I have recently realized that I spent at least the first 25 years of my life trying not to be laughed at. I wanted to be pretty (every Halloween costume was a lovely thing, princess, bride, toothfairy, doll-- something cute!) I was leary of doing weird silly things. Crazy hair day? I skipped it. Zany sock day? Mine were clever, but never zany. Punk Rocker day? skipped it too. I think I was really hesitant to do anything that would call attention to myself (really. I know, seems so not Melissa!) I also don't think I had learned to laugh at myself.
Then I had kids.
Now, I do everything in the world to get them (and others) to laugh at me!
I have an absolute testimony of the power of music. I know in my own life how songs have strengthened me. I can sit down to the piano feeling blue and crabby and in 10 minutes feel lifted, just by plunking out a few hymns. Music is a big part of our house. I usually turn the i-pod in the kitchen on before breakfast and it hums along to our activities all day till the kids are tucked in. Classical, Mo-Tabs, Jack Johnson... we listen to a variety. It is the soundtrack to our lives.
In comes my favorite calling: I get to teach the children (18 mos-12) amazing songs each Sunday. I find myself using a combination of my love and testimony of the power of music, my terrific skills of classroom management (thanks Redwood Elementary class of 2004 for honing those) and my desire to make it FUN and get the kids to enjoy it. I have discovered the joy of being weird, silly, goofy and not minding what a bunch of kids think. (I will admit a few weeks ago when I did a lovely version of "don't hit your neighbor" jumping jacks and a teacher in the back row fell off her chair laughing I wondered for a minute... but just a minute!)
I thought I'd share a few of our recent adventures... just for kicks.
We found ourselves at the Primary Music Hospital, Dr. Austin M.D. (Musical Director) determined the health of our songs, but we had a very contagious case of SuperSinger-itis for kids singing so well. I wore that thing on my head for 2 solid hours. Am I odd or what? (funny side note to this already too long blog-post. I ran into Salvation Army to pick up a lab coat... The cashier said to me "Are you a doctor?" I responded, "No, I just play one on t.v." She looks at me and says "REALLY?" Then she seemed bugged that I couldn't stop laughing...)
Last week we played Spin the teacher-- had them sit in a spinny chair and gave them a good whirl, we sang whatever song they stopped on (songs on the floor in a circle around the chair). I need a better title for this game though... Wheel of Teacher? Spin of Fortune? Make the teacher so dizzy he/she falls of the chair... Oh, and the teacher of the class with the "best" singers had the HONOR of wearing the hat during the next song. I need to take my camera to church.
The joy of my calling has spread.One Saturday night I told Dave I was going to make a time-machine for the next day--- you know, to go back in time to how we learned all the 2009 songs. He asked what I was planning and I mentioned something about tinfoil and a cardboard box.... He told me to wait a minute, then he came in about 30 minutes later with this.
It is awesome, fans, buttons, switches. You should have seen the 7-11 year old boys flocked around it after church! I think Dave might be eying my calling.... But I'm not sure he could do Give Said the Little Stream justice. (We stand up and down on any word beginning with G or S... try it, it's a work out seriously!)
Aren't I lucky? Someone mentioned the phrase "magnifying your calling" recently and I thought, "Yes, I do that, but it is easy when it is the best calling in the church and it is only a few hours a week." I'm still working on magnifying my other favorite callings... much harder when they are 24/7.
ETA: I don't take ownership of any of these fun ideas. The glory of the internet is that I don't to think up the wheel, I just have to make a version of my own each Sunday! There are so many terrific blogs with women waaaay more creative than me. I sure have fun with the glue gun though. :)
17 comments:
Blurry pictures make the wrinkles go away. NICE! :)
WHAT A GREAT POST, I remember getting involved with tie that kept curling up shorter when the singing started to wain.
Bruce
You should be the General Primary Presidency Chorister. I think so many people could learn so much from you, especially adults, who sometimes forget to enjoy their callings!
I LOVE that you are so passionate about your calling. You have clearly taken it to a whole new level. I would have loved to have you as primary chorister when I was growing up!
Those children in your primary are very fortunate to have you teaching them the gospel through music.
Good stuff and 2 thumbs up!!
Yikes, I should add the disclaimer that I'm the queen of finding fun ideas on the internet and very rarely coming up with an original thought of my own. It is a blast though!
"""But I'm not sure he could do Give Said the Little Stream justice. (We stand up and down on any word beginning with G or S... try it, it's a work out seriously!)"""
That is the BEST entertainment in singing time. Aubrey and I mostly just sit and laugh but I hope you know we are laughing with you, not at you.
And whoever said you should become general primary presidency chorister needs to repent because such a great calling would take you away from us and we love having you in our ward and primary :)
AND, one last comment... I LOVE the fact that your husband asked what you were thinking of as far as a time machine and then went and made you one. You have yourself a great husband there :)
Melissa, what are some of your favorite sites for ideas? Can you share them, please? ;-)
You're going to have all your friends running a beeline to their bishops volunteering for this calling! You do MAKE it a fun one! Lucky you -- and lucky Primary children. Did you notice how many beautiful children's hymns were sung and played during conference? Also, a lot of references to the messages of the learning that takes place with children's music. Way to go!
You are so entertaining, not just for the kids!! We love watching you from the back of the room! You are amazing.
Your ward is so lucky to have you! Chorister is a very important calling. Those kids will remember the songs you teach them for the rest of their lives. I think they will remember you too!
Awesome post!
I love the time travel machine. How awesome is that?
And our chorister had a funny hat last sunday too, hers was encircled with a pom-pom ball fringe that would swing whenever she moved her head, it was very funny and I got to wear it! Oh the joy!
I have never had that calling, but I have admired the amazing choristers I've seen over the years. How wonderful to have a calling that you enjoy and are good at!
oooh, pom pom fringe! I was thinking of adding some tiny Christmas balls, but fringe seems a bit safer. ;)
I am behind the times. I thought you were in the Primary Presidency. When did you become chorister? It sounds like so much fun (to watch! lol). I remember Charlie and even Mark Cluff being chorister. They did their own versions of fun things too.
Okay, I am SUPER impressed with that time machine...30 minutes??? SERIOUSLY??? Dang, that boy has some SKILLS!!! Also, I will NEVER forget the affect of music YOU had on me...even now when some of our couple friends start getting at each other, I start singing "There is beauty all around when there's love at home...." Of course, I am not playing it extra forte on the piano, but they usually start laughing and forget the silly argument none the less...thanks for the example growing up!!!
Fun post! Loved all three pictures! Don't you just love being a member of this church! There's no questiom you have the calling He wants you to have. You are awesome at it! Who cares if you use some ideas from others? That is just using your time wisely, I think! I had that calling once for a few months. It sounded easier than it really was. It was a busy-every-minute-of-the-last-two-hours-of-church calling! From opening jr. song to sharing time with the junior primary to sneeking off to do music with the nursery to closing jr. song to opening sr. song to sharing time songs with the senior primary to closing sr. songs and I didn't even mention the TEACHING OF NEW SONGS or DOING ALL THIS WITH A BABY ON YOUR HIP AND ROWS OF SUNBEAMS TO BOOT!!! I love picturing you doing it! I love it that you have a testimony of the gospel!
OK Melissa, I know I must be the 'girl' falling off her chair in the back row, but the jumping jacks that don't hit your neighbor are soooo fun to watch!! You make my calling even more fun, and I already LOVE mine!! (having your daughter in my class makes it all the nicer!)
p.s. I will miss my Sunday chuckle! ;)
Aubrey
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