OK I have been in Primary for three weeks.
The first week I had two girls (one was a visitor), the next week I only had one girl. We had a short lesson and then just had fun getting acquainted. We decided our classroom was pretty dull and she suggested we have some pretty pictures. So this week, I made sure we had some cool pictures, mostly of the Savior.
The first week, I looked at my list of kids and realized that when Madisen moved, I would only have one child who comes consistently. It can be hard on the teacher and student when there is only one in the class. I mentioned it to the Primary President. She said they would discuss it as a Presidency and with the Bishop and get back with me.
this Sunday I started out with only one girl and then they moved two very active rowdy boys into my class.
I love a challenge and am enjoying looking for ideas on how to best present gospel principles in a way that the kids can understand and feel the spirit. These kids are really smart and truly can understand spiritual things. We had a great time.
I now have a Primary tote all packed and ready to go for Sundays. Actually I found a pack of three really cool ones at WalMart in wonderful bright colors.
I could have used some hand wipes on Sunday when they gave out cupcakes. Cupcakes are not my idea of a good thing when you are wearing Sunday clothes. One of my boys managed to get his cupcake on my dress. SOOO, into the bag for next week goes a pack of hand wipes.
The kids were impressed with the colorful magnets I found to hold up our pictures. They all wanted a turn a helping me take down the pictures at the end of class.
So we seem to be off to a good start.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
enjoying the moment
This weekend there was a soccer tournament in Birmingham. It had been awhile since we had been to one and when it was mentioned to us, we decided to go watch and cheer.
It was great. We watched the first game and then went out to eat with the group of players and their wives and girlfriends.
We hadn't seen some of the guys in awhile. Many of them had played together in high school with a few other guys to fill out the team.
It was like old times with a bunch of soccer players, talking, laughing, teasing and just having fun and hanging out.
It was exciting to watch our sons and their friends play. Indoor soccer is so much faster and more intense than outdoor soccer.
Two of our daughters-in-law were there supporting their guys. We were the only old folks there. It was a great day and we really enjoyed it.
It is a little sad when the kids grow up, and leave home. But once in awhile, you get invited to a game and it is like old times and you just enjoy the moment of watching your grown sons play a game they love.
It was great. We watched the first game and then went out to eat with the group of players and their wives and girlfriends.
We hadn't seen some of the guys in awhile. Many of them had played together in high school with a few other guys to fill out the team.
It was like old times with a bunch of soccer players, talking, laughing, teasing and just having fun and hanging out.
It was exciting to watch our sons and their friends play. Indoor soccer is so much faster and more intense than outdoor soccer.
Two of our daughters-in-law were there supporting their guys. We were the only old folks there. It was a great day and we really enjoyed it.
It is a little sad when the kids grow up, and leave home. But once in awhile, you get invited to a game and it is like old times and you just enjoy the moment of watching your grown sons play a game they love.
sometimes mom actually does know best
When my dad first broke his hip several years ago and I started making trips to Texas to help out my mother and sister, things were sometimes pretty rocky.
My dad was a roller coaster, things set him off and he would get really hateful and mean to everyone. He would do the opposite of whatever you would try to get him to do, no matter what it was.
My sister and I would react in kind, well meaning and trying to stand up for ourselves and protect our Mother who was the brunt of his nastiness alot.
Over time, we learned that alot of his intense mood swings were caused by medications, coupled with his natural tendency to be intensely independent and being frustrated at the total loss of everything that he felt made him a man.
As time went on and we finally got a doctor who took him off of all of the absolutely non essential medications, the roller coaster slowed and the mood swings lessened. We were still reacting and coming back at him when he got tacky and but it just wasn't happening as often.
Our mother kept telling us to just let it go and to stop trying to reason with him. Of course we thought she was wrong and kept doing what we were doing which meant when he had one of his outbursts, it lasted for days. It was really draining on everyone.
My sister is the one who has the patience and she kept trying new things and one day it just clicked. She tryed to get him to do something and he started yelling and cussing and getting really worked up. She kept her cool, told him she was sorry he was upset but she wasn't going to argue with him about it and walked away. Within minutes he calmed down and they simply picked up from there and he was fine the rest of the day. This happened several times and each time if she could keep herself calm and let it go, he would respond almost immediately and most of the time would end up doing whatever it was she needed him to do. There was still some times when he would go off and stay mad but they became less and less as time on.
My sister and I talked about it and realized if we had really listened to our mother early on instead of being so sure we were right, we could have avoided alot of really ugly situations.
Luckily, we did find out that she was right and changed what we did and everyone gained instead of losing.
We have learned alot from our Mother, especially when we really listen instead of being so sure we knew what is needed.
Life is alot like the situation with our dad. We go about so sure we know what is best or right for us or others and really don't listen to what others are saying. Because we aren't listening we end up missing out on so much.
How much could we gain from really listening and actually trying things?
I am sure Heavenly FAther feels that way with us. He trys to tell us things that we need to hear but we are so caught up in only hearing what we want to hear that we can actually block out the very things that we need to hear the most.
My dad was a roller coaster, things set him off and he would get really hateful and mean to everyone. He would do the opposite of whatever you would try to get him to do, no matter what it was.
My sister and I would react in kind, well meaning and trying to stand up for ourselves and protect our Mother who was the brunt of his nastiness alot.
Over time, we learned that alot of his intense mood swings were caused by medications, coupled with his natural tendency to be intensely independent and being frustrated at the total loss of everything that he felt made him a man.
As time went on and we finally got a doctor who took him off of all of the absolutely non essential medications, the roller coaster slowed and the mood swings lessened. We were still reacting and coming back at him when he got tacky and but it just wasn't happening as often.
Our mother kept telling us to just let it go and to stop trying to reason with him. Of course we thought she was wrong and kept doing what we were doing which meant when he had one of his outbursts, it lasted for days. It was really draining on everyone.
My sister is the one who has the patience and she kept trying new things and one day it just clicked. She tryed to get him to do something and he started yelling and cussing and getting really worked up. She kept her cool, told him she was sorry he was upset but she wasn't going to argue with him about it and walked away. Within minutes he calmed down and they simply picked up from there and he was fine the rest of the day. This happened several times and each time if she could keep herself calm and let it go, he would respond almost immediately and most of the time would end up doing whatever it was she needed him to do. There was still some times when he would go off and stay mad but they became less and less as time on.
My sister and I talked about it and realized if we had really listened to our mother early on instead of being so sure we were right, we could have avoided alot of really ugly situations.
Luckily, we did find out that she was right and changed what we did and everyone gained instead of losing.
We have learned alot from our Mother, especially when we really listen instead of being so sure we knew what is needed.
Life is alot like the situation with our dad. We go about so sure we know what is best or right for us or others and really don't listen to what others are saying. Because we aren't listening we end up missing out on so much.
How much could we gain from really listening and actually trying things?
I am sure Heavenly FAther feels that way with us. He trys to tell us things that we need to hear but we are so caught up in only hearing what we want to hear that we can actually block out the very things that we need to hear the most.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
youngest son married
Our youngest son just got married. It has been a truly wonderful time. It really helps that his choice in an eternal companion is such a sweet person. I can see how much they love each other and what a good couple they make.
We have been so very blessed in our childrens choices in marriage partners. Each one has made such good choices and our family has been blessed by each addition to the family.
Each person adds so much in the talents shared and the different abilities within the family.
We are very blessed to have each of our children and their families close by. For as many of us as there are, that is a real blessing.
It is so good to have a new addition to the family. We look forward to getting to know Jessica better and to see her and David progress and grow in their life together.
We have been so very blessed in our childrens choices in marriage partners. Each one has made such good choices and our family has been blessed by each addition to the family.
Each person adds so much in the talents shared and the different abilities within the family.
We are very blessed to have each of our children and their families close by. For as many of us as there are, that is a real blessing.
It is so good to have a new addition to the family. We look forward to getting to know Jessica better and to see her and David progress and grow in their life together.
I love family blogs
I love our family blogs. I check them each day and enjoy reading the thoughts and ideas being shared. They are as varied in content as are each person. I love the humor and insights shared. Some make me laugh, some make me think and some make me so very thankful for family. I love the pictures. As a not so talented picture taking person, I love those who do pictures and share them. These blogs have been such a great way for talents to be shared. I don't always respond to each post but I do enjoy each one and don't feel my day is complete without checking for each days newest tidbits.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Back where I started from
I have to chuckle. Heavenly Father definitely has a wonderful sense of humor. Sunday I was called to teach in Primary. It has been years since I have served with the little guys.
The first calling that I had when I joined the church was in Primary. I remember it well. I had never taught before and was really nervous but figured, how hard could it be, they are 6 and in school and know how to sit and listen and behave, right??
I can laugh now but not then. I would come home near tears some (OK most) weeks. I was awful and so were they. For those who know me, I am pretty stubborn. I was not going to let a bunch of 6 year olds get the best of the situation.
Being stubborn has it's advantages. If Heavenly Father called me to that class then He would help me to do whatever it took to do it. He had something for me to teach and some things for me to learn, then I just needed to find out what.
Those poor kids had alot to put up with while I learned what I was supposed to be doing. I would pray and teach, pray and teach and pray some more.
It was a miracle. As I got better, they mysteriously got better. As I learned to love them, they responded in kind.
By the time I was released, those were my kids and it was really hard to no longer be their teacher.
I treasure those memories and can truly laugh at myself and am so very grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me that special time in Primary.
I haven't been in Primary in years. I must admitt it was somewhat of a culture shock after all this time.
It didn't take long for the old instincts to come into play. I got home and read the lesson for next week. There was a short shifting (OK grinding) of gears to get into the child mode from teaching youth and adults for so many years.
I went to the church web site to look up Primary. They have changed alot since I was in there. I read through it all and now have an idea of what to do and not to do. I certainly don't want to embarrish my grandson and my two Murphy girls.
I went on line and ordered my very own brand new manual . (I tend to make notes in my manuals) plus I needed the pictures and stuff that go with the lessons. I have ideas on how to set up a filing system for the visual aids for the upcoming lessons.
I also ordered the childrens song book and CDs with words and music. The brain doesn't pick up on things as fast as the kids and if the teacher doesn't sing, the kids will follow suit. I was frankly surprised at how many of the songs I still remember but there are new ones I need help with. Of course it really helps that kids don't care if you really can't sing.
Misty called that night. She told me that Madisen(who is in my class) told her mom that I was really strict. they decided that was probably where Mimi gets it (sorry Misty)When her mother asked her what I did that made her think I was strict, she said that I wouldn't let her stand up on the chair except if it was an emergency. How funny is that? At least she didn't say I was mean. Strict is better than mean. Right?
Sooooo, to make a short story looooog. I am back where I started, in Primary and will still have lots to teach and even more to learn. What an adventure.
The first calling that I had when I joined the church was in Primary. I remember it well. I had never taught before and was really nervous but figured, how hard could it be, they are 6 and in school and know how to sit and listen and behave, right??
I can laugh now but not then. I would come home near tears some (OK most) weeks. I was awful and so were they. For those who know me, I am pretty stubborn. I was not going to let a bunch of 6 year olds get the best of the situation.
Being stubborn has it's advantages. If Heavenly Father called me to that class then He would help me to do whatever it took to do it. He had something for me to teach and some things for me to learn, then I just needed to find out what.
Those poor kids had alot to put up with while I learned what I was supposed to be doing. I would pray and teach, pray and teach and pray some more.
It was a miracle. As I got better, they mysteriously got better. As I learned to love them, they responded in kind.
By the time I was released, those were my kids and it was really hard to no longer be their teacher.
I treasure those memories and can truly laugh at myself and am so very grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me that special time in Primary.
I haven't been in Primary in years. I must admitt it was somewhat of a culture shock after all this time.
It didn't take long for the old instincts to come into play. I got home and read the lesson for next week. There was a short shifting (OK grinding) of gears to get into the child mode from teaching youth and adults for so many years.
I went to the church web site to look up Primary. They have changed alot since I was in there. I read through it all and now have an idea of what to do and not to do. I certainly don't want to embarrish my grandson and my two Murphy girls.
I went on line and ordered my very own brand new manual . (I tend to make notes in my manuals) plus I needed the pictures and stuff that go with the lessons. I have ideas on how to set up a filing system for the visual aids for the upcoming lessons.
I also ordered the childrens song book and CDs with words and music. The brain doesn't pick up on things as fast as the kids and if the teacher doesn't sing, the kids will follow suit. I was frankly surprised at how many of the songs I still remember but there are new ones I need help with. Of course it really helps that kids don't care if you really can't sing.
Misty called that night. She told me that Madisen(who is in my class) told her mom that I was really strict. they decided that was probably where Mimi gets it (sorry Misty)When her mother asked her what I did that made her think I was strict, she said that I wouldn't let her stand up on the chair except if it was an emergency. How funny is that? At least she didn't say I was mean. Strict is better than mean. Right?
Sooooo, to make a short story looooog. I am back where I started, in Primary and will still have lots to teach and even more to learn. What an adventure.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Love Maiocampo the site
I really love Maiocampo the site. I like being able to go to one place and see everyones posts in one place. It saves me going to each individual site to see if there are any new posts.
Its great to have such talented family members who post such fun and intertaining things.
I don't feel like my day is complete without checking out to see what is new in the family.
You can always tell when someone is really busy and they aren't able to post for awhile. Then there are several posts at once and they catch up all at once.
It is such a great way to keep up on all of the family.
I especially enjoy the grandkids getting in on the fun.
Thanks again Barry. You know I like things simple and you have made it so easy for me to keep track of the family blogs.
Its great to have such talented family members who post such fun and intertaining things.
I don't feel like my day is complete without checking out to see what is new in the family.
You can always tell when someone is really busy and they aren't able to post for awhile. Then there are several posts at once and they catch up all at once.
It is such a great way to keep up on all of the family.
I especially enjoy the grandkids getting in on the fun.
Thanks again Barry. You know I like things simple and you have made it so easy for me to keep track of the family blogs.
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