Primary...oh yeah, and some new responsibilities associated with that.

I feel like all I have been working on for the past two weeks is Primary business NON STOP!  Suddenly, this month blew up with a million things to do for Primary.  But really, it makes no sense since  I haven't even been to church yet this month (due to General Conference and an impromptu trip to Thatcher).

Last week I spent most of Tuesday morning making phone calls and emailing people - I don't even remember what it was all about!

I was notified by a few people that our upcoming Primary Activity Day was conflicting with the Stake Humanitarian Activity...grrrr....guess we will have to change that.

Last Saturday night Scott and I went down to the church to set up the Primary chairs in the new arrangement I have been dreaming of ever since I have been called.  Deep instead of wide....  Here she is:

Had Presidency meeting on Tuesday, rescheduled Primary Activity Day for May (oh yeah, did you know that conflict's with the business school's graduation?  My thoughts "hmmmm....that can't be an issue for too many families in our student ward...let's leave it where it is."

Then there was Wednesday night.  I will never, ever forget Wednesday night.  The ward mission leader called Wednesday morning and asked me to go along with the missionaries who were meeting with a 9 year old investigator.  They wanted "someone from Primary" there.  "Can you go at 6 tonight?"  "Sure," I say - "no problem"...
4pm I get a call from Elder so and so...
Elder: Sister Smith, I understand you are planning to go to the ---- home tonight at 6 pm?
Me: Yes, I will be there.
Elder: Would you be able to teach about obedience, follow the prophet, The 10 Commandments, tithing, fast offerings, and obeying and honoring the law?"
Me:  Uhhhh, sure I can help with the lesson, how long should I plan on taking with all of this?
Elder:  Oh, the whole thing should be about 20 minutes.
Me:  Okay, what part are you going to do?
Elder: Oh, I won't be there.
Me:  Excuse me????
Elder:  Call Sister Allen.  She is a ward missionary and has meet the family before.  See if she can go with you.
Okay I didn't say "excuse me??' in a rude voice, though I thought it. I think I just questioned him more to find out why in the world they wouldn't be there...something about his companion going home and he was with two other Elders until his new comp came and they had other appointments to keep that night...I am still not sure on all the details except that they were not going to be there.  Then I got off the phone and realized that I am now somehow the missionary - by myself.  What the heck?  This is not what I signed up for!!  How do I get myself into these things? I am the Primary president, not a discussion-teaching missionary! Why do I become such a spaz in these situations?  Why can't I just say no at this point???  Because it is an investigator, we are messin' with someone's eternal salvation here!

After a phone call to Sister Allen (I LOVE this girl - she was all over it - totally calm and cool and like, "yeah, we can totally do this."  She saved my life)

Then it really all sank in and I called Scott, called my mom, called the ward mission leader (not home, couldn't be reached), called the Elders again to clarify ("you really can't reschedule?" "no."), called the ward missionaries across the street to borrow "Preach My Gospel," called Scott again, had a major breakdown, cried like a crazy woman, called Sister Allen again (I think she is an angel).  Sat and struggled with my pride and finally was able to pray.

Luckily I had a crock pot dinner going or we would have starved that night.  I couldn't even think enough to process picking up fast food.

Then we went.

All was well.  It was actually kind of fun (but only because of my friend Sister Allen).  We taught obedience, follow the prophet, The 10 Commandments, tithing, fast offerings and obeying and honoring the law, just like we were supposed to.  The little girl was baptized on Sunday so I must not have messed things up to badly.  (She was already planning to be baptized long before we showed up at her house- it had nothing to do with me!)

Sweet relief!

I think this experience may have strongly convinced me to make the 2.5 hour trip to Thatcher on Sunday to visit Scott's grandparents.  I needed a break from my expanding duties....

Oh yeah, the missionaries called again two days ago...they are teaching a 10 year old girl and would like "someone from Primary" to go with them them that evening at 7...yes the Elders would be there this time.  I decided to delegate. One counselor's husband was gone to work, the other counselor's husband has class...my husband was home...my turn again.  I called Sister Allen to come with me...bless her heart she was able and willing to come again.  (Did I mention how much I really love her?)  It was another good experience...I am learning a lot!  We (all) taught the Plan of Salvation.  It was well received by the 10 year old, though not by her mother.  Fortunately, her mother is totally supportive of said 10 year old being baptized May 8th.

I made this Plan of Salvation visual for the Elders to use in the future for their young investigators who seem to be so numerous:

(Bless his heart, one Elder had spent 1.5 hours making something similar out of cardboard - it was teeny tiny but still effective.  I offered to make him a slightly bigger one and he was favorable to the suggestion).  Okay, I am a nerd for taking all the time to do this but it was kinda fun.  I made it smallish still so that it would still fit on a coffee table.

Did I mention that I have to speak at the stake baptism tomorrow morning so I have been working on my talk all week...oh yeah, it is my month to teach sharing time so I have been working on that too.

Upcoming Primary:
Saturday (tomorrow) 8am: Scout leadership training "we really want Primary presidencies there." (I am totally ditching - I am so bad).

Saturday 11am (tomorrow): Stake Baptism - I get to speak!

Sunday night 7pm: Stake Leadership Meeting

Tuesday:  Help with Activity Day "manicure activity" for 8 and 9 year old girls.  (I volunteered for this one several months ago before I knew any better).  It should be fun though.  I like manicures.

Wednesday:  Go visit 10 year old investigator again with Sister Allen and the Elders.  At least I have advance notice this time.

I am glad we rescheduled that Primary Activity Day.  It would have been next Saturday.

Sunday: Another sharing time.

Oh, and did I mention that one of my secretaries(yes, we require two), who happens to be one of my good friends, moved on Monday and this Sunday is the last Sunday for my second counselor and Primary music chorister.  They are moving too.  Also, I am currently short four sets of Primary teachers due to people moving out or being called to other callings. I still don't know who will replace of these wonderful people...

There you have it - two  and a half weeks in the life of a Primary president.

I feel so bad for our Bishop!