Katie turned 7

When Katie turned 5 I took her to get a "real" pedicure for her birthday, every year since she reminds me that we go get a pedicure for her birthday...lucky girl :)

This year Kortney joined in on the fun, and she LOVED every second of it.

Our finished product, aren't they cute!!!

Katie is an amazing daughter. I can't believe she is already 7 years old. She is just an all around good girl. She loves her family and cares for all of us so much. She loves to dance and play with her friends. She eats just about everything we give her, she loves to try new food. She loves school and loves to learn. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter.

Dance Festival

Katie had quite the fan club to watch her perform.


In May Katie participated with the 1st grade in the dance festival. Katie LOVES dancing.

The test

Sunday morning I was exhausted, I woke up around 5:30 to feed Kyla and she didn't want to go back to sleep. So after numerous attempts to put her back to bed I decided to hold her and enjoy our special time together. Well 9:00 rolled around, I made the girls their breakfast, got Mike his pain med which was supposed to be a motrin, I decided to take one too because I had a horrible headache. (The headache was probably from lack of sleep, Mike got his surgery Thursday and so since Thursday I had been getting up at 3 to give him his meds and ice for his foot, then again at 5 to feed Kyla, then stay up after feeding Kyla because the girls were waking up shortly after I got Kyla back to bed.) So I went to church, which was a blur and come home to realize I had given us both Percocet, no wonder I was a zombie at church. I realize that I am totally at the end of my rope, I find a quiet place (my bathroom) and kneel down and just start crying to my Heavenly Father. I felt so much peace as I finished my prayer and I had an instant burst of energy to get through my day. After that Kyla was sleeping super good, Mike didn't need his meds anymore and life was slowly getting back to normal again. Normal for having a new baby normal. ;) Then what happens another thing to make me stretch and rely on the Lord some more. I couldn't have survived the last 2 days with out the love of my family and ward. I have had phone call after phone call asking how they can help me, I have had emails, facebook messages galore. Thank you all for your love and help. I haven't had to worry once about my girls being taken care of. Who would have thought that I could leave my 1 month old baby and just come home long enough to nurse her. Plus I have had the quiet moments to my self where I can pray and thank my Heavenly Father for sparing the life of my husband. The fear that comes to you when you hear about how I could lose him any time just tore me apart. I just kept thinking have I given to my husband all that I need to give, Have I loved him the way I need to love him. Why do I have to nit pick his every little behavior that drives me nuts. I have realized that all that matters is creating memories with our little girls. Enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Mike is good at that, me not so much unless the house is clean the laundry is done, dinner is made, etc. :) How thankful I am that he is recovering so fast and will be home with us shortly. Again thank you all for your prayers.

Mike Kennedy

I just have to make a quick entry, I haven't blogged for a long time, no Internet or camera, but now I have both, so I need to catch up on entries. I will do that another day.
I am one of the luckiest girls ever. I am married to the most amazing man. Those of you that know him know that what you see is what you get. He is very honest, and says just about anything that is on his mind. Some things you may not know about his is that he LOVES being a dad. He takes his girls on dates, takes them fishing, makes them necklaces, lets them do his hair, and even will play tea party or dress up with them. He LOVES the gospel. He spends hours every day studying, I shouldn't say this, but sometimes I get a little jealous of the time that he spends studying his scriptures. His knowledge of the gospel is amazing to me. I feel as if I am the one in our marriage who feels the spirit and is prompted to do things while he is the smart one. :) He LOVES me. He rubs my feet every single night that he is home. He makes a mean breakfast, and he feeds our girls every morning. He loves to read novels with me. He always lets me fall asleep on his chest and doesn't complain about the drool. He loves every living creature on this Earth. He would have a million pets if possible. He loves people, he can talk for hours and hours. He has a heart of gold. Do you know he brought home a guy he met at the temple and ended up talking his parents into giving him a home. He lives to fish, play any sport, and do just about anything active. As you can see I am one lucky girl to have married such an amazing man.
Last Thursday he had a bunion removed. We decided we had met our deductible this year so we might as well do any surgical procedures we need to this year. Sunday his calf started hurting, then Monday night his side of his chest, back etc were hurting and he couldn't breath. Well after a trip to the ER today, he is making the hospital his home for tonight. He has a pulmonary embolism or a blood clot in his lung. To see my husband in so much pain was just horrible for me. It took everything in me to be the strong support he needed through all the tests, etc. He can't breath very well, watching him is almost like watching a woman in labor. He is OK for a few minutes then he has to stand up and focus on his breathing. Anyway, this is not what we expected at all, he about died when they told him that he can't be active for a while. I think that was worse news to him than the fatal conversation. They had to talk to us about how this can be fatal, had to ask him if he wants to be revived,etc. and who will make his decisions for him if he can't speak for himself etc. Freaked me out. Anyways I had to come home, they wouldn't let Kyla spend the night there with me. I thought I would record my feelings. I love you Mike!!! Hope you get some rest tonight and are able to come home tomorrow!!! Your girls all love you.

Battlefield

So Saturday night Mike and I took the girls up the the Utah Home and Garden Expo. While in the car Mike and I were talking about the time change and started debating about the time change. Anyway it was no big deal we were both just talking about what time the girls would be waking up now, not fighting just debating. :) Anyway Katie pipes up from the back seat singing Jordan Sparks, "Why does love have to be a battlefield a battlefield a battlefield." It totally made Mike and I laugh that she knew what that song was about and thought to sing it when she heard us "debating" about dumb time.
One other neat thing while at the expo I got this curling iron for Katie, I curled her hair yesterday, used NO hairspray and guess what her hair was still curled this morning. I just had to touch up a few curls and it looked so cute for today.

Adventures of Kortney Bellea

Kortney will be 2 on June 3rd, boy this girl is a little spitfire. I just wanted to record a few of her adventures lately so that they don't go forgotten. Let's just say I think she senses that things are going to change soon, so she has kept life fun for all. ;)
Her new thing: I was sweeping my kitchen floor and found 6 little felt circles on the floor, next day come in and see Kortney's little eyes peaking over the cupboard door. She was chewing off the little felt circles off of the cupboard doors, now she likes to chew on the doors. Crazy little girl, hopefully we have taught her that is a no no. She recognized those words, No-no a little too well right now.
A few evenings ago Mike took Katie out and I was back in my bathroom. Kortney comes running in with a sopping wet wash cloth saying, "need help, need help." I follow her back into the kitchen and she had got the lemonade out of the fridge got a glass out and tried pouring her own drink. The whole pitcher of lemonade was on the kitchen floor. The cute thing is that she had gone and got her stool out of her bathroom, carried it all the way out to the kitchen sink to get a wash cloth out. After I'm sure a discouraging try, realized the mess was just too big.
A great accomplishment, she is officially off of the bottle. I know so many people say bottles aren't good, but I let my kids keep them till 2. With the baby being born around her birthday, I thought I better do it now before the baby comes. Next month will be the big girl bed and sharing a room with her big sister.

Marriage

Marriage has been on my mind lately, when I got married I made a covenant with my Father in Heaven and my husband to love one another, to honor one another, to put one another first, and to always be there for one another for eternity. I guess the reason this has been on my mind so much is because it seems as if we know so many couples that are getting divorces lately.
When is divorce OK?
I know a husband who made a mistake and broke that marriage promise, he is an active LDS man who loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and was unhappy and made a horrible mistake. His wife is a good LDS woman who also loves her Savior, she may have had problems with anger, lying, etc., but she loves her husband. He blames her behavior on his actions. He goes through the repentance process. They get a divorce and leave children in the mix of all this chaos. The wife wants to go to counseling and make things work, the husband gives up and decides on divorce. Is this really the wisest thing? If you understand the atonement of Jesus Christ, you know that through repentance you can look at someone who has made a mistake and love them again. Through counseling one can change their actions on a day to day aspect. It may take a long time, but you have covenanted to always love, honor and cherish this person. If both parties have this common goal, why is divorce an option?
Another example: The husband again made a mistake, he chooses that the guilt of making a mistake is so big that he turns his back on his Father in Heaven. He leaves the church and goes against everything he taught on his mission. Again children are involved, he chooses not to be a part of their lives, (wife and children) and they are now divorced. I see this wife staying so noble, wise and loving, watching over her children. Realizing how wonderful and beautiful she is.
Another example: A husband again (sorry guys out there I do know some women that have been the ones that chose out too) makes a mistake, breaks a temple covenant, again blames wife on her anger, lack of actions, etc. Again children involved. After counseling realizes it was him who made the bad choice. Asks his wife to please forgive him, asks his Father in Heaven for forgvieness, she debates divorce. After much temple attending, fasting and prayer realizes that her husband truly loves the Lord and wants to be whole again. He goes through the repentance process, they both go to counseling, and 5 years later they love each other more than they ever thought possible. They have a growing family, open communication and both have been able to experience the Power of the Atonement, both admit they are FAR from PERFECTION. Kept that promise they made so long ago when they chose to get married and feel that choice was a wise one.
So I guess what I am saying here is how strong is that temple covenant, how much do we understand it when we get sealed for eternity. I sure don't think I was prepared when I got married. I thought my husband would choose to shower me with hugs, kisses, flowers, dates, time, praising words always, etc. At least I had the common goal as my husband and knew through love and support we can return to our Father in Heaven some day. But out of the 3 examples I believe the 2 last are OK. When I see these friends that "fall out of love" and get a divorce, what is that all about? Marriage isn't easy!!! It sure is the most rewarding covenant you make though. To grow with your love, learn with your love, walk through life's challenges with your love, raise children with your love, is one of the most rewarding covenants we make. It isn't always easy, none of us are perfect, so of course life will be challenging, marriage will be challenging. That is why we have our love to help us through and remind us of our Heavenly Father's love and set us straight when we make mistakes. Mike often reminds me I am not the one to judge them, they have their agency. But it has got me thinking what would I do if placed in that situation. I know I can say whatever I believe, but I don't really know unless I have walked in their shoes. I hope I don't offend any of you, I would love to have a discussion on the subject, like I said it is something I have thought about often lately. I would love to understand other views. I know that all of you that read this are not active LDS friends. I would love to hear your thoughts. I don't want to offend any of you.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. I do believe that through the atonement of my Savior I know that I can learn and become a better person as I make mistakes, repent, and change my actions. How grateful I am for my Savior for providing a way for me to return to our Father in Heaven again, as a pure daughter of God.