Bikerides to the canyon with someone super special?
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
please.
Love, Sunshine
Through some of the darkest days of my life, the thing that got me through was my nickname of Sunshine. It is a reminder to me, every day, that I have a Heavenly Father and Mother who love me, that I have a Saviour who knows me, and that I am bright and happy and important - just like the sunshine.
12 June 2012
10 June 2012
Temple Surprises and Sugar Cookie Bars
Today, someone might say, was an ordinary Sunday. A shower was taken, hair was blown dry, skirts were put on, and breakfast was eaten.
But for me, it started a new beginning of Sundays. Sundays without Young Women's, Sunday School, or Relief Society.Yes, my friends. I am a teacher.
A Primary Teacher.
. . . and not a very good one at that. But all the same, today it was reaffirmed that Primary is where I'm meant to be.
I told my class (which was extremely tired of listening after having already been through two full hours of doing just that) that if they could be quiet, I had a surprise for them after class. All of a sudden, Marissa sat up in her chair; Caleb grinned from ear to ear, and Joslyn wanted to know if she could eat it.
No, I replied. It's not edible. But it is so big I couldn't bring it to class with me!
Oh, they all said. Everyone folded their arms in wait for the surprise.
As soon as I finished the lesson, I told them to stand up, hold hands, and close their eyes. Together with Sister Hoopes and Sister Halls, we led the six children outside towards the Temple.
I'll never forget the way they all smiled when I told them to open their eyes and look up. There, in front of their eyes, was the prettiest building in all American Fork. (Arguably the most beautiful one in all of Utah.) We sat on the grass and they listened as I explained why I brought them here. Marissa then raised her hand and wanted to know if each of them could share what they love about the Temple.
Yes, I replied. Please, teach me about the Temple!
You see, I told myself. Life takes on a deeper meaning when you can look through the eyes of a child. Oh how much you can learn.
Their answers ranged from "I love the pictures of the moon" to "I love the angel." And my all time favorite from our little six year old visitor, "I love that you can get married there." Her response was particularly touching because she told me earlier of how "I don't have a daddy." Silently I prayed that she would come to know, as I do, that someday she will see him again. Families, you see, can be together forever.
After they all taught me about how much they loved the Temple, I met one of my Laurel advisers in the Library. She jokingly said, "Are you glad you're out of Laurels?" and waved a platter of sugar cookie bars in front of me.
After it dawned on me what she was saying, I quickly replied that, No, I've never missed it more in my life!
Sweet memories of starbursts and t-shirt Tye dying flew back to my memory. I remembered campfire moments where marshmallows were scorched and friendships were forged; Sundays when only five of us were Laurels; nights when homework was meant to be done, but put aside because someone needed help with hers; activities where we raced to make the best cake or clean the most houses.
I've never missed it more. I figured they'd forgotten about me, considering I hadn't received a text about activities in over a month or been to class in over one and a half.
So thanks for the Sugar Cookie Bar. I really did need it :)
Someday I'll be used to going to Relief Society. Someday I'll have to be released from my calling in Primary. That won't happen for awhile though. Until then, Temple walks and sugar cookie bars?
yes, please.
But for me, it started a new beginning of Sundays. Sundays without Young Women's, Sunday School, or Relief Society.Yes, my friends. I am a teacher.
A Primary Teacher.
. . . and not a very good one at that. But all the same, today it was reaffirmed that Primary is where I'm meant to be.
I told my class (which was extremely tired of listening after having already been through two full hours of doing just that) that if they could be quiet, I had a surprise for them after class. All of a sudden, Marissa sat up in her chair; Caleb grinned from ear to ear, and Joslyn wanted to know if she could eat it.
No, I replied. It's not edible. But it is so big I couldn't bring it to class with me!
Oh, they all said. Everyone folded their arms in wait for the surprise.
As soon as I finished the lesson, I told them to stand up, hold hands, and close their eyes. Together with Sister Hoopes and Sister Halls, we led the six children outside towards the Temple.
I'll never forget the way they all smiled when I told them to open their eyes and look up. There, in front of their eyes, was the prettiest building in all American Fork. (Arguably the most beautiful one in all of Utah.) We sat on the grass and they listened as I explained why I brought them here. Marissa then raised her hand and wanted to know if each of them could share what they love about the Temple.
Yes, I replied. Please, teach me about the Temple!
You see, I told myself. Life takes on a deeper meaning when you can look through the eyes of a child. Oh how much you can learn.
Their answers ranged from "I love the pictures of the moon" to "I love the angel." And my all time favorite from our little six year old visitor, "I love that you can get married there." Her response was particularly touching because she told me earlier of how "I don't have a daddy." Silently I prayed that she would come to know, as I do, that someday she will see him again. Families, you see, can be together forever.
After they all taught me about how much they loved the Temple, I met one of my Laurel advisers in the Library. She jokingly said, "Are you glad you're out of Laurels?" and waved a platter of sugar cookie bars in front of me.
After it dawned on me what she was saying, I quickly replied that, No, I've never missed it more in my life!
Sweet memories of starbursts and t-shirt Tye dying flew back to my memory. I remembered campfire moments where marshmallows were scorched and friendships were forged; Sundays when only five of us were Laurels; nights when homework was meant to be done, but put aside because someone needed help with hers; activities where we raced to make the best cake or clean the most houses.
I've never missed it more. I figured they'd forgotten about me, considering I hadn't received a text about activities in over a month or been to class in over one and a half.
So thanks for the Sugar Cookie Bar. I really did need it :)
Someday I'll be used to going to Relief Society. Someday I'll have to be released from my calling in Primary. That won't happen for awhile though. Until then, Temple walks and sugar cookie bars?
yes, please.
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