Finally, some pictures of Karsynn...

Where we are:
1. 3/4 potty trained...YEAH!
2. 2 1/2 years old
3. Still co-sleeping with us, but she's finally sleeping through the night
4. Going back to daycare in August
5. Becoming smarter everyday..she simply amazes me with what she knows!
6. Loves swimming, reading books, jumping on her trampoline, and is fascinated with Mickey Mouse, Shamu and Cinderella...at least for now.


A day at the beach!

Karsynn with her future prom date, Braylon.

Vacation Bible School

Camping at Fort Boonesborough

Karsynn and her Papaw

Karsynn with her cousin Payton

Karsynn and her dog, Bentley

Our Little Beach Bum!

It is hard to believe that our vacation will soon be coming to an end. You work so hard all year long and look so forward to a much needed vacation, and it just seems to FLY by. Everyone should have to take a mandatory 2 week minimum vacation per year, but that's just my opinion. Karsynn has had a great time at the beach. She loved Orlando and all the parks, but she truly is a beach bum. She loves the water! She is as brown as a little bean. Tonight we had dinner at Charley Horse and ate All U Can Eat Crab Legs...YUMMY!!! Karsynn even tried them and actually liked them. Troy and I were stuffed like two turkeys when we left. Tomorrow is our last night in Daytona, and we plan to take in a race at Daytona 500. I think it's the Subway 250 or something like that. I'm not a race fan, but it should be pretty exciting and NOISY. Karsynn and I are only going because it's something Daddy wants to do. It's a night race, so at least it won't be so hot. Anyways, we'll fly home on Saturday morning early. Just a quick 1 hr. and 26 min. flight and we're home. I love it! We've had a great time, but we (Karsynn and I) miss Bentley and the rest of our family. We're considering a nice winter vacation at the beach in Dec., so we'll see.

Sammi :)

Vacationing in Florida

We are in Florida, and it has been a busy, busy trip! We spent 3 days in Orlando visiting Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Sea World and Sea World's waterpark, Aquatica. Karsynn had a BLAST! We are currently in Daytona Beach at our resort enjoying the beach and swimming. We fly home on Saturday. Karsynn loved her flight down to Florida. She kept waving out the window to Grandma, G-Pa, Papaw and Mamaw. It was so cute!

1st Camping Trip in our New Camper and Upcoming Vacation...

We just got home from a three day camping trip at Fort Boonesborough. It was our first trip in our new pop up tent camper. We had such a good time. The first two days were quiet and peaceful, but yesterday all the weekend campers came. We took Karsynn swimming one day, the other two days were spent just chilling out around camp. I actually got to read 24 chapters in a book I started a year ago. My, my, how motherhood changes your life!! For the good, of course. Just no time for myself anymore, but that's ok. I wouldn't change a thing!!! We leave Friday for our big trip to Orlando and Daytona Beach. We are flying, so this will be the first flight that Karsynn will actually remember taking. We are spending 3 days in Orlando visiting Disney World, Sea World, and Aquatica, which is a new water park. Then, we're off to spend the remainder of our time in Daytona just relaxing on the beach or at the pool. I can't wait to see Karsynn experience so many new, fun things. I'll try to post pictures from our camping trip later this week.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for Troy's dad. He is doing GREAT!!! God is soooo good!!!

Blessings!
Sammi

Prayer...

There is much to pray about in our household...

1. Troy's dad has lung cancer surgery Friday, so please remember him in your prayers. Troy's mom, Teresa, is having a very difficult time with this, and other things that are going on in her life. She needs your prayers, too.

2. Troy needs to pass a very important test to complete his Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling this summer. Please pray that God will grant him the knowledge necessary to do so. He also needs your prayers, as he is very worried about his dad, too.

3. We are still in the discussion stages of a 2nd adoption. We both feel that God has another child planned for us, but we're just not sure what His exact plan is yet. Please pray that God will show us what to do and that we will have listening ears. Patience is a virtue, and right now, I have NONE. Pray for me, too.

I realize this is a long list, but as the old saying goes, "When it rains it pours!" This too shall pass. I know that God will see us through all of these trials and tribulations.

The latest on Karsynn...
1. We are in the beginning stages of potty training. Wow, what a job!
2. She continues to grow taller and taller, but she's not gaining much weight. I guess she'll be a tall and skinny Chongqing girl!
3. She absolutely loves the pool. We are working on learning to swim! She's miss independent and wants very little help from us and depends on her arm floaties.
4. Her vocabulary continues to impress even her mommy! She is such a bright, clever, expressive, and dramatic little girl. (Drama Queen...look it up in the dictionary and you'll find her picture.)
5. She looked at me the other day and said..."No more daycare!" So cute! Summer Break!
6. We finally purchased a new tent camper, so we hope to be able to do some serious camping this summer and fall.
7. Our vacation plans include a trip to Florida to visit Disney World, Sea World, and of course THE BEACH!!! Karsynn absolutely cannot wait!
8. My big girl is 2 years and 7 months old...oh my! I can't believe how time flies!

Difficult Times...

I apologize to all of you who pop in to view updates about our Chinese princess, Miss Karsynn. Mommy has been a bit too busy to post lately, but I intend to do better this summer. A lot has been going on in our lives lately, some of which we wish wasn't. Troy's dad was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. While no one ever wants to hear "the Big C" word thrown at them, he is a very, very lucky man. The cancer is contained in the lung and after a PET scan, was found NO WHERE else in his body...Praise God. His doctor believes he can remove the mass, along with 3 small spots, via surgery. We are not certain whether or not he will require Chemotherapy or Radiation, so please pray. He health is otherwise pretty good, so we are hoping that with such early detection, the outcome will be good. Karsynn really loves her G-Pa, so send up some special prayers on his behalf. Other than that horrific news, life in our house is busy busy. Troy and I are both trying to wrap up another school year. After that, we hope to take a brief vacation to Florida then Troy starts graduate classes again in July. It looks as if Karsynn and I will spending a lot of time at home alone enjoying the pool while Daddy studies.

We would also ask that you say a prayer for us, as Troy and I both feel the tug at our hearts to adopt another child. The adoption process in China is now at a 3 year wait. As we are NOT getting any younger, we need to know soon if this is what God has planned for us. Is there another little Chinese prince or princess out there waiting for his or her forever family and are we it??? To be continued...
Blessings!
Sammi

Prayers Needed!!!

It's been some time since I posted last, and I apologize for this. Life has been a bit crazy in our house lately. Karsynn had her most severe allergy attack this past weekend, and she has been coughing and her nose has been running since. She is on yet another antibiotic, but we really had no choice. Also, my father-in-law is having some health complications right now, so please say a prayer that we get good news on Monday. I promise I will try to post some pics soon. Karsynn is getting so big and changes daily. We are such blessed parents!!!