For over a year now in Primary we have been encouraging the kids to learn the articles of faith. We used a system of positive reinforcement (aka bribery), where when they passed of the AofF twice they received a piece of candy and when they had passed off all 13 they were official members of Club 13. We then scheduled a members only party and invited only those who joined the club.
It turned out to be a very interesting experience. We had 10 members when all was said and done. They ranged from one very bright 3 year old who can say them but likely doesn't understand what they mean, to several 11 year old boys. Those boys were more interested in beating everyone to get their names up on the board than attending another Primary activity, but oh well. The activity went well and the kids--except Lucas-- all seemed to have fun. But it got me thinking about why some where there and others weren't, especially within families. Why did I have a 9 year old there but not her almost 12 year old sister? The older sister was pretty upset to see her sibling go off to the party, but hadn't been willing to make the effort to be there. I was really proud of the parents who did not even try to get her invited but used the experience to teach her.
We spend alot of time reminding our boys that they have to do the work to get the reward and that every choice has consequences. Landon does not get to go to a soccer game today because he is missing work. He has a consequence for choosing not to do something good the same as a choice to do something bad. Decisions large and small all carry consequences. Its hard to know how things will play out sometimes. I have always felt I made the wrong choice after I finished at Ricks by going back to Monmouth. I didn't do what I knew I should out of fear and nothing about my time at Western went well. However I doubt I would have ended up in Vancouver to meet Todd if I had not been so miserable in Monmouth. So I guess the lesson is that we have to live with whatever choices we make and sometimes they turn out great and other times we are crying because we don't get to go to the party.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Yesterday I quietly-- with none of my kids knowing--took a vacation day. I got up at the normal early hour my clock tells me I must, showered and went downstairs as if I was going to work. Instead I got on my knees and pleaded for much needed help to finally write the program for the Primary Sacrament Meeting. Then I sat down at my computer and began typing.
What an awesome experience. I was not excited to write the program. Usually that would fall to the first counselor and so she thinks about it and gets ready for it all year. But my first counselor sold her house and moved to Layton in July. As a result I have a brand new counselor and didn't feel that it would be right to expect her to enter Primary and immediately write the program. So I have known since Lisa's house sold that I needed to write it this year but couldn't get excited to do it. So I maneuvered to have a quiet house with no distractions and resolved to complete it or else. Once the stage was set the words and ideas just flowed. What a tremendous blessing. It confirmed again in my mind how much Heavenly Father loves those Primary children. It's good to be reminded that it is his work and he can make it happen with whatever material he has to work with. It's probably not the most creative program ever and may not be what I would have written had I been working on it all year, but it teaches truth and shows the children off.
It really was a great morning and even took a lot less time than I expected. Still had time for a nap before the boys got home from school.
What an awesome experience. I was not excited to write the program. Usually that would fall to the first counselor and so she thinks about it and gets ready for it all year. But my first counselor sold her house and moved to Layton in July. As a result I have a brand new counselor and didn't feel that it would be right to expect her to enter Primary and immediately write the program. So I have known since Lisa's house sold that I needed to write it this year but couldn't get excited to do it. So I maneuvered to have a quiet house with no distractions and resolved to complete it or else. Once the stage was set the words and ideas just flowed. What a tremendous blessing. It confirmed again in my mind how much Heavenly Father loves those Primary children. It's good to be reminded that it is his work and he can make it happen with whatever material he has to work with. It's probably not the most creative program ever and may not be what I would have written had I been working on it all year, but it teaches truth and shows the children off.
It really was a great morning and even took a lot less time than I expected. Still had time for a nap before the boys got home from school.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Day of Joy and Sadness
Yesterday was a strange day for me.
It was my beautiful daughter's 19th birthday. It was a happy occasion. She started school yesterday so we celebrated with her on Sunday evening. We had most of the Gifford clan here and of course the only Utah Stratton. It was a nice evening we ate well and enjoyed being together. Raylee left to go back to school tired but happy.
My children's birthdays are always a day of reflection for me. How can it have gone that quickly..what happened to the little red faced baby I held in my arms...are they where they should be for their age..all that Mom kind of stuff. This one was largely the same. I thought of so many special times with my girl, of some of the rough times she has had and so many other memories. She fills my heart with joy. We are so proud of the good choices she is making in her life. Although she was reluctant to be an adult she is doing fantastically at it so far. I both love and like her immensely. So in many ways it was a happy occasion.
Here's the part where I get weird. It occurred to me that if she were a boy that we would be getting ready to say goodbye to her for two long years. Wow am I glad (again) that my first child was a girl because I am SO not ready for a child to leave on a mission yet. Of course I'm not sure that I will be ready three years from now either. But a girl can hope. So I spent part of the day thinking about how much I would miss her if..how much I will miss Logan when he goes and other sad such thoughts. I spent a good portion of the day fighting back tears as I realized how quickly our time with these amazing children we have been trusted with is going.
In the end though the joy outweighed the sorrow and I celebrated that I am lucky enough to know Raylee and especially that I have had the honor for the last 19 years of being her Mom. Happy Birthday Rooster I hope it was great!
It was my beautiful daughter's 19th birthday. It was a happy occasion. She started school yesterday so we celebrated with her on Sunday evening. We had most of the Gifford clan here and of course the only Utah Stratton. It was a nice evening we ate well and enjoyed being together. Raylee left to go back to school tired but happy.
My children's birthdays are always a day of reflection for me. How can it have gone that quickly..what happened to the little red faced baby I held in my arms...are they where they should be for their age..all that Mom kind of stuff. This one was largely the same. I thought of so many special times with my girl, of some of the rough times she has had and so many other memories. She fills my heart with joy. We are so proud of the good choices she is making in her life. Although she was reluctant to be an adult she is doing fantastically at it so far. I both love and like her immensely. So in many ways it was a happy occasion.
Here's the part where I get weird. It occurred to me that if she were a boy that we would be getting ready to say goodbye to her for two long years. Wow am I glad (again) that my first child was a girl because I am SO not ready for a child to leave on a mission yet. Of course I'm not sure that I will be ready three years from now either. But a girl can hope. So I spent part of the day thinking about how much I would miss her if..how much I will miss Logan when he goes and other sad such thoughts. I spent a good portion of the day fighting back tears as I realized how quickly our time with these amazing children we have been trusted with is going.
In the end though the joy outweighed the sorrow and I celebrated that I am lucky enough to know Raylee and especially that I have had the honor for the last 19 years of being her Mom. Happy Birthday Rooster I hope it was great!
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