I got a new calling. I'm the primary chorister now. I've done ward choir, I've done the nursery music, but I haven't ever had a calling in primary before. Other than occasionally poking my head in to check on my new sunbeam, or helping with a talk, I haven't really been in primary since I had kids. Before I had kids I was called to be the primary secretary, but that calling was brief. I spent most of my time hunting down or chasing an autistic boy that kept running and hiding, and I really don't remember how music time went. Now that primary is so much shorter and there isn't any sharing time, I was also told that I was supposed to add some sort of lesson to singing time as well, so any
prior memories of singing time wouldn't have really helped me anyways. Not too long ago, I was asked if I could substitute for the primary music person, and I told them that I couldn't because I wouldn't have a clue what to do. Well, today I was thrown into this without any sort of guidance or training. I was told the songs that they have already learned this year. I was told that the primary presidency had talked about a few songs that they would like the kids to learn, but wasn't given that list. I was just told that I should choose songs about Jesus that would go along with the "Come Follow Me" lessons.
I decided to teach them "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus." That part was easy enough. Then I just had to figure out how to teach the kids the song. Our ward primary consists of about 20 kids ranging from age 3 to 11. I thought I'd get some pictures for the younger kids, with the words so at least the older ones could read it. My printer was out of colored ink though, so I had to either use black and white pictures, or I had to color them myself. I actually really enjoyed coloring the pictures. Its a lot easier not to be self-critical when the picture is already drawn for me, and I'm just adding color. I haven't just taken the time to sit and color in a very long time. I don't know how much it really counts as creativity, but I'm counting it.
My April goal was to do two things that are creative. The first was Grandpa's cake. I'm counting this one as the second. I really had intended to find some time to draw something, but It has been such a busy month, it just didn't happen. Maybe after we are moved into our new house things will settle down a little... just in time for the kids to be out of school for the summer. Maybe not. Maybe I just need to make the time. I certainly did make the time to color these pictures. It took me a couple of hours, but it needed to be done for primary, so I had no trouble fitting it into my schedule. So why don't I make the time to do things that I enjoy doing that don't absolutely have to be done? It was the same for Grandpa's cake. If I didn't have an occasion, and a deadline, I don't think it would have happened. What can I do to make creating a higher priority in my life? I guess I need to think about that for a while.
Anyways, today when I arrived in primary, I was super nervous. I couldn't figure out where to sit while they did the opening prayer and scripture. I felt so awkward. Then suddenly the time was turned over to me and I was just at a loss as to what to do. After a few blank moments, I took a few requests from kids of songs they would like to sing. Then we moved into the song that I had prepared. I didn't notice until after we had been through the song a couple of times that all of the kids were singing "tales
by the sea" instead of "tales
of the sea." My fault. that's what I put on the paper. ...oops... I don't want to color the picture again, so I'll have to cover up the word or something. I also think I want to laminate them. I let the kids hold the papers at one point, and they were being kinda rough on them. I have a lot to learn. But I've already learned several things and It has only been one week. I can already tell that this is going to be good for me!
I got a new calling. I'm the primary chorister now. I've done ward choir, I've done the nursery music, but I haven't ever had a calling in primary before. Other than occasionally poking my head in to check on my new sunbeam, or helping with a talk, I haven't really been in primary since I had kids. Before I had kids I was called to be the primary secretary, but that calling was brief. I spent most of my time hunting down or chasing an autistic boy that kept running and hiding, and I really don't remember how music time went. Now that primary is so much shorter and there isn't any sharing time, I was also told that I was supposed to add some sort of lesson to singing time as well, so any 
prior memories of singing time wouldn't have really helped me anyways. Not too long ago, I was asked if I could substitute for the primary music person, and I told them that I couldn't because I wouldn't have a clue what to do. Well, today I was thrown into this without any sort of guidance or training. I was told the songs that they have already learned this year. I was told that the primary presidency had talked about a few songs that they would like the kids to learn, but wasn't given that list. I was just told that I should choose songs about Jesus that would go along with the "Come Follow Me" lessons.
I decided to teach them "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus." That part was easy enough. Then I just had to figure out how to teach the kids the song. Our ward primary consists of about 20 kids ranging from age 3 to 11. I thought I'd get some pictures for the younger kids, with the words so at least the older ones could read it. My printer was out of colored ink though, so I had to either use black and white pictures, or I had to color them myself. I actually really enjoyed coloring the pictures. Its a lot easier not to be self-critical when the picture is already drawn for me, and I'm just adding color. I haven't just taken the time to sit and color in a very long time. I don't know how much it really counts as creativity, but I'm counting it. 
My April goal was to do two things that are creative. The first was Grandpa's cake. I'm counting this one as the second. I really had intended to find some time to draw something, but It has been such a busy month, it just didn't happen. Maybe after we are moved into our new house things will settle down a little... just in time for the kids to be out of school for the summer. Maybe not. Maybe I just need to make the time. I certainly did make the time to color these pictures. It took me a couple of hours, but it needed to be done for primary, so I had no trouble fitting it into my schedule. So why don't I make the time to do things that I enjoy doing that don't absolutely have to be done? It was the same for Grandpa's cake. If I didn't have an occasion, and a deadline, I don't think it would have happened. What can I do to make creating a higher priority in my life? I guess I need to think about that for a while. 
Anyways, today when I arrived in primary, I was super nervous. I couldn't figure out where to sit while they did the opening prayer and scripture. I felt so awkward. Then suddenly the time was turned over to me and I was just at a loss as to what to do. After a few blank moments, I took a few requests from kids of songs they would like to sing. Then we moved into the song that I had prepared. I didn't notice until after we had been through the song a couple of times that all of the kids were singing "tales by the sea" instead of "tales of the sea." My fault. that's what I put on the paper. ...oops... I don't want to color the picture again, so I'll have to cover up the word or something. I also think I want to laminate them. I let the kids hold the papers at one point, and they were being kinda rough on them. I have a lot to learn. But I've already learned several things and It has only been one week. I can already tell that this is going to be good for me!
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