Todaydsy is Sunday.

[MustardSeed]

Today I sat with my sister who I was visiting across the country.  We talked about God’s love for us and reasons to remain faithful and joyful even though our children don’t fit the mold.  I was glad for recent conversations her to be prepared to offer her hope.  
 

then I got on an airplane.  Im about to listen to a Come Follow Me podcast.  I look forward to church next Sunday. 

[Okrahomer]

Our Ward is so large we are relegated to the last meeting time:  12 noon.  My wife and I are currently serving as the Ward Resource Specialists — i.e., we hand out scriptures and make copies for Primary and Sunday School teachers.  We open the Library 10 minutes before the end of Sacrament Meeting and keep it open until 10 minutes after the hour.  Then we leave class 10 minutes before the end of the 2nd hour and reopen until 10 minutes after.

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago with one 10-year old boy.  We were almost ready to close the library when his little head pops up over the top shelf of the Dutch door.  With an impish grin he whispers:  “Where’s the drugs?”

It totally caught us off guard.  What an imagination! We both burst out laughing!  Something told me he would try something similar the next week, so I prepared myself!

The following week at the exact same time, up pops that little head: (whispering again) “Where’s the drugs?”

But I was ready for him this time:  (whispering back and holding out an open bag of candy). “No drugs, but if you tell me what you learned in Primary today, you can grab some candy out of here.”

His dark brown eyes widened.  He said:  “I learned that when I am sad, I can find comfort through prayer.”

I handed the bag to him and he grabbed several pieces.

The next week, we had at least 5 more 10-year old heads pop up over the Dutch door, and it keeps growing.  Our Sunday dispensary now serves both older and younger kids, and this has become a pure delight and highlight of our Sabbath.

“Through small and simple things…”

[Dario_M]

1 hour ago, BlueDreams said:

Lol! The world is small and experiences repeat. But no, I'm definitely not in Portugal. Haven't even visited Europe yet (though I'm hoping to in the near future) 

 

With luv, 

BD

Okay hahaha. 😇

[Dario_M]

8 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

Our Ward is so large we are relegated to the last meeting time:  12 noon.  My wife and I are currently serving as the Ward Resource Specialists — i.e., we hand out scriptures and make copies for Primary and Sunday School teachers.  We open the Library 10 minutes before the end of Sacrament Meeting and keep it open until 10 minutes after the hour.  Then we leave class 10 minutes before the end of the 2nd hour and reopen until 10 minutes after.

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago with one 10-year old boy.  We were almost ready to close the library when his little head pops up over the top shelf of the Dutch door.  With an impish grin he whispers:  “Where’s the drugs?”

It totally caught us off guard.  What an imagination! We both burst out laughing!  Something told me he would try something similar the next week, so I prepared myself!

The following week at the exact same time, up pops that little head: (whispering again) “Where’s the drugs?”

But I was ready for him this time:  (whispering back and holding out an open bag of candy). “No drugs, but if you tell me what you learned in Primary today, you can grab some candy out of here.”

His dark brown eyes widened.  He said:  “I learned that when I am sad, I can find comfort through prayer.”

I handed the bag to him and he grabbed several pieces.

The next week, we had at least 5 more 10-year old heads pop up over the Dutch door, and it keeps growing.  Our Sunday dispensary now serves both older and younger kids, and this has become a pure delight and highlight of our Sabbath.

“Through small and simple things…”

Dutch door? Drugs??  Are you in the Netherlands or so? 

[Dario_M]

Btw thank you all for your lovely stories. I read them all and injoy reading it. ✝️

[Okrahomer]

2 minutes ago, Dario_M said:

Dutch door? Drugs??  Are you in the Netherlands or so? 

We are in Utah.

[Dario_M]

3 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

We are in Utah.

But, why the Dutch door and drugs then? 🤣

Edited January 15, 2023 by Dario_M

[Okrahomer]

10 minutes ago, Dario_M said:

But why the Dutch door and drugs? 🤣

A “Dutch door” is just my reference to a door that is split in the middle, so the top can be open while the bottom is closed.  In our meetinghouse, there is a shelf attached to the bottom half so we can place scriptures, chalk and other class materials there for teachers to pick up.  (Image below)

The reference to “drugs” was the clever little boy’s way of shocking us to laughter.  I should have mentioned that we know him quite well.  He is exceptionally intelligent and challenges all the adults in his life — especially his mother.

Edited January 15, 2023 by Okrahomer

[Tacenda]

25 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

Our Ward is so large we are relegated to the last meeting time:  12 noon.  My wife and I are currently serving as the Ward Resource Specialists — i.e., we hand out scriptures and make copies for Primary and Sunday School teachers.  We open the Library 10 minutes before the end of Sacrament Meeting and keep it open until 10 minutes after the hour.  Then we leave class 10 minutes before the end of the 2nd hour and reopen until 10 minutes after.

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago with one 10-year old boy.  We were almost ready to close the library when his little head pops up over the top shelf of the Dutch door.  With an impish grin he whispers:  “Where’s the drugs?”

It totally caught us off guard.  What an imagination! We both burst out laughing!  Something told me he would try something similar the next week, so I prepared myself!

The following week at the exact same time, up pops that little head: (whispering again) “Where’s the drugs?”

But I was ready for him this time:  (whispering back and holding out an open bag of candy). “No drugs, but if you tell me what you learned in Primary today, you can grab some candy out of here.”

His dark brown eyes widened.  He said:  “I learned that when I am sad, I can find comfort through prayer.”

I handed the bag to him and he grabbed several pieces.

The next week, we had at least 5 more 10-year old heads pop up over the Dutch door, and it keeps growing.  Our Sunday dispensary now serves both older and younger kids, and this has become a pure delight and highlight of our Sabbath.

“Through small and simple things…”

This makes me want to return to church activity so bad!

[MustardSeed]

15 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

This makes me want to return to church activity so bad!

What’s your address.  I’ll send candy. 

[Okrahomer]

4 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

What’s your address.  I’ll send candy. 

Count me in too.

[Calm]

56 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

Our Ward is so large we are relegated to the last meeting time:  12 noon.  My wife and I are currently serving as the Ward Resource Specialists — i.e., we hand out scriptures and make copies for Primary and Sunday School teachers.  We open the Library 10 minutes before the end of Sacrament Meeting and keep it open until 10 minutes after the hour.  Then we leave class 10 minutes before the end of the 2nd hour and reopen until 10 minutes after.

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago with one 10-year old boy.  We were almost ready to close the library when his little head pops up over the top shelf of the Dutch door.  With an impish grin he whispers:  “Where’s the drugs?”

It totally caught us off guard.  What an imagination! We both burst out laughing!  Something told me he would try something similar the next week, so I prepared myself!

The following week at the exact same time, up pops that little head: (whispering again) “Where’s the drugs?”

But I was ready for him this time:  (whispering back and holding out an open bag of candy). “No drugs, but if you tell me what you learned in Primary today, you can grab some candy out of here.”

His dark brown eyes widened.  He said:  “I learned that when I am sad, I can find comfort through prayer.”

I handed the bag to him and he grabbed several pieces.

The next week, we had at least 5 more 10-year old heads pop up over the Dutch door, and it keeps growing.  Our Sunday dispensary now serves both older and younger kids, and this has become a pure delight and highlight of our Sabbath.

“Through small and simple things…”

I love, love this…my two perennial callings were primary teacher and ward librarian/resource specialist I guess is the official name now.

One suggestion as a mother of a diabetic one time kid (she was diagnosed the day before her 12th birthday, so technically I suppose she could be said to have been a Primary kid), you might want to check with the Primary presidency if you haven’t already to see if any kids have special diet needs and if there are, maybe talk to the parents to see if they could bring an acceptable non perishable treat so their child could be included when they wanted to.

Edited January 16, 2023 by Calm

[Calm]

4 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

Count me in too.

We should start a board club where everyone sends treats to one chosen member each month and then start again once everyone has gotten to be the recipient, lol.  Or if we really want to splurge just send them to everyone each month!

My daughter got her Yums (monthly candy collection from various countries, this one is Austria and has a lot of chocolate) box yesterday and I just passed it with all its bounty displayed, so my mind went right there.   

Edited January 16, 2023 by Calm

[Okrahomer]

1 minute ago, Calm said:

I love, love this…my two perennial callings were primary teacher and ward librarian/resource specialist I guess is the official name now.

One suggestion as a mother of a diabetic one time kid (she was diagnosis the day before her 12th birthday, so technically I suppose she could be said to have been a Primary kid), you might want to check with the Primary presidency if you haven’t already to see if any kids have special diet needs and if there are, maybe talk to the parents to see if they could bring an acceptable non perishable treat so their child could be included when they wanted to.

Thank you, Calm.  This had not occurred to me.

The Primary President is aware, but she is also very new in her calling.  I will make it a point to ask her specifically about this. 

We did not realize that it would become a “thing.”  I would hate it if there were any kids who wanted to visit us but could not also share in the treats.

[Calm]

31 minutes ago, Okrahomer said:

Thank you, Calm.  This had not occurred to me.

The Primary President is aware, but she is also very new in her calling.  I will make it a point to ask her specifically about this. 

We did not realize that it would become a “thing.”  I would hate it if there were any kids who wanted to visit us but could not also share in the treats.

I figured as much. You likely would have thought of it yourself pretty soon. 
 

I wish I had thought of something like that myself back when I could have. Would have been so fun. 

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

What’s your address.  I’ll send candy. 

Just send that kid, lol! His personality reminds me of my Primary days in many teaching and presidency callings. And for now this board is my tie to the church and is my ward, haha. 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Tacenda

[Vanguard]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

This makes me want to return to church activity so bad!

Ha! I've thought frequently over the last ~1-2 years that my experience with teaching the 5-yr old Primary would be enough to keep me active even if I weren't really a believer. The choice experiences I've had with these little ones trump anything I have ever experienced in my 57 yrs in the Church save my mission maybe. I love the kids and that alone makes the difference for me. : )

Edited January 16, 2023 by Vanguard

[JustAnAustralian]

4 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

The next week, we had at least 5 more 10-year old heads pop up over the Dutch door, and it keeps growing.  Our Sunday dispensary now serves both older and younger kids, and this has become a pure delight and highlight of our Sabbath.

Sounds like something Robert Kirby would do (apart from his wife not being a member).

Edited January 16, 2023 by JustAnAustralian

[Dario_M]

9 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

A “Dutch door” is just my reference to a door that is split in the middle, so the top can be open while the bottom is closed.  In our meetinghouse, there is a shelf attached to the bottom half so we can place scriptures, chalk and other class materials there for teachers to pick up.  (Image below)

 

Okay okay. Mind you... i have never seen a door like that in the Netherlands. 🎭

9 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

The reference to “drugs” was the clever little boy’s way of shocking us to laughter.  I should have mentioned that we know him quite well.  He is exceptionally intelligent and challenges all the adults in his life — especially his mother.

Aaaaaawh how innocent. 😇 

God bless you. ✝️

Edited January 16, 2023 by Dario_M

[Dario_M]

9 hours ago, Tacenda said:

This makes me want to return to church activity so bad!

Yes offcourse. Well if you want to go to church again you should go i find. ✝️🌈

Edited January 16, 2023 by Dario_M