Halloween came and went at our house. Zack represented us well - he was in costume, so he says, and he provided the candy, so he did. He answered the door every time, while Mom and I listened to see if the kids said "thank you" - which they did. I think we live in a very polite neighborhood. I didn't see everyone, but I know there was at least one baby in a stroller, with a pumpkin and a ventriloquist parent saying "Trick or Treat". It's all in fun, but do they realize that they are old enough now (as parents) that they can actually go out an buy their own candy? We didn't see the little girls (Emma and Sadee), but I understand they were Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I can just picture Sadee running from house to house and being so excited every time she got candy. I imagine that she wanted to eat as she ran.
My lesson last Sunday went well, I believe. I feel that I expressed most everything I had planned. I always over-plan because I can't always rely on the class participation. However, our youth are very vocal and they did well. When the Bishop asked me to teach this lesson (a few weeks ago), he asked how much time did I need. I said "20 minutes"? Then he asked a few more times. I finally said, "Do you want me to take the whole time, cause I can.." He said sure, go ahead, that would be great. So I did. Now, daunting though it may be to teach a room full of youth, let me tell you that also in the room were all the YW leaders, all the YM leaders, the Stake President, and my mom and Zack. Strangely enough, I was most nervous about having my family there than anyone else. At the end, I asked the Stake President if he had anything to add. All he said was "Great lesson"! Whew! I did get some nice comments from the kids. It's always nice to see that they have the confidence to give a compliment.
Following our meeting, we dashed over to Sarah and Jared's ward for their Primary program. We were most anxious to see Emma sing. She did not disappoint. They started the meeting with all the kids sitting in the back of the cultural hall. After the sacrament, the music started and the kids stood up to walk up to the front while singing "There are children singing all around the world..." (I don't know the name of the song.) They mostly held hands with each other while walking up the aisles. We watched anxiously for Emma. She was towards the back because the older kids filled the choir seats first and the younger kids would be sitting in the first few rows of the chapel. Finally her little face appeared, singing and holding hands with the little girl behind her. She confidently walked up the aisle right next to us and when she saw us, she smiled and waved, and went directly to her seat. She did not have a speaking part, but oh my, how she sang. She was about 3 rows in front of us. When there was a song, she turned around and kneeled on the bench, looking back and upwards at the chorister, her mother. Such a face! I'm telling you, she was an angel.
The closing song was that same song. The kids sang the first verse and then the congregation joined in for the chorus and 2nd verse/chorus. Mom and I had our words all ready. As we started the chorus, the organ joined in. The impact of the organ, plus the kids singing (they always sing a little louder on the chorus), was more than we could handle. "We are children"...was about all we could get out. Very touching, very impressive, very hard to forget. Good job, Emma and Sarah.
During the program Sadee did her part, too. She sat on Becky's lap nibbling on Gold Fish and other assorted goodies. Now I don't want to give the impression that Sadee has no other interests - she does. She loves books and she loves to play with her baby dolls. And she loves to imitate her older sister. They are sweet sisters. I can't imagine what it will be like with three of them.
Ok, enough for now. Sarah, I hope you don't mind that I told the tale of your Primary program. It was really wonderful!
