Weight Lifted

I realize you all know that I was released from Primary a few weeks ago. 

Last week I was busy attending a lovely open house for Chris, and missed the true feeling of being Primary-free.

But today, I experienced the whole thing.

And it was lovely.

I sang the closing hymn in sacrament meeting,

I read scripture and enjoyed a great Sunday School Lesson,

I was told to put away my phone in Relief Society,

And I was GIVEN a treat instead of GIVING OUT treats!

Delightful!!

I'll be honest, primary was getting too tough for me the last few months.  And although I didn't ask to be released I know that it was obvious I was needing it.  The craziness, the meanness, the unthoughtfulness of some of the people in primary really brought me down.

But I can tell you today, I'm on the up swing!  My bucket is being filled, instead of drained.

I think this blog will benefit more from this change too ---

Open Letter

An open letter to my fellow ward members:


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Dear Ward Members:

Merry Christmas, from the primary president!

I figured I should write you a note sharing the holiday spirit in case you didn't receive the message at the ward Christmas party on Thursday.

There may be many extenuating reasons you may have missed the primary's Christmas wish about the true meaning of the holiday. Such as:

You didn't come.

You were distracted by the donkey-clad boy who nearly fell of the stage, several times.

You were busy obsessing that Santa wasn't showing up the the WARD Christmas program.

You couldn't hear the song the Young Women sang and thus missed the message of a Silent Night, Holy Night.

You kept wondering what the primary president's child was laughing so hard at -- the whole time.

Your mind was busy anticipating the eventual clubbing of primary children by a staff wielding shepherd.

You were stuck in nasty traffic on the freeway, and even in an accident (hope you're okay Craig).

You were fortunate to have been out of town on business and missed the whole holiday fiasco.

I should pause to mention that I was the responsible person who tossed 'Breakfast with Santa' out the window this year.

I had thought a more spiritual message would be appropriate.

Sadly, there was hardly a spiritual moment to be found as we barely whispered the words to the songs, and potentially bored a few members into a coma.

So, once again -- MERRY CHRISTMAS from the 9th Ward Primary, in case you missed it on Thursday.

Sincerely,

The Soon-to-be-Released Primary President

FeedBack

The big, annual primary program for the ward has come and gone. I am breathing a sigh of relief that it seems to have gone well.

For a twist this year, I solicited feedback from the congregation. They were asked to write their comments on a form included in their program. My intention was to read the appreciative comments as part of primary sharing time. The following portions of feedback notes were not included on Sunday -- but were so enjoyable I'll share them here:

"I thought it was great too, but I would have enjoyed it more if you would have had refreshments and ironed my shirt!" -- D. Henry

"Wow! The 9th ward primary has, like, the hottest 1st councilor ever!" -- Anonymous?

"Make the lady with blonde hair move - I couldn't see Emma" -- Anonymous (aka my mom)

And my favorite message, written in it's entirety:

"The program so far is pretty good but I can't help noticing that there has not been enough Damon D. (he is so funny and spiritual). I am hoping by the end he will have spoken -- written @ 1:50pm

D&C Section 4 was good / Called to Serve even better! -- still no Damon. . . . concerned

The YW performance - WOW! -- A+

Sunbeams were flat on their song. It sounded as if they just spoke it -- C-

Ethan Vincent - Nepotism -- Damon could have sang that

Maybe next year there will be more Damon"

Signed, Pres Henry

Grand PooBah

Social situations drive me crazy! Thinking of what to say, how to make a good impression, ensuring a good time is had by all . . .. .this drives me crazy. I can get so worked up over social stuff! I skipped a good friends bridal shower Saturday because the thought of going and being social pushed me over the edge. (Okay, Josh was sick too). I have never attended a Tupperware party, shoe party, swimwear party, candle party, scissor party, paper clip party or dryer lint party. Why? Because they are social - and that means I don't go.

So imagine my Sunday as I know that our little ward primary is to be visited by the Stake Primary President. I know, I know . . not big deal. But she's accompanied by a member of the Primary General Board! Come on, that's a bit of a bigger deal. If I can't think of what to say at my friend's bridal shower I'm sure as heck not coming up with something brilliant for this lady!

Not only that, but when I'm told she's coming (2 days before) - I'm having flashbacks of last Sunday in primary:

• A three year old announcing that her "bum bum" hurts to the whole primary
• The chorister asking the children to please stop "sucking their skirts"
• A 6 year old blowing spit bubbles and asking his neighbor to pop them
• The primary president talking at the back of the room and having her 3 year old "shush" her.

Now I'm really sweating it as I head to church yesterday. But the afternoon passes fairly well -- Only one child freaked out that the Stake Primary President's object lesson had no ears, my own daughter spent three-quarters of the meeting turning around to wave at me as I sat next to the two visiting sisters, a surprise visit to an unsuspecting classroom and a "drop-in" to the nursery rounded out the afternoon. Overall - most of the usual dramatic elements of our primary didn't happen! I didn't say anything awkward, a hug, in farewell, to the sisters was natural and there was politeness and kindess everywhere.

But what really put this into perspective was when I came home from church. My Aunt Pat, not a member of the LDS Church, asked how it went with the "Grand Poobah" from our church there. What a change of outlook one phrase can make! You know, the "Grand Poobah" was just normal. And probably the "Grand Poobah" at the bridal shower, the Tupperware party and the community council meeting is normal too!

I think that's something to take into consideration next time I'm asked to participate in a social situation. And for those who invite me to participate in social sitations they could consider this: "Social Situations Drive Me Crazy!"