Happy 28 to Me!

Happy 28 to me!
Well I can't believe another year has passed, and I'm a year older. Who would have thought at 28 I would have done so many AMAZING things. (just to name a few: Marry the man of my dreams, have beautiful children, own a home, drive a minivan, be a college grad, travel the World, etc.) I sure am blessed! I saw a great quote the other day. "The secret to having it all is BELIEVING that you do!" It is so true. I do have it all!
This year I wanted something different for my birthday. I wanted something that I would always remember, and have a special place in my heart. Usually for birthdays you usually let your love ones plan something fun, and enjoy the day off and relax. This year was not that for me at all. I worked my butt off, and let me tell you it has changed me for the better. As most of you know I dedicated my birthday this year to my amazing neighbor Larysa. I wanted to give her something that could change her life for the better , but in turn she gave that to me. She was one of those blessing in your life that you rarely get to experience . She taught me NEVER to give up, no matter the trial in life you keep trudging along, and if you fall into a mud pit you get up wipe your face off and keep going. She was one of the most spiritual woman I know and her faith was as hard as a rock. She knew God would heal her, if not here on the Earth than in Heaven. As I was reading in the Ensign this quote stuck out to me. You know when you read something and it just stays with you?

"I thought if I only had enough faith, I would be cured, but sometimes having faith meaning trusting in and listening to the Lord even when we are not cured. What we want won't always match what He has planned for us. I recall an important lesson in which a bishopric member shared an important message about faith-one I clung to ever since. He said, When someone has an ailment or an illness and they are healed as the result of a blessing, their faith is being strengthened. But for those who aren't healed but continue faithful, their faith is being perfected. The first is a faith-promoting experience. The second is faith perfecting experience."

After she passed away the hospital was checking her body and they could not believe that she lived as long as she did. The cancer had eaten all of her major organs, and normally when cancer starts doing that it will kill you. Not with Larysa! She had some business she needed to finish up. She was still cleaning and cooking for her family up to the moment she passed. Now that is one strong woman. I'm grateful for her spirit, and I miss her dearly, but I know I will get to see her again.

So you must be thinking... You learned a lot Katrina, but that isn't even half of it. Because of Larysa David and I have gotten to really know our neighbors. We have formed a close bond with many of them all because of Larysa. You might not think that is something great, but to me it is huge! Larysa continues surprising me daily with more blessings, and I think of her as one of my angels, since I got to be an angel in her life.
Thanks to everyone who made the Run for Larysa a success. You helped make a difference in both Larysa and my life. Thanks for making my birthday such a special memory!

How to make your children quite as can be...

It is called putting on the movie "The Incredibles" They stayed like this for the ENTIRE movie. I know amazing huh? Now if this remedy could always work that would help me out, but at least I know if Parker and Lincoln are into the movie Lizzie is will following close behind.

Our BIG NEWS!!!

We are having a baby!!!Our new addition is due on October 31, 2011!!! WE are so excited, and we hope that Mommy will start feeling better... please let this morning "ALL-DAY" sickness pass soon!

A Night Out with the Sapp's

One of our favorite things to do when we are in Redlands in visit the Sapp's. They are lifelong friends who have been their through thick and thin. We are grateful to have such great friends!

Going to Visit Oma and Papa

Lizzie and Krislynn love spending time with their Oma and Papa. No matter what they are doing Oma and Papa bring a smile to their faces!

My little Bride

Krislynn is my dress up QUEEN! She will try anything and everything on especially if it is shoes. The other day we came across this veil, and It has special memories for me since I wore it when I married David, but doesn't Krislynn look so cute?

Peter Gambling Parker

Today, Peter Gambling Parker was suppose to join our family, but instead Heavenly Father had a different plan for him. It has been 5 months since we lost our precious baby boy, and I can tell you that as each day passes I feel his little spirit whispering to me that all is well, and we will be together again. These tender moments have really helped me heal and face the daily challenges that come my way. I'm grateful for a loving Savior who knows when I need him to carry me since I think I can go no father, but we are given trials in our lives to help make us stronger. There are moments when I think, "how can this make me stronger?" and at those moments I take a couple minutes for myself and I know that everything will be fine, and I'm just getting fine tuned for more experiences to come. If you lose a baby to a miscarriage your heart will reach out to those other mothers that have gone through or will soon go though this. I can tell you ever since we have lost Peter, and when you find out another friends, family members, or strangers you meet on the street just lost their baby YOUR story will come to the surface and all those emotions will flood you again. Most times it helps with giving that friend the right words and comfort. You have been in her shoes and you know what to expect. I'm grateful for the friends that reached out to me after our loss. They had the right words, and sometimes it was just a smile or hug that made the day go by just a little bit easier. It is never easy to lose a baby, but I know someday I will get to be with Peter again, and the joy of our reunion will be blissful. I'm grateful that I was able to give him the precious gift of birth. He will always have that special place in my heart, and that we can be together forever.

Lizzie's Motion Picture

When I was uploading some pictures the other day this is what I found on my camera. Who knows when they got a hold of the camera., and that they were quiet enough for me not to notice what they were doing. So enjoy Lizzie's motion picture I think one day it will win an Oscar.

stART Project

Well since my girls LOVE dinosaurs we decided that this would be a fun project to do, and especially since Mommy isn't feeling so well it falls into the perfect catagory since I don't have to prep anything so HOORAY! We went to Joann's again for more fabric, and Lizzie spotted these, and of course here is how our stART project came about. The girls love to paint, we got to talk about the different dinosaurs, and then we finished the project up with popcorm and The Land Before Time. PERFECT!!!!

My new fancy

So a good friend of mine came over the other day to craft with me, and to show me now she makes some of her fun necklaces. Ever since I met her I fell in love with her bead necklace. I just the randomness of it,and how you can change it up, and that it is Super easy to make. I made this one about 3 weeks ago, and let me tell you about all the compliments I have received about it. Now everyone wants one, and my fingers can't make them fast enough. Thanks Sarah again for showing me how to make them... you are the best!

Is it Summer?

Let me just tell you that the weather here in So. California has been AMAZING! The other day the girls wanted to get in their swimsuits since it was so hot. It was 90 that day and the weather has been amazing ever since. Is summer already creeping in? Spring hasn't visited us yet. Please don't let Summer be here just yet.

Time for Spring

Here are our birdhouses we made! The girls fell in love with them while we were at Joann's looking for fabric for Mommy. The girls stayed at home the other day from church, but as I walked in the door they were ready to get their craft on. I especially love the roofs.

stART Project

I'm back!!! I know it has been forever, but with this charity event over now I can return to a "normal " life. today we read the story, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What do you hear?" The girls LOVE this story, and we could read it a billion times and they would not get sick of it. So we made yellow ducks, I know they look like chicks... just enjoy them okay? The girls loved painting their hands , and using their hand prints as the wings. Enjoy!

Hydrangeas!

I just LOVE hydrangeas! I think they are so beautiful. On one of the blogs I follow this lady made thumbprint hydrangeas. I thought they looked simple enough so Lizzie and I experimented, and look what her little thumbs made!

Mustache March

Each year for March Madness David and some of his coworkers grow out their facial hair and enjoy a month of mustaches. I am not a fan, but it is a tradition that I can not break. So for my birthday month David gets to taunt me with his most AMAZING mustache. Hooray for March!