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In 2002, Hazel was the director of the Students Together After School (STARS) program at the school in St. Ansgar, Iowa when Courtney Storley, age 12, and her brothers – Calvin, 9; Kelly, 8; and Derek, 7 – began coming to the program. Little did Hazel Smith know on the day she met Courtney that one day she would be calling her “the daughter of my heart.”

Hazel set things in motion when she asked their mother if she could take the kids to a youth group at her church. Soon they began spending weekends with her; then it was all week. During 2004 and 2005, the four children spent half of their time with Hazel.

In January of 2006, the need arose for Courtney and her brothers to enter the foster care system. Hazel didn’t have a foster care license, but the judge decided since she had been taking care of them the majority of the time and he wanted to keep the children together, he would allow her to have them. She would be required to take the next available foster care classes and obtain a license. At the age of 68, when most people are enjoying retirement, having already raised five boys, Hazel took on the job of caring for the siblings ranging in age from 11 to 16. However, one major catch in her agreement was that the Department of Human Services couldn’t pay her anything until she had the proper foster care license. It took six months for her to receive the first check. She says, “Had it not been for my good friend, Cathy Simon, who was there helping from day one, and a lot of other good people who gave clothing, food, money and encouragement, I never could have made it.”

“We had what I called the ‘sardine system,’” Hazel adds. “I have a one-story home that has three bedrooms, but one was full of books. We put a cot in the book room for Courtney and the boys had a 10 by 10 room with bunk beds and a single bed, with just enough space to wiggle between.”

Mostly things went well. Some of them showered in the morning, some at night. Laundry needed to be done every night and someone who usually cooked for one was now cooking for five.

Hazel says, “The best part was the conversations, where we would just sit and talk. One time the kids asked why I never married again after my husband died. I said I needed a man who loves the Lord more than I do and Derek, in all seriousness, said, ‘That would be impossible.’”

“The kids were thoughtful and helpful. There was only one time when we had a big problem. I was fed up and yelling because the kids were fighting. Then we all cried and got over it. I finally tamed them, so they weren’t so scrappy.”

“The kids were caring, always looking out for and taking care of me because they thought I was old. They called me Grandma. Each of them had special things about them. Courtney likes to cook and bake, so she helped with that. Calvin was quiet, a thinker. He liked to have fun. He was content with whatever you did for him and didn’t ask for more. Kelly wanted to learn how to iron because I ironed all their clothes before church. He was really impressed with that. And Derek, he was the analyzer. He thought through things. He liked the details of figuring out the timing and stuff if we were going to do something. He figured out the easiest way.”

She bought them all bicycles. Sometimes she would go out by the garage and discover the bikes upside down, wheels off and all torn apart, looking as if they could never be put back together again, but they always accomplished it. Their favorite bike to ride, though, was Hazel’s two-seater.

Hazel lives in the country high up on a hill. She has many stories to tell, but one of her favorites is about a sledding adventure. “The kids took the sleds and went flying down the hill and landed in the pond that had been drained. They came up covered with mud. But that wasn’t the worst of it; we raised buffalo and they had been in the muddy pond, so the kids stunk like manure. They had to take all their clothes off outside, and they were freezing.”

About seven months into having all four children, Hazel realized she couldn’t keep up with that many active kids. She had told Courtney from the beginning that she would adopt her, but finding a family willing to adopt all three boys wasn’t so easy. A couple was finally found, but their license didn’t go through. One day Hazel casually mentioned to a couple at church they should adopt the boys. Three days later they called and said they did want to adopt the boys. Eric and Tracy Shriver of Rockford, Iowa already had a family of three girls and one boy, but decided to add the three boys to their family. Calvin, Kelly and Derek then packed their bags and moved in with the Shrivers.

The adoption process was a long one. In April of 2006, the children’s mother gave her permission for them to be adopted, then the father of each child had to agree. The children had their own lawyer through the process.

At 10 a.m. on December 11, 2007 at the courthouse, it all became a reality for Hazel Smith. That’s when she became the proud parent of her sixth child, a 17 year-old daughter named Courtney Marie. Courtney says, “The judge asked if I want to live with her [Hazel] and I said yes.” Courtney joined a family of five brothers: Marty, 46; Mitch, 45; Troy, 44; Tim, 42 and Jay, 41.

“As soon as he signed the papers, she was mine,” declares Hazel. “He asked if she wanted to change her name and she said yes! The judge was such a great guy. He even said, ‘Courtney, this is the happiest day of my life.’ Then we had our picture taken with him.”

When asked why she would choose to adopt at her age, Hazel says, “I can’t think of a reason not to. We are all asked to help those who need it. I just couldn’t turn my back. My age isn’t any barrier and I can’t imagine my life without Courtney. We’ve been good friends for a long time. She keeps me young. Oh, and besides that, she lets me win when we’re playing cards.”

For Hazel, the biggest challenge has been trying to get through all the emotion. “After five boys, dealing with a teenage girl is a whole new ballgame. This experience has taught me more about patience. I’ve done a lot of praying and definitely drawn closer to God though it all.”

Courtney says, “The best thing is to be with someone I love and who loves me. My new brothers tease me and I like that.” She has maintained a good relationship with her biological father and still sees him on occasion, as well as an aunt, Sandy, and her grandmother, Martha, both from her father’s side of the family. They have been helpful with both finances and moral support. She and Hazel keep in close contact with brothers Calvin, Kelly and Derek, spending an occasional weekend together and celebrating Christmas.

Not everyone was as enthusiastic as Hazel about her adopting. Some comments

she heard were: “For God’s sake, what’s wrong with you?” “You know you could be just be enjoying life instead of going to school conferences.” “This is a big responsibility.”

Derogatory comments, lack of money or close quarters could not keep Hazel from taking care of four children who desperately needed help. Those who have stood back and watched the process over the past six years have been amazed. Although they shouldn’t be because helping kids is as natural to Hazel as drinking water. She has laughingly said, “I used to stop my car and kids just jumped in. I prayed for kids to care for, but told God I didn’t want any teenagers. Guess what I’ve had – mostly teenagers. Even though it hasn’t been easy or fun all of the time, in the end, I’ve learned more about life and God’s love and care for us than anything I’ve ever done. When God gives a person a job, He also gives them the tools with which to do the job. The rewards are great!”

This is Courtney’s last year of high school; in the spring of 2009 she will graduate. Hazel says, “It’s going to be hard to let go. I’m going to be lonesome, but we’ll always have each other, even if she’s not living with me.”