As a Child of God

Over the past year there have been some events that have happened in my life that have caused me to spend a lot of time in either preparation, recovery or the actual "living through" the event. It has been stressful and, yet, at the same time, good to grow and learn this year.

I have become a better person and that is what this life is all about.

Becoming a better person.

I have felt the power of my Heavenly Father's love through the whole thing and I know He loves me.

Many times I have wanted to post on this blog. I even promised that I would last year, but sometimes life takes over and children and husbands and friends need my time more than I have and so something has to give. And it ends up being the blog.

As a Child of God,

I receive special light:

The Holy ghost helps me to know what is right.

As a Child of God by Janice Kapp Perry

How many times have I felt that special light? It was my quest last year to teach the children how to recognize when the spirit was in the room. It was my goal to bear my testimony to them every Sunday and let them know that I KNOW. It was not my intention to cry as much as I did, but the spirit was so strong in the primary room so many times and my heart was so full. Those primary children make the spirit come in with their sweet little voices and I cry. I cry because I know that I am a Child of God. I cry because I have made good choices and felt the spirit in my life. I cry because the children know when the spirit is in the room.

And I am grateful I am the chorister for primary.

Because I have the best job in the church.

As I teach this song on Sunday, I am going to bring several different types of light. I am going to show them different lights and ask them if this is the special light the song is talking about. Then I will remind them about how we have talked about the Holy Ghost and how it feels to have the Holy Ghost in our lives. This is the special light. You can't see it, it doesn't have a shape, it doesn't need to be plugged in. It is the Holy Ghost and the feeling you get from making right choices.

Some of the events of the last year in my life have been resolved. Some are ongoing. Some still puzzle me and I am working through them. I am grateful for a song like this one to remind me that I am going to make it. That it is going to be ok and that I always have the gift of the Holy ghost to rely on in my life.

I came to earth with power to choose.

Good choices bless me and my family too.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

I feel so safe and happy because

Such feelings of peace come from family love.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

In my own home I'll happily serve.

Ill strengthen my family by my good works.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

As a Child of God

Words and music by Janice Kapp Perry

Primary Program Planning.....

Yesterday I was at a party and the member of the primary presidency in charge of the program came up to me and asked about writing the primary program. We started talking and another friend joined us. She was surprised we were already talking about writing it.

I think about the primary program every Sunday, if not every day! I am always "writing" the primary program in my mind or with the songs.

Having written many primary programs in my life, I assured my friend she would be ok and that I would help her. (She is really nervous - this is her first time doing this!) I told her the most important thing to remember is that it is not you writing the program. The children are bearing their testimonies of the things they have learned and know throughout the year and you are just organizing their thoughts. Heavenly Father will let you know what the ward needs to hear from the primary children.

I have had many experiences where I have started writing the program and been overwhelmed by how strong the spirit is and how much Heavenly Father loves these children and also the members of the ward.

The music is icing on the cake for the primary program. Bearing your testimony through music is so amazing. It can bring the spirit into the room. The children LOVE to sing and they do a great job! And my job as the chorister is made easy by those wonderful little voices singing praises to their Heavenly Father!

So, now it is primary program writing mode! I can't wait to see what amazing things the children come up with this year!

Some thoughts.......

"The music leader is the gospel doctrine teacher for Primary."

Gordon B. Hinkley

Some things I have learned being the primary chorister for almost four years.....

• Never underestimate the power of a child's musical ability.
• It's always good to have a wiggle song.
• Even the eleven year old boys like to sing.
• The sunbeams may just stare at you during singing time, but they know the songs by heart.
• Expect more out of them and they will rise to the occasion.
• Crying when you feel the spirit is good for them to see.
• Always let them know when you are feeling the spirit so they learn to recognize how it feels.
• Always bear your testimony to them.
• Singing a song "opera style" is the best way to sing fortissimo.
• The nursery children learn songs faster than we give them credit.
• You can achieve "rock star" status if you do your job right.
• Never take credit for a great performance...it's all about their voices.
• Never ask them if they want to sing the song "one more time."
• Loving your calling is what it is all about!!!

Thank you, Fast Sunday!

Sunday was fast Sunday. It was a time where the members could bear their testimonies. It was a meeting where the testimonies talked about the Plan of Salvation and how our lives are so important. Adults and children alike repeated the blessings from living the gospel and knowing where loved ones have gone and the happiness they have from choosing the right.

I had plans for teaching "I will follow God's plan" and, instead, I was able to talk about the individuals who bore their testimonies about the plan, about their life being a gift, about how happy they are that they have sought for God's light. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I was able to tell children that their parent talked about this part and even point to a child and thank them for reminding us of another part. And the best part was that I got to bear them my testimony afterwards!

Really, truly, I have the best calling in the church! :)

If I listen with my heart......

"If I listen with my heart, I can hear the Savior's voice....."

Amazing song!

It was the song that made me cry again in primary! Those words spoke so strongly and so clearly to me. As I taught the words to the children, I explained that we weren't there when Jesus was on the earth, because we were saved for the last days. We can still benefit from his words and more importantly, we can feel the spirit and KNOW that what we are hearing or reading is true!

I am going to be the chorister for this year again, it seems. I am so excited about that! I L.O.V.E. this calling! I am excited about the songs, I am very excited to share some fun ideas!

I am also going to be better this year about documenting my ideas....yes, I am!

So, here's to a new year and a whole new year of teaching the children to know that the scriptures are true!