I've Been Released

Friday morning our 2nd counselor in the Bishopric came over and released me from my calling. I'd been the Primary chorister for almost 2 years and he told me I needed to be released. I knew it was coming so I was dreading his visit. Part of the dread was the idea of losing this calling, and part of the dread was what if I get something worse. I wondered what he would say if I said 'no' to being released - and then I quickly realized he wasn't asking if I would be released, he was simply informing me that I was being released.
I've been really sad about getting released. It really felt like the Bishop was taking away my 90 kids - they're my kids and I don't want to share them! Being the Primary chorister has been a lot of work, but because it's been so much work I think I've gotten so much satisfaction out of it. It just seems the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. There has been down sides to this calling - doing it every week takes a lot of effort (and a lot of sugardoodle.com), and getting a sub has been a pain. I can't tell you how many times I told Derek we have to be back from our weekend plans by church because it's so hard to get a sub for this calling - it's out of a lot of people's comfort zones. But this calling has had so many positives too . . . I've loved working with both presidencies I've been in for, I've loved getting to know the kids, and my favorite part has been to be able to be in Primary with my kids. Since Bay started Sunbeams this January I've gotten to be in Primary with 3 of my kids. It's so fun to see my kids take part in sharing time and singing time and it's fun to see them learn the gospel. So many times we've had FHE based on the Sharing Time we just had, because it was such a great idea or a topic I hadn't thought about teaching our kids.
Sunday was my last day in Primary and I had to tell the kids goodbye - I was so sad! I told the kids that being in Primary is my favorite place to be. I'm sure by next week the kids won't even remember what singing time with me was like, but this calling has meant a lot to me.
And of course there is the other side of being released - the new calling. I did get a new one, the Enrichment Leader. I don't know anything about Enrichment so this is certainly going to be something entirely new for me (since I've been married - 10 years - I've only had Primary callings). All I know about Enrichment is that I always go, and I always hope there's dinner! I'm sure my Enrichment I.Q. is about to increase (I have my first meeting tonight - where I'm sure I'll learn a lot, like if I want dinner at Enrichment, I have to make it!). It seems like such a big change for where I've been for so long . . . but change is good. I'm excited . . . I think.

Love is in the Air

My kids are so excited about Valentine's Day coming up. Tyler and Emily both gave me their requests for their type of Valentine's and off to Walmart I went. Emmy was so excited when she got home and couldn't wait to start picking out who would get what Valentine. She was just in heaven assigning Valentine's when I heard her say, "This one is for Russell. And it's going to say, 'To Russell, You always sit in the front row and that's not fair to the rest of us. From, Emmy". So if you see a Valentine from Emmy in your mailbox you might want to brace yourself!

There Goes the Bus!

This morning Tyler missed the bus. We were doing our regular routine (read as . . . we were having family prayer in the living room so I could have one eye reverently opened looking for the bus) when the next thing I knew the bus was there, kids loaded, and passing our house! I started yelling 'Bus! Bus!' (Derek kept praying), and I started grabbing Tyler and dragging him to the door. He seemed to be much more interested in Derek's prayer (all of the sudden), than getting himself on the bus. I was out the door, pajamas and all, trying to chase it down! All the while Tyler very methodically was putting on his coat, then his backpack - by the time that kid was ready I think the bus was out of the neighborhood!

So I'm telling Tyler I can't believe he missed the bus and he's just trying not to smile . . . for some reason this is good news to him. Because he obviously doesn't get this is bad I have to spell it out for him . . . now Derek or I have to take him! He's still just trying not to smile - he was faking being sad about this! So I had to up the ante on how this is bad - and not just for me. Since now he was home for another 15 minues - he got to do some spelling words. When that was over and we still had time he got to do math flashcards. Still, trying not to smile about his good fortune.

So Derek says he'll take him to school. Ok, that's great for me. Then Derek sees Logan sitting there and says he'll take Logan too. Ok, that's great too. It took half a second for the girls to see this happen and they both stampede for the door saying they're going too. As Derek's walking out the door with 4 kids in tow he says, "this isn't what I signed up for". All of the sudden I had 15 minutes to myself . . . and I had to try not to smile.