Nomember 21, 2011 Letter

Dear Most wonderful, beautiful, happy, fun, loving perfect favorite mother,

Hi mom! I can't believe I am old too! It's a little weird. I mean the big 22..I am practically ancient now! haha. I'm excited for my birthday though. It will be fun. We all know how much I love my birthday. I really can't believe it's almost my birthday though. Time has gone so fast. I don't feel like it should be my birthday month let alone my birthday week! Weird how time does that.

I am glad that everyone is doing so good. Except Suz...stinks to be her. That's no fun being grounded... except when you get to spend all your time with mom and dad. Then it's lots of fun because you two are a PARTY!!! Aint no party like a mom and dad party! You party all the way till 9:30 woot woot!!! Can I get a holla!!! :)

McKay needs a girlfriend? No he doesn't. He needs to stay single so he doesn't get married before I get home. Tell him school is his girlfriend. That is a good girlfriend. And tell him if he is bored of doing his school work, he can register as me and do some school work for me. If he could finish up my associates that would be great! bleh school....

I am not surprised to hear Tyson is doing so good. He is such a smart kid! He is the little golden child. It's a good thing he came last or y'all would have just stopped with him. Who needs more when you already have a perfect one?! So I think we all forced him to go last. And Tosha to go first because she was pretty close to being perfect and the rest of us naughty ones came in the middle! :) Sorry Dave Mckay and Lauren but we all know it's true. :)

Well for transfers....I am going to Denton. It is pretty crazy. I am sad to be leaving. It's hard when I feel like I am finally really getting to know the area, I'm getting comfrotable and then bam I am transferred. I had a feeling I was leaving but I wanted to ignore it. I hoped I was wrong. I am sad to be leaving Sister Mortensen. We have had so much fun together. She has been a great companion and she is a great missionary. She is going to be awesome. Her new companion is Sister Byington, one of the sisters I came out with. So that's fun and I am going up to be with Sister Byingtons companion Sister Lounsberry. I don't know much about her except that she doesn't talk. So that's exciting....good thing I can talk the ear off of just about anyone and anything. I don't have my address yet, but I will send it to you in my next email. If there are any letters you want to send or anything this week just send them to the mission office.

It's crazy its actually starting to get cold here. I have forgotten what cold feels like with all the heat we have had! But it feels so good! I am loving it.

We have had a lot of miracles this week. It has been so fun. We found a new investigator named boyfriend. Boyfriend is really sincere and he is awesome. It was funny because when we first went to teach him (his girlfriend called us and asked us to come teach him because he has lots of questions), so when we got in there we started teaching and he was quiet and really not into it. Finally he stops us and is like, "I just want to know what church is like." We were like, "Oh ok." So we taught him about church and he started to open up and tell us about stuff, it was really good. We ended up having a really good lesson and at the end he told us that he was sorry about the beginning. He was pouting because he had sisters coming over and he didn't want sisters, he wanted the boy missionaries. So he was upset. But by the end, we had won him over!! We jokingly said as we left, "Sorry your stuck with us and not the boys," and he said, "Oh I don't want the boys anymore; I like having the girls." yeah!! Sisters are great; we can win over anybody! Ok thats a little cocky sounding. There are some people that no one can win over! But it was fun. He is going to do great. He is really sincere and really has a desire to learn. Sister Mortensen and Sister Byington are going to totally baptize him!

We also had a great youth lesson. Have I told you that we are teaching all the youth in our ward the missionary lessons? Well we are, and we have been teaching this family and one of the daughters has been pretty silent during our lessons. Then the last lesson she started to open up and then the lesson we just barley had, she really opened up. She was making all these great comments. It was so awesome to see. She was so different; it was neat. It really made our day.

So many other things happened this week. But thats pretty much the favorites...the grapes if you will; everything else is just cherry.

I love you so much mom! And have fun down in St. George this week. That is super fun. I would be jealous, but you know I'm doing missionary work so....it's pretty bomb. You cant beat it! I love you so so much mom! I think you are truly the best mother in the world! I love you more than you can know!! Have a fun week and be safe!

loves loves hugs and kisses

love. sister bailey

November 14, 2011 Letter

Dear Beautiful, amazing, talented, smart, hard working, exceptional mother,

Hi mom! Well that is exciting and crazy you are going to work! That is strange! But I am excited for you. You are amazing! They are lucky to have such a hard worker. I wish I could be more like you sometimes. I tell people all the time that if it wasn't for us holding you down, you would be translated! The other day we made cookies for someone and we gave some of them to this kid in the singles ward who is REALLY struggling. He ate all of them and didnt give a single one to his little brother! He said they were amazing and I said you can thank my mother for that! She has had me baking cookies since I was 12! He says thank you to you mother.

That is so crazy that Kenzie is already home! That went so fast! Holy cow. I feel like she just barley left. Things seem to go so much faster on the mission. Another transfer is already almost over. Transfers are next week! I am a little nervous that I might be transfered. But I know they Lord is pretty smart and he always does what's best for me. So just like Hyrum says in the Joseph Smith movie, "Whatever happens, the Lord is in it." Yes, I know it's sad I can now quote that movie. I also do a pretty decent reenactment of The Testaments. I know y'all are all jealous! But eliminate every other movie in the world and you would have them memorized too! We watched this video during lunch one time to see if we could use it, it's called "Heavenly Father's Plan" OH MY GOODNESS! I have never laughed so hard. Look it up; you will love it! That is if you havent already seen it. Its pretty awesome so you probably have. It's Sister Mortensens favorite movie. I told her it's a close second to The Rainbow one for me. Nothing will ever top that song. I really need to see the movie. But it will have to wait.

Lets see, they asked Manilla to pray in sacrament meeting yesterday. She was so cute! Afterwards she said, "My heart is beating so hard!" Picture that in a cute Phillipino accent and you will understand what I mean by she is cute. I love her.

Did you get my letter? It had my camera sim card in it, so I sure hope you did! At the end of my sim card, I left a little something for you. It's kinda lame but oh well.

So life has been a little lame this week. I don't have anything really exciting to tell you. I am glad to hear that everyone is doing so good! Lauren sounds like a teenager and it weirds me out! I met this little kid named Cody yesterday and he is 10 just like Tyson. He made me miss Tyson so much! It was ridiculous! When we asked him what he wanted for Christmas he said an i-phone. When we asked what else he wanted he said an i-pad and then a laptop! Eek I am glad I am not buying his presents! But it made me think of little Ty By. I have a feeling "little Ty by" isnt so little anymore? Is he getting taller? I hope not. He needs to stay small always.

Lets see, we are teaching a family now. It is fun! We can call them, "the whole fam...insert dads rhyming word." Ok that's a long name how about just "the fam". Well the fam is made up of a mom, dad, 2 daughters, and a son. They are great! They are super funny! They are all there when we teach and they are all so into it! When we asked them to read the Book of Mormon the mom was like, "You're going to have to give me a week to read all of this; I have 3 kids." We thought that was awesome. As we were leaving, the little girl grabbed a Book of Mormon and just started reading it. It was amazing! We loved it. But then the epidemic of the century hit. Literally everyone in Texas is sick! I almost murdered my companion because of it. So you know how dad sounds when he sleeps without his cpap? Yeah, that was my life for the last couple weeks! I almost smothered her in her sleep! I was so tired. I would wake up all the time and stay awake for hours. I finally bought ear plugs last week. They are helping significantly and my love for my companion is returning. :) It has been so hard teaching people because everyone either has a virus or strep. All of our appts. have fallen through because of it. Thank you Satan! He is cruel. But we always win.

Well, I dont have anything more exciting to say! Just that I love you and you should go check out Mormon.org. They have some awesome profiles but there is a really cute thanksgiving Mormon message called "The Spirit of Thanksgiving." We have been showing it to everyone lately. I really love it. So you should go watch it. Maybe have dad help you find it! :) I bet you are becoming so computer literate in your new job! I am going to come home and you are going to know how to work a computer better than I do!

Well mother, I love you with all my heart and I am so glad that you are mine! Thanks so much for all your support and everything you do for me. It means so much to me I can't even tell you. I feel so happy to have you. You and dad and the rest of the fam are at the very top of my thank you list to Heavenly Father.

P.S. have you ever done a grateful prayer? It is super neat. You spend the whole prayer giving thanks and not asking for a single thing. I did one for the first time the other night and it gave me such a great feeling. I realized how much our Heavenly Father has really given us! It is amazing when we stop and realize. So I want to challenge the whole family to give a thank-you prayer during the month of November. It is amazing how much we have to be thankful for!

I love you all so very very much! I hope you have the best week ever! I love you!!!!

loves hugs and kisses
love. sister bailey

November 8, 2011 Letter

Dear most forgiving, loving, amazing, talented, awe inspiring, Christlike, spiritual, perfect Mother in the whole wide world!

Hi mom.....Your busy is very exciting to me. I love hearing about things in the family. I feel so out of the loop all the time. So even if it seems boring to you its not boring to me.

Ok things in your email. I did know Tyler Bone was in my mission I have seen him a couple of times. I met his son who is awesome and his grandson is currently training as well! He is a great missionary. Every time I see Tyler Bone I think of working with him though...not fond memories. Hahaha. Also, I can't believe Lauren went on her first date! That is crazy! And I am also a bit upset they dressed up as the Red Sox, I mean really?! Hello, it's all about the Texas Rangers!! I don't think I approve of the kid who decided this. So she shouldn't date him again. Lame-o!

When did this happen to your ankle? That is no good. I am sorry. I wish I could be more help but the only good I can do you is in my prayers. It's hard to be a helper when I am so far away. I am worried about Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Edith. I don't like hearing news about them being sick or anything. I have been keeping them in my prayers always. They aren't allowed to have anything happen to them!

What's going on with Tater Tot lately? I haven't heard anything about him in a while. How is he doing? How is school? Is he still doing good in his photography business? Tell him to send me some Christmas music please! We need it. You can only listen to a CD for a whole week so many times.

I got your birthday package today. I will try my hardest to wait. It's hard though! They are very tempting. And will you whack Brother Dickamore for me? He is giving me a hard time in his emails! Saying I have 4 birthdays a year...please, we all know its more like 6! I can't help it. I'm so great the world needs to celebrate my birth multiple times! :)

So news for the week: Manilla was baptized on Saturday! It was amazing! She stood up and bore her testimony after the service. It was so good and the spirit was so strong. Everyone really enjoyed hearing it.

We went tracting yesterday and we met a very nice man who didn't think very nice things about us! It was Sister Mortensen's first time with the hard anti. I congratulated her on becoming a true southern missionary. He was not very nice at all. He said we were deceived and he felt bad for us. But he did say we Mormons were the kindest, most christian-like people he had ever met. It was just such a shame that we don't believe in Christ and that we were going to pay for it. He feels sad that we are all going to rot in...well you know where. But on the bright side, he is praying for us! Praying that the Lord will touch our hearts and open our eyes so we won't be deceived anymore. Sister Mortensen was super mad at him. We just bore our testimonies because that's all you can do. We kept trying to leave but he wouldn't let us. It's super hard to get away from those people. Goodness. I had to sing Come Come Ye Saints in my head a couple times to keep from laughing. It was ridiculous. I laughed for a little bit afterwards. I did tell him that the Book of Mormon was either true or false he had a 50/50 chance and if he read it, he could know. But he said, "Honey I can know 100 percent that its false already. There is only 2 ways Joseph Smith could have wrote that book, either he was drug induced, or demonically lead." No chance that God could have helped him I guess. It's weird how experiences like that can actually strengthen your testimony. And then going to the temple today I just know this church is true. And people can say whatever they want, but I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. That Christ is at the head of this church, and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. We are so blessed to have this Church. It is true. And I'm grateful to have such amazing parents who taught me the truth and showed me how to live my life so that I can always be happy. You two are the best examples to me and I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you. Thanks so much for teaching me the truth. And for living worthy and true to the covenants you have made so I could have the blessings in my life as well.

I love you so very much mother. I love you lots and lots.

Loves hugs and kisses for always

love. sister bailey

October 31, 2011 Letter

Dear most amazing, fun, pretty, forgiving, christ like mother!

So lame email mother. That was like nothing! I guess it's your payback for me playing mean jokes on you. Sorry, I really should be a better daughter. Sometimes I am still Kiley and not Sister Bailey so I play jokes. Like the other night (I am giggling as I type this to you) Sister Mortensen went to take a shower so I pulled her sheet up and tucked it into the top of her bed then I folded it in half so it looked all normal and then made her bed. When she came out, she was like, "Did you make my bed?" I was like, "Uh no..." and she was like, "You are so nice! So she goes out to say her prayers and I pray and I am trying my hardest not to giggle! And then we have companionship prayer. And right before it, she folds down her covers (I was worried for a second because sometimes she doesn't get under her sheets, but then when she folded it down I knew she was going to get in her sheet.) So I start praying and then I bust up laughing! And she looks at me and is like, "What? What is so funny?" I told her nothing. We finish praying and I climb into bed and she stands up and climbs into bed and she can't get her legs to go down. She was like what the heck?! And then I started laughing so hard! I laughed for like 5 minutes and she gave me the nastiest look. I short sheeted her! It was so funny! She didn't think it was as funny as I did. I still laugh about it. Oh man...it was funny. I am a mean companion. And a mean daughter...sorry!

So Manilla is getting baptized this week! We are super excited about that. Sister Mortensen is slightly stressed out about it all. But it is going to be great! All that matters is the baptism and then the confirmation. And the Holy Ghost will be there and make it perfect. It has been really fun teaching Manilla though. I am so excited for her to get baptized.

We have a district meeting tonight because our district leader has to keep tabs on everyone and make sure we have a place to be for every hour of the night. So rather than do that he just decided we would have a district meeting. I'm excited, it should be fun.

Ummm lets see what else...oh, we went to this BYU football devotional they had the night before they got creamed by TCU. Don't mess with Texas! And I got to see Brian! It was so fun to see him! He didn't even know I was out on a mission. That was pretty funny. But he talked with our investigator for a little bit. It was really neat. Our investigator loved it.

We also had interviews with president this week. That was good...I almost didn't pass...just kidding! President Sagers is amazing and I always love when we get to be around him.

Some sad news this week....it really broke my heart...the Texas Rangers lost the world series in the last game...moment of silence...it was a sad day in Texas.

Other than that, nothing too crazy is going on. We are going to the temple next week, so I won't be emailing until Tuesday. We have to switch our preparation days so we can go. But I don't care I am so excited for it! I have so missed the temple.
Well Mother, I love you so so very much! You are the best mother in the whole wide world and I would hate life if I didn't have you!

loves hugs and kisses,
love. sister bailey

October 24, 2011 Letter

Dear Wonderful, incredible, lovely, smartest, funnest, best teacher, Mother,

Don't stress about saying Kiley. Sometimes it's nice to hear. Somedays you feel like you are losing your identity. It's gotten so bad that even when I tell stories from the past I say "sister bailey" in them. Sister Mortensen always gives me a hard time. She says "there is no way your dad called you sister bailey!" Oops...haha. So I'm a loser sometimes...what can you do?

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing good! I am so glad Tyson won state cup!! He is amazing! How fun! I can't believe he assisted in the only goal! Way to be Tyson. He is such a good athlete..it's disgusting! He's the little perfect child...good at sports, freaking genius. It's ridiculous! He needs to stop being so good so the rest of us kids stop looking so bad!

That is weird that Suz is driving. I don't think I like that at all. It really weirds me out. Did you get to paint her room? How did she like it? What did she think when she walked in? Did she know it was going to happen? Did you get her surprise party like she wanted? Shes so funny. What car is Suz driving? Still McKay's jeep? And if that's the case, what car is Tater-Tot driving? I feel like so much goes on back home and I am so out of the loop. Oh well, it happens. Some day I will be back inside the loop.

What is Tater Tot up to these days? Is he still interning with Brother Thomas? (Is that the right name? For some reason I am totally blanking on his name) Or was that just a one time thing? He is so talented. It's awesome. How is school going? Does he know what he wants to major in yet? Sorry I have so many questions for you.

So funny story. Last night I had this dream that this guy came up to me and put this little snake in my hand and then very rudely said to me, "Look, will you just bless my snake?!" Then the snake started like moving its head towards me...it was disgusting and awful. So I threw it onto the counter and I turned to him and I said, " Look, I dont even have the power to bless your snake, and second, I hate snakes so I hope it dies!" Unfortunately someone else did some research and cured the snake. It was awful. I hate snakes. So that's my random story for you! I guess I should stop teasing people about me having the priesthood because now my dream people are asking me to bless snakes. That's no bueno.

Fun story as well, one of our investigators, Homeboy, had planned on coming to church this week and was really excited. Well Sunday morning we get a text from the kid who was supposed to be picking him up and he said that Homeboy would not be able to make it because the storm had blown in his window (side note: here in Texas storms are crazy!!! The Thunder is so loud McKay would die! He would be very scared. He would most certainly be sleeping with you and dad mom). We were super bummed! It's the worst when they don't come to church like they say they will. Well as Sacrament meeting is starting, Tall man (the kid who was supposed to pick up Homeboy) comes up behind us and says, "Homeboy just called. He said he can come to church so I am going to get him." We were so excited! So in the end, Homeboy came to church and he had a good experience. Moral of the story..the Lord can do anything! It was awesome to see him there. The Lord was really watching out for us yesterday! I know He loves His missionaries. Yep good stuff.

Umm other good stories...oh I know!~ So Saturday night we had this family give us a big chocolate hospital...I don't know why, but people keep giving us a lot of candy! So we decided we would be nice and share half of the chocolate hospital with the elders who live right next to us. So we call them and tell them, and on their way home they stop by to grab it. While we were talking to them, we were standing inside our doorway and they of course were outside of it, and all of a sudden one of the elders goes, "Look how big that cockroach is!" So Sister Mortensen and I lean our heads out to look at it and all of a sudden it takes off and starts flying towards us! We both screamed (I might have screamed louder than Sister Mortensen) and she runs into the apartment and I run outside of it. I ran smack dab into the Elder. I was moving so fast and so hard I actually pushed him into the railing. We (sister mortensen and I) are still freaking out because she thinks it's in her hair and I think it's in our house. When all of a sudden the elder rips this bag of candy (not the hospital another bag of candy someone gave us) out of my hands and says "there it is" He then chucks the candy at the cockroach. It missed and the cockroach scuttled off the side of the ledge. It was so funny! We were all laughing so hard. Oh man! Im just glad it didnt go inside because I would not have gone in there to get it! That thing was HUGE!!! Ohh that was funny!

So also I need to do something to ugly up Sister Mortensen. She had 3 guys hit on her in one day! One of them said she smiled nice and she was like what? I smell nice? He had an accent...it was funny. Then the next one actually cussed us out before hitting on her. So we stop by this less-active's house and there is a guy outside (it is 8:15 at night) mowing the lawn with a headlamp on his head. It was an electric mower so he had the big extension cord going. But it got caught on the cars tires. He had a friend outside with him but when we walked up the friend went inside to see if the lady would talk to us. So we are standing out there when the lawn mower yells, "I need more slack." We were like umm ok...we can help. So Sister Mortensen goes to move it and I say, "I think your stuck on the tires." he yells back that he knows that and he needs more slack still! Sister Mortensen is like what do you want me to do with this? We are both confused--there was no more slack to give him. When he all of a sudden, he yells at us and starts swearing (not missionary appropriate words) and comes over and yanks the cord out of Sister Mortensens hands and starts moving it. It is at this moment that he realizes who we are. He felt so bad! He was like, "Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were my friends." We were like umm..nope! We are the missionaries. Later that night he was like I'm going to burn for that for sure! We thought that was kinda funny. But then he made up for cussing us out by telling Sister Mortensen she has soft hands. It was funny! The joys of being a missionary. You meet all kinds of people. Luckily, as sisters we don't get cussed out much. Just hit on. I think I would prefer the cuss words. Some guys are just nasty!

Oh I got my results back. He said the dose was good. Which is good because at least he didn't say it was to high and make me go down. But there was some weird note on there about one of my things being eleveated...and chronic kidney disease...I don't know. I don't think it means anything! I will send them to you though. Other than that, life's good!

Oh I wanted to give you a heads up..even though its like a month early! So my birthday is the day after transfers...so If I end up leaving here and my package comes the day before or anything I will not be getting anything for my birthday until after Christmas. No that is presuming you are even getting me anything for my birthday. So if you do decide you want to gift me for my birthday you might want to send the package earlier. Just thought I would throw that out there. Just in case you decide you want to send me something...its completely up to you. :)

I dont think I have much else to say today. I am kinda lame this week. I am glad to hear that everyone is doing so well! I keep you all in my prayers...a lot! I love you so much mother! I think you are amazing! Im so glad Heavenly Father let me have you as my mom! I love you and everyone else too!! Love love love you!!

loves hugs and kisses,

love.sister bailey