Day 58 Waters of Sebus

We had a primary activity today and I was asked to hel at it. They had a million stations all about the Book of Mormon. My job was to teach them about the Waters of Sebus. It was fun. Teaching: right up my alley!

Stampeding, Working Out, and Wonderful Baptisms

Today was our annual Stampede Breakfast at the church. I volunteered to help and so we were there bright and early. However, they ended up moving it inside because it was raining and cold. As a result, they didn't need quite as many helpers so I ended up just visiting with people. It was a great time!

In the afternoon we headed out to Airdrie. We decided to go work out at the Airdrie Rec Center. Peirce went swimming and the rest of us went to the fitness area. Jill wanted to see how much she could bench press. Looks like she can do just around 100 pounds. She beat me! We did the circuit and then did some cardio. It was totally exhausting. After we filled up at Five Guys.

The real reason for going to Airdrie was to attend a baptism. A boy in our ward, Nick, was baptized. He is such a great kid. He's 14 and was invited by his neighbor, who was also recently baptized. Brandon, my cousin's foster son, was also baptized. The meeting was so emotional for me. I love both those boys and was so proud to see them both finally be baptized. They're wonderful boys!

Look Ma! No Nap!

1. Today was the first Sunday for me to not be in primary. I have to say as I heard them from the Sunday School room as they were singing the opening song it really touched my heart. I missed them!! I am grateful for the music in primary. I always said the music leader is like the gospel doctrine teacher of primary. I still stand by that.

2. Today was a glorious Sunday. I enjoyed Sunday School immensely. We discussed the Christmas story and read Luke 2. It was absolutely wonderful and I left feeling spiritually nourished. Relief Society was the same. I loved it. Most interestingly of all, when it was all over I didn't feel like I needed a 3 hour nap! That's been my Sundays for the past couple of years. I found after church I was positively exhausted. I guess it wasn't just that I'm getting old. I wonder how the new primary presidency felt today? I will have to check in with them some time.

Maybe.

3. Today I feel especially grateful for Christmas. I am off now and have a lot to do this week. So glad that I have the time and resources to do it!

4. I am so very grateful for my job. I almost don't like to be away. I really miss it. But I am grateful for the break. I feel truly blessed to have the job I have.

5. My family. I found out Neil isn't coming out for Christmas - but he is going to come out in January. Luckily he picked a weekend that we don't have something going on. I'm really grateful for that. I'm excited to see my family at Christmas. Can't wait!

6. I'm grateful for the wonderful people I got to work with in primary. It was strange being in RS today with Karyn. I wished Deanna was there. And I wondered where Colleen was. I love those ladies!

7. I'm grateful for life! I am grateful for the good man I'm married to. I'm grateful that my kids are healthy and happy. I love to be with them all. Life is good. :)

Released!

I'm actually writing this on Wednesday - but can't publish the post until Sunday.

Tonight the Bishop came to visit us. He released me from primary! I was kind of mixed about it. I have felt like it is time for a change, but then again, I have also felt like primary is the best place to serve and would be happy to stay forever! I guess, though, everyone needs a chance to get to see how great primary is.

The one tricky thing about it all was that I was planning on a presidency meeting on Thursday night to plan classes for January. Didn't quite seem like a good use of time-  so I cancelled the meeting. Ahhh!! So looking forward to a calling with no more meetings! :)

No new calling yet though! I guess I get a bit of a vacation. That's okay with me!

Released!

I'm actually writing this on Wednesday evening, but I couldn't publish it until Sunday. The Bishop came to visit and released me as Primary President. I pretty much expected it. It's been just over 2 years. I sure have enjoyed it. I felt kind of tossed about getting released. In some ways I feel like it's time for a change. But then again, I'd be happy to stay in primary for a long time. I guess a change is good so that the kids in primary get some fresh ideas and new enthusiasm. I will miss them!

No new calling yet. I guess I get a vacation!

God's Minions

Today in Sharing Time I had the children share their favorite scripture story or something they have learned from the scriptures. It was so great to hear them share. My favorite was one who shared the story of Ammon. It went something like this:

"and so he cut off all the robbers arms - so the king said, "Whoa! are you God or something" and Ammon said, "No, but I am one of his minions....."

Snakes and Sirens

Primary is always so entertaining. This is my month to do Sharing Time. I talked about Moses' temple, Nephi's temple and Joseph Smith's temple. I was trying to explain who Moses was and told some random Moses stories.....one being the snake on the stick. I went on to Nephi, but one boy couldn't get past the snake story. Every time his hand went up (which was anytime I asked a question) it was another snake question.

What kind of snakes were they?
Why were there so many snakes?
Where did they come from?
Did they get to keep the snakes?
I want a snake on a stick.

Then we would roll a dice during Singing Time (our poor music leader had a house of sick kids so I did singing time today). We would sing the way the dice rolled: cowboy style, underwater, opera, etc. After we sang it police man style I couldn't get one of the Sunbeams to stop making police car siren sounds. LOL

Primary. It's two hours of comedy sometimes!

Stake Primary Activity

The stake put on a primary activity today. Planning an activity for 180 kids is not for the faint of heart! I admire them for what they pulled off!

The theme, of course, went with the theme for Primary this year: I Know The Scriptures are True. First the kids were all divided up into the 12 tribes of Israel. Peirce was in Reuben's tribe. We went to the primary room to learn about people from the Old and New Testament.

First we learned about Peter. President Zemp was dressed up as Peter. He said he loved fishing, so if any of the kids guessed wrong about who he was they would have to eat a raw fish. He also said he liked to eat locusts. There were lots of wrinkled noses over that comment. He was also the only person, besides Jesus, to ever walk on water.

Then we learned about Daniel. He taught a poem:



Wherever I am,

Whatever the day,

Heavenly Father is

Only a prayer away.



We met Noah next. He brought some of his animals too!

After that it was Adam and Eve. They ate an apple too! (For old time's sake?)

Last of all, in that room, was Esther.

The next room we went to was where the kids got to do a craft. They took pictures from the scriptures and made their own mini scriptures.

Here is Peirce doing the craft.
After that we travelled to a room where we learned about people from the Book of Mormon.

This is Sam, I mean Alma the Younger! (Sam is Allen's cousin) He did a great job talking about how remorseful he felt that he was such a problem child while his dad was the prophet. He talked about how he even saw an angel! After that he repented and became a great missionary.


This is Mormon. He even brought along some gold plates!

Next was Captain Moroni. He teasedthat he was Tin-Foil man - but the kids knew better.

And there is the Title of Liberty!

Last of all was Ammon. He told about how he just wanted to be a good missionary and so he didn't marry the king's daughter. He loved sheep, and went about doing the things the king asked. He even had an arm he had chopped off when the robbers came to scatter the king's sheep! Ewwww! That was a big shock! :)

After that we went into the gym. All the kids sat in their tribes. Pharoah was sitting there looking over everyone (or something like that!)

Soon, in walked Moses and Aaron! President Thomas was dressed up as Moses, and President Rausch was Aaron.

They told us the stories of trying to get Pharoah to let the people go. There were plagues and everything. Soon it was time to leave. We went through the Red Sea that Moses had parted!

We wandered in the wilderness for quite a while. The weather was not great. However, while we travelled we received mana from heaven! (Well, actually it was popcorn) We learned about how they received enough for each day. If they tried to keep extra, it rotted. But the day before the Sabbath they received more, and it stayed fresh for the Sabbath. A miracle for sure.

It was kind of chaotic and slow traveling through the wilderness. Sometimes people complained.

While we were traveling in the wilderness we got very thirsty. Moses struck this rock with his staff and water came out of it!

We also saw miracles! Moses put a serpent on a stick, and when people looked at it, they were healed! They taught it that this was to teach the Israelites about Jesus Christ as we just need to look to Jesus to be healed.

This is President Rausch, I mean Aaron, teaching us about the snakes. Moses didn't do a lot of talking. Aaron was his mouthpiece most of the time.

We were all happy to finally get to the Promised Land, even though Moses and Aaron were not able to come with us. The Promised Land was full of hot dogs and chips and millions of cookies! A blessing for sure!

PPI

Since I'm the Primary President I get to meet one on one with the Bishop once a quarter. Today was one of those meetings. I have to say, I really think our Bishop is great. We had a great visit and it helped me to feel great about our little primary.

Celebrating the Ressurection

Today was a wonderful Easter Sunday. I loved the talks. I loved the music. And most of all I loved talking about Easter and the blessings of the atonement and the resurrection with the primary. We have a little girl in our ward who is in a wheelchair. She gave a talk today and talked about a baby cousin of hers that only lived for a few hours. She talked about how she looks forward, one day to playing with her when they both have resurrected bodies. It caused me to imagine her without her wheelchair, with legs that walk for her and a perfect and whole body, and how truly delighted I am sure she will be with it and with the chance to play with her little cousin. It brought tears to my eyes!! so grateful to have these things to look forward too!!

I Love Primary

I have been thinking today about how much I love my calling. I ran into someone at the swim meet this past weekend who used to be in a ward with me. We chatted for quite a while to catch up with each other. One of our topics was callings we've loved and hated. When I was called to be the Primary President in my ward I laughed and said I wasn't sure I was the right person for the job because I really don't like other people's children. The Bishop laughed too and continued with his invitation. I have had the calling now for two years, and I have to say, I have sure grown to love other people's children. Even some of them, in their less than lovable moments, are dear to my heart. A couple of times the Bishop has asked me if this calling is too much for our family since my husband is also in the Bishopric. Sometimes I think it is, but I sure can't imagine serving anywhere else. I love it and am happy to continue to serve n primary. I have also really grown to admire the parents of children in our ward. Their kids are so darn good, and that doesn't happen by chance. What a great bunch of people I get to rub shoulders with!

Teaching Children to Feel and Recognize the Spirit

I love love love teaching. Often I sit back and can't believe I get the chance again to be a teacher. I love it. I think I love teaching the gospel to kids more though. Primary is the best place to be!

Primary theme for this year is I Know The Scriptures Are True. Today in primary we talked about all the ways we learn. I had something for each of the senses. Each thing was

Sight: binoculars (We looked through the binoculars to see how cool things look)

Smell: vinegar (They thought the vinegar was water...and I said, "Ah yes! But sometimes we need our nose to help us learn" and I had them all smell what looked like water....they were quite surprised to smell the vinegar!)

Touch: Cotton balls

Sound: My cell phone went off!

Taste: I had some oranges in a container and had someone come up and taste it without seeing it and then describe it to everyone (should have had an orange piece for everyone....if I were doing this again I would do that!)

Then I told them that we can also learn with our heart. We read Morni 10:3-5 and talked about how we feel the spirit. I told them that that is probably the most important way that we learn. We talked about how the spirit feels and I told them that when I was in primary I learned that if I was reverent and did my best to sing the songs well and listen to what people were teaching I felt the spirit and that they could do that too. I told them that the Holy Ghost only has one job (unlike all of us!) and that is to testify of truth. Whenever we hear things that are true He will confirm it for us. Someone asked how he does that and I told them I didn't know how - but it is probably like the sun. We can all see the sun and there's only one sun - but many people can feel the warmth from the at the same time, and the Holy Ghost somehow can do that too.

One wonderful little boy said, "I can feel it right now!"

I told him I could too and probably other people could - and that we could feel it every week at church and other places too if we do the things we need to.

It was so great!!

Yup. I love teaching primary.

Catching up

Cell Phone Camera!! I could go back and back-blog but to keep life simpler I thought I'd just upload some of my recent cell phone camera pictures in one post.


Last Sunday was the first Sunday of our new theme in primary: I Know The Scriptures Are True. This is our singing lady with the new scriptures her husband gave her for Christmas!! LOL It was a big hit in primary. So fun!

Over the holidays we went to quite a few movies: Yogi Bear, Tron, and Tangled (we really need to go to an adult movie now and then I think!) Here is a picture of Jill and Peirce in the hurricane simulator. Hilarious!

Peirce and his good friend Lucy. We went rollerskating at Lloyd's. I love going there. Talk about stepping back in time! It hasn't changed a bit there since I used to go every Saturday when I was 11.

Cousins! This was taken on Jordan's birthday at Aunt Colleen's. Happy Birthday Jordan!! A teenager now. Eeeek!

Kagan

Today was the first day of school....well sort of. Thankfully it was a PD Day. I needed that gentle slide into the new reality of a daily work schedule after such a relaxing holiday!

The school brought someone in for a Kagan workshop. It was really great. I attended a Kagan workshop at the end of August but really haven't used it a lot. A refresher was just what I needed.

When I attend workshops like that I find myself thinking about primary. There were so many things I learned today that would be great in primary. The trick is figuring out how to transfer the knowledge to everyone else. Hmmmmm.....

I have a few ideas for how to use this in primary. Can't wait!!

Oh. And I'll be sure to use it in my classroom too! Honest. :)

Magda Visits Our Primary

For Sharing Time this pat Sunday I did the one about miracles and the Savior's power over death. I first worked on the song for the 10th article of faith. We sang it last week and it was T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. So we worked on the first half of it - and they did quite well with it. I told them we'd sing until our "special guest" arrived. Half way through the song I said, "Oh! She's here. Hold on" and I went out of the room...and then came back in with a scarf over my head like someone from the middle east.



I told them my name was Magda and that was short for Magdalene - but since I was friends with Mary Magdalene and hung out with her all the time they came up with a nick-name: Magda (I work with someone named Magda....I think it's a beautiful name). I told them I had been a part of the crowd that hung out with the disciples and with Jesus and I told them of some of "my experiences".



I talked about how Christ has power over death and told them the stories the Sharing Time guide recommends (raising Lazarus, Jarius' daughter, and the widow's son). The last one is to talk about the greatest miracle of all: the resurrection. I tried to kind of tell it verbatim from the scriptures (not sure I did that so well - but I tried!) I tried to talk kind of sweetsy and biblical (blech) and I acted like I didn't know anyone's names. At the end one girl said, "What does resurrected mean?" and so I talked about how we're all sad when someone dies - but just like Jesus died and then lived again through resurrection, we'll all live again and be resurrected. I asked if anyone had known anyone that had died - and tons of kids had someone....I so I asked each who'd died, until I got to one little girl that is about 4. She said her big brother died and she said it makes her really really sad and I said, "Oh! That must have broken your heart!" and she nodded and told me it really did, and then I said, "The wonderful news is he will be resurrected, and so will you! And you'll be together again!" It worked so well. It was one of those pin-drop moments. Acting is something totally out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I did it because they sure listened!


Then I said, "Oh! I've stayed too long. I'm sorry! Sister Ackroyd asked me to only take a few minutes." and I walked out the side door and then into the back door without the costume on.



When I walked in all the kids laughed and they were saying they knew it was me....I just went into closing exercises, but now thinking about it I should have asked them about what happened and who was there and how they felt.....missed a teaching moment. Oh well! I'll get better!

Joy of Service

Today I stopped in nursery to see how our newly called nursery workers were enjoying their day. One brother in there kind of sighed and said, "It's a busy place!"

My response was, "Yes, but it's a happy place!"

He said, "Oh ya....so much joy it about knocks me out"

That's when it hit me. People in the Book of Mormon were always passing out from joy. I've always wondered about that. How exactly does that happen? I didn't think I've ever felt that.

Then it hit me - about every Sunday, an hour after church is over - that is about how I feel! I'm full of joy - but man, am I worn out.

Ammon must have been serving in the primary. :0)

Alma 27:17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he
was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhuasting of his strength;
and he fell again to the earth

No One Needs To See That!

Today I got to teach a primary class....not something I get to do that often! It was a last minute thing so I didn't have a lot of time to prepare (i.e. grab a manual while they're singing the opening song, flip through it while someone's doing the scripture and stuff like that, then teach!).

The lesson was "I can be kind" and we were supposed to learn about the story of The Good Samaritan as well as a few other things, but in the limited time I had to prepare I figured that The Good Samaritan could be our main focus. I read it to them out of the Bible, stopping as I went to explain things. Then I had them tell me the story. Then we acted it out. It was funny: No one wanted to be the Priest or the Levite. They didn't even want to be the robbers! They only wanted to be the good guy. Those are good little 5 year olds :0)


I read from John 10: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho (and we talked about different trips we'd all been on) and fell among thieves (and we talked about bad guys and how to stay safe from bad guys), which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.


I explained that raiment is clothing. One bright little girl said, "They took his clothes? Oh great! Then I bet everyone saw his penis. No one needs to see that!"


However, one boy, who'd obviously been told the story before was quick to add that he saw the picture, and he knew the guy still had his underwear on. We found the pictures in the manual, and sure enough! PHEW!! He did still have his underwear!

She's right. No one needs to see that. :0)

Soccer Saturday

Our Stake President has passed on a message from the Regional Representative for this area asking us all to step up and do more missionary work. We are getting a temple and the goal is to have two new stakes in Calgary by the time it is built. Every week those in leadership callings report on what they did that week - and there's no 'I left a Book of Mormon on the bus and this guy said, "Is that your book?" and I think he felt the spirit.".....they want to know who we had over to our house or to church. To help us do that he's asked us to have some sort of activity each week in our church building. The primary decided that we would have bitty ball on Saturdays. We are starting with Soccer - and today was our first day.

I have to say, I was excited about it to start with, but as the day approached I found all sorts of reasons why we shouldn't start just yet. I made the mistake of letting my kids (well, all the primary kids) know about it and when I started saying maybe we won't start this week they disagreed and let me know quite clearly. So, we went ahead.

I emailed all the primary families on Friday night. I got a few responses - but when we got there Saturday morning at 8 am no one was there, except for us and our token non-member. After about 15 minutes a couple kids on bikes showed up, then one more, then another and another - and so we said, "Let the game begin!"

I think they had a lot of fun. I know my kids ran pretty hard for an hour. We had to leave right at 9:00 because Jill has swim practise on Saturdays. Peirce and I went and did errands. He was awfully quiet. When I asked him if anything was wrong he said, "Oh, I'm just a little tired." While we did errands he just sat quietly in the back of the car. I decided that is a great way to start every Saturday...and gee, maybe every day! I think school would be a lot more enjoyable for Peirce (and easier for his teacher) if he could play soccer for an hour every morning.

So, in the end we had 10 kids there. I figured that was a pretty good start. Hopefully next Saturday we have even more. Time will tell!

Sunday Seven

1. Escaping the storm - this week much of Alberta was lambasted with a big snow storm. Here in Calgary we didn't see a bit of snow! It's always nice when the farmers get what they need (moisture) and us city slickers don't have to partake!

2. Temples! We learned this week that the ground breaking for the Calgary temple will be May 15. I'm so excited to have a temple in Calgary!

3. Good kids - my kids have played outside together much of today and have enjoyed it! They get along well most days...and I'm grateful for that. It's a thrill for me to watch them play together.

4. Swimming - Jill has really grasped the whole swim club thing. She loves working out and she is getting into great shape. She likes to have me feel how strong her muscles are getting...and they are! Recently she got moved up and now gets to go to Saturday practises...something she's been wanting to do for a long time!

5. In our ward today we talked about the restoration and so in Jr Primary we watched The First Vision. I was amazed at how intently they watched (the magic of TV?) I thanked them at the end for being so reverent so that everyone could learn the story and feel the spirit and then I bore my testimony to them about Joseph Smith. I told them that my heart felt warm and that that was the spirit telling me again that the story was true. One boy said that his heart was burning too. It was so cute. I said to him, "Well, you must know it's true too!" and he said with great enthusiasm, "I do!"

6. A clean house - I've worked hard this week to get caught up on a few things I've let slide the past few months. On Saturday Peirce was a big helper too and then when Jill came home from her practise she did a bunch of chores too. I really love a clean house!

7. Spring! I'm so grateful for Spring. This Spring truly feels like a new beginning. I wonder what changes are in store for us. Looking forward to watching it all unfold!

Sharing Time: Heavenly Father and Jesus Love Me

Today in Sharing Time we talked about how we know that God loves us. I drew a web on the board with different categories (home and family, school, church, nature, etc.) and we came up with ideas for each category. Then I assigned a category to each class and handed out hearts for the children to draw something on the heart that shows them that God loves them.

We labelled the pictures with their name and a title showing what the picture was about. My favorite one was a little CTR 5 boy. The conversation went like this:

CTR 5 boy: This is Jesus, and this is the robber.

(There were two stick men drawn on the heart.....one had red hands and feet, and the other was all scribbled on)

Primary Counsellor: The robber?

CTR 5 boy: Yes, you know, the guy on the cross beside Jesus (and he showed us the picture of Jesus on the cross with the two theives on either side. )

See, Jesus has blood on him (the blood was on his hands and feet). And the
robber is tied on the cross. (Ah ha! This was why there was scribbling on him! It was the rope that was tying him up on the cross!) I drew this because it's about that thing that Jesus did for us.

Primary Counsellor: mmmm.....What thing do you mean?

CTR 5 boy: You know....hmmm....what was it called. What was it called?? Oh ya! The Atonement!

It was such a beautiful thing! I was thrilled to see that he would decide to draw that - what could be more important?! It's the perfect example of God's love for us.

Gee I love these primary kids!

After the Junior primary was finished we sent them off to class and got the Senior Primary to do some more hearts, and help us cut out all the Junior Primary hearts. We stuck them on a big long piece of paper with a title that said: We know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Love us, and on the bottom it said: Coventry Primary. The Senior Primary kids and I snuck very quietly down to the Bishop's office and we put it on his door. We figured it would be a great reminder to everyone to went in to see the Bishop.

Unfortunately the sneakiness and reverence went right out the window when suddenly the Bishop opened his door and quickly came out to go into the Clerk's office. The kids were all so surprised the squealed and giggled and ran away down the hall. So much for reverence!!