Recommitting to write

Stories from my Primary Class that soon will be moving up to the next class in the new year. No one ever told me it would be this hard to lose a class. We haven't even had them for a whole year and it feels like my heart is broken. Anyway, just wanted to remember some funny moments from them:

~I passed around a picture from my mom's gospel art kit.

Me: Kids...be careful with that picture. It's special.

Jesse: Why?

Me: Because it's my Mom's.

Jesse: Your Mom is ALIVE??

Kristin (The class smarty): Of course her Mom is alive, she isn't "that" old.

I tried not to melt into the carpet right there, as I thanked Kristin for her attempt to resurrect me from the obvious grave I'm living in. I can't believe I'm 22, and already "not THAT old." But I guess to an 8 year old...I'm ancient.

~Primary is a rough place to be on Sunday. But not for the reasons people think. Those little tykes are honest, and they notice everything. They have definitely challenged my "Sunday Best." They notice every fly away hair, hang nail, dry spot, missed when shaving spot, left over nail polish, make up smudge, twisted necklace, and (heaven forbid) deodorant crease. I don't think I'm cut out for this job. If I had known I had to be a model, I may not have agreed to it.

If only they would give that much attention to the lessons I prepare. ;)

~I know I still haven't gotten over that feeling of joy when I get to sway back and forth in a really fancy dress. But for an 8 year old, it's irresistible. They must play with their top layer of tulle or whatever fancy material they have. My attempts to get them to lower their coverings only work about 20 percent of the time. But one day, in sharing time, there was no stopping her. Cici just could not stop. I looked over at her and smiled and lowered her hand gently, so at least one side of her dress would be down. I turned away to help somebody remember that Jesus doesn't hit people. When I turned back Cici had the white tulle over her face. "Look! I'm a bwide," she exclaimed. She looked so excited and silly. We all just laughed. She looked truly joyful. I learned a lesson, unless we see panties, I let them enjoy their dress.

~That one time that Emma didn't answer my question with, "cheese," "poop," "rabbit," or "your face." She answered a question with a real answer and her face was meek and mild, and that girl is hardly ever meek and mild. That's when I knew that God was working in that class. I wasn't the one teaching them.

~Jesse is one of those sweet boys, with no filter, and a need for attention. He often tests my patience, and seems to expect me to get mad. When I don't he softens. It's really sweet. His sister is also in our class, Faith. Faith is similar to Jesse, but off in her own wonderland. Tess is a mature little cutie. When I say little, I mean it. If she wasn't so tiny, I probably wouldn't believe she belongs in our class. They are special to me. I often hope they know I love them.

Jesse: Excuse me. I need to share something with the class.

Robby: Ok, Jesse. What is it?

Jesse: I just wanted to say that I think all the girls in this class are hot! Except Faith, cuz she is my sister, so she is gross.

Tess: Oh no... I shouldn't have curled my hair today! (As she covers her face).

Robby and Me: Fail at trying to keep straight faces.

~In the Valiant 8 class, it's dangerous to call on someone who willingly raises their hand to answer.

Case 1

Me: Yes, Tyler.

Tyler: Punch ya in the face.

Case 2

Me: Yes, Tyler.

Tyler: Sis. Hoge is a boy. Haha. And Bro. Hoge is a girl.

Case 3

Me: Yes, Tyler.

Tyler: Take a car... and punch you in the face.

Case 4

Me: Yes, Tyler. Do you have a real answer this time?

Tyler: Yep. You're a boy, so punch you in the face.

Kristin: That doesn't even make sense, Tyler!

Case 5

Robby: Does anyone know what our lesson is about today? Yes, Tyler?

Tyler: Jesus...*mumble mumble*... Cheese (no doubt, Emma's influence)... Punch in the face.

Robby: Close.

~We have learned alot from teaching in primary. Like, I know I want a big family and I think I could handle a lot of kids. Our class have 11-12 kids in it. But one thing we have not figured out is what to say to a student who wants to talk about their dead relatives. Or family problems. Or what color panties they are wearing. Or how scared they are of their grandma. Or how they want to hit people. Or about their Mom's pregnancy (when she hasn't told anyone in the ward yet). How do you shut them up? Or keep the spirit?

Jesse: Excuse me, I need to tell the class something. (Yes, he does like to make announcements).

Me: Ok. Is it about the lesson?

Jesse: *Concentrated look* Umm... Ya. ya. It is.

Me: Alright.

Jesse: Uh, Satan is evil and he lives down there. *points to the ground under his feet*

Me: Thank you, Jesse.

Jesse: Wait. I'm not done.

Me: Jesse, how is this about the lesson?

Jesse: Cuz Satan wants to come inside us and make us do bad things. He lives down there in H-E-...L.

~The moment when I told each one of them why I loved them. Gage, because he is such a good leader for the rest of the class. James, because of his insights into the gospel. Brooke, because she always offers to say the prayer. I continued to tell them I know Jesus and Heavenly Father love them.

Brooke: Not me.

Me: Brooke, of course Jesus loves you. You know that, right?

Brooke: No.

Me: (With my head spinning) But Brooke, that's what I teach you every Sunday. Do you think your parents and sisters love you?

Brooke: Yes.

Me: Well Heavenly Father is your Father and Jesus is your older brother. They love you very much.

Brooke: How do I know? I've never met them.

Me: They have known you a long time and you can know they love you by praying and asking.

Brooke: No.

Kristin: Stop, Brooke. You know they love you. You're just joking.

Brooke then smiled and I realized I had just been tested, but not just by Brooke.