Hallelujah!

I just learned that I have officially been released from my Primary calling!!!! I mean I figured I would be released when I refused to go anymore and told them I was going to start going to a singles ward (solely for the reason of getting out of this calling, in case you were wondering), but to hear that it's now official is a fabulous feeling. Does it make me a bad person that I just up and quit? I tried to tell the appropriate people (well, person) that I didn't want to do it anymore and I needed to be released, but after like two months nothing had happened, so I took matters into my own hands. Sometimes you have to put your foot down and stand up for your mental health and let's be honest, the well-being of the children. So yeah, today's been a really good day!





I do actually feel slightly guilty. People talk about Catholic guilt, but I'm pretty sure Mormon guilt gives them a run for their money. I will not succumb to the guilt, though. I'm going to enjoy this moment and my freedom. I feel like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. You can make me work with children and you can make me feel slightly guilty, but you'll never take . . . MY FREEDOM! I've never actually seen this movie, but I'm sure it somehow relates.

Boring Sunday Summary

Not much to report today. It was our turn for the Sharing Time presentation thinger, so we didn't have a full class time today. This, of course, was a blessing. We had just enough time in class to explain to the kids that next week we're going to be laying down the law and we won't be putting up with their shenanigans anymore. We (my co-teacher and I) have decided that we're going to do a monthly sticker chart for each child to earn something cool that has yet to be decided upon. We are also giving them a certain number of chances each day to behave and if they don't, we are going to take them to their parents and request that they be beaten. Or possibly just request that the child sit with the parent for the rest of church. We also had the kids come up with their own set of rules so they know exactly what is expected of them. Hopefully this will help to improve both their behavior and my sanity. I'm also trying to have a better attitude about the whole thing. So far it hasn't really worked, but I'm still trying.

Another great thing that happened today (besides the shortened class time) was that one of the women I visit teach sent her husband over with their snowblower to clear the sidewalks and driveway for me! Since I'm all about being honest, I'll admit that every time I've had to shovel in the past month I have said about a bajillion bad words in my head. Shoveling does not bring out the best in me, so having someone else do it significantly improved my day.

Unrelated to Sunday, but also important . . . if you live in Utah, KBYU is airing a three-part documentary on addiction that my boss participated in. It's on at 8 p.m. starting this Monday and going through Wednesday. I believe it's specifically about addiction in Utah, so I'm assuming it will cover the LDS perspective, but I could be wrong. Either way, you should watch.

stuff

I kind of got blogged out for a while there and had to take a little hiatus in order to preserve my sanity. Here's what's been going on in the last week and a half-ish:

• If I could stop Christmas from coming, I would. I'm just not feeling it this year.
  
• Last week in Primary the music lady was teaching the kids a new Christmas song and she asked the kids who Mary's husband was. One of the kids answered "Heavenly Father." I almost blurted out "He was her baby daddy, not her husband," but fortunately I realized how unbelievably inappropriate that would have been, and I stopped myself.
  
• Only one more week of classes left. I don't know if I can make it.
  
• Remember that Mexican Tomato Lime soup recipe I posted a few weeks ago? I made it again, but added black beans and diced green chilies and it was even better than the last time. You really should try it.
  
• "Swiss Family Robinson" was on t.v. today. I love the old Disney movies. They prepared you for real life. Kids today are spoiled by princesses and happily ever after. The real world just isn't that nice. Sometimes your dog gets rabies and you have to shoot it. That's just the way it goes.
  

a Primary funny

One of my little Primary chil'en was saying the closing prayer yesterday and said "Please bless that we won't hit each other. Please bless that we won't hit our friends. And please bless that we won't hit our neighbors. And please bless that we won't hit. Amen." Then he immediately whacked another little kid with his rolled up paper. I said "______, you just prayed that we wouldn't hit each other and then you hit him!" The little boy paused for a second, said "yeah," and then whacked another kid up side the head.

This is what I deal with.

monsters, I tell you!

So my little Primary young'uns, in honor of Halloween, rode into church on a sugar high yesterday and were little monsters. The previously mentioned demon child was back and that didn't help either. I must say, though, that amongst the terrors, there is one little child who makes me forget that I don't like my calling. He is the sweetest little kid ever. We had to have partners for an activity and he chose me to be his partner. (I am choosing to believe this was because he likes me and not because I was the closest person to him.) I actually baby-sat all his older siblings when I was growing up and all the other kids in his family are amazingly loveable too. I'm so glad that this little boy has been in my class. I'm going to miss him in January when they switch classes. :(

A Halloween Miracle!

A miracle occurred today. My little Primary children were . . . wait for it . . . well-behaved! Not just well-behaved, but absurdly well-behaved. I don't know if their parents threatened them or drugged them or what, but holy cow! I've never seen anything like it before. Even the Primary Presidency noticed and were amazed. I think it may have been because this one particular little demon-child wasn't there today. But whatever the reason, I fully expect that this feat will never occur again so I'm just going to carry the memory with me in my heart and cherish it always.