Sunny Side Branch-it's my branch

(our meeting house is literally in a house in downtown Houston)

My branch.

It's filled with crazy people.

Every Sunday is an adventure, that's for sure.

But you know something?

I wouldn't trade it for any other ward right now.

There's something about the members that when I sit in the classrooms with them, I see them as someone very special. Sure, I see some grumbling and complaining and even cursing under their breaths, but hey.

It's people like sister B. who can hardly walk, and yet tries each day to serve everyone else that puts a smile on my face and makes me want to be better, or sister L. who OH SHE'S SO SWEET! Something about her crazy wigs on a 70+ year old lady's head makes you squeal with delight to see her every week. I wished the world could know these two ladies!! (wigs and extensions are a huge part of the culture down here with the African Americans in Houston)

Then there's sister K. who's crazy and well, you really don't know what mood she'll be in from one week to another. Best thing is to not say much to her, just give her compliments!

Then you have sister H. who now really, is a nutcase and you wouldn't want to be on her bad side 'cuz she'll call you to leave a nasty phone message, but bless her heart, she's got the kindest heart, believe it or not. The teeth-less woman really does care. (as long as you're not on her bad side!!)

Then we've got sister L. who's blind as a bat and passes out most Sundays that she gets to come to church, ending up in an ambulance, but boy, does she love this gospel. You never can understand what she's talking about, but you just know her desires are good.

Then we've got a cancer survivor-well, she's still fighting it, God bless her.

Brother W. who won't drink anything else but sugary juice at branch get togethers, and don't even offer him water, he will tell you HOW HE AIN'T GONNA DRINK NO WATA...

Brother N. who is schizophrenic but boy, does he ever have a testimony to blow you out of your seat.

In the corner of our little "dining room" meeting house (it really is a dining room, next to a kitchen), we've got sister M. who hardly ever talks, but if you can get her to smile once in a while, you feel like you've won the world.

The M. family who bless their efforts, IS the branch, next to a few other families.

Brother C. who well, what's the word...seems like a grinch but I'm sure is very nice. He likes his doctrine straight and not ever crooked.

Then of course, there's sister H. who you don't know where her mind is, but who will raise her hand and copy YOUR answer word for word in Sunday School, and sister A. who Kai asked; "um, why don't you have your two front teeth?" to which she laughed out loud and answered, "kid, never get into drugs!"

ahh, great life lessons.

We've got maybe 10 kids in primary, but that's a huge growth spurt from when we came a year ago. The two nursery kids (one being Jaiden) now has their own room, not a CLOSET! You can hear sister G. teaching the primary LOUDLY every week, but don't be surprised if you cannot understand a single word she's saying because her vocabulary is so advanced.

We've got counselors who don't show up, even if it's their week to teach and members who refuse to say a prayer during church or do anything to help out, but oddly enough, I've learned to love everyone's quirks, just the way they are.

There's something about this branch, I tell you. It's loved by the Lord.

Finally, our good president M.

He forgets a lot of things, and he may be despised by more than a few,

but I know that he's a good man. He does A LOT for the branch. I admire his strength and his testimony. His will to stand strong and be the leader the youth needs. He's not perfect by any means, and he can talk your ears off, but I appreciate all that he does.

God bless this branch!