May

May 1

Congratulations!! What a great competitive event creating inclusion Go Unified Lobos!!! Snowflake Track Meet

May 2

spring is here, new beginnings. The blossoms survived the storms. #strongerthanthestorm #madnesswiththemerrillbudz

May 4

…. getting in all our little last fun moments with Kika, Sister Merrill, before we say our final goodbyes this weekend for 18 months and send her off on her mission, flying out Monday. She will report to the London MTC til June and then fly to Germany. Praying I have her packed efficiently and with everything she needs. She will be amazing! It’s been wonderful to see her growth this week during her trainings. I’m so proud of her and her desire to love and serve. #calledtoserve #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether #everyonehappierandhealthier #livelifeactivated #poweredbyaxio #germany #love #service #inclusion #kindness #karaoke

Amongst all the mission happenings, we got Charlotte in for an MRI. Her foot has been hurting for over a year, after it was ran over by a car. Even with all the healthy eating and activating, red light, ice, heat etc.....

Squishing in all the last minutes before she leaves....

Saying her goodbyes....

Mother's Day Celebrating on the road and out to dinner....

Staying at Grandma and Grandpa Merrill's house.

May 6

A beautiful, hard, heartfelt day, saying goodbye to our sweet Kika!! When we first arrived, flights were canceled and she had to be rerouted. Thank you to all who supported us in sending her off on her 18 month mission, loving and serving others across the ocean. I loved seeing miracles unfold and grateful for pictures being sent to me from others across the country as she made it to each of her destinations. She is almost to Paris and then onto Manchester. My little girl is across the world on a glorious adventure. #servingoursaviour #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #livelifeactivated #grateful #alpinegermanspeakingmission #family #friends

May 10

Congratulations to these graduates today!! Seriously so proud of them!!! Cheering them on and their accomplishments We love you Aunt Sierra!! Grateful for our friends, Sydney and Brettleigh!! Amazing!! What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #congratulations #goals #yay #livelifeactivated #npc #college #graduation

May 11
Happy Mother’s Day love to all you wonderful courageous woman. Grateful for you. #mothersday #loveyou #grateful ful

Getting some last minute treasures from Great Grandma Burgoynes's house.

Got to talk to Sister Merrill on Mother's Day

Grandma and Grandpa finally came home to continue to heal from Mayo and prepare to go on their mission again.

Sweet Olivia, we love seeing her cute smiles.

Animal chores, Harrison is becoming a good helper!

May 15

I got to speak to my sweet Kika, Sister Merrill, she showed me around the MTC in England. She has several others in her class that are learning German. And we can't forget the Hand Hug that Caroline started with Jon in Prison because it was the only way to hug through the glass. Now it's a staple in our family and works on the phone too.

Exploring art class, getting ready for the big art show.

We were so sad to say our goodbyes to Kalicia's good friend, who passed away, as she was starting her mission. Rose came to Kalicia's farewell where Kika said her last goodbyes until heaven. It was not an easy time for Kika and her friends.

Appointments on zoom with genetics and neurology 

Performance at Northland Pioneer College

May 13

Makenzy Carcamo is with Anna Pember Merrill and Merrill Budz.

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Late night fun with friends

May 16

We had an excellent banquet fundraiser at 77 Subaru Bringing awareness to inclusion. Play Unified! I wasn’t able to grab a lot of pictures, as I was the cameraman and sidekick to Charlotte interviewing everyone at the event for her “So Let’s Be Friends” Podcast. She couldn’t get far with a broken foot, so grateful they came to her. Thank you to all those who came to support such a fun successful event!! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #specialolympicsarizona #playunified #inclusionmatters #77subaru #unifiedlobos #soletsbefriends #livelifeactivated #poweredbyaxio #everyonehappierandhealthier

Charlotte's 3rd podcast was interviews at 77 Subaru

77 Subaru

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You're Invited!

Join us at 77 Subaru for an unforgettable day with the White Mountains Unified Lobos and Special Olympics Arizona!

Friday, May 16, 2025

12 PM – 4 PM

1251 N Automall Pkwy, Show Low, AZ

www.77subaru.com

Come enjoy:

Unified Team Competitions

Food, Drinks & Local Fun

Family Games & Activities

Support for Special Olympics Arizona

For over 50 years, Special Olympics has empowered children and adults with intellectual disabilities through sport—building confidence, inclusion, and joy.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Let’s celebrate unity, teamwork, and FUN in the White Mountains!

Bring the whole family and tag your crew!

#LobosUnified #SpecialOlympicsAZ #77Subaru #showlowaz #showlowchamber #showlow #SubaruLovesToHelp

Beginnings of the Podcast, Desiree Scholin was Charlotte's first guest

So much fun at the Merrills!!! Horses!!!

May 17

It has been quite a week and we got the pond finished just in time! working on the pond every minute in the nooks and crannies. This project started over a year ago ripping the pond apart repairing the leach lines. We had 20 tons of sand delivered this week and I loaded three truckloads of rock/boulders and finished the pond with 1086 pound liner just in time for prom today! We had several earth angels show up to help unexpectedly! So grateful beyond words! And the prom dates are enjoying it today! Can’t wait to share pictures of the joy! and the fun!!!! #livelifeactivated #exercise #selfsufficient #fish #fun #crazy #finished #angels #nowforthewaterfall #poweredbyaxio #prom #pond #grateful

May 19

PROM #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #livelifeactivated #inclusión #everyonehappierandhealthier #fun #beautifull #annamerrillart

Love notes to teachers

Special reminders and memories

Exploring Art Program, working in other classrooms, private schools too

May 22

Congratulations to two incredible seniors who have demonstrated inclusion in our community, Sydney Brimhall and Linden Bartels. They have helped to erase the gray lines and get rid of the script. They’re just friends. Thank you for your incredible example! Kalicia was the first to receive the award last year when she graduated, as so many have said that she is the symbol of inclusion. So they called it the “Kika inclusion award.” #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #everyonehappierandhealthier #inclusion #playunified #livelifeactivated #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether

May 25

Congrats to an exciting weekend to all the graduates! I love the youth in our area. They’re doing amazing things! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #livelifeactivated #graduates

Seminary graduations, Players (cousins) and friends.....

May 26

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve our country. We enjoyed walking in the cemetery, picking out the veterans and honoring them, spending time with friends and family, and working out in the yard. It was a beautiful weekend! #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #livelifeactivated #memorialdayweekend #grateful #loveourcountry #friends #family

Loving all these farewells, strong warriors heading out into the world, Annie's turn!

(It's been so hard over the years, feeling heart broken, but I feel like I am starting to heal)

It's becoming exciting again! It has to be!

Girls day in the valley with my sisters and my mother. 

Jessyka had us all help her put their special mission book together.

I love hearing from my children and the exciting happenings throughout their days.

Rocks all came crashing down on the side wall of the pond. Grateful nobody was there. We removed them all and no rocks on the wall. still don't understand what happened, they were on the side wall years before that. But everyone is safe and we planted vines instead. They may take awhile to grow.

Gardening and planting Memorial Day Weekend...  Gardening with my Friend Gregory.

May 27

My darling little missionary is enjoying the England MTC, not a lot of updates yet except that she’s working hard to speak German fluently. She’s an amazing hard worker so she’s going to be able to do it! #livelifeactivated #lovethegospel #oursavior #poweredbyaxio #madnesswiththemerrillbudz #everyonehappierandhealthier #merrillsworktogetherplaytogetherstaytogether

May 30

Fishing Derby was such a great time today, weather was beautiful missed those who couldn’t make it.

Play unified, FISH UNIFIED

More exciting moments during the day!!! Live Music with Joe Dilema, Gardening with Gregory, My big kids going to the movies and Kika serving in Germany.....

Cheryl's Sister, Terri. I love that we keep in touch and stay friends. We miss Cheryl Byrd. We love to get Thai food together.

Memorial Day Fun with Friends!!!

Moments when God was asking me to do hard things, and I can feel my Savior carrying me.

Time to say goodbye to our Yukon, our family is getting smaller with Kika leaving on her mission, 

we hardly have been driving it. Sad to see it go.

May 31

I dropped my little pilot off at the airport. First time I left him by himself to fly. He’s a full-blown teenager. He was pretty quiet the whole time. I kinda kept asking if he was OK. He didn’t give me a hug or say goodbye or anything. I think that’s just teenage tough stuff. And he flew an airplane without me out there watching him, taking pictures and videos. (…Thinking I was protecting him from the ground. Lol!)

I felt scared and hesitant driving off, but he didn’t need me. He was awesome! Cheering for such great things, independency. Somebody else was willing to take my kid on too, without me there with Cerebral Palsy So much gratitude. He was excited that he flew over our house and that he received awards that he’s been working for, for a long time. He’s working towards being a pilot, knowing it may not be possible with having cerebral palsy. “Forward is Foward, no matter the pace” -setting goals

"Summer" Mama School and Harrison retiring his Spiderman backpack!! A little sad to say goodbye