Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Happy 4th Birthday Karabella!

Happy 4th Birthday to our sweet, full-of-life, over-the-top princess, Karabella! Hunter and I never knew just how much our life would change when she entered our world on August 26, 2010! Just a little bundle of love and energy. She grows more & more every day.

This year Ms. Kara wanted to have a Mermaid Party for her birthday. She loves all things water! So we had an Under the Sea Mermaid party in her honor. My Mother and I love planning parties. She really gets into the different food creations you can make with specific themes. I love making all the invitations and banners and artwork that goes into a fun party. I will say that we do not throw parties every year for my kids. Last year we just had the grandparents over for dinner and cake. This year we went all out. Next year, I think I will just rent out a skating rink, Ha! No matter what we do, I love to celebrate my children.

Time with my family is so precious right now. My grandmother, MommaLo, was just released from the hospital the day before and couldn't make it to the party. But, as {Luck} would have it (and modern technology!), we got Skype set up on the farm and we video-called MommaLo and Pop during present time. The next day we loaded all the leftover cake and goodies and went and had lunch up at the farm and got to spend the day with them and the rest of our family. I'm pretty sure our little mermaid princess had the best 4th birthday ever, surrounded by all the family and friends who love her and with whom she loves in return! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! We love you!






















Wednesday, August 20, 2014

First Day Pre-K


Our almost 4 year old started pre-k today! She was so excited, I caught her trying to stuff her backpack with stuffed animals and coloring books this morning. She was all ready and roarin' to go. This momma was just as excited for her. Of course, Evy wasn't sure what to think without her big sissy there to greet her at her crib this morning. It will take some adjusting on all our parts. But Kara was still smiling when we picked her up at lunch and she was telling me All about her day. Here's to a great first day of school for our {Lucky} gal!








Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The End of Summer Recap


The end of summer is finally upon us. Kara starts Pre K next week. Although it has been almost unbearably hot this year, we have had several fun adventures during these dog days of summer. Just a few blocks away from our house is a small neighborhood playground that we have taken the bike and buggy to for Kara to play; another block away is a nice shaded park that goes down to the bay that we visit for picnics and swimming. They are both little Cove treasures that help us get out and burn off some of that three-and-a-half-year-old energy. We've kinda made it a tradition to make ham & cheese crescent rolls to take with us when we visit. So here's to you Karebear....you've made your mom's summer with picnics at the park. I have enjoyed watching you grow before my eyes these past few months. And even though you are only going to be at school for half a day, I'm going to miss having you with me in the mornings :-)



Ham & Cheese Wrapped Crescent Rolls
Ingredients: One Can Crescent Rolls, 8 Slices Ham, & Shredded Cheese
Wrap ham and cheese and Cook at 380 Degrees for 12 Minutes

Last Picnic of the Summer 2014 





  


  


Last Park Day of the Summer 2014







  

Till Next Time,

Katrina



Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Mommalo 08.05.14


As I sit down in the early morning to try to capture all the thoughts running through my head, I am finding it hard to find a starting place. I have tried to do a blog post at least once a week. I had several different ideas ranging from the busy weekend my husband had (his new floundering lights, his floundering adventure, his cooking of said flounder, and then his marvelous creation of fish cakes from the leftovers) to my preparing for Kara's 4th birthday. However, those things will take a back burner this week.

My heart was heavy and my spirit was sad in light of the news we received on my grandmother this week. For some of you who don't know, my Mommalo, has been sick for about six months, After exhausting all options here locally in Panama City, her doctor sent her to Mayo for a second opinion. We have been waiting on confirmation from those findings and the diagnosis is a little worse then we were hoping.







I'm not gonna lie, but 
when I talked to my parents and my Aunt and you hear time frames and "worse than cancer" and "no cure" I felt like I was hit by a semi. After she came back from Mayo and we knew it wasn't cancer, I had hope again that we had options to get her better. It doesn't seem like that is the case. I did like I do with most sad news and cried....and cried....and cried. I woke up at four and cried some more. Evy actually slept through the night for the first time EVER and I didn't even enjoy it. 

But the morning light also brought some clarity and some renewed hope for my heart and spirit. Surprisingly, it isn't verses of healing or the powerful blood of Christ that have been on repeat in my head. It's Psalm 61:2. "From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." My heart was overwhelmed last night, already feeling a loss that hasn't even occurred yet. A time frame like "two years or less" seemed like such a horrible diagnosis. But then when I thought about what God can create in a time frame of seven days or how he can bring salvation to His creation in only 3 days....by hope was renewed in the Rock that is higher than I am.

My grandmother is such a strong woman of faith. Any one who knows her, knows that she is the spiritual matriarch of this Miles' family. We are all a close-nit family. She is the glue that holds us together. So much of who we are is because of her unfailing love for her family. She and my Pop have been together since she was 14! She had her first child when she was 16. She birthed two sets of twins. She survived the teenage years of my dad and Uncle Sammy. (That last statement should put her in the running for sainthood) She was a nurse and the best ultrasound tech in the panhandle for over 40 years. Her cornbread turkey dressing (not stuffing!) and fried cornbread is like southern crack served at the dinner table. She & Pop watched Karabella for her first year, a time so precious to me that my daughter was cared for by her great grandparents who gave her some much love and devotion and continue to. They both love my girls like no one else!


My Mommalo has such a strong legacy and for the time that we have left with her I am going to focus on those things and trying to know as much about her legacy as I can. I'm not going to dismiss the healing power of Jesus, I know He is still in the miracle-making business. But none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so I am going to live in the Today, thankful and grateful that for the small time frame we have been given.

Miles Family Christmas 2013

My family and I continue to ask for your prayers for my Mommalo and my Pop. Things are still in the "decision-making" process as far as care and treatment options. My biggest prayer for my Mommalo is for strength. The amyloidosis has given her a loss of appetite and makes her nauseous. So if you are out there and you are reading this, please just take a brief moment to say a prayer for her. Prayer changes things, whether its the situation, the attitude of the situation, or the outcome of the situation...and we can use prayer in any and all of those things.

Till next time, 

Katrina



For more information regarding Amyloidosis please visit: