Today we had the bitter/sweet opportunity to say "good bye" to a Stake Presidency that has served us faithfully for the past 10 years. It was a very emotional day for me and my family. I had the opportunity to work one on one with President Pugmire 9 years ago when I served in the Stake Relief Society. Recently, I served with President Bradshaw in Stake Primary.
President Daniel and his sweet wife Deanna were our first friends and neighbors in 1986 when we graduated from school and moved home to Arizona. We had many good times checking out the restaurants in town! Many years later, we found ourselves back in the same neighborhood, ward and stake.
We moved into the Higley Ward, the Gilbert Greenfield Stake in October of the year 2000 and was making great friends in our new ward family. BUT within 3 weeks of moving to our new home, November 12, 2000, our ward and stake were divided and our dear friend "Roy" at that time became Bishop Daniel! We became members of the Summerfield Ward and within a couple of weeks, our stake was divided and we were members of the new Gilbert San Tan Stake. I then was called to serve as Relief Society President! It was a difficult time because we were so new to the area and I didn't know anyone! Soon, very soon, I fell in love with the sisters of the Summerfield Ward. We grew so quickly and within a short amount of time, September 9, 2001, we divided off and became the Bella Vista Ward. I remember that Ryan showed the emotions that many, many people were feeling as he buried his head into his hands and cried because as a deacon,he was loosing his first YM leaders. It was a tender moment as President Pugmire came off the stand at the conclusion of Sacrament Meeting and just hugged Ryan and told him that "He himself knew it was right because it was so hard!"
Shortly after that division, I was called to serve as the Stake Relief Society President in the Gilbert San Tan Stake. At that time, our stake encompassed all the wards from Greenfield Road to the east, including the rapid growing town of Queen Creek. This required some travel but many glorious friendships were built and another wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord. We were the Bella Vista ward for approximately 16 months when changes were inevitable once again.
As this newly developing area grew, it became time to divide once again. In January of 2003, we received a call to come to the Stake President's office. Mark and I were sweating bullets because the spirit had warned us of a new calling. I entered that office with great emotion because I knew that as one door opens, another one often closes. Now after Mark supported me for years in various callings, it was my time to sustain and support him. Mark was called to be the Bishop of a new ward that was to be called the Ashley Heights Ward. This was another very busy time for us, but we grew to love the members of that new ward and once again, eternal friendships were formed!
A little more than 1 and 1/2 years later, the Ashley Heights Ward grew to over 900 members (with two Elder's Quorums) and it was once again time to divide. October 17, 2004 Mark became the Bishop of the new Gateway Garden's Ward and once again, we said farewell to beloved friends! His service ended just 2 1/2 years later. We have resided in the Gateway Garden's Ward for the last 5 years.
I enjoyed the opportunity to serve with President Bradshaw and learned to LOVE the children in the Gilbert Higley Stake. I loved planning and organizing Stake Baptisms each month and watching those sweet children, dressed in white with great big smiles on their faces make their first covenants with the Lord. I LOVED watching their fathers who many times teared up with great emotion as they exercised their Priesthood and baptized their children. Many times, these fathers had worked really hard to make changes in their lives to be worthy of this special ordinance. I LOVED visiting wards with President Bradshaw during Ward Conferences and listening to children bear testimony of the Savior. I LOVED watching President Bradshaw and seeing the great joy that he felt in his heart as he watched the many dedicated and loyal Primary leaders serving their Heavenly Father
President Pugmire taught us many things during his years of service. However, the one thing that stands out the most is that he taught us to serve others and be good missionaries! Our family respectfully refers to him as our modern day Ammon! We will miss him presiding and crying those "ugly" tears! We will miss his humor but most of all, we will miss his great LOVE that he showed each member of our stake.
It was with great respect and admiration that we humbly raised our hands in an expression of love and gratitude to release them today. We will miss these three great men but look forward to running into them often as we all continue to serve our Heavenly Father.
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