Nursery Lesson #42

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I made up a puzzle where I wrote each of the kids names on a piece of paper and then cut them out. I started with putting the puzzle together and told them that Just like every piece belongs to the puzzle, every on of them belong to our class. I also explained to them that belonging to something means being a part of it.

I asked them what else they belonged to. IE: family, neighborhood, pre-school class.

I then told them that each one of them belongs to Jesus' church.

Picture 1-39 What is happening in this picture? When they were born they each received a name and blessing and their names were put on the records of the church.

I had them all say "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"

I then did the little hand play "This is the church, this is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people, close the doors, hear them pray, open the doors and they all run away."

We come to church to learn about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and what They want us to do.

I made signs that said:

Jesus' church has the Priesthood.

Jesus' church has a prophet.

Jesus' church has the scriptures.

and

We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I held up the sign (I mostly made these so I could know what I was talking about) and then showed the pictures.

Priesthood: Pictures 1-8, 1-12, 1-40 and 1-39 and we talked about the different things that men who hold the priesthood do.

Picture 1-18 we talked about Jesus being baptized and that when they turn 8 years old they'll be baptized and officially become a member of the church.

Prophet: Picture 1-4 talked about the first vision and that Joseph Smith was the first prophet of the restoration.

I brought in my Ensign from November (conference issue) with President Monson on the front and told them that he is our prophet today. I had them repeat his name for me. I told them that a prophet tells us what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know and that it's important that we have a prophet today to know what to do.

We sang Follow the Prophet.

Scriptures: I held up my scriptures and told them that we have the scriptures and that they teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus and what they want us to do. I also told them that other churches have scriptures but that we're special because we have the Book of Mormon.

We sang Book of Mormon Stories.

I had them say "We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" again. And then asked them whose church we belong to.

To finish up I did "Jesus Christ Names His Church".

And we colored a picture.

Also, since it was the last Sunday of the month I asked the Sunbeam teacher, Sister Johnson, to come in during singing time so that she could meet the kids going into her class so they wouldn't be so afraid. I also gave them Graduation Certificates with a little story on the back. I'm going to Primary can be found here (the words) or you can find it here (it's a word file so you have to click on the right link.) I actually cut out the pictures and re-typed the words using the actual Sunbeam teacher's name.

My frustrations this week included: once again, my little tornado who tore one of the pictures, no helper at all for the first hour (even though one was supposed to be coming) and the helper for the second hour brought her husband and it was just TOO much for the little room we're in. Plus he kept making comments about it being a torture chamber, and the pits of hell, and if he were ever called to the nursery he'd go inactive. And he and his wife spent the whole time talking to each other. So, in all actuality it would have been easier to just do it myself. I found myself rushing through the whole lesson and wasn't happy with the way I presented it. I was disappointed because the girl who was going to help me is my friend and she babysits 10 kids every day so she would have been really helpful if her husband wasn't there.

Nursery Lesson #46

The Christmas Lesson

The Birth of Jesus Christ

I started out by asking if they were excited for Christmas. Of course they all said that they were. Then I asked them if they knew why we have Christmas and explained to them that at Christmas we are celebrating when Jesus was born.

I then used the "New Testament Stories" book (picture scriptures) put out by the church to tell the story of the angel visiting Mary. Chapter 2 in the book.

Then I used picture 1-76 and told them that the people had to pay taxes so Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem. I also told them that there was no room at the inn.

Picture 1-75 I told them that Jesus was born in a stable, laid in a manger and that Mary and Joseph named him Jesus.

Picture 1-77 Angels came to the shepherds and they went to visit Baby Jesus.

Picture 1-78 The 3 Wise Men saw the star and came to find Baby Jesus.

Picture 1-16 We want to be like Jesus. The birth of Jesus was one of the most important things that has ever happened on the earth. I love Jesus very much and want to be like Him. Then I asked them how they can be like Jesus and gave examples like being nice to siblings, minding parents, etc.

I had them color a picture. Actually they didn't get to color the picture that I'd originally intended because the new librarian lost it so we did the nativity from the December friend. The one I wanted them to color was this.

While they were coloring I acted out the story using these which I cut out and colored and mounted on colored paper.

And then I read them my favorite children's Christmas story "Room For A Little One" written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. Go get it. You'll love it.

My frustrations for the day included my little tornado, no help in the nursery (my partner is out having heart surgery - which they were planning for, just not that week) and having to cut things a little short to go into the Primary and get Christmas treats (it wasn't that bad, it just would have been easier to not have to control 4 kids while they said the closing prayer in nursery when they could have just as easily just brought them to us.) Luckily I only had 6 kids and 2 of them left early to go to a family Christmas party.

New Goals

I'm adding:

Discovery Health Challenge

Cook Breakfast

Cook Lunch

Cook Dinner

No Eating Out

Discovery Health Challenge

I'm going to be participating in the Discovery Health National Body Challenge.

Go here to sign up or find out more.

I have gained back 5 pounds since my accident and having not worked out since then. So I'm up to 163. My goal for the 8 week challenge is to get down to 147.

I'll be working out between 60-90 minutes a day and making sure to eat properly.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I eat. I've (mostly) gotten under control the amount of food that I eat. Now I need to think more about the quality of what I eat. I'm going to make sure to be eating better foods. No fast foods. (prices have all gone up anyway - who can afford to eat out any more?) That means I'll be cooking 3 meals a day. Which means I'll be keeping up with dishes. Which means I might as well keep up on the rest of the house. It's all a big continuous circle.

Also, my friend Amanda has put me in charge of helping her keep her New Years Resolutions. Luckily she has all the same goals I have. Getting up, working out, getting ready for the day, keeping the house clean and feeding her family. So it should work out pretty well. I don't really believe in New Years Resolutions because I think you should make and keep goals at any time and it seems like a lot of people make these HUGE, outrageous goals at New Years and keep them for about a month then give up. I believe in making small achievable goals that you can reach and then going on to the next step.

More Time Off

With Christmas just around the corner my husband has decided to take the next week - or so - off. So I'll be back when he goes back to work.

3 Things

1. I am so grateful that we got the Tahoe yesterday and that it seems to be working well.

2. I'm thankful for my sweet Daddy who spent the entire afternoon running me and the boys around.

3. I' glad that Tyler isn't extremely sick and that we didn't have any more croup episodes last night.

Word of the Day

kickshaw\KICK-shaw\n. 1: a fancy dish 2: a showy trifle

Example Sentence: The shop was filled with refrigerator magnets, back-scratchers, snow globes, and other kickshaws, all adorned with images of smiling pigs.

Did you know? "Kickshaw" began its career in the late 16th century as a borrowing from the French "quelque chose" - literally, "something." In line with the French pronunciation of the day, the "I" was dropped and the word was anglicized as "kickshaws" or "kickshoes." English speakers soon lost all consciousness of the word's French origin and, by taking "kickshaws" as plural, created the new singular noun "kickshaw."

Getting Going Day 16

Today I got up at 7:30 and straight into the shower. We had to get ready early today to go have breakfast with Santa at school. It was so much fun. And then I've been working on getting carseats together.

Going to Bed Day 14

I got to bed at 10 last night. Good thing, once again, because I was up 3 times with my youngest and for an hour and a half straight with my oldest.

Cleaning Day 35

So I didn't really do a lot of cleaning. Just some picking up. I ended up dealing with my sick-o kid, putting carseats together, going to the doctor and going to pick up my Tahoe. Yea!!!

Word of the Day

remora\rih-MOR-uh\n. 1: any of various marine fishes that have a suction disk on the head by means of which they cling especially to other fishes 2: hindrance, drag

Example Sentence: Remoras feed on parasites culled from their host's skin and scraps from their host's meals.

Did you know? Also known as "shark suckers" or "suckerfish," remoras are long, thin, dark fishes that are distributed throughout the world in warm seas. Ancient sailors believed remoras had the power to slow or even stop a ship by attaching themselves to it; the name "remora," which means "delay" in Latin, arose from this ancient superstition. The poor remora's reputation isn't much better today. Even though remoras don't harm their hosts, they are popularly thought of as unwanted guests who get a free ride and a free meal by way of the efforts of others. It is therefore common to see "remora" used metaphorically in such contexts as "hungry paparazzi who attach themselves like remoras to celebrities."

3 Things

1. I am grateful that I went to bed at 10 instead of staying up late like I have the last 2 weeks.

2. I am grateful that they had one of the two carseats I need and am hopeful that I will find another one today... somewhere.

3. I am grateful that Tyler only had one episode of croup last night and that he seems to be doing much better today.

Getting Going Day 15

So I'm up but not moving real fast. I'm trying to get ahold of the Dr. to take Tyler - which will be something seeing as I still don't have a vehicle. I'm also trying to get ahold of my parents to see if I can mooch off of them for a ride. If I get a chance my goal for today is to clean up upstairs.

Personal Scriptures/Nightly Routine/Going to Bed

I went to WalMart last night to buy new carseats (we have to replace the carseats that were in the Tahoe) and they only had one of the two we need so I came home mad and got the, "you should have done it last week when I told you so." So I went to bed mad - no scriptures, no nightly routine but I was in bed by 10. Luckily.

Ethan was up 2 times before 2 am. Tyler was up at 2 with croup and I was up with him and going in to Ethan occasionally until about 6:30 this morning. I got to sleep until about 8:30. So I'm tired.

Cleaning Day 34

I cleaned up my main level other than my kitchen counter has some paperwork I need to go through. And I still have a few dishes that need to be done. I even vacuumed! My goal was to clean the upstairs but didn't get to it.

Nursery Helps

The two best sites I've found for help in the nursery are Sugardoodle and The Idea Door. Both have lots of good ideas and links to church sites, as well as others. Now if I can just find some ideas for controlling your own child while serving in the nursery......

Nursery Lesson #41

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Gave us the Scriptures

Open with prayer

I wrapped up my scriptures in gold wrapping paper and put a bow on top. Since Christmas is coming up I asked all the kids what holiday was coming and what they got for Christmas. They all said "PRESENTS!" We opened my scriptures and talked about the scriptures being important books.

I told them that we have to be very gentle with the scriptures and not throw them around and to make sure to turn the pages very carefully.

I told the kids that the scriptures tell stories that are true and help us to know what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to do.

I read the poem "When I Read the Scriptures" by Barbara Wren Tuttle
When I read the scriptures,
I feel the Spirit near.
When I read the scriptures,
The Savior's voice I hear.

When I read the scriptures,
They help me when I pray.
When I read the scriptures,
They guide me through the day.

When I read the scriptures,
The Savior's words are clear.
When I read the scriptures,
I feel the spirit near.

After that I had 4 pictures and coordinating scriptures I talked about - one each from the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The pictures each came from the Gospel Art kit that comes with the Primary 1 manual.

Picture 1-70 and Luke 22:19

Picture 1-44 and 3 Nephi 18:21

Picture 1-3 and D&C 59:6

After talking about this picture we sang the song "Jesus Said Love Everyone"

Picture 1-18 and Moses 7:11

(I really liked that all the pictures and scripture were about Jesus or something that He taught - showing that Jesus is in all 4 books of scripture.)

After that we did "Ways to Read the Scriptures" (click on the link and go to the very bottom under "stories")

Concluding the lesson I held up the scriptures and asked the kids what they were and who teaches in the scriptures. I also asked them if they were happy that Heavenly Father and Jesus gave us the scriptures.

We closed with singing "Book of Mormon Stories" with the actions and a prayer.

I did a coloring page and also made them each a mini Book of Mormon.

I have to say that my little Ethan was like a terrible little tornado the entire time I was trying to teach the lesson. Horrible. He ran all over the room screaming and trying to fight with kids or pulling them over by yanking on their clothing. It was very difficult for me to try to control him as well as give the lesson. The other nursery leader had all the other 9 kids so there wasn't much she could do either. We just struggled through it.

My other challenge for the day was that I had a new little boy come in for the first time and they aren't a very active family and they never leave their kids any where. So both he and his big sister cried if their parents left the room. So I had one parent or the other in there the whole time and they ended up leaving about a half an hour early. I just wanted to take them by the shoulders and shake them and tell them the importance of coming to church EVERY week. I taught Sunbeams when we were first married and I had a little boy that would come every couple of weeks or longer and it was so hard on him. Then they'd come in good little spurts and he'd be so good. He knew that church was something that they did and he behaved.

New Goals

I am going to set 2 new goals.

1. I am going to make it a goal to go to the temple at least 2 times a month. Once by myself and once with my husband. I'm going to start by going to get my recommend signed tomorrow night by the stake presidency. I've had my new recommend signed by the bishopric for about a month and a half or maybe even 2 months. Yikes! Then I'm going to set the goal to go to the temple by myself the first Tuesday of the month and then try to pin my hubby down for another date later in the month.

2. I am going to make it a goal to fulfill my calling in the nursery to the best of my ability. If I'm going to be in there I'm going to make the most of it and be the best darn nursery leader those kids have seen! I am going to prepare my lesson and have it ready to go so I'm not stressing about it on Sunday morning. I am also going to figure out ways to get the kids to sit still and listen to the ENTIRE lesson (or at least most of them). I am also going to figure out how to deal with my own little two year old tornado in the nursery. He will be my biggest challenge. Also, since I'm doing a lesson that's on my kids level every week anyway - I'll use that for my FHE lesson. I know. I'm a cheater!!

3 Things

1. I am grateful for my family and all the time and money they've spent running me around while I don't have a car.

2. I am grateful for the time my husband has had off the last week (and the week of Thanksgiving) to be able to help me around the house and so that I could have a car. It has been so nice for him to get a break after working so hard since at least September. And the boys really enjoyed having him home to play with.

3. I am grateful that I'm feeling much better and that life is getting back to normal.

Word of the Day

prelapsarian\pree-lap-SAIR-ee-un\adj. 1: characteristic of or belonging too the time or state before the fall of humankind.

Example Sentence: In the afternoon we walked through the idyllic gardens, noting their prelapsarian charm.

Did you know? "Prelapsarian" is the latest creation in the "lapsarian" family, which is etymologically related to Latin "lapsus," meaning "slip" or "fall." "Supralapsarian" is the firstborn, appearing in 1633 as a word for someone who held the belief that people were predestined to either eternal life or eternal death before the Creation and the Fall (the event in the Bible when Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden because they had sinned against God). Next in line is "sublapsarian," which refers to a person who adhered to the view that God foresaw and permitted the Fall and after the Fall decreed predestination to eternal life as a means of saving some of the human race. That word first appears in 1656 and was followed by its synonym, "infralapsarian," in distant 1731. "Postlapsarian," meaning "of, relating to, or characteristic of the time or state after the Fall," appeared two years later, and "prelapsarian" was delayed until 1879.

Scriptures with the Kids Day 10

Today we read 1 Nephi 13. It is part of the vision to Nephi of the happenings of the world. It was a long chapter and pretty rough to get through with the kids but we made it. Ethan didn't want to sit still for all of it - he actually changed his clothes two different times while we were reading but Tyler was really good and sat and listened the whole time. He even made the comment that he loves the scriptures and the Book of Mormon. My brother was here and is quite the accomplished scholar in the religious sense and we had some good little insight from him.

Getting Going Day 14

Okay, so I know it's not technically day 14 but I'm just going to pick up where I left off. I slept until about 8:30 and then got up and got the kids breakfast. My brother came to visit so I took that opportunity to pick up the main level and work on the dishes. I still have a lot to do today but I'm up and moving!

Okay, so...

I've taken my time getting back to my blogging world. The accident threw me off, I still don't have my car, and then my husband took some time off work and isn't too keen on me being on the computer all day. Imagine that! :)

So, anyway, I'm back to it. I'm still not exercising but I've been trying to at least maintain what I had before in all the other areas.

Fasting: I fasted on the 7th, fast Sunday. We had a ward fast for one of the men in our ward who was in an accident a while ago and is still having problems from it. I also fasted that we'll be able to start doing the things we need to be doing to be a better family and have a better marriage. Including, but not limited to: FHE, going to the temple, date nights, keeping the house clean, etc.

Visiting Teaching: I made my appointments on the 9th and went to visit one sister the 11th and the other 2 on the 12th. I have a new partner and one new sister. I think that I'll be able to do my visiting teaching now - we all have fairly compatible schedules.

New Calling: I was called to be a nursery leader. When they first asked me all I wanted to do was scream "NOOOOOOOO!" but I didn't and accepted the call. It will be a good learning experience for me. And they promised that it will only be 6 months. We'll see. I don't know of anyone who that has actually happened for. I will be in there with Ethan, my youngest. It will be good for us to be together but so far (I've been in there the last 2 weeks) it has proved to be a great pain in the bottom. He is my biggest challenge in nursery. I think it will be better in 2 weeks when the older kids go out and he will be one of only 2 boys in the class. I think he'll settle down a little bit. I hope...

I was blessed in my setting apart that I would be able to fulfill the calling and that Heavenly Father knows my struggles at home and being with my 2 boys all the time and that He will help me in my life. He told me to rely on Him and learn to turn to Him in times of need (like ALWAYS). I have also been blessed to be able to know what to do to deal with toddler's head strong personalities. I'm hoping that I'll be able to use that to help me in my daily struggles with my own head strong 2 year old. He also told me that I would be blessed in ways I never could have thought through serving in this calling.

So, anyway... I'm back to it. I'm still going to take it easy on exercising but I plan to start tomorrow or Wednesday (hopefully!)

Accident

I was in a car accident last Wednesday so I'm going to take some time off of exercising for that. I'll get back to my regular posting on Wednesday. I'll be gone at the Chiropractor's all day tomorrow.