One-Rad-Fam: 2010 - the year for big changes

As most of you know (or should by now) the biggest change to our family will come at the end of April this year, but the year started out with another big change for me. For the last 5 1/2 years I was the primary president for our ward - it wasn't always easy & it took a lot of time, but I loved being with & teaching the children in our ward. Teaching & loving them was the easy part for me. Anyone who is LDS will know that 5 1/2 years is a long time to be in a calling unless you are a bishop or something along those lines. 2-3 years is more typical for other callings (or so it seems). I had no regrets or bad feelings I really did love doing what I was doing, but things must change for the betterment of all. So the first Sunday in January I was released as Primary President & put in as a Faith in God for Girls/Activity Day Leader. It's a huge change for me. Some of the differences:

I love to teach about the gospel - I loved teaching sharing times & class lessons. Activity Days is more about fun learning - but not so "lesson" based. I'm not a crafty person by nature & these girls love to be active & crafty - a HUGE change for me to adjust to.

As Primary President I was BUSY every Sunday and often several days in the week. Activity Days is only twice a month but sometimes it feels like just as much work. It really does take a lot for me to be "creative". Sundays are still a struggle for me - I want to go be with the children. Sunday School & Relief Society still feel awkward to me - like I'm not really supposed to be there. Not sure where I fit in - a whole new dynamic for me. In talking to a friend the other day I realized that Dan & I have never (since we've been married) had the opportunity to attend Sunday School together. We've had a Sunday here or there when we moved into a new ward & before we got a calling but since we've been married (12.5 years now) one of us has always had a calling that took us away from Sunday School. I think I would really like to be able to go together - it would be nice to come home & discuss the lesson together - I would really enjoy that - maybe someday.....

A couple of weeks after I was released the Primary Secretary came & pulled me out of Relief Society & asked me to come to primary. I was afraid something was up with Nate or Abbie. Instead they had me come to the front of the primary room where they presented me with a quilt (made my the new Primary President - now she's talented/crafty!) that all the children had signed and some potted plants. The children sang me a new song they had been learning & I cried like a baby. I (again) realized just how much I loved these little ones & how much they had changed me. I LOVE PRIMARY!

Some picts of the quilt & some of the signatures (by far not all of them)

I am learning to love working with the Activity Day Girls & Abbie is anxiously awaiting turning 8 so she can come with me. I love being with the girls, that part is easy - I'm hoping I get better at the having fun together part. I work with a great new partner (she's new to the church & has grabbed on with both hands) I've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her better - I think it will be good for both of us.

As one of our early activities we taught the girls to loom knit & had them make baby hats to take to the hospital for the new babies. Some of the Young Women in the ward joined us for the activity. We are officially wrapping up this project at the end of March. At this point the girls (& leaders) have turned in over 50 hats! What a fun project it turned out to be!