September 26, 2011 Letter

Dear Most wonderful, lovingest, charitablest, beautiful, smart, funny, splendiferous Mother,

Hi Mom!! Wow, sounds like it has been a little crazy at your house. I haven't been to the Dr. yet...I will work on it. But yes, I did get the card! Thank you so much for sending it. You are amazing mother. I don't know what I would do without you. Life would be sad! Actually, I don't think life would exist without you.

I am happy for you. You were the most amazing RS pres. ever. You really showed everyone what it meant to be magnify your calling and give your all to the Lord. Even though we all murmered sometimes...ok often...I was still grateful for your example and all that you did. I know the Lord really did bless our family because of you. I can't imagine anyone more loving and Christlike than you. I feel so grateful to have been able to watch you. It always makes me want to be a better person. I always think I wish I was more like my mom. I like me, don't worry mom, but I just think you are so amazing and in my eyes the perfect example of what every woman should be. I am just glad I got to watch you in action all those times.

So funny story, you know how much I hate old people homes especially the one Bertha was in?! That was awful all those times you tricked us into going there. Well, we actually go to an old people home like that once a week now and sing. I really love it. It's so fun and you can tell the women there enjoy it. It's something I would want to do later on as well. I have learned to love the women in there even though I don't really know them. It's one of our favorite things to do. We sing hymns and folk songs and such...We sing "This Little Light of Mine" and we get really into it and so do all of them! It's so funny one lady was actually dancing in her wheel chair...hahah it was too funny! I think we might be able to invite the lady over the activities to learn the gospel. She seems pretty good and we have been builiding up a good relationship with her. She is great.

Well this week we met an awesome lady! She is the mom of 7 kids..the youngest is 10...yeah that would be awesome if we could teach them all!! But we had been trying for a while to stop by and see her. We found her in the area book. But we have always missed her. Finally, Friday night we stopped by and she was home! YAY!! So we talked to her and she told us that she doesn't know why and she can't explain it but she knows that we didn't just show up here on earth, but that we exisisted before this.....yeah...amazing. Then she said that she knows that God is a just and kind God, so he will let everyone have a chance to learn about Him after this life...ok thats it, fill up the tub! She is going to freak about the Plan of Salvation. We are so excited to teach it to her! It's going to be amazing.

So this next week we are going to be on bikes all week because our car will be in the shop. The only stinky thing is we live 7 miles outside of our area! But that's ok I think we will see alot of miracles because of this! So we are excited about it.

I loved loved the RS broadcast. It was amazing. I thought they all did such a good job. Sister Beck's made me excited to go out and do the work. It also made me decide to never stop being a missionary. I know life will get tough but we have to make time for our brothers and sisters. How sad to get too busy to worry about the welfare of one of our sisters. I think someday when we are dead it's not going to matter how many amazing accomplishments we made in this life..how much education or money we get...if we didn't help save our sisters or brothers. Right now it's so easy to do for me because I don't have to stress about anything else, but I hope I can remember that someday. I loved Sister Allred's talk about charity...that's funny, I loved the same line you did! I like how she said it's not a single act or something we give away, but a state of being. And of course keeping our covenants! I loved it because I am a covenant-maker and keeper! YAY For the temple!! I miss it lots but its ok....

I was so excited when Pres. Uchtdorf was the one speaking. He is amazing and I am convinced that every woman in the world loves him. His talk was so amazing and just what Sister Mortensen and I needed to hear. It makes me so excited for conference. We want to write the 'forget-me-nots' and put them up on our quote wall. We have a wall devoted to good things from the scriptures and prophets that lift us up and make us feel better...and some of the really funny things we say..:)

This week Sister Mortensen and I started playing a game while we walked around where we would take random things and apply them to Gospel principals..it was really fun you should try it! So we are walking and the trick is, I got to choose hers and she got to choose mine. So I gave her a hubcap..haha yeah it was tough! She thought about it for a while and then finally said "Ok, hubcaps are like sisters on missions...not really necessary...but they make the car look a whole lot better!" We got a good kick out of that!

OH....I almost forgot!! BOYMAN GOT THE PRIESTHOOD! He is now a priest and so excited! He also got his home teaching call and he and his companion went right after church to meet them all and set up appts. Man, seeing it made me so happy. I don't care if I never see another one, just seeing boyman has made up for all the hard parts. Of course its our goal to get lots but...I have loved being a part of Boyman's experience. He is an amazing example to me.

I love you so so so so much mother and I miss you! I think you are amazing!

Well anyways...that's my email from the week...man I hope I don't sound to preachy in these things...I don't mean too....

I hope Zoey starts to like little Red soon...I hope Zoey isn't feeling left out and unloved. Give her a pet and some love for me...don't worry Zoe I still love you more!!

LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!!!

loves hugs and kisses

love. sister bailey your favorite missionary in the whole world...and favorite child....hahah just kidding!! LOVE YOU!

September 13, 2011 Letter

Dear Most Smartest, prettiest, funniest, happiest, most beautiful smiled Mother ever!

Hi mom. So excuse my email because for some reason I am being retarted at typing! I cant believe Sister Love is on her last transfer! i thought she had only been out 6 months when I came out. How weird. Well that is strange but fun! I am sure they are all excited to see her! Time goes by so quickly! It really is weird. I am almost to my half way mark and it really freaks me out. I dont know why but I think time goes faster when you are on a mission. I feel like I just left you! Then I look at our family picture and I realize wow it has been 8 months since I have seen my mom and dad. Or heard my mom laugh. Or heard annas sassy responses and adorable I love you too muches. Or heard Tater tot call me keke. Man its strange. I miss it all so much but I am so glad to be here. I dont understand at all how the Lord works. I feel like everything has been intensified on my mission! My testimony is alot more intense. Its like it burns inside me! I hate that people cant see how important it is. People just blow it off likes its nothing and I just want to hit them upside the head and say "cant you see this isnt nothing its everything!" Its sad. I just know so deeply that this church is true. It makes up everything of who I am. I want everyone to have this happiness and not everyone wants it. How sad for them huh? I am lucky that you taught me mom. That you lived the gospel everday of your life so that I could have it. I cant tell you how grateful I am to you and dad for that. Its the best thing in the world that you could have ever given me.

As for my glasses...I like them! Haha they are totally fake and stolen from a companion who left them when she left. But I think they make me look smarter and I get so many compliments when I wear them. Its kinda funny! Im a total poser. But they went really well with that outfit right?! That picture makes me so happy~! I have it glued and taped into my journal to always remember. That was a happy day.

I am so sad for Lauren! Is she super bummed? What is she doing about cheer? When did she find out? That is so sad. its a good thing she is tough! She is so cute and such a hard worker and just all around amazing I know that it wont set her back to long! And hey this can just give her more motivation to try out next year so she can get back the 5 months she didnt get this year! And then I can see her! Yay! I bet she is the cutest cheerleader ever.

I cant believe you yeilded to the dog! We have 2 dogs now. I never thought that would happen! Haha that is a cute name though little red. Man everything changes! Why cant it all stay the same? That is fun for McKay. He really does get whatever he wants. Its the problem when you are just that cute! Man its ridiculous how cute he is! How can you say no for long. Plus he is persisntant as the day is long! Good gravy! I am glad to hear his photo business is doing so well! I bet he is crazy busy! How does he get these all developed? Costco? Or does he just give them a Disc? How much does he charge? Is he making good money?

I miss my cute tyson. Can you tell him to stop growing for me? How tall is the kid now? He is so cute! He does everything so amazingly. It makes me jealous sometimes :) I love him lots.

Ok I laughed so hard at the Anna story! That is pretty dang funny! I can totally see her doing that! she is too smart for her own good! oh my gosh. How funny. She is too cute! I miss her! Peyton is adorable as well. Isnt she turning into a little sassy thing! Man they better w atch out! She is so cute!

I have a good family. Yall keep me laughing. I just love everyone!

Well down here it cooled off for one whole week!!! But we are 1 day from tying the record of most 100+ days in a summer. The current record is 69 and yes we are sitting at 68. Can you believe that 68 freaking days of 100+ heat! Lands it is awful! We are supposed to get some more 100 days this week so hopefully we will break it.I have to have one thing to brag about since we lost the consecutive day record by 1 day! 1 stinking day...man....that will make a girl bitter.

As for investigators....well Boyman who isnt an investigator anymore is still amazing! He even came to help clean up the church building the other day because "thats what we do" he is amazing. He is going to be translated someday I swear.

We met with JW this saturday. It went really well. He is excited to learn more and he said he would be baptized. That is always good! I think he really wants to know. I like people like that.

Gracious had us over for the first lesson and it went great. She has lots of questions and I think it might have to go slow for her. She used to be islamic...so she has to meet with President Sagers. We arent allowed to teach them with out him interviewing them first. Mostly because her family is still active and they dont take to kindly to them learning about this stuff so they could kill her..or us...no biggie right?! Haha speaking of I am glad we made it through 9-11 i was a little worried that something might happen but only because people made it sound like it might.

Anyways we got a new investigator named Irish. He is dating a member and her brother called us last night the conversation went as follows:

" Hey my sister has a friend...well I think they are dating but I dont know...and he wants to learn more about the church so could you come teach him tonight?" Us: " Tonight?!" Brother" Yeah tonight does that work?" US: "Umm heck yes it does!!! What time?" Brother:"does 7:30 work" US: " Yes yes it does!!!" Hang up phone do party dance and be happy!

So we taught him and he has such a strong desire to be better and he feels like this is really going to help him. It was pretty awesome!

Sister Mortensen and I get along pretty good still! She is alot of fun. Its crazy! oh did I tell you we are teaching all the youth the 5 missionary discussions. The stake president here asked all the full time missionaries to teach the youth and to treat them like investigators. It seems like a neat idea. So we taught some of them this week and it went really well. The family is less active and I feel like it was beneficial for them all. It was neat. I think we will see alot of really good things come from this.

Oh so in sister Baileys Creative Corner (Jarelle do not post this stuff on the internet it is only for the families entertainment!!...(JaRelle's note: I got special mommy permission to post it anyway. It's too cute NOT to share and everyone who knows Kiley will totally hear her voice in this and get a good laugh :) )

So lately I have been hearing the follow the prophet song and I thought to myself how lame is it that there isnt any for the book of mormon prophets! SOOOO....I wrote some!!! hahaha yeah I know Im a loser but here they are:

Follow the Propeht BOM Style!

*Sung to the tune of Follow the prophet*

Ok start off with Nephi of course!

Nephi was a prophet

He got beat alot

traveling with his family

the promised land they sought

Nephi Served the lord

He said he'd "Go and Do"

Faithful and Obedient

In all things was true

Ok the ending might need some work....but anyways I came up with a good one for Abinidi!

Ok here it is:

Abinidi was a prophet

he taught what was right

made the priests all angry

so they sought his life

Abinidi kept on preaching

more than they could take

So they tied him up

and burned him at the stake

Is that alittle too intense? hahaha well I kinda have one for Alma but its still in the works heres the rough draft:

Alma was a prophet

against the church he fought

til he met an angel

who told him he must stop

Alma turned around

repented every day

He served all Gods Children

taught them all His ways

haha ok so clearly I wasnt paying as much attention during sacrament meeting as I should but hey dont you think we can make alot of money of these? No not really...but hey they at least made you laugh right? I am trying to think up a good one for Captain Moroni mom. So far all I have is:

Moroni was a prophet

the wicked made him mad

so he rent his cloak

the only one he had........I dont think thats very good though...haha mostly its really lame! And moroni wasnt lame so he cant have a lame song right?

I was thinking we could even get the stipling warriors in on it

The stripling warriors were not prophets

but they were super bad!

killing all the bad guys

to protect their dads

They knew who to trust in

thanks to all their moms

Not a thing could kill them

not even atom bombs

Is the ending a little rough? Well I made it up ont he spot right now so I guess I will work on it. Anyways I hope you have the best week in the whole wide world! I think I really have something with these little songs...I dont know....I will give it some more thought

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!!!!!!!

loves loves hugs kisses

love you so so so so so so so so so much mom!

love. Sister bailey

September 20, 2011 Letter

Dear Most Amazing, splendid, wonderful, perfect mother ever,

Wow I cant believe I have a new bishop! that is just crazy! And even more crazy is it being my dad! I like who dad is too. He is so funny and so much fun! I always tell everyone fun stories about Dad.

Well I am glad to hear that Laurens surgery went well. She is a tough kid! I cant believe her bones broke a screw!! Thats ridiculous! I think the screw would probably break my bones! She is so tough! I hope that it heals up fast. Does she have a cast or anything?

I am really praying for Grandma Edith. I dont know why but I have been so worried for her since your last email. I guess I just didnt like the way it sounded. I know that she w ill be ok though! Heaven cant handle Grandma Edith just yet. They need to do some more preparing! She is amazing. I love her lots~! I think maybe I will write her a letter today to tell her just how much I love her!

Well lets see whats crazy going on here? The other day I was going to the bathroom and I was singing some songs all relaxed and happy like and as I came out of the bathroom Sister Mortensen jumped out of closet at me and yelled boo I was scared so bad I hit her right in the forehead! I didnt even feel bad for it! Now everytime I go to the bathroom I have to make sure I know where she is before I wash my hands because I am so scared of her jumping out to scare me! What a poop right?

Also Irish man is doing really well! He came to church this week and we taught him the POS. He really liked it and he had been reading and praying. He is currently praying about what day he wants to get baptized!

Also Boyman is getting the priesthood this week and a calling! He is going to be a ward missionary but keep it on the DL Til its official like! He was so excited he ran up to tell us and parker and we had to go outside so he could jump up and scream! He is so amazing! He went with the singles to Houston this weekend to go to the peanut butter factory and apparantly he bore his testimony on the way down and when they got there he went and got a bunch of people gathered them into a room and told them his conversion story. He is amazing! Man I love that kid! We were teasing him about writing a book titled from RC to RM. I asked if I could be in it and he said yes I would get the part of Sister girlwoman. Can you tell he really loves the nickname I gave him in the emails?

Oh funny story a girl in our ward is going on a mission. She gave her talk this week and she wanted to use the quote by Pres. Hinckley about Sisters and missions. So she typed it into google and guess what came up? My blog! She looked at it and was like this cant be her it looks nothing like her but it said Sister Bailey in Fortworth Texas and she was like it must be her! That was pretty funny!

Man I cant think of any other crazy things going on here. I went to a leadership training this past week and it was really good. President Sagers is amazing. I am really grateful to have him as my mission president.

So I need you to send me an insurance card. I need to go to the Drs. to have my thyroid checked because I have been having a little difficulty and we cant use the missions insurance because its a "preexisting condition." so the sooner I can get that the better. But whenever you can send it is good.

And dont worry I am safe mother! Just remember what Pres. Harbertson said in my setting apart! We have no need to fear. I dont know why I tell you these things...actually I do I think they are funny but I forget that they might freak you out. Trust me the odds of me being killed by some crazy radicals is slim to none and slim is riding out of town! So we are good!

Im glad you liked the songs. I thought they were pretty funny! They make me laugh...but Abinidi burning is too much. Well dang I liked that part. I will figure out a way to fix it. Im still working on your Captain Moroni one. :)

ps who are dads counselors? I have been curious about that.

Well Madre I got nothing else. My life is pretty boring. Well except for the excitment of teaching the gospel everyday! And bringing people eternal salvation! Nothing boring about that. I found a cool scripture the other day. Well actually someone read it in sacrament meeting. Its D&C 31:5-6 I really like it. It brings me alot of peace about my family. Its a good one! Take a picture of dad in his Uof U shirt! That stinks he has to wear that ugly shirt! YUCK!!!! Ute red...its nasty!

Well I love you lots and lots and lots! I think you are amazing and I am lucky to have you. Tell everyone else in the fam that i love them. Give the dogs both light pats on the head for me...haha I cant believe you have 2 dogs! Does Red shed? Hey that rhymes! Im a mad rapper still!

Well keep me updated on everyone. I love you lots and lots!!

Loves hugs and kisses

love. Sister bailey

September 6, 2011 letter

Dear most fabulous, amazing, pretty, smartest, most spiritual, patient, wonderfullest mother in the whole big wide ginormus world--scratch that, universe!

Wow, it sounds like you had a pretty great week. I won't lie, I was a little bit bitter about you and Dad being out of town. That was lame. It was one of the weeks I really wanted to talk to Dad and where is he....propelling down cliffs! Lame sauce! But I am glad that you had fun and that you were both safe. Good thing Dave didn't drag you all the way up that big cliff! It was smart of you not to go. I wouldn't have either. That would have been terrifying! You are a smart lady mom! I cant believe you caught 6 fish! Man that is enough to feed our family...if Dave and McKay don't eat! You are truly amazing mother. I am so glad I have you!

Well it has been a good week. My new companion's name is Sister Mortensen. She is half black...yeah, I have a black daughter. She asked me if I was happy to have a black daughter this morning...I laughed and said yes, she is so lame! But I love her. She makes me laugh so much! Man she is funny. We have a lot of fun together. She is pretty easy-going and we can both just be ourselves around each other--it's so nice. It has been so nice to get away from the tension for a bit. The tension was kinda mounting last transfer between S. Brewer and S. Watts. Wheew...but they were great and we did have fun! But so far this transfer I feel so good. Like a missionary should. S. Mortensen has so many good ideas and she is so excited. We walked around all day last Friday and Saturday. It felt good! Oh funny story so...When people ask S. Mortensen how long she has been out she likes to make them guess. Some have guessed over a year but the average seems to be about 6 months. She always laughs and says, "More like 4 days!" But one time she had someone guess and they said, "Your new, I can tell you are all happy and excited. You haven't had the world beat you down yet." They all laughed and I was like, huh I want to get in on this! So I asked how long they thought I had been out she said, "You're old. You look tired and worn." MEAN HUH?!?! We all laughed though. It was pretty funny. I don't think I look old. I am still a spring chick! It was funny though.

Sister Mortensen's first night was a little sad. She lost her family pictures, her journal, and another notebook. Plus, I am sure she was so nervous and homesick and just scared. She was so sad and I could tell she was crying, but I had no idea what to say or do. All I could do was pray for her. I felt awful because I totally remember how that is. It stinks. But she has been good since and she did find her notebook and pictures! So that is good. I think she is an amazing missionary though. I really do learn a lot from her. I am so grateful. I thought I was going to get a missionary who would never talk and was so scared and shy and I was going to have to do all the talking. That would have been bad. But she is so brave. She talks and does so great! Tracting is not her favorite, but she does it! She is getting good at it. It's fun afterwards. She's always like, "Man I need to do this better. I need to change this." She self corrects. I need to learn to be better at that and then she works on doing it. I am lucky to have her.

For JaRelle: She is from Pleasant Grove Utah! Yay for Utah!! She played volleyball in High School and college. She loves it a lot! She graduated from Eastern Washington in Social Work. Is that good? She is one of six. All of her brother and sisters are adopted. She sounds like she has a neat family. And she is just pretty dang awesome!

We are working on getting some new investigators! Tonight we have an appointment with a referral named....umm...gracious...yeah that one...ok, well we got a media referral for Gracious for a DVD and Book or Mormon. We went to drop it off and she opened the door and graciously invited us in (get where I got her name from? Clever yeah?) We talked to her for a second and she is actually married to a member and has a brother-in-law serving a mission! She is so getting baptized!!!! We set a return appointment for tonight. We are way excited! It is going to be so good!

We had the singles drop another golden investigator in our lap on Sunday. His name is JW (pronounced Jdub). He used to be a Jehovah's Witness, but he hasn't practiced in a while. He came to church with someone on Sunday, talked to us, and set up an appointment for Saturday. He was pretty excited. The member told us he liked church and they had a good conversation on the way home. That is pretty sweet. We are excited for him. Oh the joys of finding people to teach!

Umm other than that I can't think of anything too crazy. Life is good in the mission field!

I hope that everything keeps going good for everyone. No worries, you are in my prayers..alot! Send me a picture of cute Lauren in her cheer uniform. I want to see it! And lots of cute pictures of everyone. I love showing y'all off.

I love you so much mom! You are amazing! The best mother ever. I dont know what I did to get you, but I am sure glad I did it! I love you and dad both. I really do believe I have the best parents in the world! God really blessed me with my family!

I love, love, love you!!

loves loves kisses hugs,

love. Sister Bailey