Sometimes... you have to be a rebel

Jesus wants me for a sunBEAM

Found this little gem in IKEA.  I just couldn't resist.  It's the coziest sunbeam I've ever laid my eyes on...

I Will Go, I Will Do

So, some of my singing times lessons go better than I could have ever imagined.  Other times when I show up to primary thinking I have this IN THE BAG it ends up quiet, awkward, and no one gets my sense of humor. 😂😂😂

I'm a little nervous about this happening this week.  While practicing this activity and reciting it to my husband, I cried laughing so hard because it's so dumb!  This might be a disaster.  I will return and report after Sunday.

I began by making my little Nephi Jar...

The picture printed and colored comes from the Friend Magazine.  I just added the words above and below.

I then wrote a silly verse for each of my primary kids.  I'm thinking while the piano plays in the background I'll just read and narrate the verses.  Then the primary can all join in and sing the chorus.

I'm still brainstorming what else I can add to the activity.  Maybe when a child's name is called they get to come up front and lead the chorus however they want?  Or maybe we'll only pull out this jar every now and then and do a couple of names?  Still deciding.

For now, please enjoy these horribly written verses that very well may only be funny at 11:00 pm when one should be sleeping instead of working on their church calling.  And feel free to steal any and change the names to fit your primary kids.  

The Lord commanded Heaven to be nice to her sister. Baelyn threw a toy and luckily she missed her. Heaven forgave her and smiled with the sigh. Heaven was courageous.  This was her reply…

The Lord commanded Mason to never, ever steal. Mason thought some chocolate would make a tasty meal. He reached in his pocket with no money to buy. He put the candy back and this was his reply…

The Lord commanded Angie to try and never fight. One of Angie's cousins was being impolite. Instead of saying something that could make someone cry, Angie was courageous this was her reply…

The Lord commanded Skyler to always tell the truth. Skyler broke her brother’s nice speaker Blue tooth. When she was tempted to tell a little lie, Skyler was courageous.  This was her reply…

The Lord commanded Sophia to stay away from tea. What if Sophie's friend tries to buy her some coffee? When her friend asked if she likes her latte dry. Sophia was courageous.  This was her reply…

The Lord commanded Raymond to not date till 16. But what about Alyssa, Emma, and Kathleen?  All the girls like him.  They say he's quite a guy. Raymond is courageous.  This is his reply…

The Lord commanded Zoe to take care of her pet. Zoe's little bunny got its cage all wet. Sometimes she'd rather not clean up the sty, but Zoe is courageous.  This is her reply…

The Lord commanded Brayden to not forget to pray. Brayden was so tired and had a busy day. All he really wanted was just to close his eyes, but Brayden was courageous.  This was his reply…

The Lord commanded Melissa to listen to her mom. Even when she said not to use Twitter.com. All of her friends do, she wishes she could try, but she obeys her mother and this is her reply…

The Lord commanded Penelope to always be so sweet. Penelope had a friend with kind of smelly feet. She still was nice, she would smile and say “Hi”. Penelope was courageous this was her reply…

The Lord commanded Baelyn to invite a friend to church. Baelyn's friend was looking for a religion to search. Sharing the gospel can be scary when you're shy, but Baelyn was courageous this was her reply…

The Lord commanded Addie to listen and obey.  She was told to eat her veggies and fillet. All Addie wanted was a milkshake and some fries. She listen to her parents and this was her reply…

The Lord commanded Temperance to never, ever smoke. A guy came up behind her and tried to give her dope! She knew that smoking could one day make you die. Temperance was courageous.  This was her reply…

The Lord commanded Guillermo to always be healthy. Get lots of exercise and don't watch too much TV.  He practiced running and jumping really high. Guillermo was courageous.  This was his reply…

The Lord commanded Brooklyn to not get a tattoo. Even though an arm patch would look real cool in blue. Her body is a temple, and that's the reason why Brooklyn is courageous and this is her reply…

The Lord commanded VISITOR to always serve the Lord, be kind to your neighbors, and help those in your ward. (S/he) helped her mom and they made someone a pie…

---------

Just wanted to give everyone my R&R update:  Primary today was AmAzInG.  It might have been my favorite singing time ever.  The kids' eyes lit up when their verse was read.  And I felt like they were really able to relate this song to their personal lives.  It was such a wonderful experience.  I love this calling so much. 💜💛💚

SaveSave

How to Handle Negative Reviews

All writers have been warned.  If you are going to get a book published you are going to need thick skin.  Reading negative reviews can be excruciating.  

It's hard enough taking this intimate piece of yourself and putting it in the hands of strangers.  Then you have to sit there and listen to them tear it apart?  Yikes.  It's like that uncomfortable feeling you get in dreams walking around without clothes on and everyone stares and there's nothing to cover yourself with.  No?  I'm the only one who dreams like this?  Never mind then.

"Two and a half stars!?!  Your face is two and a half stars!!" 

Here are a few ways that have helped me keep my cool and respect others who give their less-than-desirable reviews.  And I wanted to share them for any other writers who are struggling with this challenge.  

There's a Difference Between Healthy Criticism and the Grumps  

Criticism is a good thing!  You learn from it and grow from it.  

Look at the motivation behind what they're saying.  If they say something out of love, genuinely wanting you to grow from this experience, consider their wisdom.  If they're just trolling or one of those grumpy people with a rain cloud over their heads (You know, the type that's never satisfied with their meal at a restaurant?), I think you're safe to ignore them. 

You Can't Please Everyone

Look up your most favorite novels of all time.  Find the writers you respect and the stories that changed your life and check out their ratings.  They get bad reviews too!  I find that I'm more personally offended when these authors get low ratings than when my own book does.

"Excuse me!  One star for The Girl Who Drank The Moon?!  Who are you?!"

It helps you realize that people are so different.  A story you loved reading may have dragged on for somebody else.  No one will ever be able to write a book that will make everyone happy.  And that's what makes life so beautiful!  We are all so different! 

Don't Forget How BOSS You Are!

Um, you WROTE A BOOK!  Remember? 

Whenever I watch the Olympics, I always get annoyed with the broadcasters narrating every little flaw an athletes makes while performing.  I want to yell at the TV screen, "I don't see you out there competing!  Just keep sitting on your lazy bum telling us the play-by-plays!  A round of applause for you!"

Maybe I'm over-exaggerating, but you get the point.  

YOU wrote this book.  YOU put in countless hours making this piece of work so others can enjoy it!  And they do!  Never forget for every negative review you get, there are plenty of positive ones to balance them out.  You are a rock star!  And I'd give your face five stars! 

Africa Themed CTR activity

We decided on a "Travel the World" activity to introduce the CTR primary theme for the year. Each room in the church building was a different continent and I was assigned Africa.  My lesson was on the gift of free agency so I decided to approach it with a CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Safari.  It was such a blast planning everything out.

HERE is the PDF version of my safari tour guide packets that can be printed from home.

There were lots of different activities inside: games, animal yoga, fighting warthogs, drinking elephant mud water (hogwash)...  SO MANY DECISIONS TO MAKE!!!!

Also I went a little nuts with the decorations.  We put up a tent, had a fake campfire, set up a Photo Booth... 

My excuse: So many snow days.  This was our coldest winter in like 60 years and I spent a lot of time trapped indoors.  This primary activity was the only project available in my snowed-in igloo so I went a little coo-coo.