Psalm 127:3-5

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"

Psalm 127:3-5

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sonya Is Ready!

Sonya has been waiting... 

Sonya at Dusty's Birthday


Sonya has been watching...

Sonya at Johnny's Birthday

Sonya has been wanting...

Sonya at Carolyn's Birthday



Sonya has been practicing...

October is here!
Sonya is READY to celebrate her birthday tomorrow!  

Monday, April 9, 2012

Our Blooming Flowers!

Last year on April 9, 2011 my husband, our two children, my mother and I went half way around the world to meet and adopt Dusty and Sonya.  I remember feeling very nervous.  It was a big leap of faith.  We prayed that God would continue to lead the way.  Well, we jumped and God made sure we "flew swiftly like an eagle." 
Jeremiah 48:40

April 2011
It is hard to believe a year has passed since the day those butterflies were in my tummy.    Thankfully they didn't stay there very long.  The butterflies were replaced with an overflowing joy as we doubled the number of our children.

April 2012
    I know what you're thinking...Yes, it's true that our work doubled too.  We've got tons of laundry but look who loves to help.

We are busy, busy, busy but we wouldn't want it any other way.  Besides...

"I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength." 
Philippians 4:13 


Yesterday was Easter.  We celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He died for our sins.  We are forgiven.  He defeated death when He rose from the dead.  Now we will have eternal life with Him in heaven.  

"Any one who believes in Christ is a new creation.  The old is gone!  
The new has come!" 

  So many changes have happened since last year.  The new has come for Dusty and Sonya.  It's been amazing to watch.  Take a look at the OLD and see the NEW.  

When we were visiting Dusty in the orphanage we would bring him outside to swing on the swings. 
April 2011

Now he loves to swing especially when it goes high.  He even got his very own swing for his birthday.
April 2012

A few days prior to coming home to the USA.
We gave Dusty a bath. He was not sure what to make of it.  
May 2011

Now, you'd better be prepared because you WILL get splashed!
Dusty LOVES to take a bath.
November 2011

Before coming home Dusty needed assistance to walk.
April 2011 
Now I call Dusty my happy wanderer he loves to walk ANYWHERE his feet carry him.  

April 2012
When visiting Sonya in the orphanage she crawled most of the time and walked with lots of assistance.


April 2011

Now Sonya is walking without any assistance.  She loves her new-found independence!
April 2012
We tried to get Sonya to clap, wave hello & goodbye while we visited with her at the orphanage. She never did it without hand over hand help.

May 2011

Now Sonya can wave & clap with excitement all by herself.
November 2011

Sonya had no idea what it meant to have a Mommy or a Daddy.
April 2011

Now she knows!  She can even use sign language to say,
" Love, Mommy & Daddy"
November 2011 Signing - Love 
November 2011 Signing - Mommy
November 2011 Signing - Daddy
       The night before Dusty and Sonya came to be with us on "Gotcha Day" Johnny prayed, "Dear God, Thank you for letting us come to rescue the children."
May 2011

It brings happy tears to my eyes to say that some things have NOT changed.  Johnny is still so thrilled that we adopted Dusty and Sonya.  He is a fantastic "BIG" brother!

Easter Sunday - April 2012
 Carolyn was only twenty months old when she met Sonya and Dusty face to face.  In the months prior we had talked a lot about her new brother and sister.  When the day came for her to finally meet them.  She was like a little mother hen gathering her new chicks under her wings! 

May 2011
May 2011
I am pleased to tell you that Carolyn is still taking care of her little chicks.  I love the way she always wants to introduced Dusty and Sonya to the people that she meets.  It is adorable.  She is a loving "BIG" sister!
April 2012

October 2011
I just read a quote from Mother Teresa... 
"Saying there are too many children is like saying there are too many flowers."  

I must say I agree with her whole heartedly and I am enjoying watching our flowers BLOOM!

Thank you for watching right along with us!
Blessings,
Amy




Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Happy Birthday, Dusty!

Last year we celebrated Dusty's Birthday even though he was all the way on the other side of the world.  He turned six without any idea that his soon to be family loved him and would travel to adopt him.  As we celebrated last year we anticipated being together on his 7th birthday!

Celebrating Dusty's 6th birthday - 2011
Dusty has been home for ten months.
This year we are so happy that he is able to enjoy his FIRST BIRTHDAY with us.

He woke up to a birthday song and birthday French toast.


A birthday banner announced the reason for our celebration!


Green birthday streamers decorated the living room. (Thank you, Audrey!)


Birthday balloons are always fun and one of Dusty's favorite things.


Friends and family wished Dusty a happy birthday with phone calls, birthday songs,  birthday cards and birthday wishes on Facebook.




Friends and family stopped by to wish him a happy birthday.




Dusty's Grandma wanted to make his birthday cake.  
She found two cute fireflies not realizing they were from the story
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle.

   That story has a very happy ending with the lonely firefly finding LOTS of friends.



 After reading the story Grandma decided it was the perfect theme for Dusty's Birthday. 
She made a firefly out of birthday cupcakes. 

  
So much has changed for Dusty since last year.  
When we met Dusty he was just like that very lonely firefly.

April 2011
A new chapter in Dusty's life has begun and he is lonely NO more.
He is surrounded by those who love him very much.

"Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday,  Dear Dusty...

Happy Birthday to you!

There are so many more lonely fireflies out there!  Our hearts are heavy for one in particular named Brent.  There are three ways you can help Brent. 
1.  Please PRAY that a Forever Family finds their son Brent soon.  
He has already been transferred from his orphanage to an institution.

2.  Please TELL all your friends and family about this sweet little boy who needs a family.  You may be the link that helps this lonely firefly find his mommy and daddy.

3. Please make a tax deductible DONATION to help with his adoption costs.   
Even just ten dollars could make a difference.

Here is the link to make a donation http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=brent

or send a check to:

Reece's Rainbow
PO Box 4024
Gaithersburg, MD 20885

Thank you for your prayers and support!!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Today We Celebrate - Nikita!

Four years ago today a sweet little boy was born from another woman's womb in another country across the ocean.  He never got to go home.  Unfortunately, he was left at the hospital and then taken to an orphanage all because he had Down Syndrome.  Someone gave him the name Nikita, perhaps it was a nurse or the priest who baptized him.

Youngest picture we have of Nikita

Little Nikita spent a lot of time in a hospital because he was so sick.  He waited in that orphanage with many trips to the hospital for literally his whole life.  You see, he didn't live very many days past his 3rd birthday.  He had Leukemia, although it was never discovered until a few days before he died on February 25, 2011.

Nikita - the picture of him that captured our hearts on November 6, 2010

He died before we could adopt him and yet we consider him OUR ARROW.  We call him Nikita Frederick Hinz and love him as our son.  Today on the day of his birth we celebrate Nikita.

Nikita did not die forgotten!

2010 Angel Tree Ornaments on the Christmas tree

Nikita did not die unloved!

Nikita's birthday 2011

Nikita did not die an orphan without a Forever Family!

Celebrating Nikita's birthday 2011 and looking forward to having him home for his birthday in 2012.

Nikita did not die unwanted!


Sending our Dossier to Ukraine to adopt Nikita and Dusty.

Nikita is missed!

Making a bear for Nikita -  Johnny recorded his voice saying,
"Hello Nikita -We miss you when you're far away from us!"

Nikita's life had purpose and meaning!

Dusty and Sonya at the orphanage April 2011
Dusty and Sonya having FUN!  December 2011 

Finding and loving Nikita was part of God's plan.  God made sure that our arms did not stay empty when Nikita died.  God made sure that two more little arrows made their way into our quiver with Johnny, Carolyn, and Nikita.  We are so blessed to have Dusty and Sonya home with us since May 2011.

Carolyn, Dusty, Sonya and Johnny

Nikita was never forgotten by his Creator!

Psalm 139:13  "You knit me together in my mother's womb." 

Nikita was always loved by his Savior!

1 John 3:16a  "This is how we know what love is: 
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."

Nikita belonged to his heavenly Father!

Isaiah 43:1 "I have called you by name; you are mine."

Nikita was wanted and adored by Jesus!

Matthew 19:14  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, 
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Nikita was never alone because God was always with him!

Joshua 1:5b "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

We are comforted by these verses from the Bible and by the fact that Nikita does rest in peace.  He will forever rest in the arms of Jesus who is the Prince of PEACE.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.


Happy Birthday, Nikita!  Today we celebrate YOU!  We love you and look forward to holding you in our arms someday when Jesus calls us home!