With our new ward came a new calling. I've been asked to serve as Primary President in the Sugar Creek Ward. It's exciting. Sunday was a little crazy with so many children at church and no counselors for the presidency, teachers, music leaders, or anyone really, but I have to hand it to the awesome people who stepped in to volunteer. For many reasons, we did not split the children into sunday school classes this week, but remained combined in the primary room for the 2nd and 3rd hour of church. I had a sharing time lesson planned, and grabbed a couple volunteers last minute to play lead the music. They did an amazing job. At one point, I counted 74 children in the primary room. That's a lot of small bodies to teach and entertain, but it happened and went better than I could've imagined it would. At one point, the room was silent and
everyone was paying attention. It was only a short moment, but that little blip gave me the confidence to know I can do this calling well and that it can be great for everyone. I could feel at that moment that I was being blessed with spiritual gifts that made me able to captivate an audience of 74 children.
The most difficult part was not knowing the names of so many of the kids. I've working really hard this week to review the roster over and over again so that I will be able to know names and faces better on Sunday. I spent about 4 hours tonight creating individual class lists and typing everyone into a word doc that lists sorts them by age, and then finding their family contact in the online LDS tools directory and typing in the children's parent's names, phone numbers, birthdays, and addresses onto the word doc, so that each teacher can have a class list that has more information than just names on it. When I taught primary, I always found it helpful to have the parents names written down for me. My friend suggested adding birth dates and home addresses and phone numbers so that as a presidency we can suggest that the teachers call or mail the children cards on their birthdays and develop better relationships with the children. It was tedious work and I am only 90% done, but the end result will be something that helps primary run smoothly. And smooth is what the children will need to be able to feel the Spirit with all of the changes happening around them.
I've already had a few phone calls about the budget, snacks, cub scouts, and activities, and questions that I don't have any answers to. I do not have the best administrative/leadership skills, but I do love children. I think that love for the children, love for Jesus Christ, and love for sharing his Gospel are more qualifications than anyone really needs to have a successful primary program. I was originally given an estimate of 85 children, but when I got the updated roster for the new ward last night, I recounted and there are 113, with 3 more who will be in primary by the end of the year. 116 children! That's a lot of love. And love is going to be what carries me.
I am so blessed...and nervous.
An extra shout out to friends who helped build up confidence in my ability to do this, and to my Aaron. He has been going to the church by 7am for ward council and to print the programs and set up chairs for a very long time...years, possibly. Now that he is no longer assistant executive secretary and we meet for church 3 hours later than we used to, he is pretty exited to spend his Sunday mornings at home with his family. I have to say...I'm pretty excited for him, too. Getting 4 kids ready and out the door to be on time for 9am church was not an easy task for me and there were several sundays that Corbin was barefoot, or the girls had messy hair, mismatched outfits, etc. I rocked a lot of last minute ponytails last year and skipped on makeup (the one day I actually wear make up is sunday) when I decided it was more important to be on time to take the sacrament than to arrive late looking pretty. When I let things go, we made it there on time.
Aaron was eager to take his turn with the children on Sunday mornings. He got up early with the children and made them waffles, and I'm certain he would've sent the children into my room with breakfast in bed for me, had it not been fast sunday, because he is just that thoughtful. I left for ward council at 9am and he got everyone dressed. He held and soothed an overtired baby Soren all afternoon, and helped in primary for the 2nd and 3rd hours of church and then brought the children home and entertained them and helped me get dinner together quickly. I was at church from 9am-4:30pm last week and I did not worry about my children even once. I knew Aaron had everything under control, and he did. He is an amazing father. He is the best partner for me and supports everything I do. I've always known the spouses and families of bishopric members sacrifice a lot for their ward family, but I've never thought to thank the spouse of the primary or relief society president. Aaron has done more behind-the-scenes service in the last week than he will ever be credited for, so I'll thank him here and say right now that I could never do this calling without his support. By Sunday night, both of us were so exhausted we could barely crawl to bed to crash.
Back to primary, it's going to be great. I have submitted names for some great counselors and dedicated teachers who will bring great strengths to serve the children and I know that everyone will grow in faith and testimony from this opportunity.
And that's why I am still absent from this blog! I haven't forgotten, and refuse to quit. But I need a few more weeks to get our lives organized and enjoy the extra time with my children before they start school.
