Amie Bartell is always looking for a new challenge.

That is how she came to discover a talent for photography about three years ago. She doesn’t just snap photographs, but captures moments. The moment makes a picture, she says.

That moment may come when she’s finishing breakfast and a black beetle that’s landed upon a plate of maple syrup. It might be the peach-colored rays of a sunset streaming between dark cloud cover or a jellyfish slowly descending in a tank at an aquarium during a trip to visit her sister in California.

“I took that one with my sister’s iPhone,” Bartell, 29, said, pointing to the jellyfish photo. “It went up and then it was slowly coming down and the light was hitting it just perfect.”

The photos were part of a stack of Bartell’s award-winning entries from the Northwest Montana Fair, which included some crocheted and knitted items and a scrapbook of her trip this summer to Disneyland. Her entries earned her numerous blue, reserve champion and champion ribbons. A woven hat she made won “Best Article Champion,” in the special needs division.

Usually her subjects are things that are meaningful to her, such as a barn located just past her residence at Lighthouse Christian Home. 

“We call it the ‘old barn,” Bartell said. “The whole gang always go — the main house people — we all go together, ride, or walk or run there. I love to picnic there.”

After living in the Lighthouse Christian Home for 10 years, an opportunity came up in 2013 when the Lighthouse designated a home next door for an independent living situation with support services. 

Perhaps it was her independent streak that made her a good candidate. She lives at the house with roommates.

“I was really excited. I tried it out for three months and it was very, very challenging for me,” Bartell said. “So, I’ve been here a year now.”

Adopted from Brazil when she was 7 years old, Bartell moved to Montana to a large family.

“My [adoptive] dad passed away when I was 13 1/2. My mom lives in Charlo. She adopted 12 children,” adding to a family of six children. 

This led to many nieces and nephews Bartell holds dear to her heart.

“I lost count how many nieces and nephews I have,” Bartell said, smiling.

When she first moved to the Lighthouse Christian Home she struggled with being separated from family and the routines of group-home living. It was Lighthouse Christian Home Director Shirley Willis who helped her assimilate.

“If it wasn’t for Shirley not giving up on me I think I would’ve gone somewhere else,” Bartell said. “When I first came it was very hard for me to understand my sister was leaving me. For the longest time I just didn’t want to fit in. I didn’t want people telling me what to do, or go to bed, or when to eat. Every day Shirley helped me to understand we’ll get through it.”

Eventually Bartell did get through it, to the extent of volunteering for a local Mothers of Preschoolers group and getting baby-sitting jobs. This summer Bartell cared for children from six families.

She also works as an afterschool teacher’s aide in the Somers School District.

“I like to be around the kids, I like to play games with them at the gym, especially in the wintertime we get to go outside and play in the snow,” Bartell said. “A co-worker will say ‘where’s Miss Amie, where’s Miss Amie’ and I’m blended right with the kids.”

As much as Bartell likes to capture the moment with her camera, she loves to live in the moment.

Bartell is driven to compete, which is why she is involved in many sports. She participates in the Miracle League baseball, Special Olympics and DREAM Adaptive outdoor recreation programs. 

“Special Olympics basketball is coming up in September; my sister really wants me to slow down because of my heart murmur. It’s one of those things I have to be careful, but that never stops me,” Bartell said with a grin.

She has already set her sights on the next challenge — getting a driver’s license.

Bartell doesn’t let disability define who she is.

“I just like to try new things because I want to show people that even though I am a special needs [person] it doesn’t change for who you are,” Bartell said.

 “I feel like that I want to show people that even though you’re special needs, or you have problems, you can still hold a job, you can still baby-sit, you can still do Special Olympics you can still challenge yourself everyday and get beyond it.”

Despite being pretty comfortable in her own skin, Bartell knows that people will sometimes pass judgment and that’s hard for her to understand.

“My mom used to say it a lot: ‘Don’t judge a book before you read it.’ My grandma told me that, too. She’s like, ‘don’t judge a book before you even open it. Read it and then you can see if you like it or not,’” Bartell said.

And life so far, Bartell said, “I’m enjoying it, but it’s been full. It’s like I haven’t even stopped yet.” 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.