Noah's Final Year Of Primary.

I can't believe how quickly the past 11 years have flown. It seems as if he was in nursery yesterday singing and doing the hand motions to the primary songs "popcorn popping on an apricot tree, and "The wise man and the foolish man." As much as I don't want him to tower me it's so exciting to watch him spiritually grow and make decisions on his own and to choose things to do on his own motive. As he got older he didn't like singing too much at church but just informed Chelsea and I that he will join the choir once he begins middle school. He has such a nice voice and has many talents. He is excited to be in Sunday school with the "older kids" next year and to be able to pass sacrament to the congregation. My baby boy is no longer a big kid but a young man. I look forward to what the future brings for him, but for now I am enjoying all the moments I have with him on the daily. One thing for sure is that no matter how old he gets, he will always be my one and only baby boy! 

A New Year, A New Calling.

When we first moved to our new ward in Princeton, and our bishop told us how they don't keep us in a calling for too long he wasn't kidding! I love change, and even though I've enjoyed being in the nursery with the babies, and teaching Noah's class it's always nice to have different callings for that is the only way we will spiritually grow. 

Teaching Noah.

After serving in the nursery for the past nine months at my church I am now serving as a teacher in the primary. The best thing about this particular calling is that Noah is in this class so having him as one of my students makes it extra special. Especially since he'll be turning eight in three months! There have been many times where I have pretty much taught all my girls when I used to teach in the past whether it was in the nursery when Chelsea was a toddler, in primary when Sierra was five, and in the Young women with Lexie, but this is the first time where I'll be teaching Noah true principles of Christ through lessons in a church setting. 

How We've "Bloomed" In Faith In God.

I probably sound like a broken record when I mention not being raised with any of the programs in the LDS church because of being raised in a different affiliation, but being that this month is my 23 anniversary of being a member of this church makes me extremely grateful to be active in it, because as I get older I continue to learn, and "bloom" with my current calling I have in the church. 

At the end of each school year we hold an event for all the young girls ages 8-11, and come together to talk about what we've learned this past year. Every year we come up with a theme that's suitable for the event, and this year I chose, "How We've Bloomed in Faith in God." 

This was my very first time organizing an event with this specific calling, and I have to say that it was pretty fun! Granted those tissue paper flowers were not my forte, but luckily I have amazing daughters who helped me make most of them, and a husband who pitched in at the last minute to fluff them up. You can view snippets of that on my snapchat (r_jorgensen) before it disappears. The girls found it amusing to see their pa doing a craft! Go Jon! 

Our primary president was such a huge help with this, and came up with most of the ideas. We both put together planters for the girls to take home. I collected a ton of tin cans, and we wrapped them with card stock, put potting soil in baggies, tied them up with pretty ribbon, added a seed packet, and a paper fan that read, "Bloom where your planted" for good measure. Super adorable! 

All the girls had a talent to share and I've got to say that I'm so impressed with these group of girls including my own kid because at their age they are all busy growing up with the world all while developing a talent. Some played piano, demonstrated a sport, and expressed their creativity through art. We have some amazing little artists, musicians, and athletes in our midst, and it was so nice to see them in action.

// You can hear Chelsea play a part of her piece on my snapchat // 

We had a member of our bishopric share his remarks to our girls about developing talents and how important it is to cultivate, and share it. 

It was also nice to hear the parents come up, and express a few words on how their daughters have grown in the past year, and every parent had such sweet sayings to say about their child including my own. Jon and Chelsea are alike in many ways, and I can tell that he's her favorite, and that's okay by me! I love that they have such a close bond, and that she can learn a lot from him because he's as awesome as they come! 

I'm extremely grateful to be teaching these girls twice a month, and to learn and "blossom" with them. It seems like the older I get, the more I am taught by these girls, including my own kid. 

Not only is this program wonderful and fun, but it's crucial for our girls of this age to come and participate. It is vital for them to attend so that it can prepare them for young women which is another program for girls ages 12-18. When these girls attend I can see how much it truly helps them stand firm in their beliefs, and uphold their standards. No matter how busy their young lives begin to get with school, sports, and extra curricular activities it makes me happy to see that they make the time to see me every other week for an hour in the evening to be taught true principles of the gospel. Learning and living the gospel, developing talents, and serving others is something that is important for all them of them to inhibit, and I already see that in the girls. I know that if they continue to work on those three important values that they will grow up to become amazing young women, and continue to stand firm with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and His teachings. 

It truly was a wonderful evening, and I think the fact that we had yummy desert was the "dirt in the cup" or as some may say "the icing on the cake." Thanks Kristen for making it! 

With each calling comes great blessings, and growth in the gospel, and I'm so grateful to have this one for the time being and to be teaching my daughter in it! I love how any church event connects families together, and helps build a closer bond with their parents. I can see the sparkle in the girls eyes when their parents come and support them, and that tells me that we are all on the same path to improve our parental skills to be the best we can be! 

Noah & technology on Sundays.

Remember the time when Noah had a hard time going to class? Well, after weeks of constantly telling him "you're going to class next week because when you don't go Jesus is sad, and you need to learn." I also bribed him that if he went to class he can play with my phone afterwards. I know...bad mom. Having him playing minions after church isn't the best way to keep the spirit, but c'mon...he's only four years old. But wait...statitiscs show that between the ages of three and five are the most crucial ages in which a child begins to truly understand what's right and wrong. It can be an intense stage of development in growing and learning. 

And I need to be mindful of that.

There are still times (like last Sunday) where I'll tell him that if he goes to class he can play games on my phone on the way home. I figured that it would be safe to tell him that because you know for three hours he's busy singing, and learning about Jesus that he won't remember what I said after sacrament meeting. 

Not! 

Oh no...as soon as we get in the car, and with a huge grin on his face he asked, "Can i play with your phone for just a little bit?" With that gorgeous face of his I can't resist. But...sometimes I say no, and when I do I'm so relieved that he doesn't throw a tantrum...he'll just pout. 

And then I give in anyway. Dang that technology! 

I really don't want him getting in the habit of playing games though...especially on Sundays. As a family we try to stay focused on having the spirit lingering all day long. It's not that easy though. Sometimes I even have to do laundry because I spent my Saturday hanging out with my teenage daughter who brings her laundry home which doubles it...and we have to wash on Sunday! 

But when it comes to technology the spirit is totally different. I do see a difference when we watch tv on Sunday as opposed to keeping it tech-free. There are some Sundays where we'll watch TV, but it's a church documentary, or a movie directed by a mormon.

But let me rewind a bit. 

I have gotten better at telling Noah that he can no longer play games after church, and it seems as if he's been coming around lately with wanting to go to class on his own (okay...I give him some fruit snacks in the end.) I'm not sure exactly what the problem was, but he seems to get along with his teacher, and the other kids. So hopefully he'll get over this technology bug as soon as learns to read a book, play a sport, and get him into piano lessons. 

This past Sunday he actually fell asleep right before his class started, and one of the sisters brought him to my class. Sierra, and I took turns holding him, and he slept the entire hour! I was so happy that he did! I have never had to hold any of my children during Relief Society, and I was okay with that. 

There's a first time for everything. 

On the way home he didn't ask for my phone, and I was in shock! I think he was so tired from attending a sweet sixteen party the night before. He was such in a daze staring into space the whole way home. He was probably coming down on all that sugar he inhaled, and was in need of some more. Apparently all he drank that night was orange crush, and ate a ton of chocolate (that's what happens when you stay home sick, and let your hubby take the kids to the party. Can we say spoiled!) 

I guess this is what i get for having a technology generation baby. I have to go with the flow, learn as he grows, and with a little bit of sternness...cut him some slack too. 

Let's just hope he'll continue to attend his little class so that he can be prepared to start a whole new class in the new year!  

Without any bribing or technology!  

primary blues.

So for the past two Sundays Noah has not been wanting to attend his primary class at church, and it's beginning to get a tad bit frustrating. I have no idea what has caused him to not want to attend after being in this class for ten months, but hopefully we will find a solution, and figure out as to why he's not wanting to attend. 

Quite shocking because Noah loves primary! He loves his teacher, and all the little girls in that class. We can be out of town in a different state, same church with different people, and Noah will have no problem going to that primary class. At first I thought it was the fact that we had general conference earlier this month, or the fact that he was going through withdrawal with Celeste being gone. He's perfectly fine when he's at home. You know.. with saying prayers, and participating in family home evening. Scripture study can be a bit of a struggle, but that's to be expected from a toddler, and sometimes he won't sit still. He's turning four next month, and I personally feel that it might be that he's just growing up. 

His sisters never really went through phases like this of not wanting to go to their little class. Sure once they entered nursery for the first time, or a sunbeam class (which Noah is in now, and he's not even four yet) can be overwhelming, and scary. But overall they all did well going to class, and we didn't have to deal with anything like this.

What is it with boys? Or is it just my kid.

I remember in other wards I've lived in, (and I've lived in a lot of them folks) nursery age was up until the age of three. Once they turn four is when they enter the sunbeam class. I don't know. I'm not complaining (okay maybe I am just a little...too late) it's just that Noah was barely three years of age when he entered the sunbeam class. Well..he's turning four next month so there is no turning back, or no use whining about it because that gets us nowhere! All we can do is try to find a way where he will go to class without causing a distraction, and continue to love this kid when he doesn't. 

Jon was such a good sport this past Sunday, and ended up taking him to the class he was teaching. Even then Noah wouldn't sit still, and wanted to "go to the car". I felt bad for Jon, and for the youth in his class who probably sensed the contention. I wish he would have grabbed me to take him since I wasn't teaching. He even took him to priesthood which didn't go very well. Apparently Noah thought it was play time, and decided to play behind the curtains (priesthood is on the stage in the gym in our ward.) I sensed Jon's frustration on our way home, and felt super sad for him!  

Noah is a darling little boy, and there are times when Chelsea will try to take him, but to no avail. I feel like a bad mom bribing him with treats during the week so that he'll go to class this Sunday. Not that I've bought him anything, but i gave in by giving him my iPhone to play games on, watching more than one movie, etc. I'm such a softee.  

I don't know if anyone has ever had this issue with a toddler about to turn four not wanting to go to class. We shall see how he reacts this Sunday. 

Jon and I both teach Sunday school, and this week it is my turn to teach Gospel Doctrine! Yes...I'm excited, but still nervous!

I don't want this small trial to run our lives every Sunday. I know that this too shall pass.

He did say he'll go to class though...after i gave him some technology time. Thank goodness for these little cards. 

We shall see.

Pray for him, and me... 

^^Noah and his sweet friend Celeste^^

That he'll have a smile of excitement on his face again when he's on his way to class!