1.06.2008

How I Love Primary!


Today was the fresh start for our 2008 Primary year. I admit it, I was apprehensive and here's why. My first counselor, Candice, was home with a sick daughter. My second counselor, Natalie, was traveling back here from her Christmas trip to Utah. So that left me and my secretary, Mariann to take care of everything. Thank goodness for all our Primary teachers and music leaders! Our biggest problem is that we are now the middle ward -- we are sandwiched between two others and we have no time to go into the Primary room and organize it and set it up as we have done in the past. For me, that's a huge problem. If the children come into chaos, chaos will never leave. This I know.

Our Bishopric doesn't want us leaving Sacrament meeting early to set up, so I convinced them to hold the congregation and let the Primary leaders and teachers scurry down to do what set-up we can get in before the kids arrive. We had a lot of Aaronic priesthood boys and their leaders helping us -- so it was a bit chaotic but once we all know what we want done, it should go quickly.

I did Sharing Time, and despite some off-and-on sobbing from one of the twelve (yup, twelve!) new Sunbeams, both Jr. and Sr. Primary went well. And once again, I felt the spirit so strongly as I did what I had prepared to do, which was to teach and bear testimony and love the children and their teachers.

I love Primary. With all my heart. I really do. I'm so grateful for the chance I have to be part of the lives of these precious little ones and their equally precious teachers.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

12 sunbeams is going to be interesting! i'm sure they'll adjust quickly and love it, though!

Jori said...

Those poor little Sunbeams,they always have such a tough time at first. It's fun to watch how much they change over the year. I'm sure with you in charge they will all do great.

Rebecca said...

My Maya started sunbeams today! She loved it! I'll be bloggin about it later!

Emily John said...

Sunbeam class can be hard for the kids, teachers, primary leaders and parents. BUT they all ways adjust quickly. I taught sunbeams for 2 years and LOVED it. Once they got used to me and quit crying for their mama.

Natalie Scott said...

Oh, Jan, I am HOME and ready to get going!! I can't tell you the anxiety I felt today about primary...it's been way too long. I'm so sorry you and Mariann had to do it all and on a sore foot, too! Call me as soon as you can.
"hugs"

Hacking it up said...

Jan, you are so awesome! You truly have a gift with all of those primary kids! Your testimony today was very sweet, and every one of those kids knows that you really love them! Thank you for all you do!!! You have awesome counselors too--what a team!

tiburon said...

You are amazing! Middle ward sucks - there is never prep time. I can't believe you have 12 sunbeams - our primary must be so small compared to yours!

Mia said...

Primary is such a blessing to those little kids and to their parents. Thank you from all the really really grateful parents throughout the church. We love the primary!

Darleen said...

Thank you for your inspiration. I'm the 1st counselor in our Primary and everything is still so new to us presidency. But it was a great Sunday--the sunbeams (Stella is one of them) were more reverent than the other children. I know how important to have the room set up--lucky our ward is at 9 a.m.

Kristi said...

You did such a great job for Sharing Time, Jan (as usual!) I really appreciated your wonderful testimony as well--I love how much you love Primary! I thought the Sunbeams did surprisingly well, too--I could hardly believe my little Braden was so still and attentive! I'm crossing my fingers for next week, though :)

Christina said...

Twelve sunbeams is amazing! I think Addie's going in with 4 or 5 others. I wish she could go to your primary- she'd be sure to have an amazing experience with you running the show :)

Maren said...

My nephew Ty 'graduated' from nursery too, He'll be 4 in 2 weeks or so! They made him a little graduation hat, and he's so darn cute! hehe! I love that you have so much love for these little ones. Keep up the good work Jan!

Phogles said...

oh, and being the middle ward puts you right over the top of nap time and lunch time! What a tough schedule, especially for the Primary. Too bad about the "no snack" policy...there are days when snacks would solve a lot of problems! You are superwoman, Jan!