Please Help if you can! Mike and Michelle Kemp Fund raiser

I met these guys in the singles ward, (that's starting to feel like a long time ago!) We got married and didn't keep up with each other, but of course being from the same stake you here bits and pieces. Mike had an accident a couple of months ago and it has changed their lives and the lives of those around them. They continually inspire ME, they are truly amazing. You can check out their blog and if you can make it to the fund raiser, please do. http://mandmkemp.blogspot.com/


You are invited to attend the
Auction Fund raiser for
Michael Kemp

When: Friday, May 2nd
Where: Elks Lodge - 1000 South University Ave. Provo, UT
Preview: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Auction begins: 7:00 pm


Raffle Tickets -- First ticket: $10, Additional tickets: $5

Pre-registration: mikekempauction@yahoo.com

If you would like to help with donations, please let me know.
There will be a Bake Sale. If you would like to help with baked goods, let me know.

Please feel free to share this flyer with friends and invite them to attend.

Thank You for all your Support!!

Toddler Creed

I found this on Scrapbooking.com. Pretty much sums up life with a Toddler.

Toddler Creed

If I want it, it's mine.
If I give it to you and change my mind later, it's mine.
If I can take it away from you, it's mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
If it's mine it will never belong to anyone else no matter what.
If we are building something together, all the pieces are mine.
If it looks like mine, it's mine.

Ok Mom.

We were just eating lunch. More accurately, I was eating and Bailee was getting up and down while NOT eating. We're having this issue a lot lately. Finally I told her that if she got down again, she would go right to nap time without her lunch. She looked at me and said "Ok Mom." Then she got off the chair and went to her room and laid down. Yep. She's a little stink sometimes. Now she's in there playing with her 'friends'. You can bet when she wakes up she'll be grouchy and hungry and we'll start the battle all over again.

All day she wants to talk on the phone. She wants to call Grandma and Grandpa. Bailee talks to them at least once a day, and would stay on the phone all day if I'd let her. If they don't answer for whatever reason, she gets so mad and keeps saying 'Talk to grandma, talk to grandpa." The other day my dad called and said that he bought some baby chickens and he would show them to Bailee (via web cam) when he got home. Later Grandma showed her the chickens and now all she can talk about is the "Chicken Babies". She through a full on tantrum last night while talking to grandpa on the phone because she wanted to see the chicken babies. I was laughing so hard because he kept telling her not to cry and she would make the funniest faces, lip quivering and all. It was way past her bedtime, and she didn't eat her dinner. Imagine that. Finally I pried the phone away from her and left her screaming in the living room for a few minutes. Daddy distracted her with a basketball and then I tricked her into eating some eggs and toast before putting her down for the night.

They call it terrible two's. I used to think that's so we unexperienced parents would know when to expect the tantrums to start. Yeah, now I think it's someone's evil plan to catch us off guard. It should be called terrible almost two's. When does it end? Oh, right before she hits the tween/teenage years? It's going to be a long 20 years, isn't it.

A blue ribbon for each of you, please pass it on.

A few years ago, well ok it was more than 10 years ago (I can't believe that) I went to a conference (it was a 4-H conference in Albuquerque, NM) where Helice spoke to us and I was first introduced to the blue ribbon ceremony. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and one that I will never forget. After the meeting the youth were sent off to have fun at a dance. The mood was subdued and very different from a typical dance. People were much kinder to each other, and went out of their way to get to know more people. At the very end the song "The Dance" by Garth Brooks was played and we all stood in a circle with our arms around one another. It was incredible. Many of the youth prayed, others spoke about people who had made a difference in their lives, and many just soaked in the spirit of the moment. It was one of the most spiritual moments of my life and a turning point. I know that I'm not perfect, and I don't always treat people as I should, but I do try. I often pull her book out and read the inspirational stories and think of all of the people who make a difference in my life. There are so many, and I know I don't tell you often enough. If each of us would try every day to do a little better, be a little kinder, and love people a little more the world would be a better place. I hope you will think about those who have made a difference in your life, and let them know. It does matter. More than you'll probably ever know.

BYU BLUE/WHITE GAME

Grammy Spencer came up Thursday night. Bailee and Grammy got to play all day on Friday while I ran to St. George with the YW presidency to check out our campsite. We are so excited about camp, can't wait for it to get here!

On Saturday we went to the Blue/White game and really enjoyed the sunshine. Watching the game was fun too. :) Bailee kept saying "Football Game" and doing the signs, it was so cute. Even though it was past nap time, she enjoyed herself and was really good. My battery was pretty dead, so I didn't get very many pictures. I'll have to have Grammy send me some.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Our neighborhood is starting a play group, and I'm really excited about it! We went to one of the neighbors for our first play group because it was cold and snowy outside. YUCK! It was super fun though, and I'm looking forward to next weeks at the park. Bailee loved their fish tank, so I decided we would go and get her a fish. Luke is not a 'pet person', so I knew he wouldn't be thrilled, but we did it anyway. {In all fairness, I have told him in the past not to be surprised to come home some time to a fish.} He humors me, and I love him for it. So we went to the store and picked out not one, but two fish. A red one and a blue one. I kept asking Bailee what we should name them and she never would say. We got home and put the fish in their new homes and then called Grammy Spencer to show them off. Finally when I asked Bailee what the fish's names were she said "One Fish, Two Fish." I thought it was so cute, so I decided we'd go with that. I really need to go and get the book now and read it to her, it's been forever.

A weekend of reflection.

I love general conference. It was amazing as usual. When I was growing up we didn't get it on tv, and that was before the internet made it possible to listen online. I think it makes me appreciate it more now. I know that my testimony was strengthened in many areas, and there were many moments when I thought "I need to do that." or even "I think I'm doing pretty good there." Maybe that's why I love it so much; there are definitely reminders of things to work on but also praise for what you're doing right. I am really grateful for the Holy Ghost as a companion. Through him I believe that conference is made personal. If you're prepared, he can teach you what you need. I love that something a speaker says can spark thoughts in your mind and take you to the revelation you need at that time.

One area that my testimony was strengthened was that we truly have living Prophets on the earth today. Not just one, the president of the church, but 15 that we sustain and support. I really appreciated the comments on how the brethren meet and sustain the new president and call new apostles. I think that I've been thinking too much about how much I will miss President Hinckley, and how much I loved him. I do fully support and sustain President Monson, I guess I was just afraid of the change. When President Monson stood and was sustained by the whole membership of the church I felt so deeply in my heart that he has been prepared and saved for this day and this time. Yes, I will still always have a place in my heart for dear President Hinckley, but this is Christ's church, and his work will go forth.

Another thing that I have been thinking about is how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is truly Christ's church. I'm not wording this quite right, but hopefully you'll understand what I mean. I know that it's Christ's church, but I guess I'm thinking more about people who don't know. Either by choice, or not having the opportunity. If you believe the Bible and the New Testament, doesn't it make sense to believe that Christ would restore his church to the earth? There was a period of time when it was lost from the earth, but it's been restored. By God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The priesthood is here, we have a 3rd testament of Christ (The Book of Mormon), there are prophets, we can receive revelation for ourselves, and we have continuing revelation from the Prophets. I think maybe the thing I'm most excited about right now though, is that we can pray to God and ask Him whatever we want, and he will answer. I knew that before, but you know when you have one of those 'ah ha' moments and you just get it, or it has deeper meaning. And I've learned that it's ok to ask as many times as you need to.

Ok, one more thing. I also loved the Solemn Assembly part. Where we each got to stand with our groups and Sustain the leaders of the church. Wasn't that powerful? It's the first that I can remember being a part of that process, and I thought it was incredible. The first time Bailee saw President Monson on the tv she pointed and said "Prophet." That was followed by one of those "I must be doing something right."moments.

Now I can't wait until the May Ensign gets here so I can read all of the wonderful talks again! How blessed we are to be here on the earth at this time.

Joy...

Last General Conference I was really touched by President Eyrings talk about recognizing God's hand in our lives. I decided that I would make a "Joy Journal" for our family to record these things in. I bought a notebook just for this months ago, but I finally did it today. Just in time for this weekend's conference. It's funny (in a not so funny kind of way) now that I think about it, we could have been witting in this for the past 6 months, but I didn't pull it out because it wasn't cute yet. Well, now it's cute and I shouldn't have any more excuses.

{All products are copyright CTMH}

Here is Luke helping me take the compost to the garden.
This was after I had taken 4 loads back.


Isn't this dress so cute? It was totally on clearance, and I couldn't pass it up. I actually want to make some random stamped paper to match.My new toy! Yippee!
Ha Ha Ha. Bailee wanted McKinley to sit on her lap. She's totally watching tv and not looking at the camera.
I found Bailee on the floor during nap time. This is what happens when you move to a big girl bed, I suppose. Luke told me it was a silly thing to do, and asked how hard it was to turn it back into a crib.
After nap time we made Bailee's bed and she does really like it. She just wanted to get down and play earlier. :)
She's showing us how she's supposed to take a nap.

Top of my list today...update blog.

I sat down to do this an hour ago. You know how it goes. I ended up reading other blogs instead, not only other blogs, but blogs of people I haven't seen in at least 6 years. Wow. Anyways...It's been a busy week, at least it feels busy to me. Monday is always recover from the weekend day, and pick up the house day. We also had FHE with some friends and had a lot of fun. I wish I'd taken a picture of Bailee trying to jump out of the tree house, but I didn't think of that until this moment. She was stressing Luke and I out, so we finally banned her from the cute tree house. Tuesday I actually had time to clean a little more. Maybe time isn't the word, maybe desire is a better word. Regardless, it got done, and I felt better. Especially when Luke noticed, and thanked me. I think he was about as shocked as I was. Then it was off to young women's and a 4 mile walk/hike. Can you say ouch?? I am seriously out of shape and that little walk up Battle Creek about did me in. I did manage to complete it though, and with a smile on my face. Bailee woke up Wednesday with a cough and runny nose, not fun. We are seriously wishing for warm weather, though it hasn't snowed since Sunday. Then it was a 'work' night for me. My new team member, Clerissa, had her first party. It was fun, and she did a great job. Yesterday I had to go to the dentist. This is probably my least favorite thing to do, and I am still surprised that I even went. I heard the words I've always wanted to hear from the dentist "Nothing new going on". That's twice in a row! I have always had something new to fix, or here's my personal favorite "Looks like you need a root canal". I had 5 in one day, yes 5. I knew it needed to be done before I got pregnant, so I took the day off and told them to do them all. I'm thinking living in a place where they put fluoride in the water has actually been a good thing for me! Last night I had my unit meeting/stamp night. I do look forward to those, and Luke kept telling me I should go. It's just nice to talk to other people who I don't get to see very often, and share the same crazy hobby/job. I always get great new ideas, and heres the thing I really love. I learn that they are just people too. Really, it makes me feel less crazy and more normal if you can imagine. Today we get to go to the bank and the library. That will be a fun adventure, I think we need to get ice cream too. The garden is ready to be tilled, and my plants are even almost ready to get in the ground. Too bad the ground isn't ready. I've been working on an album for an awesome promotion that starts April 15th. (You'll have to click on the link that says "Traci's Scrapbooking Supplies" to see what I'm talking about, as I recently found that I had a copyright infringement; I can't use the name of the company on my blog, and no advertising. ) I will hopefully have pictures of the completed pages on the Bulkley Family Scrapbook blog today. Ok, so I didn't mean for the rambling to happen, but it did so I guess that's what you get. :) At least there are pictures, right? (See post above.)