially on holidays or special days. Oh my, what a year... really I am ready to kiss 2009 goodbye... I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for 2010. I am ready for it. I will enjoy this Christmas and cherish the times of making memories with my family, but I will welcome a new year at the end of it.

Who else is ready for a new year??