April 4, 2011 Letter

For some reason, General Conference always seemed to be so much better when I was on my mission. I think it's because I took lots of notes and thought of how to apply them to help my investigators. I should really try to do that still, now that I am home and apply to my family instead. Anyway, I loved this letter and Kiley's mentioning of the conference talks that touched her and especially her little discussion on the stories of Ammon. She is such a good writer! Reading this email was like, "Whelp, she pretty much covered the lesson for FHE tonight. Thanks Kiley!" I mean seriously, if she can just type stuff like that up from the top of her head, I can't imagine what her lessons that she actually prepares are like! She is such an amazing missionary... who loves her mom. :) I love her admiration for her mom. I would have to agree that mama Linda is pretty, darn amazing. I just hope Peyton and my other children will be able to say the same about me someday. Either way, Kiley is an amazing girl and I would be so lucky to have such a spiritual, sweet, and smart girl like her one day.

April 4, 2011

Dear Wonderful and Amazing Mother,

I am so happy for Lauren! I cannot even tell you how happy I am. Sister Terry thinks I am a little crazy.

This week has been good for us as well. I love conference! It was so amazing! When Elder Cook talked about women I thought about all the amazing women I know and you were of course the first one to pop into my head, followed by amazing grandmas, and the amazing women in our home and singles ward. I am blessed to have so many amazing examples. But mostly I am blessed to have you. When Elder Cook said that most women always say, "I wish I could have done more," I thought of you-- how you always give everything you have and then say, " I wish I could have done more." You are amazing! You don't just give because it is part of your calling, you give because that is who you are. You are the most amazing, selfless, and Christlike person I know. I could go through all the Christlike attirbutes in the PMG section and you have everyone of them. If I could be even a smidgen of what you are Mom, I would be the happiest person in the world. I don't know how I got to be so lucky to have you as my Mom. I tell Heavenly Father that every night.

This past week I read the whole Ammon story. I got so sucked in that I ended up spending my whole personal study reading it. Man, he was so amazing!! I want to be like that. One thing that really stuck out to me...ok there was alot...one of them was when it says, "And they did bear their afflictions with patience. (I am reciting this off the top of my head so it's not perfect.) It was not easy for Aaron and the rest of them. I don't think prison sounds too exciting, starving does not sound awesome, and being bound with strong cords sound horrible! I would probably have come home by now if that had happened to me. But they withstood it all in patience. How amazing. The other part I love is when Aaron is teaching the Lamoni's father. He asks them how he can have this great joy. He then proceeds to say that he would give up all he possess; he would give up his whole kingdom to know this joy. Later on as he is praying he says, "I will give up all my sins to know thee." The thought hit me right then...how lucky we are to have the gospel. Some people search and search and search for it. But how well do we know our Heavenly Father and our Savior? What are we willing to give up to know them? The king was willing to give up EVERYTHING. We always hear stories about how hard it was for the pioneers to leave everything they had in Nauvoo to cross the plains, and most of the time lose loved ones on the way. But Sister Terry read something to me and they said that the price they paid was worth it to get to know their Savior. Wow. I guess that has been my thought for the week. What are we willing to do to get to know our Savior?

So wasn't conference amazing?! Elder Scott made me so sad. I just felt sad for him. That is alot of love. The whole time I thought about my parents...man y'all are perfect! I am lucky to have you. I laughed at the talk about parenting and how with an easy child, you get parenting 101, and a hard child, parenting 505. You are the luckiest parents in the world because at least with me you only had to go to 101. With Dave and McKay its a different story... ;) I loved when he said, "Never let failure develop from an action to an identity." That was awesome. I loved President Uchtdorfs talk. Man, it was so good about not waiting on the Road to Damascus. They were all amazing! How lucky are we to be able to listen to the prophets.

Well Mom, I love you so much! Yes, I did get your package...YOU ARE AMAZING!! I loved it. I am wearing my new garments now and I feel so happy inside. I will attach a picture of me from yesterday; I am wearing one of those cute new shirts. I loved all of them and they will be perfect for summer! Me and Sister Terry walked 2 billion miles and got massively sunburned. We were sweating like crazy...come to find out the day we walked it was 95 degrees! CRAZYNESS!!! I felt better after I found out how hot it was. Sister Terry and I always think we can walk forever and a half away...then we get home and we just drop to the floor and down water bottles. It's fun though.

Well, I love you too much and I miss you!!! You are amazing mother! I hope you got that from my letter. Oh, one more thing...Don't hate me...BUT I have 9 days left of my Synthroid. :) I didnt realize until after you had sent the package...I am sorry! I know you are in Mexico so you won't be able to send it to me, but it will work out right? Don't forget how much you love me even when I am constantly making you do things for me... Jeez, I think I am way more needy than Dave and McKay were on their missions...sorry! I need to work on that.

LOVE YOU!!!

Loves, hugs, and kisses...and alot more hugs and loves!! And some more loves and hugs and kisses!

Love,

Sister Bailey