Primary Program

Yesterday was the Primary Program at church.  For anyone who doesn't know what that is, it is the Sunday once a year when all the kids age 4-12 take over our Sacrament (Worship) Meeting and each child has a part to say, and they all sing the songs they've been working on all year. When it's over, we all know what the kids in Primary have learned throughout the year.  

I told my friend, Evelyn, on her blog yesterday that those things are only good when they go wrong.  As in, when some kid says something hilarious and unscripted into the microphone, or when one of the kids gets so nervous they throw up...that kind of thing.  It's a good show.  And I kind of stand by that opinion.  Sorta.

Yesterday was a pretty good program.  There was one kid who has autism and who I totally love and admire for getting up there to do his thing.  When he realized that the microphone magnified his voice so awesomely, he decided that a much better use of his time in front of it would be to practice his sound effects.  I get that.  He had some good ones, too, before he was so rudely pulled away and made to go back to his seat.  But he thought it was pretty good stuff.  So did I.  

And then there was the token kid who shouts into the microphone and makes everyone's ears bleed.  You gotta love that kid every year.  No one can help but laugh.

But sitting in the pew yesterday with my husband, my two little guys, and my parents...I realized how grateful I am for the knowledge my kids have at such a young age.  They know and understand things already that some people search for their whole lives.  They know that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them and knows them by name.  They know that they can pray and God will listen.  They know that if they listen in return, they can hear and feel God's answer.  They know why they are here on this earth and how they can get back to their Heavenly Father.  They know that Jesus Christ came here to set the example for them and to be their savior. 

So Ethan got up to say his part: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and we know that Jesus Christ is his son."  

And a little later, Cameron said his part: "Jesus showed us how to be obedient to all Heavenly Father has asked us to do, and we can follow that example."

And when it was over, I felt peace.  I know that my kids are going to be OK, whatever they face in life.  (And let's be honest - I might be their biggest obstacle to overcome, so this was a huge relief.) 

The Dreaded Home Teachers

Last night our home teachers came to visit. For anyone who doesn't know - home teachers are two men from our church who visit us once a month, check up on us, chit-chat and bring an uplifting message. I dread their visits every month because our kids always embarrass us horribly with their innocent but revealing comments. Cameron, in the middle of a gospel discussion, once raised his hand like it was school and when one of the men asked him if he had a question, Cameron said, "I just have one word. BOOOOORING!."

I was mortified.

So last night was no different. There were two lovely comments made. For some reason, we got to talking about smoking, and Cameron pipes up with his thoughts... "We know someone who smokes, and sometimes he smells like smoke." Then Ethan's attempted protection of this person's honor: "Yeah, but he barbecues a lot."

Not so bad, really. Then we got to talking about the home teachers' message. One of the brethren asked Cameron and Ethan where they might go to find truth. Their answers came rolling in: church, school, our home, the scriptures... And then Cameron: "The white house."

The embarrassing part was how long it took me to get my laughter under control. Kids are awesome!