Sunday Thoughts

So it's official, our entire Primary Presidency was released today (that was what last week's 8:00am appointment was about). I was a wreck about it last Saturday--I cried off and on all day (this was surprising to me), but did okay at church the next day and have been fine all week so I figured I'd gotten the tears out of my system. But no...as soon as they officially released us in Sacrament Meeting today the tears returned. Then I held steady during primary as I sat in the back with the new presidency giving them info and answering questions. But then during senior primary our chorister (who is the Bishop's wife and has been like a 5th presidency member) had us come sit up front so the primary kids could sing our favorite songs to us. Let me tell you, it was NOT pretty. Not only did I cry, I did the full-on ugly-faced sobbing cry in front of everyone. (Luckily, the primary president was bawling too.) Someone threw us a packet of tissues (thank heaven) and we just sobbed as we sang those songs.

{Photo not taken today, but this is what it looks like in there.}

I chose..."We'll Bring the World His Truth" (the chorus can make me cry any day)
Ilima chose..."Beautiful Savior"
Tonya chose..."I Know That My Savior Loves Me"
Our fabulous secretary Brittany was home with her week old baby, so she didn't get to participate in this sob fest.

After we sang these three songs, the chorister had us all sing "Scripture Power" to help lighten the mood a bit, but it ended up making us cry harder because each time the kids sang the words "scripture power" they held up their scriptures. It was awesome to sit up front like that and face a room full of 60+ kids singing an amazing song and happily holding up their scriptures. It was a great way to end our three year run as a primary presidency.

Also a great part of this experience, was that Jalayne (our chorister) explained how as a members of the church we promise to serve the Lord in any way asked of us, and that for the past three years it has been our job to pray, plan, teach and serve the children of our ward, but that now that time is over and four other women get the chance to do this. I know this is true, and I know these 4 women will do an amazing job as well. I have loved serving in primary far more than I ever thought possible, and I have been surprised by the flood of emotion I have experienced as part of closing this chapter in my life. I know they already have a new job planned for me because I missed a call from the Bishopric this morning (the volume on my phone was too low). I'm both nervous and excited for what it will be, but know that I will end up falling in love with it too.

Here are the Top Ten things I have loved about serving in primary.


1. The pure doctrine taught and sung each week; I always feel the Spirit in primary.


2. For the past two years our family has been in Senior primary together. Randy has been a teacher and the kids were both in their classes (Landon moved out of primary in August when he turned 12).

3. The kids. I can honestly say I love each and every child in our primary and know them by name. I always stand at the door to greet them by name as they walk in each week.


4. I have loved taking photos of the things we do in primary. The kids are so sweet and primary is a big part of their lives, so it has been fun to be the one documenting that for our ward. The pictures have been displayed on our back bulletin board and the ward newsletter, and I give them to their families when they come down from the bulletin board.


5. I have loved serving with really great people. Our entire presidency served all the way, none of us were slackers and we were able to call really great teachers (2 for each class) to guide the kids. I would often look around the room and be moved to tears by the strength I saw there; particularly in senior primary where we had many strong, male teachers (rare in primary) to serve as good examples to the kids.

6. Memorizing The Articles of Faith has been a great thing for our primary and for our family. It was our primary's goal for 2009, and it is something we accomplished as a family and continue to review each Sunday during Family Home Evening.


7. I have felt great power from memorizing 12 Scripture Mastery verses this year and I have been super impressed with all the kids who have done this as well. We have 3 year olds who are able to recite long verses because their parents have worked with them.


8. I have been so impressed with our Bishopric and their involvement and love for the primary kids. They have taken turns coming in on the first Sunday of each month to give the kids a Bishopric Message, and they always do a fabulous job.


9. I wrote and organized 3 Primary Programs over these years and have a great appreciation for all that goes into those. I enjoyed the experiences and will miss not writing next year's program and the photo slide show party we had to celebrate finishing the program each year.


10. Mostly I have loved the kids and their sweet innocence. They soak up the gospel and thrive in primary, it has been wonderful to be a part of their journey.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: I feel so emotionally drained from all this crying. I need to go to bed and sleep the sleep of the dead until I feel better.