Some Things...

Some things will never cease to make my day.

Like getting to see this guy:

Like learning to do something new, or catching up on a favorite tv show.

Or...finding out that another precious Chen Zhou baby has a possible family!

Congratulations, sweet baby! And to your future forever family! (Whoever and wherever they may be!)

You are loved!

P.S. You are forgiven for peeing on me that one afternoon in the baby room ;)

7 pictures for 7 months

I could write a big post about how awesome the past 7 months of dating Chad have been. But I don't think I could totally articulate.

Since a picture paints a thousand words, I pulled 7 of our many pictures from the past 7(ish) months.

(No, I'm not being vain, I just think he's cute!)

1. This is my favorite picture of us ever; taken on our second date: Denver, CO.

This was the first weekend we met; Fall Getaway 2010

This was the weekend Chad asked to pursue me; Mizzou v. K State

Our first "real" date, Cru Formal 2010

We were being silly before going to The Melting Pot for my 20th!

I just like this picture of us. Lee and Emily's Wedding, May 2011

This is the most current picture I have of us (I think he may have another?)
June 2011

The Double Nanny

I know, it sounds like the name to a bad TV show.

But its me now.

A nanny, part time for two different families in two different towns.

Am I crazy for taking this on while still in school? Probably.

Will I become even more addicted to coffee because of it? Probably.

But will it kill me? No.

So, Alaina, Kale, Allie, and Luke....

Here's to a crazy semester ahead of us, full of doctor's appointments, playdates, and trips to the park!

Pray for me, y'all.

The Things You May Want To Know....

Ok, so if you want an update, read on.

A lot has changed this summer.

Type A personality Amy thinks better in lists, so I'll list the changes.

1. I'm changing schools, from SIUE to SWIC.

2. I'm changing majors, from Elem Ed to Nursing (my real passion).

3. I'm moving home. (Closer to SWIC and cheaper).

4. I'm getting a second nanny job since all but one of my classes are online. (But I am keeping the one in Eville, just changing days).

What this means for me:
- Less expensive school.
- But more difficult school.
- A degree in a field I'll love.
- More time with my family.
- More specifically, more time around my nephews!
- The same # of semesters left.
- Adjusting to living at home again.

What this means for you:
- You gotta come visit me! ;-)

If you have questions or whatever, you probably have my number.

God is good.

Happy Birthday Jennie!

Yes, we had a pie and sang happy birthday to Jennie all the way here in the USA.

Maybe I'm wierd.

Or maybe I'm just missing my girl and this is some kind of therapy?

Yeah. I think that's it.

Thoughts of You...

Thoughts of you, and how you've changed me, fill my mind...

Okay, so this is a Barlow Girl, but it fits...

Today, my mind is filled with thoughts of my sweet Jennie.

It's officially her first birthday (Chenzhou time).

11 months ago, my family celebrated nephew's first birthday with, cake, many presents, and a huge party.

How will Jennie spend her birthday?

Most likely spending half the day lying on her back in her crib.

The other half in room 513.

That's not how a first birthday is supposed to be.

Everyone should be celebrating my sweet girl today...

Celebrating her sweet smile,

Celebrating her beautiful face,

Celebrating her kind nature.

Just...celebrating her...

Because she deserves it.

  Happy Birthday, Beautiful Girl...I'd give anything to be there with you today!

Goodbyes.

I'm not good at goodbyes.

Especially when they are to people I care about.

Boyfriend left today for his 12 day mission trip.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited for all he's going to see and experience;

But I'm gonna miss him.

Because he's awesome.

And he's caring.

He sat there with me on the phone for I don't even know how long while I cried over Isobel.

He reminded me that she's with Jesus and no longer in pain.

He took time amid all the things he needed to get done before leaving to spend time talking to me on Skype last night.

Man, he's a keeper.

Mourning and Celebrating...

Remember our sweet, spunky Isobel?

One of the babies in the Butterfly House?

She's no longer an orphan.

She's now in the arms of her Forever Father and Creator.

Right now, I am mourning the loss of her on Earth along with Team Chenzhou and the staff of the Butterfly House.

But I am also celebrating.

I'm celebrating that she passed away surrounded by nannies loving her praying for her.

I'm celebrating that she is no longer in pain.

I'm celebrating all that she taught those she came in contact with about joy and beauty through pain.

And I'm most celebrating that she is in Jesus' arms as we speak.

Butterfly Blessings and Updates!

Life is busy these days! (whoever coined the term summer "vacation" obviously didn't have a job and a family and friends.)

Which is why it has taken me so long to post this.

Remember our sweet little butterflies?

Thankfully, the people who run the orphanage now sent out an update, and I get to pass it along to more readers!

For the full update, and news about what Alan and Lyn have been doing, click here!

Or here for my article on her... (shame on you for not reading it before!)

I'd like to focus in a little on one little special butterfly.

If you've been reading on here for a while, you will recognize her..

My sweet, precious, troublemaker Isobel...

An updated picture of her.

This is the update posted on their site about Isobel:

There are sad stories too of course. Isobel is tiring easily, and her belly is looking swollen. She has a failing liver, something you can clearly tell by the bright yellow colour of her skin.  She’s such a tiny girl – more the size of a 6 month old than an 18 month old. Yet the size of her personality is huge. She’s the little princess of Butterfly Home, and makes sure everyone remembers her. Lyn has put up bright coloured foam tiles to cheer up our temporary rooms, but Isobel feels certain this is only for her entertainment. She likes to peel off the tiles one by one – with a cheeky look at who-ever is watching her.  That’s what is so humbling about a place like Butterfly Home. Even in the sad stories, there are joyful moments. Isobel is experiencing life and she is loved. Her time might be short, but her life is still a miracle.


Man, I am so proud of this little girl! She's such a fighter!

Please join me and the rest of Team Chenzhou as we pray for the rest of her life, her heart, and her caregivers!

You Can't Go To Florida Without...

Seeing the sunset!

Beautiful Bumbo Babies!

This, my friends, is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL sight to see!

Sorry its small and blurry!

Not just because it's my sweet Jennie and her fellow Chen Zhou babies.

But because it's my sweet Jennie, in a Bumbo seat that was donated by some of our blog readers, so that she and the other babies can learn to sit up and develop their muscles.

My Jennie turns one in exactly 2 weeks.

And she's not sitting up yet, because of the lack of one on one care.

So this is a lovely site indeed!

Now do you get it?

Vacationing...An Update

Yes, I admit it...I've been failing to give updates...

(And I know you're just DYING to hear all about our family vacation, right?)

Well, the thing is, the past few days, I have been vacationing.

Real vacationing.

You know how sometimes you go on vacation and you fill it so full of activities that you are absolutely exhausted?

That's not what we have been doing, thankfully!

We have been REAL vacationing.

Relaxing, waking up when I want, laying out by the pool, reading...you know.

The kind where you actually get to chill.

And read a book (or 4!)

And you just enjoy being where you're at and who you're with.

That's what we've been doing the past few days.

Real Vacationing.

Miss Spitfire Strikes Again!

Oh, Jenna...what are we ever going to do with her??

Let me explain...

Today we made our usual Florida vacation trek to Siesta Key Beach (America's #1 Beach!)

It was hot, and not too much breeze coming in, so Jen, Mom, and I decided to go join the boys in the water.

They were playing with a splash bomb ball in the waves, so we joined in their game of catch.

A few feet away in the waves there was a group of about 4 or 5 college guys (none even close to being as cute as Chad).

I think they were checking Jenna out.

Anyways, our game was between them and the shore, so about 15 minutes into our game they started to head for the shore, right in the middle of our "playing field." Rude.

But they of course didn't care.

What these guys didn't know is that they chose to mess with the wrong girl.

Que the Spitfire's strike...

Her quote?

"Yeah, sure guys. That's cool. Why don't you just walk right in the middle of our game. It's not like we have been playing here for a while! Jeez. How rude!"

Does anyone know how hilarious it is to see first, their eyes widening in absolute shock, and then them picking up their speed considerably getting out of the water?

And then Mom attempting to scold Jen's boldness and attitude (through her own shock and laughter)?

Yep, she strikes again.

Stay tuned, readers. I'm sure she'll do something like it again tomorrow.

Oh, the joys of family vacation!

Jenna and I, in front of the site of her lecture.

Boys and Girls Night

We had guys night and girls night tonight.

The guys went to a Charlotte Stone Crabs game (lame).

And us ladies went to the mall and Jenna got her ears pierced again (cool).

Then we all met up at Sweet Scoops for ice cream.

The ladies got there first, and Grandma said something about how the guys weren't there yet.

I told her who needed them anyways!

Her response?

"We need them to pay the bill of course!"

I always knew she was a smart lady!

All of us at Sweet Scoops.

Spitfire Story Number 2!

Jenna is fearless. We've known that ever since the first time she drove a jet ski.

Mom hanging on for dear life

But we've finally found her weakness...

He looks like this:

Yes, that is a tiny little sea crab.

But ever since one "bit" her yesterday on the beach, she's been afraid.

That did bring about some teasing, since the crab pinched her, not "bit" her.

It left a small mark on her skin, but a HUGE fear in her mind.

What a wimp ;-)

Yeah, she's not so tough now!

Wanna Know a Secret?

Wanna know a secret?

I'm a lot like my mom.

Well, that's not really a secret.

The secret is, we have "the need for speed on jet skis!

Jen and I love how fast Mom likes to drive.

Dad, however, is another story.

My "need for speed" mom lost all her daring side when Jenna (Miss Pedal to the Metal) started to drive. Please tell me that girl doesn't get her license soon!

Day 2, On the Water

Storms were starting to roll in...

Jumping off the boat

Day 1..Part Two...The Spitfire

Okay, before I start this let me explain something.

Jen and Landon

My 15 year old sister, Jenna, is "something else."

This has been apparent since she was 26 hours old.

She's always been a spitfire personality.

That statement was re-proven today when we were on our flight from New Orleans to Tampa.

It was a completely full plane, but luckily we got on fast enough to sit together in the window and middle seat.

As we watched the rest of the seats fill up, the two seats behind us were filled by 2 boys around Jen's age. (I am proud to say that I resisted the urge to tease her about them!)

Well, as soon as we were in the air, I knew it was going to be and interesting flight.

The boys behind us, (from now on, we will call them Punk 1 and Punk 2) started kicking our seats.

The first/ second time I was thinking it was an accident.

A few minutes later, after repeated kickings, one after the other, we knew it was no accident, just punk kids being, well, punks.

I mentioned something to Jenna and she told me that it was bugging her and she was going to say something.

So she did. Pretty nicely.

The kicking stopped for all of 2 minutes.

We tried to ignore it, but seriously...an hour of people kicking your seat while you're minding your own business trying to read, wow.

She she turned around again. And asked them to stop a little more, shall we say, forcefully.

Punk 1 and Punk 2 continued their kicking, and Jen was complaining, so I told her I'd say something.

Too bad that was the time we were beginning our descent into Tampa, so we had to buckle up and sit down.

Cue more seat kicking on the way down. And Jenna getting more and more irritated.

So finally we landed and got to the gate, and started unloading.

Punk 1 and 2 were already in the aisle, half blocking our way out.

But we were going to unload first, even if it involved pushing them.

Punk 1 put his foot out and tripped Jenna as she was getting out. And then he decided to be "polite" and tell her to watch her step in a really rude, sarcastic voice.

I tell you no lie. And boy, had I heard or seen that while we were still by them, they would have heard it from me!

Remember how I said Jen was a little bit of a spitfire?

Well, this is how she chose to respond to Punk 1:

"Seriously, I am about to punch you in the face right now if you don't back off!"

Yep, that's my sister, about to start a fist fight on an airplane.

Mom was, not surprisingly, horrified when she heard.

But at least we have a fun story to tell, right?

Family Vacation..Day 1..Here We Go!

I feel like I've spent too much of my summer in airports!

But on the plus side, it makes me less nervous or stressed to travel the more I do.

So here we sit. In the STL airport, waiting to board a flight to Tampa by way of New Orleans.

Traveling with my family is TONS different from traveling with Team Chenzhou.

For one, my mom gets stressed out by travel and especially security check point. That was renewed today by her getting stopped at security for her laptop. I told her that the laptop had to be in it's own bin. She decided to add the laptop case to that bin, resulting in TSA stopping to complain.

So by the time the rest of us were through, with shoes on and laptops put away, ready to go to the gate, she was just getting through with hands full of shoes and boarding passes.

My response was "mom, I told you laptops need to be in their own bin!"

Her comeback was "well you can tell I don't travel much!"

Then, like we had planned it (even though we didn't!) we all responded with "uh, you just flew 3 weeks ago!!"

Yeah, she didn't have a response.

And it was funny!

Well, it's time to board now!!

Hello vacation!!

Some Of Landon's Silly Faces

Favorite webcam picture of the little dude. Ever.