Totally “Fort Worth” It!

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Kelsey, the day we dropped her off at the MTC. Now it’s time to come home!
We are so happy and proud of our girl.
Hermana Kelsey 19:3 -email-
18 months and 3 weeks!
Returning with Honor on Thursday!!!
Dear family,
Yesterday, Hermana S. (the Relief Society president) had Sister P. and I get up in Relief Society to bear our testimonies, because we are both leaving. I thought I would be okay, but I got like 3 words out and then started crying. I love being a missionary, and I am going to miss it SOOOOOOOO much! I was thinking back about the time when Sister Q. was going home, and she got up to bear her testimony her last Sunday, and I cried for her because I knew that she wasn’t going to be able to do this anymore. And now I am there, so instead of crying for someone else, I am crying for me. It’s been tough. But I’m sure I’ll survive. It’s just hard.
Mom: I am so excited to get a mom hug!!!!!! Sister P. and I were talking about it the other day, how like everytime you feel sad or upset of something, you just go hug your mom and everything is okay. So I’m excited to be giving you a hug very soon. And I will hug you first! 🙂 It’s crazy that I’ll actually be seeing you soon. It still feels surreal. It probably won’t hit me until I am actually seeing all of you. It’s gonna be CRAZY!!! Anyway, I’ll see you soon.
Dad: I love talking about faith. Faith is one of the most simple things there is in the gospel, but for some reason it is on of the hardest things for people to understand. In every religion there is a different understanding of what it is, how we have it, how we show it, etc. I love that topic though, because like you said, there are a TON of stories in the Book of Mormon and the Bible about faith. Today I was reading in the Bible and Elijah and when he healed the son of a man. It was by the faith of the the kid’s parents and the faith of Elijah that he was healed. It was a super cool story. I don’t really know what else to say, so I will talk to you later. 🙂

Well, I think that’s it for now. See you soon!! 🙂

Love, Kelsey
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sunday Best!

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There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children…what matters is that a mother loves her children deeply…-M. Russell Ballard

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Most Quoted!

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Last night Alex was opening a can of chili or something.

He was using my “Pampered Chef” can opener, the one that opens cans from the side, so you don’t have the sharp lid. When I first bought it, I was so excited that I wouldn’t have to worry about people cutting their fingers on the lid.

It has been a good purchase, other than the fact that I have to keep teaching people how to use it. As of late the other thing that’s not been fun, is that you have to twist and twist the handle so the opener goes around the can several times before it’s a clean cut, and you can actually open the lid.

So Alex is trying to open the can and we hear: “Pampered Chef my eye, would a pampered chef have to work this hard to get a can open?” We all just busted up laughing.

He continues to be a funny, quotable guy!

Totally “Fort Worth” It!

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Hermana Kelsey 19:2 -email-
Dearest family,
How are all of you doing? I am good. This last week was a little crazy. The spanish elders in our area had a baptism on Saturday. That was really cool for them. It was Elder A.’s first baptism of the mission. 🙂 He was super excited and happy for that. We asked him after how he felt, and he told us when L. went into the water and came out, Elder A. realized, “Wow, this is my purpose!” It was super cool.
Just a couple stand outs for the week (because I am low on time): On Thursday, we helped paint a house, and the elders were telling us movie plots in spanish, so that Sister P. could practice her spanish. They are super nice with her, because they know she is struggling with her spanish. We also met a really cool girl on Thursday. She is super interested. Also, on Friday, we tracted a TON, because we were low on miles, and we felt like we shouldn’t be in that area. Not like a bad feeling, like we were in danger or anything, but like that we were needed in another place at that time. So we went to visit this lady who is kind of an investigator, and in that area we found 2 new really cool ladies. One of them is her daughter, and she is super interested in what we teach. 🙂 We’re stoked for them. 🙂 Saturday was a really hard day. Everyone was rude to us and nobody wanted to listen. Then some drunk guy chewed us out. We were basically done with people by the time 9:00 came around. But at the end of the day, we decided to stop by Sonic and get the elders a “Congratulations on your baptism!” milkshake, and then we felt better. They really appreicated it, and we did something not for ourselves. 🙂 It was all okay in the end.
Yesterday I finished writing my final letter to President! Sooooooo weird! I still can’t believe it’s really happening. I am still in denial. Today I might be sending home a few packages of stuff that I’m not sure will fit in my luggage to go home. I’m still not sure though. I might send them next p-day. It’s seriously so strange. I don’t really like it. I want to skip this whole awkward phase where I am trying to still be amissionary, and knowing  in the back of my head that I will not be a full time missionary VERY soon. I just want to skip ahead to like a month after I get home, so I don’t have to deal with all these adjustments. It’s gonna be a crazy ride!
Mom: I’m so glad you when you went to church, that you felt of God’s love for you. Sometimes it really is hard. But I love those times when something happens and you feel like it was just for you, and that God knew you needed that at that time. Mommy, just remember that everything will be okay. Heavenly Father is in charge, and he knows how to help us. I have been a little worried about what will happen with me when I get home, but I feel like I am now more prepared to handle things that come my way than before. You will be okay, because all of us are going to be okay. 🙂
Ha ha, yes I will probably email next week. It might be short though. I’ll be seeing you on Thursday, so I probably won’t have much to say. But I’ll write something, because I’ll have to be in the library anyway for Sister P. to email.
Riley: You are a horrible communicator! And you owe me a letter! 🙂 Love, Kelsey
Emily: I’m glad you got my letter. I’m also glad you are doing okay.
 Ha ha I loved when you talked about me flirting. I said that for your benefit. 🙂 I still don’t know how to do that. 🙂 And…YES I totally want you to buy me a Zeppes and put it in the freezer. One of the blue ones, and the biggest size you can get! 🙂 Ha ha, also I am glad that you are okay with being Mexican. It’s the best. I sometimes claim to be from Mexico, and people usually laugh, because I’m basically as white as they come, except I speak spanish. They think that’s pretty funny. Anyway, I’m excited to see you soon! 🙂 I’m going to kick your trash luchando! 🙂
Dad: We’re gonna have lots to talk about when I get home. I have turned into quite the talker. You probably wouldn’t believe it, but it’s true. I’m becoming my mother. 😉 Not that that’s a bad thing or anything, I just talk a LOT more than I used to. Sometimes Sister P. and I get super distracted talking. It’s kind of crazy. But we’ll see what happens.
Man, that stinks you couldn’t have your volleyball tournament. But that’ll be fun next week. Hopefully you win. 🙂
Alex: That’s cool you are at least taking classes. I am going to need your help to kind of help me be normal again. You best be preparing yourself to do personal and companionship study again! 🙂 I won’t have a companion to do it with anymore, so I’ll have to use you. 🙂 Anyways, good luck with everything, and I’ll see you soon.
Well, I think that is all for this week. I will be getting back to all of you soon. 🙂
Love, Kelsey
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Totally “Fort Worth” It!

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 Hermana Kelsey 19:1 -email-
Dear family,
How are all of you? I’m doing pretty well. This last week we were supposed to have a baptism, but it didn’t happen. It’s kind of a long story, but the kid who was going to get baptized has an estranged father that is not involved in his life like at all. He comes randomly every few months, and brings D., the little boy, candy and money and stuff. So D. was planning in getting baptized, but his dad came into town, and told D. that he didn’t need to get baptized, because he is just a kid and kids don’t need to get baptized. So he decided not to go through with it. 🙁
Monday: Sister P. went to a beauty salon to get her hair dyed, because she had highlights before, and she could keep them up, because she had a lady in her last area who would do it everytime she needed it done for super cheap. But she came here and we don’t have anyone that does hair here. So we went to get that done. And I got so trunky! I kept smelling all the supplies, and seeing them do the hair and stuff, and it reminded me of you, Mom. It was ridiculous! I just kept thinking about the shop in the basement. Anyway, Sister P. didn’t understand that one at all. Ha ha. She was like, “Of all the things to get trunky from!”
Tuesday: We spent most of the day tracting, and trying to find new invetigators. It wasn’t as hot though, which was good. 🙂
Wednesday: We took a recent convert that goes to the singles ward on exchange with us. Her name is N., and she was so awesome! She bore a powerful testimony about the Book of Mormon, and the lady we were teaching for sure felt the spirit. It was amazing!
Thursday: We had another MOTR with our district leader and the zone leaders. It was alright. After that Sister P. had to go to the doctor again for her finger that she broke. So we went there. They said it is healing very nicely, so she should be good. Also, I turned 18 months in the mission!! What?! Crazy!!! Yeah, I really can’t believe I’ve been a missionary for 18 months. It’s nuts!
Friday: We had all that crazy drama with D. and his dad. I was so sad that day, because I felt so inadequate. D.’s dad was asking questions, but he was too stubborn to listen to any of the answers we gave him, and I felt like I didn’t know how to answer him. It was so frustrating. But I know that D. will come around one day, and when he’s 18, he’ll get baptized, because we won’t need his dad’s permission anymore. Later in the evening we called our zone leaders to tell them that the baptism wouldn’t be happening. They were super sad with us, but then Elder Bone told us something, and it helped us a lot. He said, “Whenever one door closes, the Lord opens up another one!” I never thought about it like that. I always just thought like something good would happen, but it reminded me that the Lord is in charge.
Saturday: Nada paso
Sunday: We ate with a really cool family, the H.’s, and they have 4 daughters. While we were eating with them, the girls were yelling and talking over each other, and all this crazy stuff, but there were several moments specifically when I thought about Emily and I and the way we were before the mission. It was so funny. Good times! 🙂
Mom: Mommy! I miss you so much! But it’s okay. I’ll be seeing you soon. 🙂 That is so cool that we are having some great new missionaries leaving. That is so crazy that Bryce left! How is Krissy doing? I know it’s hard for moms of missionaries. It’s hard for the missionaries too, but they get over it usually pretty quick, because they get busy and work hard. I don’t know how it is for the moms really. But I’m guessing it’s tough.
Wow are you still doing daycare and working at Dr. C.’s? That’s crazy!
I”ve been like crazy stressed lately. I don’t feel that stressed most of the time, but I know that when I sleeping, I stress, because I wake up in the morning and my shoulders are super sore and tight and my back hurts. I guess when I’m awake I don’t let myself worry about it, but while I’m sleeping I subconsiously worry. But I know everything will be great. 🙂
Dad: Ha ha, yeah I am jealous! I bet you’ll win doing beach volleyball. 🙂 Ha ha. I love that you still do scouts stuff. I remember that was just normal growing up for me. There was always some kid of scout project or trip or something happening. Anyway, that is sad about Neil Armstong. Also, I heard once that he wasn’t really the first guy on the moon. There was another guy that was on the moon first, but Neil Armstrong took the thunder. But I don’t know the actual story behind that or anything.
Alex: Hey good luck on your tests and all that. It’ll be awesome! You’ll love college. It’s way better than high school. 🙂 I miss it a lot. But I’m still gonna finish strong. Don’t you worry none. 🙂
Emily: Sorry, but I’m just going to have to write you a letter later today, because I’m almost out of time on my computer.
Janet: Hola Janet, Si estoy muy bien. Como estas tu? Wow, ya vas a terminar con la escuela casi? Que raro! Come te sientes? No puedo imaginar esto porque todavia me falta MUCHO tiempo en la escuela. Pero nimodo. Esta bien. Un dia voy a regresar y hacer mis clases y todo. Que suerte que puedes tomar esta clase aun que ya sabes espanol. Quiero hacer algo asi tambien. Pero todavia mi espanol no es tan bueno. Pero tengo tiempo para aprender mas entonces esta bien. Pues creo que esto es todo. Suerte con tus clases. 🙂
Riley: You better be sending a letter soon! Or else! Jk jk. But really. 🙂
Well, family, I love all of you a lot! Be good, and I’ll see you soon. 🙂
Love, Kelsey
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sunday Best!

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“To the duty designated by His Father, [the Savior] turned His face, pledged His heart, and gave His life. And what a sinless, selfless, noble, and divine life it was. Jesus labored. Jesus loved. Jesus served. Jesus testified. What finer example could we strive to emulate?

Let us begin now, this very night, to do so. Cast off forever will be the old self and with it defeat, despair, doubt, and disbelief. To a newness of life we come—a life of faith, hope, courage, and joy. No task looms too large; no responsibility weighs too heavily; no duty is a burden. All things become possible.” -Thomas S. Monson

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy