first day of seminary

And they are off!
Savanna and Jay started their 2nd year of Early morning Seminary on August 27th and today marked their 3rd week completed. This is Savanna's 2nd year attending and Jay's 2nd year teaching. Every morning they rouse around 5ish and get ready for their day. Piano practice, showers, smoothies then off to the church building by 6 to meet with the class.

Last year they studied the Old Testament and this year they are studying the New Testament. I am proud of them both for going. To get up, to be ready and not complain (for the most part.)

I am thankful for the time they put into it. Both as student and teacher. The early mornings have been a hard thing to get used to. But I honestly think that this year is easier than last year.  Oh the appreciation we have for sleep though! Getting to bed earlier than we would like and enjoying the treat of sleeping in on a day off or weekend.

A few of my favorite things..

Yesterday was our kids Primary Program. I had the fun of being a Mom watching my kids, and helping all the kids sing their songs. It is always an anticipated Sunday. The Primary kids are so cute, and you never are sure what is actually going to happen.

Here are a few of my favorite things from yesterday ...
Some have photos, some don't.

I watched with admiration as Luke stood up with his class and said his part without any problem. I wasn't worried that he couldn't do it. It was more of a matter of IF he would do it. Anytime this last year that he is asked to get up in front of a group he is too scared. Like really scared. Yesterday he did it.

Having Jay take Tucker down from the stand (to avoid a train wreck about to happen) and corralling, wrestling, whispering and struggling with him for the rest of the meeting. I made a mental note to enjoy his help.

Getting to lead the kids in a song that Jack accompanied on the piano. It all went so smoothly that I forget Jack was the one playing! Afterward I told him how proud I was and he said, "I prayed."
I found this from a friends blog. She turned to offer him a word of encouragement and this is what she saw ...
"His eyes were closed, his hands were clasped, and his lips were forming the words of a silent prayer. I was so touched. Here, a ten year old knew the power of prayer and that he could ask for help to play his song. Suffice it to say, I turned around and walked away without saying anything, realizing that he was getting more help from God than I would have been able to offer."

Listening to each child stand up and say that they knew that they were loved by the Savior. I felt of their love.

Watching kids that just joined us over the last few months and weeks, and how they just fit right in.

Singing our hearts out all day!

Then the anticipated cutting off the Bishoprics ties!

We did this last year with the Primary and told the kids we would do it again. At the very end of Primary we had the Bishopric come in and all the kids got to take a turn to cut off a piece of their ties. (great cutting ties purchased off of ebay-by a member of the Bishopric!)

The men have just as much fun as the kids! It is almost a tradition ...

Then the last little sweet thing for the day ...

There had been a surprise of cupcakes for all the kids. It was a fun surprise! Except for Luke who has been off of sugar for the last week and a half and still has about another week to go.

(That deserves it own blog post probably!)

Anytime that we know there is going to be food handed out somewhere (school or church) we have been able to help him by offering alternatives of either a snack of some kind or a non edible treat, like a date with dad, or a trip to the library, or getting his legos back, etc. While the kids ate their cupcakes I took Luke out in the hall and we worked out a good alternative.

I had a few people apologize, and really there was no fault or blame. How is everyone supposed to keep up with the dietary restrictions of one child? That is my job. I just wasn't prepared for it.

But after church a darling teenager called. Her Mom had been telling her Dad about Luke. She overheard and gave us a call and wanted to make Luke his own special treat. She just happens to be off of sugar and had been compiling recipes of desserts. She also wants to go into the culinary arts. A win for us! She made and delivered the sweetest treat for Luke. We were so touched by her thoughtfulness and Luke thought it was pretty cool too!

Sunday Thoughts- a change & rare event edition

Today I witnessed a rare event. I guess I should say a few rare events.
Rare event #1: Our entire family sat together for church. (Wonder why we don't sit together for church? See here and be sure to read the comments.)

Rare event #2: No child had to be taken out, nobody argued, or screamed or needed parental attention during. (I won't speak about the ride to church) Because we had a Stake Conference (this meeting is held twice a year) the meeting was 2 straight hours. While normally we attend for 3 hours, those hours are broken into segments. So for our family to make it 2 straight hours seemed like a miracle!

Rare event #3: Our family witnessed the change in our Stake Leadership. This part was rare because it happens about every 10 years or so. For as long as our family has lived here in Oklahoma there has been the same Stake Presidency. I believe that they were men who have sacrificed much. In our church there is no paid ministry. It is all volunteer. In a way. Not in the way of volunteering yourself or asking to have a position. We are extended callings. Our family has prayed for the leaders of our Stake and their families. We realize and appreciate their time, and their sacrifice.

Today our Bishop was called into the reorganized Stake Presidency. We pray for he and his wife as they experience this time of change. I was surprised at how emotional I was about the change.
With our Bishop being called into the Stake, our Ward (congregation) will experience a change sometime soon of a new Bishopric. There will be a new Bishop and counselors called to serve our ward sometime in the next few weeks. I will keep our leaders in our prayers as they meet and pray and discuss our ward and its needs.

I have a confession to make. I don't like change. Even when it is good change. I find it hard to adjust. Even when I am all for the changes, I still find it hard to take. But today has been different. There has been a peace and a calmness. I don't feel turned upside down. I count this as a blessing.

Why I will look forward to Sunday's

After Jay and I were first married and we had moved to Utah, I was asked to help with the children's music on Sunday's in Primary. Primary is the organization in our church for kids ages 3-12. 

I was terrified. I cried every Sunday. I was always so so nervous. I would get up and quietly whisper what we were going to sing, and then timidly wave my arm, and try and get my voice above a squeak. I stood very still hoping that I would not be noticed.

Finally after a few weeks of this, the Primary president pulled me aside and said. "Alisa, you just need to smile, and the kids will smile back." I had been feeling so intimidated that I could not even look the kids in the eye and smile. Her comment kind of shook me out of my dreary state and I started to smile, and wouldn't you know I started to enjoy what I was doing. I was still nervous but I could get through a Sunday without crying. Then we decided to move. My last Sunday came and  I was saying goodbye and one of the kids came up with the most worried expression and said "but who will sing with us now?" It knocked me down! I felt like I had finally gotten comfortable in my calling- and now I was leaving. It was all over.

I hoped for the opportunity to do it again someday. In our church there are not paid positions. So it was not like I was going to go apply for the job. I tried to apply the same idea of smiling and just doing what needed to be done to other things I was asked to do. But I hoped, and hoped that I would get to do it again.

I was asked a couple of months ago to sub for our primary music leader. I did it for 2 Sundays and LOVED it. I could hardly wait to get to church to sing with these kids. I hinted loudly to anyone who would listen that I would love to do this if they ever needed help again.

Well I get my 2nd chance! I was asked to be the music leader.

One would think that I would not have any worries after having done it before, and wanting to do it so badly again. But I did get just a tiny bit nervous. I started thinking about how I really don't know how to lead music. And how would I come up with ways to keep the kids interested. I started having doubts.

As I was reading over the music book and some other information I came across this and I think it is what qualifies me to be able to do this: 

"You do not need to be a skilled musician to use music in your teaching. If you are well prepared and you enjoy singing, the children will enjoy and learn from the music you use."

I am not skilled, but I can prepare, and I do love to sing. I just have to remember to smile.

I am so excited!