New Ward

I am going to miss our Adobe Ward SOOOOOO much- more than I imagined a week ago. We went to our new ward (church) today. I totally forgot how small the Apache Junction wards are compared to the Mesa wards. It was so small!!! The Primary is all one- there are no Junior or Senior primary groups. The bishop told us that our moving into the ward increased their Primary by half- I thought he was exaggerating. He wasn't. There really were barely any kids there. Luckily, there are some kids and boys around Daniel's and Noah's ages. The ward is getting smaller and smaller as well because all the Snowbirds are going back to their summer homes. We really are needed in this small part of the church. We are really eager to serve and to build friendships with our new neighbors-

Speaking of new neighbors. We went to the Adult session of the Mountain View Stake Conference- our last time participating with our old ward and friends. The message came through loud and clear about loving one another and extending the hand of friendship to our nonmember neighbors. It was the perfect theme for Dustin and I as we are beginning again. We will have the opportunity right from the start to be brave and meet the people around us. The Stake meeting was probably the very best meeting I have been to- including General Conference. The message of Love struck me to the center of my soul and I felt the need to be so much more than what I am. I felt the need to put aside my selfishness and really stretch forth my hand in love to those I meet and know. I am excited to get this move going. I am excited to meet our new neighbors.

As Dustin and I looked for a home, we prayed often that we would find a place where our family was needed, as well as a place for our children to play with the kids in the neighborhood. We discovered today that our street has a few LDS families on it- 2 right across the street from us! That will be so awesome for our children. They need that socialization so badly- especially our Daniel. He is so special to me and I have felt that he has gotten the short end of the stick lately. We pulled him out of preschool a month ago because we thought we were moving earlier. He REALLY misses school and friends. I am excited to get to know these neighbors so our children can play together over the summer.

The one thing I will miss so very much are my wonderful Visiting Teachers, Jenni Caddy and Debbie Douglas. They have become such wonderful friends and a support to me over the last 3 years. They have been so diligent in visiting me. I am one of those ladies that just really need the monthly sit-down-together visit. They have been friends that I could call when my fibro flared so bad that I couldn't move. They were always willing to put aside their lives to care for my children when I was literally unable to do so. I love these 2 women so very much and will really miss them. The Relief Society in our new ward is very small. It is harder to find really good visiting teachers in smaller wards- the activity level of ward members is never as strong or as numerous. I also know that given time, I will come to love our new ward family as much as we love the Adobe Ward family.