A couple of months ago I was called to serve in the Primary presidency. With finals and early pregnancy I have not been much help to my other Presidency members. Yesterday I gave a lesson. I was surprised at all the nice things the other teachers had to say. I didn’t make it very far into all that I planned. I started off telling a couple of scripture stories and that is where the focus ended up.

We talked about Alma teaching the people at the waters of Mormon, from the Book of Mormon. I had so much fun telling them about when the people were asked if they would follow God and be baptized they clapped their had and exclaimed with joy “Yea! This is the desire of our hearts” I had them all stand up and show me what that would look like. It was so fun! Two boys in senior primary were cheering and jumping up and down. Now THAT is how I want to act when I am asked to live the gospel. Love it!

Then I told them the story about Shadrach, Mesach, and Abed-nego from Daniel in the Old Testament. I really had fun getting into it. I of course got to be King Nebuchadnezzer. And have them all worship my idol every time I played music on the piano. What a ball! Then we talked about them being saved from the furnace and a fourth person being in there in the image of the Son of God.

We talked about making good choices. I had a volunteer come up. Then we went over a series of choices. If they were bad then I looped a rope around them. The first three were bad so they were all tied up. Then we played Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. We talked about how making bad choices makes it harder for us to do the things we want to do. They loved it.

Sundays are in a way the most difficult day we have as parents. Trying to keep active babies, toddlers or young children entertained, attentive, QUIET for any span of time can be one of our greatest personal feats. Just a small amount of time trying to calm, hush or reign in these little people can leave anyone, no matter how collected normally, totally frazzled. On Sundays we try to do it for an hour and 15 minutes at the least, or 3 hours for little ones under 18 months. It is just plain torture.

Some weeks we go to church to be there but don’t take in hardly a word. Other weeks we manage to hear parts and portions while we duck in and out of meetings to change diapers, feed babies, maintain order, entertain with drinks at the fountain and roaming the halls, or just to take the screaming and wailing somewhere a little less out of earshot.

Oh blessed day, We have arrived at another reprieve. Eden has moved into Primary and Alden is now old enough to attend Nursery. They and we can breathe a little easier on Sundays.

Now this Sunday had some out of the ordinary special things I want to remember. First was the flip Alden took over the back of the pew — over Chad’s barring arm. Chad couldn’t catch him so he had to push him so he would land on the pew behind us and pretty much on top of Brother Price. Was Alden phased? Not really. That spells trouble.

Secondly, our back door neighbor and got up and bore her testimony to the nursery kids. She was the teacher while Eden was in there. She called each of them by name including Eden. Eden was enthralled. Sue’s words were tender. Eden looked up at her with such adoration and clapped in the middle and at the end for Sue. It was so sweet. Then she asked if she could go see Sue after. She ran over and snuggle right up to Sue and stayed there for awhile. There is a special feeling of gratitude you get when someone loves and serves your children.

My mom and Dad found a cute little fairy costume for Eden and got it for her birthday. She has been so excited to don her fairy apparel ever since. Our plan for Alden was to just put him in a sweatsuit he has with ears on the hood, paint on a nose and whiskers and let people call him what they wished.

It all changed at D.I. (a thrift store). Our eyes met across a crowded clothing rack. IMusic filled my ears. A beam of light shone down on a dinosaur costume just Alden’s size and only $6.

Alden was thrilled to put on the costume, complete with little booties and a hat. When he walks the little tail happily wags along with his toddle.

Thus began costume envy. As soon as Alden went to take a nap his costume was snagged by his admiring sister and adorned for the next two days straight. She loves it and has decided she wants to be a dinosaur instead.