I Am A Child of God.

This was meant to be a post before sharing time yesterday, but it just simply didn't happen.
I am so excited for the theme "I Am A Child of God" this year.  I am so excited to teach my kids about the love of their Heavenly Father and what it means.
I really want to focus on self esteem this year.  I feel that once a child learns his/her worth, it's easier to see the worth in others and be kinder to them.
So, for this reason, yesterday, I wanted sharing time to be special.
First and foremost, I made the most ADORABLE mirror.
I bought an inexpensive framed mirror and some, you guessed it, "I Am A Child of God" vinyl from here.
As you can probably figure out, the vinyl is on the top and bottom of the mirror.  I placed this mirror by the door on an easel so that every time one of my kids leaves the room, they remember who they are.
So, the topic this week was "God is my Heavenly Father and He knows me."
I wanted to make this a Sunday that they'll always remember.
I decided to read "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.  I wasn't sure I was going to read it until I read one of the last pages.

Punchinello laughed.  "Me, special?  Why? I can't jump.  My paint is peeling.  Why do I matter to you?"Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly.
  "Because you're mine.  That's why you matter to me."

Not gonna lie.  I bawled my eyes out.
So, Sunday afternoon, we had prayer, songs, scriptures, talks and it was time.
I had all the kids sit on the floor in a semi circle around me and I read the story.
I have NEVER seen them so well behaved.
We discussed how they are like Punchinello and that Eli is like Heavenly Father.
I can't express to you the incredible spirit I felt in that room.

my awesome bff Stacy snapped this when i wasn't paying attention...
and I'm grateful.

You are special.  You are a child of God.  That alone makes you wonderful.
Good luck this year.

August Sharing Time Week 1

Okay, so, I'm still feeling a little icky after my weeklong bout with laryngitis, but it's my week to teach gospel instruction.  

I found this great idea at Little LDS Ideas and I'm so doing it.  I am not going to use real shoes, but rather pictures of shoes taped on paper sacks.  I think it would be gross to stick a hand into some of the shoes at my house.  :)  I am going to try to find a downloadable copy of the video clip mentioned in the lesson about Gordon B Hinckley's story.  

Also, before they head out for the day, I found some coins at the dollar store, so I will be giving each child a coin and asking them to secretly do something kind for a friend and to leave the coin behind.

On a side note, I love this lesson.  Our world is getting to be such an ugly, hard place and I am grateful for the opportunity to teach these kiddos how to make it better.

Here's the video clip.

Enjoy, and good luck!

Scripture Hero Carnival...Best Day EVER.

Okay, so I had this brilliant idea to do a carnival based on the scriptures so that we could have fun AND learn something of value.  I was so worried that it would be an epic fail.  But, it wasn't...so, here's the 411 on the carnival.
Booth 1: Old Testament - Beanbag toss - David and Goliath
Booth 2: New Testament - Fishing Pond - Jesus feeds the 5000.
Booth 3: Book of Mormon - Make your Own Title of Liberty - Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty.
Booth 4: Church History - Refreshments - Pioneers, Crickets, Seagulls.
Booth 5: Doctrine & Covenants - Dunk Tank - Articles of Faith

Okay, here's how it went down.
Upon entry,children were each given one of four different colored stickers (to make dividing easier) and an Articles of Faith card.
Each group started at stations 1,2,3 or 4.  Teachers would tell the children the story that accompanied each booth and then proceed with the activity.  When there was extra time, children would pass off their articles of faith with the assigned teacher on the card.
After children had been to each booth (a full rotation) we gathered and went outside, where the dunk tank was located.
For each Article of Faith, the children were given one ball to throw at the dunk tank target.  Our wonderful Bishop and amazing Stake President were so kind to "volunteer" to sit in the tank.  We did give an advantage to the younger kids....(because I love them a whole lot...and they're little.)
Anyhow, it seemed to be a huge success!  We had tons of fun, learned a few things and memorized Articles of Faith...

Enjoy the pictures below!

Happy kids waiting to get started!

My FABULOUS Goliath provided by the amazing Brother Borg.  For Real.  Hand drawn and everything.

Titles of Liberty and some darling little girls!

Learning about Pioneers and getting ready for some tasty treats!

Best Stake President EVER

(that's what you get for squirting kids with your squirt gun...)

and...the Best Bishop EVER.

(about giving the little kids some extra help....)

All in all, I think the kids had a great time.  But seriously...I lost my voice and had so much fun!

Top Secret Reverence Sharing Time!

My sharing time this month is on Reverence.  The outline suggests that we show the following pictures (Reverence Pictures) to the kids and have them discuss what they can do to be more reverent.  Because I like to have more fun...
I am turning them into Secret Reverence Agents.
I will be giving each group one picture in a sealed envelope that says
TOP SECRET REVERENCE PROJECT
I think I will also get them all some inexpensive play sunglasses.  :)
Anyhow, their mission will be to find out how they should be using the item pictured (hands, feet, etc) to be more reverent.
I will also be including a necklace made of this (Heart Necklace) for a super top secret mission.  That mission will be to find a person in primary that is using that pictured item to be reverent and give them the Super Reverent Agent necklace.
I love to play.
:)

Shepherding Part 2

Alright, so if you follow me at all, you read this...Good Shepherds which was a result of this...sheepie talk.  You know how passionate I am about this.  In reading it again over the past few days and trying to think about how to present this to my teachers, I wrote a letter, included the good parts of the sheepie talk and then will be placing a cute little card/magnet (I haven't decided yet...) with all of it.  I know it seems like a lot.  But really?  It's not.  I want them to understand how important this is to me.  How important it is to our Heavenly Father.  How essential it is to bring these lambies back and put them on the right path.  I know that I can't save them all, but I'm sure going to try...and remember- how great shall be your joy (scripture).  Really.  So, let's hope this works.  For their sake.

Easter Lesson...

I hate this lesson.  I would much rather focus on the good, pleasant things about our gospel.  I hate this lesson.  So much.  How do you explain to children how awful people are?  How do you explain to them that there were people that hated our Savior so much that they wanted him to die?  How do you explain to them that He didn't die peacefully?  I hate this lesson.  I am going to try to make it a little bit more fun by doing this...
http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2011/04/12-days-of-easter.html
However, I might cry.  Actually, I probably will cry.  But it's okay.  Right?

General Conference Sharing Time

I'll be honest...
I was at a loss for words for sharing time this week.
Yipes.
The lesson in the outline just didn't seem like it would get my kids excited for General Conference like I want them to be.
So, I found this.
http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2009/09/watchmen-on-tower-fhe.html
This woman is BRILLIANT.
I wish I was her.
Also, I'm bribing my kids...
I am giving them a General Conference Bingo Sheet (found at www.conferencegames.lds.org)
And whomever brings it back to me, filled out, will get a treat.
Not sure what it is yet, but time will tell. 
:)