July 11, 2011 Pictures

Some Pictures!! So first Sister Crossan and I had a "girls night." We did pore strips and watched The District...Elder Moreno....haha just kidding, but we did really do pore strips, watch Elder Moreno, and eat pop corn and milk duds. We did all this at 9:45 after we finished planning for the night. It was fun.

Then we have Alitas wedding. That is Sister Alita OWENS and Brother Owens. She looked pretty huh? We were happy.

Third, we have Sister Crossan and I...we may have joined with Brother Owens daughters in decorating their car....we made it look really cute! It was pretty fun...rebel for life over here, rebel for life!

I love y'all!!!

July 11, 2011 Letter

Dear Most Fantastic, Splendiferous, Wonderful, Caring, Best Mom in the Whole Wide Universe!!

(yeah its universe now because I am pretty sure you are better then the moms on all the worlds--not just this one!)

I don't know why, but for some reason missionaries here really like deep doctrine...I hate it...it makes me think, and I don't understand any of it. Yuck. But that's where the moms on other worlds comes from--missionaries talk about it a lot. I have heard many things I don't like. Haha, sorry this was all really random.

I am so excited for Lauren!! Oh my gosh, that is the best news ever! She is going to love it. And true, it's no Texas...and Fort Worth Texas is the best place in the world! But she will still like New Jersey. I am so excited! When does she leave?

I am sorry that everyone left. That is no fun. I hate it when everyone leaves...well actually I don't hate it too much right now because I like knowing y'all arent having lots of fun without me! It's no fun knowing everyone is partying it up without you. That is so cute and sad about Anna. She sure does love her Grandma. She is so cute. I really do miss her! I love that little thing. That is fun you get to go visit them in the fall. She is so dang smart! I can't believe she remembers that. Man she is a little genius. I fear for Tosha sometimes!

I am glad that everything went good with Dave. I have been praying for him. It is good that they were able to get it taken care of. He sent me a picture last week..I almost vomitted in the library! It was so gross! He is nasty sometimes.

How is McKay doing in school? Is he still loving it there? How is his photo business going? He is so cute and so talented its disgusting! I really want to see some of his pictures. I am really jealous that y'all had a Harry Potter Marathon....I don't want to hear one thing about the new one coming out this week! I am so jealous! I want to see it so bad. It looked amazing! Well...someday I guess....expect another Harry Potter marathon someday in the future...about a year away...I love Harry Potter.

I am glad Sus had a good time at girls camp. She is so dang cute. I got her letter this week. I love her letters! They are so funny. She is the cutest, funniest girl in the world! They make me miss youth...oh man...I am an old-fogie now! I can't believe she is going into high school. Man that is crazy and scary! She is so pretty--dad better have mutliple bats ready! Especially since she already has so many boys! Goodness, I don't think I have liked and had so many boys like me back in my whole life! This girl has a new one everyweek!

How is my Tyson doing? Man he is the cutest. I bet he looked so cute in his new church clothes! You should take a picture and send it to me. I like pictures too you know!

That is so awesome about the Picketts mom! You are truly amazing! Doing the Lord's work is so wonderful. We watched a talk by Elder Holland--it was the most amazing thing I have ever watched and at the end he said missionary work is forever. Its not just for 2 years or 18 months, but it's forever! You are an example of that. Every member really is a missionary. It takes everyone to do this work. Not just missionaries. We need the ward so bad. You are amazing mom! Keep it up! We are missionaries together! The two Sister Linda K Baileys! I should just send a tag home to you! :) You are the best example ever mom. I really am so grateful to have you as my mother! I am a lucky lucky girl!

Well, here is some news for y'all....good news or bad news first? I guess we can do the bad news....Sadly, Troy and Sarah dropped us this week...I wanted to cry. They said they loved the missionaries and the people, but it's just not for them right now. I think they aren't ready to make the changes yet. It was such a surprise--we had no idea what to say to them. It was a bummer. But you can't force anything on people. Sometimes people use their agency wrongly! I hate that....I wish I could just take agency away sometimes. I wonder how I ended up picking the agency plan. I must not have been very intelligent then!

But the good news is Alita is married!! YAY!!! I am pretty happy about it. I think that she will get baptized pretty soon after this. She just needed to get out of her parent's house. Her dad didn't seem very happy that she was married. But Alita was glowing she looked so happy. It was so fun! So that's my good news.

Well, other than that nothing too crazy has been going on....oh wait I have more good news...I can now die in peace! I am a happy girl. The other day we were out walking and we saw this hispanic guy (this is important--remember that he is hispanic!) Sister Crossan started talking to him. Well, he wasn't interested, but she gave him a card and he looked at it and said, "Oh your mormon," and she said, "Yes." He said, "Thats interesting, I didn't know there were many hispanic people that were mormon." He looked at me when he said that. Sister crossan said, "Yeah, there are lots." and we walked away. As we were walking I asked her if she gave him a card with a hispanic person on it and she said no it was an old couple.....He was talking about me!!!!!! He thought I was hispanic!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, it was the highlight of my life! I smiled the whole rest of the night...well until Troy and Sarah dropped us....but up until then I was the happiest girl. I still feel pretty happy about it! So much for Mexi-can't. I am a straight up Mexican now! I can't wait to tell Sister Quiroz! Thats Right McKay I can tan too!

So well, thats my good news for the week. Other than that, not very eventful...oh we saw someone get arrested. We almost knocked on his door too. Sister Summers and I (we were on exchanges) are 100% certain if we had, it would have been a hostage situation. We were a little sad that we didn't knock on that door first. It would have been a sweet journal entry! It just wasn't meant to be I guess. Sisters never get cool things like that happening to them.

Well today we are going to the Maybourn museum; we are really excited! It's going to be fun! We are going with the Elders and with Catolyn Dine. We have some funny elders here! They are funny! I love our zone. One of the Elders goes home with me...we have forever left and we are surrounded by missionaries who go home in at least 3 months. They all vary but they are all trunky...well not crazy trunky, but they know they are going home. Sister Crossan goes home in a week and a half. It's weird. Kinda hard. I don't like killing--its awful!

Well anyway, life is good in the BMW. I haven't melted yet, but I am getting close. Someone told us that last summer they had 7 days in July that were over 100 this year we have had 26 since June!! It's only the 2nd week of July. Its record breaking down here...how awful for me...happy first summer to me! Plus we have received no rain. It's so dry--everything is dead. I hope we get some rain soon.

Well Momma, I miss you and love you too much!! I think you are amazing!! I love love love you!

Loves, hugs, and kisses,

Love. Sister Bailey

New Pictures!!!

She is so beautiful. :) Below is Kiley's own commentary on the pictures--she described them better than I could have :)

"Yay for Pictures!! Here is a cookie in the shape of Texas..its a cookie (amazing!) and its in the shape of Texas!!! If you could combine the two best things in the world that would be it! Texas is amazing. Nothing like it in the whole world."

"And the other Picture is Elder Nelson he is an AP right now wearing my Jacket....That just speaks for itself."

July 5, 2011

July 5, 2011

Dear most wonderful, fantastic, super, amazing, astonishing, and miraculous most beautiful mother in the whole world!!!

Wow, your week sounds so dang good. I am so jealous. I hate knowing that everyone is together and I am not there. I wish I was so bad! Although I don't miss butchering the trees with dad. I hate cleaning up those branches! By the end there is more being thrown away than there are on the trees! Did he get to the totem pole again? I dont know who lets dad opperate the chain saw...or anything with a blade. He always gets a little crazy with them! There is just no telling what he will do.

Thanks for boosting my self-esteem about my age. It's ok though, everyone says I look young. I get it more and more. I guess I should just be grateful for that. Yes, Sister Crossan is feeling better. It was awful sitting inside. Man that is the worst. It just wasn't worth it. Then did I tell you that I wasn't tired that night because I felt like I had been resting all day long, so I took a benadryl...or two...oh man, I slept like a rock that night! Waking up in the morning was soooo hard! Sister Crossan had taken some too and we were both just lying on our beds. We must have looked like zombies or something! It took a little while to wear off, but we made it through. We were glad it was P-day!

I am so grateful for the temple. It is so amazing! We are so lucky. I am so glad that baby Wes is ours now too! I was so sad I couldn't be there though. I wanted to see it. But it's ok, I guess being a missionary right now is important. Knowing that our family is forever brings me so much peace. I love that knowledge. I feel so lucky to have it! Your right, it does make being seperated bareable. There is a lady in the first ward who has been fighting breast cancer. This past week she was ready to be done. She is supposed to pass away sometime this week. She asked for 3 Books of Mormon to hand out. I was so amazed. So we were able to take them to her and to meet her. She is pretty amazing. She has a son who is currently serving his mission in Chile and another one preparing to go. I can't even imagine how hard this must be on their son who is out. I don't think I would stay I'm sorry to say. It takes a lot of faith. I am sure the knowledge that he will be with his mom forever is the only thing that is keeping him going. That knowledge is so amazing. We are lucky people.

We went on exchange this week and it was a nice break. Sister Hawkes came up from Killeen and spent the day with me. It was really fun! She is a cute girl. And I was happy to have a small break from all the craziness.

We also had interviews this week with President Sagers. I don't know why, but interviews scare me so bad. President Sagers is such a great President but he is a little intimidating. All of us missionaries agree. But he has a way of making me feel better as well. He asked how long I had been down here. I said at the end of the transfer it will be 6 months. He asked if I had bought a house and I said, "Yes, but it's not really furnished yet. I am trying to save up the money on my blue card." He started laughing and said. "Yeah, the funds are a little tight huh?" He asked me if I wanted to stay or go. I told him I don't care! I love it here! But I am excited to find out what else is out there in the mission field. I do love Hewitt though. The people are amazing here. I am lucky! I love the ward. It feels like home. I was looking around yesterday and realized that I could name everyone and their kids except the 2 new families.

Some cool news...we got DVD players!! Yes we now have mini portable DVD players in every missionary apartment. They are to be used during study to watch the Preach My Gospel DVDs and the other DVDs that we pass out. It is crazy. We watched PMG today and it was so fun! I love those DVDs and you really do learn a lot from them. I hope everyone uses them right.

Other than that life here is great! Nothing too crazy is going on! My investigators are crazy, sometimes they are frustrating, sometimes they are amazing. That's just the life of a missionary though. You just have to get used to it. Kinda like the heat...good heavens the heat! I never thought I would miss the cold snow of Utah, but I sure do right now!

Well Mom, I love you soo much!! You are amazing and I think you are the best mom in the whole wide world! I cannot wait to hear where Lauren Hedin is going!! Oh man, I am dying to find out! I am so excited for her. Oh and also I need Fergy Fergs address. Thanks a million billion! I am the luckiest the girl in the world!!

I love you millions!!

Loves hugs and kisses,

Love. Sister Bailey

June 13, 2011 Letter

Dear Most Wonderful, Beautiful, and Most Amazing Mother in the Whole Wide World!!!

Hi. Yes, I think Waco has become my home away from home. Luckily, I love the people here and they are all so good to me. They really take care of me. It's nice to have good people. It makes it a little easier to be away from home. I am excited to be here another transfer as well. We are going to see so many amazing things happen. This last week was a little sad. I had to say goodbye to my bestie, Sister Quiroz. I was really sad to have her go. I realized how much fun it is to have a friend. It was so fun. She is the funniest person ever. When we would talk about brothers and sisters she would make a pretend sad face (she’s an only kid). I always told her she could be my sister. And she became my sister. So it was kinda sad for me to see her go. She taught me so many wonderful things too. She had a solid testimony. She helped me see things from an investigator's view point. Of how we as missionaries can help them in ways that I never thought of. But Sister Crossan is great. She does a little better with just the two of us. She kinda struggled when we were in a trio. She was a little bit crazy..............but she seems to be better now.

I hope that Grandpa Ralph is ok. Keep me posted on how he is doing and I will make sure that he is in my prayers.

Well this week we went and helped at a funeral. A member of our ward is a principal at a high school here and one of her students died. It was really awful. He died the day before he graduated. But we were able to help and Sister Reiher said that it did a lot of good. We were glad we were able to help.

We met and taught a lot of great people this week. We are really excited about the people that we are teaching. I am so excited. I think I am finally going to see my first baptism this transfer. It is going to be an exciting day! Did you know that yesterday was my 5 month mark? I was really impressed I made it! I feel like you just barley dropped me off. It has all gone crazy fast. I am also blown away that it is June! That is crazy! It has been hot here since March, so I feel like it should still be March or something! Wow heat......it is something unreal! We are in the high 90s everyday. We have already had 5 days in the 100s this June, and no rain. It has been crazy. But on the bright side, I am getting tan and my hair is slowly changing from dark brown to not so dark brown....

Troy and Sarah are doing so good. With all the crazy things that they have been through because of our crazy members and their crazy friends, I am amazed that they are still interested. But they really want to know the truth! It makes me so happy! They are so great. They are really trying. It is amazing! James is so excited to get baptized. When we asked him to live the Word of Wisdom, he said Tobacco is his problem, but that you have to give something up to get something better. Pretty awesome!

I am sad about Keith. He wants signs. He said if he gets this job, that he will try twice as hard to get his answer and that he will come to church every week because it means that God wants him to. He just doesn’t understand faith. It made me think of Korihor and Alma. I mean he isn't as bad as Korihor, but kinda the same concept. It is really sad. I was reading Jacob 5 today and it talks about how the Lord of the Vineyard wept and said, "What could I have done more?" Sometimes I feel that way about my investigators. I want them to succeed so much and to find this happiness but they just wont do it. And I feel like what more can I do? What could I do more for them? It is hard to see people be that way. But there is nothing I can do excpet teach them and help them feel the spirit and understand. I can't force them to believe and to make the right choices. I wish I could! But I can't, dangit...

Well Mom, I am glad that everything is going well back home. It makes me happy that everyone is so good. It helps me. I love you more than you can know! I think you are the most amazing mom and person in this world. I am so lucky to have you as my mom. Thanks so much for all that you do for me.

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

Loves, hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey

3rd Transfer Down!

I can't believe she has completed another transfer already! She will be starting transfer 4 in Hewitt! It's a good thing she loves it there. :) I am so glad she gets to stay to see the baptisms of her investigators. Life as a missionary is hard, but when you finally get to see someone enter the water of baptism, it sort of recharges your battery and makes you want to go out and conquer the rest of the world! We miss her so much and know that she is being blessed, as well as being a blessing herself to people there. :)

June 6, 2011

Dear Wonderful and Perfect and Prettiest Mom Ever!

So guess what...I am staying in Hewitt! I have a feeling I am going to be here for a little while! Oh well, its a good thing I like this place. Sadly Sister Quiroz is leaving and it will just be me and Sister Crossan. I am really sad Sister Quiroz is leaving. Me and her got along so well. She was so fun and the transfer flew by! I can't believe it is already over; I feel like it just started. It's sad when you make a bestie and they have to leave you. Dang missions! The Lord is definitely teaching me though and trying to make me better. I don't like it when He does that. I just want Him to make my life easier on me! That would be really nice! But he doesn't. I am sad because Sister Crossan goes home at the end of this transfer so I have to "kill" her. I did not want to kill anyone. It makes me sad and wish that I was the one getting on that plane and going home. But I just keep thinking that I have to wait my turn. By the end of this next transfer I will only have a year left. I can do anything for a year. It's just hard to be away from you and the family. Sometimes I really miss you. But I try to be brave. It is kind of mean of Heavenly Father to make us be seperated from our families! Oh well, I do love what I am doing and I love the people I am serving. I am amazed at all the wonderful people here. I love it.

I am way excited that I get to see Alitas baptism! And I get to see Troy and Sarah get baptized! We set a date with them for the 18th! I am so excited! They are so great and very amazing! Teaching people is so fun and it is even more fun to see them progress!

I survived my week of no sugar or bad food. Did I tell you about the deal we made with Keith and Chris? Well if I didn't, we made a deal that they would not drink or smoke, and I would not eat sugar, Sister Quiroz would run every morning and Sister Crossan would not run. Mine was pretty dang hard. Especially when we would go to members houses and they would feed us dessert! Man that was tough, and of course, your package came on Tuesday! I was so sad! But I put them in the freezer to wait. They are now thawing on the counter, and I am so dang excited to eat them! You are the best mother in the world. I don't know if you know how much I love you and think you are amazing. Sometimes people talk about their families and I just think wow I am so lucky! I really am.

I am so glad that Tater-Tot is trying hard to be good. He is such a good kid. I miss him lots. I am always amazed by him and the courage he has. He is so great. What a wonderful example he is to everyone. And I am glad that Suz is having fun! I can't believe she is going into high school! That is crazy! She is so old. Man, it makes me feel old. When I get home she is going to be too cool for me!

I hate losing in shoot outs! That is just annoying! I think Tyson is the real winner. He is so dang cute! Man, I have the cutest siblings in the world. I am jealous you get to see Tosha and Eric and Anna and Wes. I miss them. Oh well, next summer right? Sorry, I know I shouldn't say those things. But sometimes I think them. It's just hard not seeing you all. But I promise I am being tough and I really am good. I do love it here. And it goes by so fast! I can't believe how fast the time goes. It's amazing. This transfer literally flew by. It's like I blinked and all of a sudden they are giving us our transfer calls. I am super sad about Sister Quiroz....sad day. But she is excited to be able to go back to Spanish.

Well, I don't know of anything else exciting to tell you. I am lame. Sorry this letter wasn't very good. I will try and write a better one next week. I think you are the best mother in the world. I love you alot and alot and alot more! Thanks so much for all that you do for me mom. I don't know where I would be without you. I love you!!!!

Loves hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey

May 31, 2011 letter

May 31, 2011

Dear wonderful, most fabulous, and best mother in the whole world,

I thought alot about our little boys this weekend. It makes my heart bleed too. Don't tell Tosha that though. Does little Jake have a headstone yet? Or is he still sharing with his big brother? Good thing they share better than little Anna does! That is so funny she did that! She knows her mom way too well. She knows that Tosh is a big sucker and will do anything for little Wessey! I love Anna and I miss her a lot. She is so cute and she does the funniest things. I love hearing stories about her. I love hearing about all my little nieces and nephew. When are Tosh and Eric going to visit you? Not soon enough? I am sorry Peyton had to go. Lameness. I don't know why Dave and JaRelle have to be so mean and take her away from you.

I am glad that McKay is going to school this week! That will be so fun for him! He will have to let me know how it goes. I miss hearing from him. Tell that boy that he needs to write his big sister or he is going to be in BIG trouble! Sister Denham told me he looks like he is doing really good. That makes me happy. I just want McKay to be happy. I miss him a lot. I really want to see more of his pictures. I have heard they are amazing. He is so talented it is unfair! I dont know how he got so many dang talents. I feel like he emptied the jar and then left like 2 for the rest of us. I too must have been more shareful than Anna. Hahaha.

Tyson is so dang cute! I hope his team wins this week. I will pray for no snow so it won't have to be postponed again. And plus, I dont want you to move to Arizona. I like Utah. So don't even think about moving!

It is for sure not snowing here in Texas. We are usually in the high 90s. We had a couple of times last week that our car thing read at least 100. Yes 3 digits and it's only May. It is going to be a sad sad Summer. Sister Quiroz said I can't complain because I only have to deal with one full summer. She has to do two. I don't feel bad for her. She lives in Texas! She should be used to this awfulness.

Lauren sounds like she is doing so well. Look out dad...sounds like she likes a boy and he can drive...I can't say anything else on the subject. Sister confedientiality (I think I spelled that wrong). You know how it is.

It was so fun to see Brother and Sister Denham. They are so fun. We saw her everyday pretty much. She came out with us one night and that was a lot of fun. Then She ran with us the next day. Mostly she ran with Sister Crossan. It was Saturday. Saturday is not my running day. It is my "I wish I was still in bed day." She is a great lady. It was fun to hear about all of the changes going on in Farmington. I don't think I am going to be able to recognize it when I come home! Sad, I liked our little town. They told me they talked to you a lot that week and I was a little jealous of that. I want to talk to you. Sometimes Mom...I miss you. But I would much rather have you be my mom too so I can see you forever. I like that a lot more. Eternal happiness instead of instant gratification right? Sometimes that is hard. I like the instant stuff sometimes. Like instant pudding, its almost better than the long waiting stuff.

We had a great week this week. We taught Troy and Sarah--they are so great. Sarah said that she has never seen Troy care so much about a church. He is so interested in the Book of Mormon and everything. She says that alone is testimony to her that it is true. She also said when she prays, she doesn't feel confused and that she doesn't feel bad. And if it was of the Devil she would feel confused. We are so excited about it! I love teaching them. They have a lot of questions, but that is because her friend feeds them a lot of Anti. I am so glad they are willing to ask the questions. They are great!

Keith and Chris are going a whole week without smoking or drinking. I am excited about it. I know they will feel the spirit this week. It is going to be a good week for them.

Alita finally set her own date!! Hallelujia! (once again spelled wrong! Sorry) She is going to get baptized on July 5. She picked the date herself. It is before her wedding, so that is good.

We also had Zone conference this week. It was so good. President Sagers showed us a talk that Elder Holland gave at the MTC the day before I entered. It was an amazing talk! I don't know if you can find it or see it, but it was AMAZING. Elder Holland is amazing. The end is just, wow. I don't even know what to say about it. It still runs through my head. He can really talk.

I am so sad I missed Taylor's wedding. It sounds so pretty. I like the way she did that. She is so sweet. I really love and miss her. She is a fantastic cousin. I am so glad that she is my cousin. He is one lucky guy!!

I can't believe it is already summer! That was such a fast end of the year! Man oh man! It was like we blinked and it was summer. It will be that way with summer as well, and then next thing we know, Lauren will be driving. Poor Lafonda. She will never be the same. Do you still have Lafonda? Also, do you still have the boat? Or did we finally sell it? I know you switched cars. Lots of questions.

Well Mom, I am glad that everything is going well. I miss you lots. I love you way too much! You are truly the best mother in the whole world. I am so lucky to have you! I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Loves hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey.

P.S. We get transfer calls again this week! I will let you know next Monday where I will be. Crazy its already they end of the transfer huh?! I LOVE YOU!!!