The Great American Novel

and I'm just thinking about each of you.

I think when we plant a garden we hope for something beautiful that will last. The same is true when we write a poem or a song or draw a picture, or make an entry in our journal. The same holds true when we build a bookcase. A basketball game may seem insignificant, even trivial, but it isn't to the players. I think they too hope they are doing something that others will see and remember, something that will linger beyond the game.

When we sing or write or create anything outside ourselves, it is still a creation that began within and which we hope will endure. I don't think it's the poem or the song or the bookcase, the drawing or the game, that matter so much as it is the thing which drives them - the thought, the dream, the vision, the belief, the spirit. I think maybe, regardless of the activity or the creation, there is a common theme or thread that runs through all of these. I think it might be the "eternal" in each of us, reaching out for the Eternal, for God - a longing for Home. I think it might be a "returning." As Wordsworth said, "But trailing clouds of glory do we come from Heaven, which is our home." Or some such. I don't know.

But here's my thought for the day. There was a time in my own life when I dreamed of writing the "great American novel." How many have dreamed of that! And I spent hours upon hours, usually the "wee hours" of the morning, pursuing that dream. I wrote lots of words! Sent out lots of manuscripts to agents and publishers. Got lots of rejections! And then one day, it hit me. I had already written that novel! It just wasn't in any of my manuscriptes. It was written in and through each of you, and by all of us together, and the chapters continue to unfold. I don't know how old I was when this truth dawned on me, certainly it was before Elder Bednar articulated it, but it really is true that the greatest and most lasting work any of us will do in this life will be in the Priesthood and the Gospel and with our families. And the most amazing thing happens when we come to that realization. Suddenly, we find our yearning to make a lasting contribution, to do something that really matters, to make a mark on the world, to reach the Eternal, is satisfied in a most remarkable way. We understand at last and peace follows.

To each of you who dreams large dreams, as Thoreau said, move confidently in the direction of them. But remember always, that your most important dream and the dream that can and will come true and the one that will satisfy that longing more than any other is the dream of eternal life with your family. Every movement you make in the direction of THAT dream, will bring you peace and joy and love and a richness of soul that cannot be found in any other way. And you will wake up one day, like me, and know that nothing else ever really mattered that much. And you will be happy.

love to all

papa

Wendall Udele

Elder Bailey,

So, after having read Mother's letter for this week, I guess you know the NEWS. I hadn't planned on keeping it secret from you, as some had conspired to do to me when I was on my mission. But then again, I hadn't planned on telling you either. I was just waiting for the right time I guess. And now the time is right, since Mommy made it right. Frannie is "prego," as they say out here in Cali. I've been looking at the ultrasound pictures all week. It's amazing how clear those things are nowadays. There's no question a living, breathing human being is growing inside Fran's belly. He's got long legs and big feet already - undoubtedly a Bailey.

It makes the stress and demands of work go right out the window, looking at those pictures...

And it makes the events of this past week seem insignificant - Mr. T coming in and blessing us all with his presence and his "god bless you's," meeting Juliette Lewis and signing her as a new client, witnessing Michael Greenwald (my boss) and Julia Buchwald (another agent) go at it like only agents can over a "mistake" that Julia claimed I made on an appointment (I'll have to tell that story in person), and the Palestinian rally, which was held just outside our office, which made me feel like I was walking down the Gaza strip when I went to lunch. All that stuff sort of just blurs into the background when it's held up against the pictures of little Wendall Udele, kickin' it in his mommy's tummy.

I'm excited to meet the new squeaky too, and excited for Nana and Papa to make their second trip out here (speaking of, you guys SHOULD have come to Disneyland! Don't ever make the mistake of not coming to Disneyland again).

Anyway, we're all excited to see you again, Hindu, and are proud of all your hard work in Jamrock. Make these last two weeks your best, and you won't have any regrets about coming home.

Love,
Douglas