I Love Primary!!
Today was our first Sunday with the 9:00 schedule (my alarm went off at 6:45!) and I'm happy to report that the 4 of us were showered, dressed and ready to go by 8:20am. Not too shabby at all. I needed to go early to hang some pictures (Randy drew these reverence pictures for us) on the bulletin board in the primary room (I forgot my camera since I don't ever bring to church, but I'm going to take a picture of our cute bulletin board) so we were there VERY early today.
This was also our first official primary as a new presidency with us doing sharing time. The president did it today (I'm next week) and did a fabulous job. In junior primary (ages 3-7) a little 4 year old girl gave a talk and reduced most of the women to tears. Her mom was whispering the words into her ear, but the sweetness and willingness of this little girl to give this talk was heart-hurting good. She talked about how her Grandma Jo died 2 weeks ago and that even though she will miss her, she's not too sad because she knows she'll see her again. (She held up an 8x10 sized photo of her and her grandma while she said this.) She then sang "I Am A Child of God" into the microphone. I was a blubbering mess (this did not help my phantom booger fears that plague me in the winter).
I sat with one of the 7 year old classes today to help with some wiggly boys. One little boy sat on my lap, played with my hands, held my face and was just all kinds of cute and innocent.
I'm so grateful to be a part of primary, to get to see these sweet kids every week, to listen to them sing the truth through great primary songs. I got choked up more than once during singing time and felt like giving the entire room a hug.
This is unrelated except that we walked out of church into a blowing winter wonderland. Whitney and I had to stay after so she could practice a song with all the other kids who are getting baptized this year, so we had Randy take a picture of us when we got home. We were covered in snow just from the car to the house.
This was also our first official primary as a new presidency with us doing sharing time. The president did it today (I'm next week) and did a fabulous job. In junior primary (ages 3-7) a little 4 year old girl gave a talk and reduced most of the women to tears. Her mom was whispering the words into her ear, but the sweetness and willingness of this little girl to give this talk was heart-hurting good. She talked about how her Grandma Jo died 2 weeks ago and that even though she will miss her, she's not too sad because she knows she'll see her again. (She held up an 8x10 sized photo of her and her grandma while she said this.) She then sang "I Am A Child of God" into the microphone. I was a blubbering mess (this did not help my phantom booger fears that plague me in the winter).
I sat with one of the 7 year old classes today to help with some wiggly boys. One little boy sat on my lap, played with my hands, held my face and was just all kinds of cute and innocent.
I'm so grateful to be a part of primary, to get to see these sweet kids every week, to listen to them sing the truth through great primary songs. I got choked up more than once during singing time and felt like giving the entire room a hug.
This is unrelated except that we walked out of church into a blowing winter wonderland. Whitney and I had to stay after so she could practice a song with all the other kids who are getting baptized this year, so we had Randy take a picture of us when we got home. We were covered in snow just from the car to the house.
**Do you love primary?
Does singing time make you cry?
Do you know you'll see your loved ones again?**
Does singing time make you cry?
Do you know you'll see your loved ones again?**
38 comments:
What a sweet Sunday story about the 4 year old girl. Reminds me of a story one of my favorite former priests told our parish, about approaching the Lord as a child does.
Snow, I cannot believe. I washed my car outside in shorts today!
I love Primary. I haven't been in primary for a while. Last year I was asked to substitute for a class, and it was the best experience. Children know so much. Their answers are so pure and simple. It's a humbling place to be.
Jill- I love primary too!
I love singing time & try really hard not to cry because i am the song leader, still sometimes I do.
The theme this year is such a powerful one, it makes me glad to be in primary.
Yes I know I will see my loved ones again someday! What a blessing.
What a sweet post. I get choked up in primary ALL the time, especially during singing time. There is just something about those primary songs that hit me every time. I am glad you are loving your calling nad loving primary. Those pictures are so CUTE!! Randy is very talented!
I've had my Primary calling for almost a year now and never having served in there before I was so apprehensive. But now I can say that I too LOVE Primary. I get choked up during the songs, sharing time and sweet talks. For awhile I attributed it to pregnancy hormones but really I know the Spirit is always in that room.
What a sweet talk from a 4 yr old. I would have been in tears for sure. I feel blessed to have the knowledge of seeing our loved ones again. Love this Sunday post!
It's lovely to read such an 'emotional' post from you, Jill, and I'm glad the whole day was so fulfilling for you.
I cannot bring myself to attend ANY kind of mass faith gathering (eg, New Wine) because I know I'd just spend the entire weekend crying my eyes out and looking like a complete loony. Isn't that a shame? I wish I could resolve in 2008 to attend smthg like that, but I can't bear to even make the resolution.
Randy's really talented with the illustrations, by the way. They are so simple and obvious. I can see those cartoons reappearing in primary rooms all over the world. Gosh, the fame!
You're blessing us all with your enthusiasm!
We walked out of church into a blizzard today also.
Singing time gets me choked up too. What a sweet talk that little girl gave.
I do know I'll see my loved ones again after death.
Do you love primary? YES!! I love being in there.. I love to be with my kids and hear what they are learning!
Does singing time make you cry?sometimes.. I think I cried during most of the primary program this last year.. so many songs.. such sweet testimonies..
Do you know you'll see your loved ones again? YESS!!!
thanks for sharing.. I am so glad your first sunday went so well! you are going to be great in there!
Wow Randy did such a great job with those pictures! Glad to hear your first day in Primary was a success!!
I loved this post, Jill. I'm amazed that Randy drew those pictures -- they're fantastic!
I got home from church a bit ago just feeling all in love with Young Women's. It's been a while since I've been in Primary, but I loved it, too. I'm glad your first Sunday went so well!
i do know i will see loved ones again... hope they want to see me too.
ok so what are the copyright rules for those posters.. and i am serious. Amanda was on to something with that.
i have been in primary for a year and do love it especially the primary we are in. it is hard with caroline, i had to leave sharing time today because she is on my like a magnet whenever i am conducting or teaching and it feels a little like a leach sometimes and i have to get away. so if i don't have to be in the room for the younger kids i am usually in the hall so i can breathe - is that horrible or what.
ok don't forget my copyright question.... i am doing sharing time in a few weeks.
I LOVE primary. It was so hard to be in Relief Society today. And children singing reduces me to tears too. So happy for you and the opportunity you have to serve in Primary! Primary makes me happy!
Man, how lucky are you to have Randy as a resident artist for your sharing times, Jill? Those are great.
I'm so glad you're enjoying your position in the Primary. What a great place to be.
Randy should illustrate for The Friend! I'm serious.
You sound like such great Primary leader. I teach the 7-8 year olds and singing time often gets me teary-eyed; the spirit is just so strong during those songs and sweet voices!
Can't wait to hear all about your lesson next week.
Good luck! (Even though you don't need it). I'm sure it will be magnificent.
Love your link at the bottom. You're such a great missionary!
Isn't Primary the best??!!! Seriously, I am either crying, or laughing in there. Little children are the sweetest.
I am glad you are enjoying primary so much. I did like it when I was in but needed a break since I was going to be having a baby. I sub a lot in there and i just think you need your best people in primary. That is where the seed of their testimony is planted. Plus I was reminded constatly that for some kids, primary is the only time they are taught gospel principles so I always felt such a resonsibility to teach those kids what I could.
I turn into a mess when the Primary kids start singing too! Last week I sat with Mom's class while she took care of some things and when they started singing "Scripture Power" I could barely hold it in. It's so powerful. And don't even look at me during the annual Primary program. I practically have to bring a box of Kleenex. I remember one year a small group of 4 girls sang "I'm Trying to be like Jesus" and I was almost sobbing. Their sweet, innocent voices just cut me up.
I think it's great that you are enjoying your new calling. I am sure you'll be amazing. Though I am a little annoyed that you have resources like Randy at your fingertips. Those signs are perfect.
Randy DREW those? I am totally impressed. I have almost no artistic ability, so I have to cruise the internet for my primary and home evening pictures.
Glad you are having such a positive experience!
I lived your morning this morning. Alarm at 6:45 and ready at 8:20 exactly. Ken was none too impressed that we could have slept for another half hour and still been ready on time, but I liked knowing that we had pleanty of time and weren't rushing to make it to church for 9am. Primary has such a wonderful theme this year, what a great year to be in a primary presidency.
So glad you are loving your new calling. I'm the chorister for our primary here in Montreal, and I couldn't have asked for a more joyful and fun calling. Cute photo of you and Whitney - very sweet!
Wow those primary signs are great! I too love primary and I love music so when the children would sing it would get to me too, especially the song they sang for their program in '06 (children holding hands around the world) priceless!
i love that my kids are in primary..again havent been called to serve in primary..so i was 11 the last time i was there--hello that was like 20 years ago!! weird to think!
those are great posters!!! wow!
i do love primary- i am so impressed by how wonderful the little ones are- it's amazing. it's a place i never really desired to have a calling, but now i don't know if i could leave it. it will break my heart when we move away from my sweet little 5 year olds.
it's comforting to know we'll see our loved ones again. i often feel like they are closer than we know.
What is it about children singing. It get's me every time. I went to Bella's Baptism preview tonight and it was all I could do to hold it. I also love primary and had a hard time saying goodbye after 9 years of serving.
I think you will be awesome at your new calling. The posters look amazing.
I'll say it too, Randy did some GREAT posters! I would've been a total mess in your Primary today after that talk. I used to be a little better about refraining from bawling, but ever since my little 4yo was seriously ill this year, my feelings are so tender. I haven't decided if this is a good thing or not!
Gosh, that was just the best thing to read about. I know what that's like to want to give the entire room a hug. Now that's really being filled with the Spirit. I love Primary too and am so excited about my eight new friends in my new CTR 7 class I can't tell you. Two of my out-going CTR 7 kids waved/smiled at me during Sacrament and I melted. Then 13 year old Austin Buxton testified that he had been thinking about what an honor and a privilege it is to hold the Priesthood, to actually hold the power to act in God's name if worthy. I realized that Primary is where it's at! Hey, he's only been in Young Mens a year! I realized the power of their pure innocent spirits and the enormous potential they have to become tomorrow's missionaries,parents, and great leaders of the church. I had to jump up and testify of the truthfulness of this Gospel and its magnificent capability to mold and transform an ordinary person into an extraordinary person when they let the Sprit be their guide.
Too bad about that phantom booger fear. Always carry a small mirror in your bra or keep a very good friend close by who will tell you the truth.They are also helpful with food in your teeth. I have one.
P.S. A close friend near by, not the mirror.
i hear you about primary! we should get together and share...i'm 1st counselor too. and we're on the 9 a.m. schedule. although i'm sad to have to admit that we were no where near ready at 8:20. i am very impressed. we too left church in the blizzard. crazy!
Good Job on getting up early and being ready early. We have the 2-5 now. It actually gave me a little time to change some things for singing time. Which I had not thought of. I am certainly glad to hear that someone else is fear full about their nose having problems in winter. As for crying in primary. It is a wonderful place to feel the spirit. Love those pictures!
What a great picture of you and Whitney. I have a second calling where I do sharing time once a month. I am SIster Friendly. I come in all dressed up with a big pocketed apron and read stories and do activities out of the Friend. The kids love it. And I will be in the store or somewhere during the week and here I sister Friendly from across the way.
I can't BELIEVE Whitney will be getting baptized this year!!
I do love primary. I often get choked up during singing time, and am so glad I get to be in there hearing the singing, talks, sharing time, etc. And yes, I know I will see my loved ones again!
p.s. I just read your mom's comments and I'm dying about the tiny mirror in your bra! Too funny.
Also, we had the sweetest little 4-year-old talk yesterday as well. A little boy talked about being a child of God. His dad was whispering the things for him to say. He told about how when he grows up, he will look like his dad (only a little more handsome), and how he also wants to be like his Father in Heaven when he grows up. Totally choked me up.
Very cool perspective on Primary...I wish all those who worked in Primary felt like you! Also, I love those drawings Randy did...would you (or he) mind it if you emailed them to me? I would love to pass them along to our Primary President.
i kind of wish i were in primary- i never have been. timm is recently though, and i think he likes it :)
I have no desire to be in primary even though singing time does make me cry. I love that my kids get to go and I love that there are good leaders making it such a great experience for them.
Did Randy draw the pictures that were in our primary a few years ago? They look VERY familiar.
I LOVE primary. I'm so glad you are loving it too. You are the best person to be in there.
I saw your reverence visuals on Sugardoodle, they looked great, and I liked seeing your name and saying to myself 'hey I know her'
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