Santan Branch--July 2022

     Last month (June), we were released from our service in the Santan Branch after 3.5 years--but then asked to keep serving thru the end of July.  LOTS of emotions for sure.  We have worked harder than we ever have before and some days it seems like little progress was ever made.  These past 3.5 years have been full of ups and downs but overall, an AMAZING opportunity for our family.  

    This month of July has been CRAZY out in our little Branch.  We feel like the Lord wants to be SURE that we have given our all and that we are still willing to be squeezed even more.  Our Primary President, Sis. Pablo, has had a rough year to say the least.  First, back in February of this year, her son was stabbed in the head and had surgery to have the knife tip (that had broken off in his skull) removed.  He miraculously pulled through.  Then her 40 year old nephew had a massive heart attack in June and dies.  THEN her son, who survived the knife attack, was then hit by a car in Coolidge and was once again in a life or death situation.  However, this time he passed (after an excruciating week of tough decisions).  So with all of this going on, we haven't seen much of Sis. Pablo at church and our other Primary counselor has been working and traveling a lot this summer.  So I've kinda been running the Primary on my own for the past 6 weeks--I even pulled in my Tatum to play piano for me one Sunday.  NEXT our Branch President comes down with COVID this past week so he is unable to conduct or be at the funeral for Sis. Pablo's son.  So Chris had to step up.  He helped to conduct the funeral, drove the casket in his own truck out to the Blackwater Cemetery--about a 20 minute drive from our Branch building, and then he dedicated the grave and ran the services there.  (I just played piano and rode in the truck with him out to Blackwater).  Some of the most interesting things we've EVER been asked to do but how happy we were to do it.  I just HAD to get a couple pics because honestly, how often does this happen AND will it ever happen again?!  A permanent memory of mine forever now.

Bro. Germaine & Bro. Meeker just
"winging it" and doing a GREAT job! 
(See the blue casket in the truck bed on the right???)

    

So here is a quick summary of a few of MY TOP 10 most memorable/treasured experiences of the past 3.5 years (that I don't think can or will happen anywhere else):

1-My boys helped dig Bro. Sweed's grave

2-Dogs in our Sacrament meetings--multiple times🐕

3-A Cat at "Scary Larry's" baptism🐈

4-Drunk/high people at our building

5-Our Primary Program that we pulled off in Oct of 2021 when we weren't allowed to sing:)🔔

6-The other Ward members we served along side--hard work develops strong bonds💪

7-My Primary Kiddos💗

8-The Missionaries we served with and fed almost weekly--some were like our own sons:)💙

9-Saving 178 puppies and their mommas🐶🐶🐶

10-Loading up a casket in the back of my husband's truck and driving it to Blackwater

    We will be returning to our home ward next month and while I am excited to see my old friends and jump back into our normal church life here in Chandler, I will definitely miss our little Branch building and members of our little Branch.  My kids are worried that our "White Ward" is gonna be "SOO BORING!"😂  I will cherish these years forever. 💗💗💗