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!

Last Sunday one of the sisters in the ward came up to me and told me she was so grateful for what I do in primary. She told me her daughter was feeling discouraged about something and didn't know what to do.

She thought about trying to feel the spirit to make her feel better.

Then she thought to herself, "Do I know what the spirit feels like? Yes! I DO! Sister Day always tells us when she feels the spirit and she has told us what it feels like too!"

She told her mom she was much happier after that, because she knows what the spirit feels like.

What an amazing story, that I can be the instrument in the Lord's hands to help the children feel the spirit!

I LOVE MY CALLING!

HERE'S WHY I HAVE THE BEST CALLING IN THE CHURCH.....

Hi Jenna,

You remember when we were talking the other day about the Sunbeams not singing but, you said, if we weren't looking they'd sing the song word for word...

Today after church I heard Ella in her room belting out "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" (is that what it's called?) like she was giving a concert. I loved it! It's so funny how kids so quiet during music time really do learn and, especially, love the songs. You do such a great time with the music and, like I mentioned in our last Presidency Meeting, you're SO good at letting the children know when you're feeling the Spirit and helping them recognize the Spirit touching their hearts. As a parent I want to thank you for that and thank you for your example.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Preparing for the primary program

I know that the mention of the primary program can strike fear into the hearts of many. I love the primary program. (But, I also like an audience....yeah, I'm like that!)

Last week the counselor and I met to discuss the music for the program. I am a firm believer, that inspiration comes when you ask for it....especially when it comes to the primary program. This is the culmination of hard work for almost a year! The children and the leaders and the presidency have all taught the children the concepts and I have taught them the songs.

Heavenly Father wants us to be successful with this! He wants the parents to feel the spirit, to be enlightened and to have the children feel the spirit also. He wants us to have our hearts touched!

We said a prayer and then started talking about the concepts. Then we laughed and discussed and cried. The spirit was so strong!

I love what we are doing this year. (For that matter, I loved what we did last year and the year before....but, I digress!) We are taking parts of the talks children gave and having them repeat certain sections. It won't be by classes necessarily this year. It's brilliant and it is working for our primary program! The music just flowed...the inspiration came.

One talk, in particular, a boy talks about how his mom sang "I know my Father Lives" to his brother. As he speaks, his father will begin to play (amazing pianist!) and his mother ( an amazing singer) will begin to softly sing the song.

We have several young children who are great singers. They are going to sing a song together. I am really excited about them singing! They are amazing!

I will have a child play one of the songs while the children sing. I will have my son play the flute again. I will have my other son play the cello and we will have a violinist. I will cry as those sweet little voices use sign language and words to sing their testimonies.

I am lucky, as I have until November for our primary program. Plenty of time to get ourselves ready, right?!?!?!? Is there ever enough time?

Anyway, for those of you getting ready....good luck! For those of you done....congrats and relax!

Come Follow Me

"Come Follow Me" (116)

Just saying those words can bring the spirit into a room. I had a hard time getting through this song on Sunday without some emotion. The words are not familiar, but they convey a powerful message. The Primary president did a fabulous job with sharing time also, showing the children how Jesus showed love and how we can follow him.

Can you imagine the Savior standing there, holding out his hand to you and in his soul piercing voice saying, "Come Follow Me"? That phrase and "Well done thou good and faithful servant" always bring tears to my eyes.

As I introduced this song to the Senior Primary, we used the hymn books. I had them look at the time signature and we talked about how we would lead this song. We also talked about how fast or slow the song should be. It says at the top, "humbly" and we discussed that this was not like another favorite, "How Firm a Foundation "(#76). This song would be more like a sacrament song. I told them that some songs are songs to shout for joy about the gospel and Jesus and some songs are to represent his humility and gentleness.

We went over several words and phrases, such as "effulgent rays" and as we were doing this, I had the pianist softly playing the song in the background. They, of course, did a fabulous job singing and made my heart want to burst with their sweet singing voices!

I bore my testimony to the children that this song talks about how if we are willing to follow in his footsteps, that we will be blessed with the spirit in our lives and ultimately be able to return and live with our Heavenly Father.

All my hard work has paid off......

I wasn't actually there to witness it...I was at home with a sick little girl.

But, all my hard work paid off!

I have been teaching the primary children to led music.

We practice on random songs.

Some weeks we learn a song and learn how to lead it,

sometimes we lead a song we already know.

I made simple posters from the hymn book

and used them to show the children

the way to move their arms with the beat of the music.

I even taught them the 6/8 time!

So, this weekend when they were visiting some good friends,

they attended church in the branch.

I guess no one could lead the music, so Xander, my son, did it!

I can't believe I missed it!

I am so proud of him and so happy I taught him and the other primary children to lead music!

He told me later, "Mom, it was so easy! Every song was in 4/4 time!"

I am so proud of him and it just reminded me again how important my calling is!

Leading music is a skill everyone should know!

A simple poster and a few practices and the kids will be pros!!!!

Just an FYI, my husband took the picture BEFORE the opening song...he was so proud of Xander he couldn't resist, but promised me it was before the sacrament!

The Holy Ghost

Today the primary president asked me to sing "The Still Small Voice" (cs106) with the children right before Sharing time. This has been our reverence song the entire month. I knew I might get some eyes rolling, as we have sung it many times this month! So, a flash of inspiration hit me....or shall I say, the Holy Ghost was there to guide me to bring the spirit into the room!

I made "dynamics" posters about a year ago. I use them to have the children sing louder and softer in different parts of songs.

I showed them the elephant and asked them if this is how the spirit speaks to us.....
Then I showed them the lion...and no, this was still too loud.
I asked them if the Holy Ghost acts like a monkey to get our attention.....
Or has to bark like a dog......
Then I asked if they liked the sound of purring cats. (I also got a lot of "meows", but we go with the flow, right?) I told them the holy ghost feels soft like a cat and is soft like the purring of a cat.
I also told them that a mouse has soft fur also and is very quiet, just like the Holy Ghost.
I had them sing the song using the dynamics of "PP" and "P" and then reminded them that quietness in the room helps the spirit to enter and you are able to feel it better. I reminded them that the Holy Ghost has a soft feeling, something that makes you feel good inside. I then bore my testimony. The Junior Primary children really responded well. The spirit was definitely in the room. I was very grateful for the Holy Ghost today to guide me in my calling and allowing me to teach the children how to recognize the Holy Ghost!