Primary Program

This is the Sunday that I look forward to all year. Especially this year, since Juliette is now a Sunbeam and was able to participate and have her own part.

As a mother, I have come to realize that there is nothing in this world that is more precious than my children. I feel a great responsibility to love, and teach and guide these special spirits back to our Father in Heaven. And thankfully I have the church and the wonderful members of my ward to help me do this.

Like this lovely woman. This is Juliette and her fantastic sunbeam teacher Sister Portnova. She truly loves these children, so they can't help but love her back.



I am especially thankful for priamry. It is such a special time for kids to learn and grow. It is where they really start to learn about Jesus, but they also begin to learn about other gospel principles and concepts too. They learn about commandments and covenants and what they must do to return to live with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.



This is especially true in the children’s music that they learn and sing. And I didn’t realize this until this year when my daughter became a sunbeam in primary. Not many years ago the primary songs were about manners and being kind and giving. In my Primary days, we sang songs like Give, Said the Little Stream —and it is certainly sweet and motivating but not exactly theologically heavy. But that is not the case anymore. Now children are taught songs that teach gospel principles, songs that remind them of the things they should be dong. Today’s children sing wonderful songs that are more spiritually focused. And what a wonderful thing this is. Because as Pres. J Reuben Clark said, “We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.”

This year as the primary children presented their program I was surprised at the beautiful things they taught us through their music. These children learn a hymn from the hymn book each year, and this year it was “Come Follow Me.” They learn songs about knowing that their Savior loves them, about the Holy Ghost as a comforter, and about the plan of Salvation. Elder Boyd K Packer said, “If we will listen, they are teaching the gospel, for the hymns of the Restoration are in fact a course in doctrine.”

I love that my four year old daughter can understand and know about the entire plan of salvation because she learned a song called He sent His Son. I know that these gospel principles she is learning about will stay with her through her entire life. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I truly believe this. I think that the things we learn in our childhood stay with us. We may not remember specific lessons we were taught in Primary. But I am sure that all of us can remember countless primary songs and the gospel principles they teach. These messages they teach are remembered for years.

I love that Juliette loves to share and sing what she has learned in primary. One of her favorite cd's to listen to is the primary songs. We sing as we work, and play, and travel together. I know that every time we sing the primary songs together it strengthens her understanding and testimony of the gospel.



This year the primary theme is I know my Savior lives. The children have the opportunity to feel and understand the great love that our Savior, Jesus Christ has for them.

One of my favorite primary songs that the children learned this year is I’m trying to Be like Jesus. I can’t help but stop at the primary room door and listen when I hear them singing this wonderful song.

All of the song they sang this year were wonderful. And as I watched the children performing on Sunday, I was truly amazed. It seemed to me that they were not just singing; they were declaring their determination. Jesus Christ was their example. To be like Him was their fixed goal. And their eager looks and their shining eyes convinced me that they have no doubts. They expect to succeed. And they will.



Juliette was amazing. She knew all the words to every song and sang with joy. She didn't hesitate to get up and say her part. She said, "Moses was called by God to lead the people out of Egypt." She also got to sing the Noah verse of Follow the Prophet as a solo with a few other girls in the ward. I am so proud of her.

I hope that she will always remember the simple yet profound principles she learned as a child in primary. The words and melodies of Primary songs may be simple, but the message and the power of each one are clear.

I'm a mom! Now what?

I reacently had someone ask me the question, What should every first time mom know?

This made me think back to the time I was nearing my due date with Juliette. I had read several books, registered at Babies R Us, had a couple of baby showers and prepared myself in every way that I could think of for the arrival of my sweet baby girl. I awaited the big day with pure anticipation. I could hardly wait to hold my new baby in my arms, and finally be comfortable again. Little did I know how much easier it would be to take care of a baby inside me than outside.

I often wonder if other new moms experiences would be anything like mine. Before the birth of my first baby, I had been alerted by countless people, that I should expect life to never be the same again and that it was going to be really hard, but totally worth it. I felt like saying, Duh! I know! I'm having a baby! But while I received the adivce that things were going to be difficult, I quickly came to realize that they never told me the details of just how hard having a baby would be.

I felt a little betrayed by my mother and sisters. As the youngest child I would have expected a little more forewarning of what to expect. And I'm not even talking about the delivery. At least there were doctors and nurses there to help me and be the expert. I had little to no knowledge about all the little things like engorgement and nursing problems, fatigue and chronic bewilderment, and the total loss of any sense of control I had over my life. I had never before experienced anything like this new life I had signed up for.

A few of the most difficult feelings for me were those of loneliness, a sense that I had to shoulder the burden myself, and utter incompetence. I thought that surely my sisters and mother would laugh at me if they knew what a difficult time I was having. I looked at the women in my family as the pillars of motherhood, and I never saw any of them having the difficulites I was experiencing.

I dreaded every morning when Jeff would leave for work, because then I was forced to be the expert on how to take care of my baby. Some days, the unrelenting dependence of that tiny creature seemed more than I could bear.

Thankfully, I did adjust eventually, and now four years and two children later, I'm happy to report that I no longer find newborn babies to be intimidating. In fact, I think they are wonderful. It is such a sweet time to cherish. (But four year olds...?)

There are so many new, uncomfortable feelings and unique struggles that can come along with a first baby. I don't know if a new mother can ever really know what awaits her. I don't know if there is anything you could say to a new mom to prepare her for both the stress and success that she will feel. It is all part of the motherhood process. It is something you have to experience for yourself. Because there is truly nothing harder or better than being a mother.

I love Vampires

Let me clarify… Stephenie Meyer’s vampires (they are the only ones I know.) They have officially made pasty fashionable. I was completely baffled as a teenager by the fact that many of my friends would turn into bronze goddesses in the sun, and I would end up resembling a tomato. When I did get color it would just be sprinkes of it here and there - those would be my freckles. I have finally come to grips with the fact that my skin doesn’t darken in the sun. In high school I decided to try the so called new and improved self tanners and then quickly decided white was better than Oompa Loompa orange. I will admit that in recent years some of these tan in a bottle have become better - but they only last a day and then rub off on your towel. So I have learned to just own my pastiness and make best friends with SPF. We know that white is delightsome, and now, thanks to sparkly vampires, it’s kinda cool to be pale.

Houseguest

Jeff and I have a thing about having guests stay at our house. Call us unfriendly - but we don't really like people staying with us. So much to my surprise, Sunday morning I woke up to a new houseguest. He has been here for the past four days and I think he is here to stay.

We have been sharing our bedroom with him, which I was worried about. It is a little strange to wake up with someone staring down at you from above, but as long as he doesn't touch me, I think we will get along just fine.

He actually gets along with our family really well. He stays to himself and doesn't make any noise. He also takes care of himself and helps to clean up around the house. So I have decided that he is welcome to stay as long as he wants.

Meet the newest member of our household...

The lost art of canning

It is cool to can. The old-time practice of preserving fresh, homemade food is now a staple for our family.

The thought of canning my own food used to scare scare me half to death. The whole process seemed too daunting, too large. But one day I took the plunge, and I’m so glad that I did. There are so many wonderful recipes to enjoy.

Right now our house is filled with the bounties of the season. Over the past week we have been busy canning. We stocked up on beef, pears, green chilies and mangos. It is wonderful to be able to go to the cupboard and pull out a little bit of summer whenever I feel like it.


I don't think that people realize what they are missing out on. There is nothing better than enjoying the fruits of our homemade labor. And the memories we are making together as a family is just as sweet. Through this process I also feel closer to my ancestors - like I understand some of the efforts they lived and went through. It truly is an art well worth preserving.

Even though Jeff and I have been canning for a few years, it never fails that after we carefully take out the jars, we still anxiously wait for that loud “pop” that lets us know the jars have sealed properly. It is very rewarding activity. And I feel a surge of pride when I look in our pantry and see it well stocked with yummy food and memories.