The Stuart Family: January 2012

I'm a little lost, I have to admit. I was released from being Primary President after close to 3 years of being in that calling. When I found out that they were going to release me in early December, I was really sad. I didn't want to be released and there were many tears. I have completely loved this calling. It has been an extremely busy and sometimes stressful one with absolutely no downtime but the rewards that have come from being with the sweet children in our ward have been well worth it.

I was blessed to serve with over 160 primary children ages 18 months to 11 years old, 25-30 teachers both male and female, choristers and pianists, activity day leaders, cub scout leaders, and 11 year old scout leaders. I have also been blessed to work with some amazing women as I have gone through 4 second counselors, 3 secretaries, and 3 teacher coordinators (like a third counselor). I have received inspiration and answers to prayer as I have thought about the children and the teachers that I have come to love in my ward. I have seen children start on the front row and end in the back row. It has been very bittersweet to say the least.

Although I have enjoyed being very busy, I will not miss the last-minute scramble of having to find a teacher on Sunday. I will not miss writing the annual sacrament meeting presentation and the stress of hoping that everything goes smoothly with perfectly behaved children on the stand that get up and say or sing their parts perfectly. And I will not miss pouring over and discussing names of ward members to fill callings practically every month.

However, I will truly miss the big eyes of the primary children as they soaked up every word I taught during sharing time. I will miss their sweet and sympathetic faces as I teared up while sharing my testimony of the gospel each week. I will miss the innocent and funny comments and questions that come out of their mouths. I will miss their playful giggles and pokes to their friends. I will miss the singing at the top of their lungs and the dancing during music time. I will miss them waving to me quietly and secretly during sacrament meeting. I will miss big waves and loud hellos when they see me at the school and at stores around town. I will miss darling notes and drawings left on my front porch or given to me at the end of church. I will miss the shy boys that have crushes on me (Kevin, Evan, and Carter) but light up with a big grin when I wink at them. I will miss being in Primary with my own children each week and watching their testimonies and knowledge of the gospel grow. It is a calling that I am going to miss so much and I feel a little lost without it, but it's time for me to move on and serve elsewhere.

Here are some of my favorite pics through the years and funny moments of our Primary children:


The first "Powerhouse Primary Presidency" (quoted by Sarah): Me, Sarah Martin, Melissa Swasey, Emily Thornton, missing Cajsa Linford

Bishop Lance Martin getting the number of memorized Articles of Faith

Cody Okuda, die-hard UNLV fan. Bah!

Children's Halloween Costume Parade

New Bishopric: Kevin Eckersley, Richard Schraft, Bishop Lee Reese

Easter Egg Hunt

Primary Program Practice and Pizza Party

Primary's Got Talent was an annual activity that everybody loved.

We performed a dance to "Cotton-Eyed Joe": Melissa, Cajsa, Me, Lyndsie, Kelly

A mom asked her Sunbeam this question one day after church:

Question: "What did you learn about today in Primary?"
Answer: "Today I learned about Joseph Smurf!"

During sharing time:
Question: "Why do we have trials?"
Answer: "Because life just isn't fair!"

Relayed by two primary teachers:
Teaching: "The Word of Wisdom tells us that we shouldn't drink coffee or use tobacco."
Comment: "Uh-oh! My mom has Tobacco (Tabasco) sauce in our fridge and she puts drops on our tongues when we say bad words!"

Asked for our Mother's Day questions:
Question: "What does your mom like to do when you are at school?"
Answer: "Take naps and sleep."

Asked for our Father's Day questions:
Question: "What does your dad like to do when he comes home from work?"
Answer: "Play on the computer and watch TV."

A fun and interesting fact:
Everyone in the presidency had 1-2 more children during their service in their primary calling except myself and Krista.