Misc Stuff

Lots going on. Not much I want to talk about yet.  Hopefully soon.  But, I wanted to add some pictures to the blog. 
One big thing did happen since I last posted. I had a birthday!  It was a nice day.  I actually got to be with my parents ON my birthday. I don't think I've done that in years! 

Enjoy the pictures! 

Yahoo! This is fun!

I'm so happy there is no thunder

 

Playing in the rain with my sister is FUN

Ethan is a little too comfortable watching TV

HS Football & Band season has officially begun

Our birthday princess

The birthday girls

The Gunter Grandkids

I could not resist buying this cake for Abby

A surprise birthday guest

The birthday girl with her cake

First Day of School (yesterday)

Sorry this is a day late.  Bill & I ran errands all day while the girls were at school. 

The girls had a good first day of school. Abby & Jadyn acted like old pros.  They are big 2nd graders now you know.  :-)   Tiffani drove herself & a couple of friends to school. I was very nervous, but also happy that she did it.  She did text me and let me know they made it safely. 

Tiff is going to be busy the next 3 months with school & band. We won't be seeing much of her.  But that's okay. It's good to keep busy.  She is happy her school schedule finally got fixed and she has friends in her classes. 

Here are a few pictures we took yesterday morning.  Enjoy!

Will You Help Bring Another Miracle Home?

This blog post is from a new friend of mine. They are trying to bring home their 7th son (3rd from China). He has a very serious heart condition and they need to get to China, well like yesterday.  Please take some time to read her blog and if you can, help them bring their son home. 

Thanks in advance!

Bringing Him Home....Soon

20 Years!

August 10, 1991.  Bill & I became husband & wife.  20 years ago today.  Wow!  Where does time go?  We were babies.  At least looking back I think we were babies.  I of course did not feel like a baby 20 years ago.  :-) 

We had many friends think we would never last. That we should not get married.  It was hard on me to hear such harsh words.  There was even gossip going on at our wedding reception on why we were getting married so young (all rumors, we proved them all wrong). 

But here we are, 20 years later.  Still happy. Still growing.

Happy Anniversary Bill Byrne!  Thank you for making all of my dreams come true. I love you!

Lazy Day

Yesterday was a lazy day. Mainly because I was waiting to hear from Bill.  I did not want to miss his calls.  I did talk with them around 7 PM our time and they slept well and they were ready for the day.  I can't wait to hear from them this morning.

Here are some pics of our day yesterday.  We are getting ready to pack up and head home this morning.  I think the kids are exhausted and ready to sleep in their own beds. BUT, they have had a wonderful time. It's been fun. 

dolphins were outside our room

Ethan made himself comfortable

The clouds were beautiful

Ethan kept calling this a whale. :-)

Abby met a 16 year old boy at the pool & was telling him all about her 16 year old sister. :-)

Another beautiful sunset

Bill & Tiff have FINALLY made it to camp

After an adventure of the flight being canceled due to bad weather, all other flights to Yantai being booked, no other flight out until Tuesday, no communication with anyone, cell phones not working, not knowing what to do, staying in a 1 star, bad hotel....they were finally able to get cell phone service and call someone to let them know they were stranded in Beijing.  I do not know all of the details yet.  But, Bill was able to get ahold of Bring Me Hope and they sent someone to pick them up at the airport Monday afternoon (they have been there since Sunday evening).  They took them to the train station where they took a 5 hour "fast" train.  Then a van or bus was waiting for them to take them 6 hours to the Yantai camp. 

At 11:30 AM this morning our time (11:30 PM Monday night China time) I was able to talk with Bill & Tiff.  We used the face time on our iPhones.  They looked good. And sounded good. Considering what they just went through.  Bill said the train was cool. 

They are at camp, finally. They missed the 1st day. They are bummed about that.  They plan on calling me at 7 PM (7Am Tuesday their time) to chat. Then at 8 AM they have a meeting and at 9 they meet their buddies.  And then they will officially start camp. 

I'm SO thankful they are there. I was so worried.  I'm thankful for the friends we have made in China and with Bring Me Hope who helped them out. 

Now I'm anxiously waiting to see who their buddies are.  Bill said they told him they are 3 years old. Bill does not know if they are joking.  We shall see soon. 

Hopefully he'll update his blog tomorrow.  So be sure to check it out.

Please continue to pray. Pray for the kids and pray for all of the volunteers.  I know it's going to be an awesome week! 

Thanks!

Little Man!

How can you NOT smile when he smiles at you?