Saturday, June 29, 2013

Tender Mercies

 
“The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, April 2005 general conference).
The entire Bailey clan at the 100th Bailey reunion.  Tender Mercies to be able to go to this historic family gathering.  I missed my children and grandchildren!

The Sacred Grove in Palmyra NY.  Lonnie and my brother, Bill went into Palmyra while we were in NY for my Family reunion.  I had a wonderful visit with my sister, we talked and talked the day away.  It was one of those tender mercies to spend time with extended family.

 Nathan E Bailey, my Great Grandfather, born 1831 and had 22 children.  He outlived 3 of his 4 wives.  They lived in Northern Pennsylvania.  Lonnie took pictures of many of the old photos.  I would love to scan them, but if I never get the opportunity, at least I have these pics.
 Bill and Kathy
Uncle Harry and Kathy
Cousins Patty Stone and Cathy Bailey, like the shirts.
Me talking to cousins that I had not seen in about 50 years.
Elder McOmber and my Brother in law, Steve Mitchell
Cindy and her granddaughter, Adelle
Gretchen and me, she is my cousin's daughter and has been friends with my twins
.
Harlan(my dad as a cute little boy), Don, Harry(the youngest), Floyd
I got some good pictures of the Amish as the drove past my sister's home.
We flew home on Tuesday.  It was a very quick trip, but very nice to have been able to go.  A very special blessing.
 Some sisters doing service cleaning.
 
 
Elder McOmber and Elder Ball doing service cleaning.
These elders were excited to be able to drive the president's car.
President Ted and Sister Cathy Bubert went home today after 3 years of faithful service.  They are awesome.  The senior couples had a luncheon on Wednesday.  We gave them this quilt with the names of all the elders and senior couples that served under their leadership.  We are sad to see them go, but happy for them to get back to their home and family.
 

President and Sister Tew our new president and The Buberts as they depart.  We will miss them, but are happy for them to go on with their life.  We are excited to get to know  President and Sister Tew.  So wonderful that we get to know so many great people while on our mission.

This week after getting back from our trip to NY, I needed to make a Dr appointment.  Lonnie and I went to the VA to see if I could use their services since I am a retired USAR member.  We went Thursday as Wednesday was a very busy day, just getting back to our mission.  The first person we met at the VA was very helpful and set up an appointment but suggested that we go to the ER for my present problem.  I wasn't sure as it was not a "real emergency", but Lonnie convinced me to go.  They were very nice and agreed that since I did not have a primary physician that it was appropriate to go to the ER.  I ended up getting several  tests and a procedure all in one day(almost unheard of in the military medical system).  The Dr that does the procedure just happens to be there on Thursday afternoons only.  He is retired, but helps there on Thursdays.  The staff was wonderful and stayed late, past their shift to be able to help me--my personal angels.  The Lord is aware of us all and helps us along.  Tender Mercies.  We find the results of the test this next week.  I received a wonderful blessing and have comfort. 


 But behold,I...  will show unto you that the tender cmercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of ddeliverance.
1 Nephi 1:20
My granddaughter, Miranda, texted  this scripture to me, how perfect!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

100th Reunion




Sunday we had the elders over for dinner.  That is our home away from home in the background.
Sunday, after taking the missionaries home from dinner, we stopped at another set of missionaries apartment.  They had some problems at their apartment that we helped with.
Monday and Tuesday we moved some sisters into a new apartment.
Some of our sister's while moving.

"It's no stretch to say that a person has a serious advantage in life if they come from a loving, supportive home. Many people still succeed though they come from less-than-ideal family situations, but having our basic needs met, knowing that our parents love us and learning life lessons at home make all the challenges of day-to-day living that much easier to face. Likely, as an adult you want a happy home for your family."  Mormon.org


As Senior missionaries, we are able to take a short time off for special occasions.  On Wednesday, Elder McOmber and I were able to fly to Upstate New York to go to my family's 100th Bailey Reunion.  We met up with my brother, Bill in Chicago and got to Cindy's in the evening.  It is an all day ordeal to fly across country.
We were able to drive past sights on the way to Cindy and Steve's home.  This is the high school I graduated from.
 
We were able to visit the NY Bailey homestead and chat with Aunt Carol.

Looking across the valley in from of the homestead in NY.  We have enjoyed watching the deer. I have many memories from growing up here.
David  and Cindy.  David's old home is looking real good.  I love the old architecture in this part of NY state. (Near Palmyra).
David's home
This is the place that the home I grew up in used to be.  The Weeping willow trees in the background are ones that my dad planted by sticking sticks in the ground.  They are huge now.
This is the Free Methodist Church that I attended as a child.  I am a convert.  I joined the LDS church when I was 22.  I got a great education in the the Bible here.  We lived next doors.  Mom would dress us up and send us to church.  She rarely went.  I am thankful for the education I received here.
Cindy, Bill and myself at our Great grandparents grave site(on my mother's side-Curtiss). This is in Port Byron, NY, Pinehill cemetery.   I remember 2 sets of my great grandparents.
My parents grave site.
Hailey.  She wishes I brought the cousins.
Steve is a Wayne County Sheriff.  We are sleeping in Cindy and Steve's motor home.  This is also Cindy's new car.
There are many Amish in the neighborhood.  They have many horse drawn carts that drive past their home.
Saturday we were able to go through a museum of Bradford County, Pennsylvania where the Bailey family lived for a few generations.
Great grandma and grandpa Parmenter's home.  I remember the geese chasing me around this home.  Us kids slept in the bedroom at the top of the stairs from the kitchen(back window).  I can still smell the bacon cooking as we cuddled under the homemade quilts.
Uncle Floyd and Aunt Carol.  We loved listening to their stories.  We visited 3 cemeteries in Pennsylvania.
This is the Bailey homestead. My Great Grandpa Nathan Bailey came home from the Civil War to this home.  He had been a POW, had walked home from Virginia and his wife would not let him into the house as they did not recognize him.
This is the grave site of Alvin and Julia Bailey-who first started the family reunion 100 years ago.  I don't remember this cemetery.  Someplace I would like to come back to later.  We would like to do some rubbings.
Becky and Hailey.  We had to play games in honor of my parents, Harlan and Shirley Bailey.
"Today we have our Reunion.  Yesterday was just a fun day of visiting cemeteries.  This is a fun visit and we are proud to wear our name badges, representing Jesus Christ.  We are the only members of our church in our family.  (except for one distant cousin). 

This is no coincidence. God organizes us into families so that we can grow up in happiness and safety, and so that we can learn to love others selflessly—the key to true joy. Within the family is the best place to learn to love others the way Heavenly Father loves each one of us.
God's Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings. We believe the greatest blessing He gives us is the ability to return to live with Him in heaven with our families. We follow our Heavenly Father's will because that is how we earn this blessing."  Mormon.org

Saturday, June 15, 2013

New Friends

Last week was Fast and Testimony meeting because we had Stake Conference the week before.  I took notes of things that impressed me during testimonies, but did not write the sources.  So I am sorry, I can't give proper credit, but I want to share the things I learned last week. 
First, a lady came in and sat down at the end of my pew. We have a very large ward and I don't know everybody still, so I wasn't sure who she was.  She seemed nervous, so I started a conversation with her.  Her name was Michelle and she had not been to church in 30 years.  She looked to be in her 40's.  We talked for a few minutes before church and I invited her to Sunday School, but she bowed out, but another sister came up to her and welcomed her.  I am so thankful they did talk to her.  When we first came, there were not many people who talked to us.  Elder McOmber does better at introducing himself, but I tend to be more "shy".  I have resolved to talk to people that I don't know.   We (the other sister and I) invited her to come back and she said she would.  Michelle grew up in southern Utah and attended church then, but not since.

From one Sunday meeting..."Church should not make us feel guilty, forgiveness is for the Lord.  Attending meetings shows our commitment to our Savior.  He loves us where we are and want a "better version of ourselves." 
 
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
“For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him” (D&C 18:10–11.)
 
Lonnie helped an 80 year old gentleman replace the water pump in his motor home in the RV park. We are not allowed to talk about the church unless asked, our name tags help to pique people's interest.   Dick had read the Book of Mormon and had much contact with LDS people through the Boy Scout program (at one Jamboree he said he was the only "Gentile") .  He said he knew the Book of Mormon was true, so Elder McOmber asked why he did not get baptized.  He said he wanted to go to church with his family and they were Baptist.  He and his wife, Christine, took us out to dinner for helping them with their RV.  She is so cute.  She was born in France, but lived in Thailand for 40 years.  They both had very interesting histories, but they were very interested in the church and asked many questions.  We gave them a Book of Mormon to read, but they were moving on.  They called us when they got to their next stop and thanked us for the "Beautiful Book".  They were so sweet.  We hope they will read more.  They invited us to visit them in AZ where they winter(they are snow birds). 
 
We had the sisters to dinner on Sunday and they challenged us to give out a Book of Mormon.  We had done that just that day, but they said it had to be another one. 
 We talk to many people, our name tags bring all kinds of questions.  We had neighbors, Peter and Nancy-Nancy had open heart surgery and they needed to stay in the area for a while.  Peter always had a clean joke.   We liked visiting with them, sharing desserts, and answering questions and miss them.  There is Polly and Jan and their bird & 3 dogs.  Polly is Jewish and loves to talk.  She quilts, knits and crochets, so we have much to talk about.  Another  man across the road who flew 345 medivac helicopter missions in Vietnam.  He got a special award for one rescue in particular.  He told his crew they would not return, but had to try.  He helicopter did not survive, but he, his crew and those rescued survived.  His stories were so interesting.  Would have like to talk with him more, but he moved on.  There was a less active sister in a parking lot that we encouraged to go to church.  We talked to a less active grocery clerk and encouraged him to attend again.
 
Sophia, EV and Matthew
Matthew and Elder McOmber looking under the hood of our friend's, the Edgar's 1930 Chevy.
 
Going for a ride.  The original engine still works.
We have so many wonderful friends!  They went to Blockbuster to check out a movie.
We have made many friends with the missionaries.  We took one elder to the airport.  He was a Visa Waiter.  His mission is in Tahiti.  He was here for 7 weeks and was very excited to go to his assigned mission, but appreciated the learning experiences and friends he made here. They are trying to get his bike in a box.  It cost him $300. to take his bike as baggage, but he said he could not get one over there.
This afternoon Elder McOmber was talking with another set of our friends here in the RV part, Richard and his wife.  They asked him about our church and she kept saying "I didn't know you believed that".  Elder McOmber accomplished our goal from the sisters last Sunday and was able to give them a Book of Mormon.  They are going to be here for a while, so we can continue to talk and explain things and maybe even have the Elders give them the discussions.
Elder McOmber loves to make his famous root beer ice cream.  He mixes one 2 liter bottle of root beer with one can of sweetened condensed milk and then puts it into the ice cream maker and freezes it.  It is good and easy.  We had these elders over for dinner tonight.  It was breezy, but I wanted to eat outside.
 
The baby finally flew the nest.  The mama heron would set close as the baby tried to get up the nerve to fly.  He always made a lot of noise at 3:30 AM, so we were happy that he is now on his own.(gone)!

 

I  Ifinally finished Brady Payne's quilt.  His favorite colors are "Pink, blue, green, red, black".  So I combined the colors he likes with things he likes and made a crazy quilt for his 7th birthday.

 


My beautiful twins had a birthday this last week and they celebrated together. (In Rigby, ID, Amy lives in Mesa, AZ now). 
These three geese remind me of the nosey geese in a children's story.  They hurried over to see what was happening, but they stayed together.  We liked watching the turtles at the side of the pond, also.


"The blessings of the gospel are so precious that we try to share them with everyone we can."