Popcorn Moments

In case you didn't know, I teach Sunbeams for our ward. Usually I make Eric come help me because on a full day we have up to eight 3 year-olds in the class. Lately, it's averaged out to about five a Sunday.

The lessons we teach are super basic. We've focused mainly on God & Jesus Christ creating things.

These were the last several lessons I taught:

Lesson 8      (I am thankful for the day and the night) 

Lesson 9      (I am thankful for water) 

Lesson 10     (I am thankful for trees, plants and flowers) 

Lesson 11     (I am thankful for fish) 

Lesson 12    (I am thankful for animals) 

Lesson 13    (I am thankful for birds and insects) 

Lesson 14    (Adam and Eve were created in Heavenly Father's image)

Between telling kids to keep their hands to themselves or keep their skirts down so we aren't flashing our neighbors or keeping them from running to the podium during Sharing and Singing time, it can feel like glorified freebie babysitting. I often wonder if ANY of the tiny bit of lesson I can teach actually sticks with them. I had to start telling myself that I'm hopefully just laying the gravel before the gospel foundation is poured.

But then there are little moments that make me melt or laugh and I can't help but love my calling.

For example: Rewind to about a month ago. For Lesson 10:I am Thankful for Trees, Plants and Flowers we learned/sang "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree." The trees hadn't really started blooming yet, so I told all the little ones to pay attention when they are outside the next couple of weeks and see if they can spot popcorn in the trees.

Fast Forward four weeks to last Sunday. I had a little girl named Maisey on my lap during singing/sharing time (the little girls seem to really like being on my lap). Randomly she turns, looks at me and says, "I saw popcorn in the trees!" She was so excited and so cute and I couldn't believe she remembered that! That was all it took to make the last three months of haggard teaching worth it.

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." -Matthew 18:2-5

This is of the Hood River Blossom Fest which Eric and I will
be going to this Saturday!