Mom is Best (Daddy's Homecoming)

So last year I asked my good friend (Emily Johnston) if she could write me a new Mother's Day song that was whiny.  She told me she didn't write music, I asked her to use Daddy's Homecoming and just write the words.  We discussed what we love about our mothers and came up with verse 1.  It was good but as I prepared to teach it to our new group of kids after they combined our wards I realized it was missing a few important things about our mothers that should be included.  Our first version was very secular and needed some spiritual aspects added.  Our Latter-day Saint mothers are so much more than wonderful loving people. So this year we worked together and wrote a second verse telling about the wonderful spiritual stuff our mommy's do too.  I hope you love the song.  I certainly do. 

Did Jesus Really Live Again?

In April I am teaching my Primary kids Did Jesus Really Live Again?.

Did Jesus really live again?  Yes, when the third day came.

 He waken and he left the tomb, he called Mary's name.

Did Jesus come to those he loved?

Yes, people touched his feet.

And of the fish and honeycomb, he did truly eat.

And there were nail prints in his hands

 and a spear wound in his side.

Did Jesus really live again after he had died?

Oh yes, and so shall I.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck- book club/ discussion questions

We read this book in book club and there weren't any discussion questions so I wrote my own.  I figured I would share so you wouldn't have to write your own!

How is this story similar/different from Tiger's Curse?

How are your friends similar/different than Lilly's friends?

What did you think of Lilly's parents and wanting to be called mother/father? 

Do you think Lilly figured out Amon was a mummy quickly or slowly?  Why was it hard for her to believe and how might you differ?

What do you think of Amon's parent's decisions when it came to Seth? 

Lilly talks a lot about her "type",  what is Lily's type?

When Lilly notices her "highlights" she rethinks her previous lifestyle and decides to enjoy her time with Amon.  Do you limit your enjoyment of life like Lily does?  Is this good or bad? She talks about "Lillian" and "Lily" and the difference between them.  Do you like Lily as a character?

Do you feel the book has vivid descriptions? 

Would you sacrifice yourself like Amon and his brothers did?

How did the death of Amon's teacher (as a child) affect Amon as a person? 

Sometimes we feel money will solve all of our problems.  How are Lily's problems different because of the money she has? 

How are the personalities of the 3 brothers different?  Do you like them?  Do you have a favorite?

Dr Hassan talks about being a man of science and a man of faith.  How do the different parts of our own personalities conflict with other parts of us? 

Did Amon have a choice about bonding with Lily? 

There are a lot of lies in this book, do you feel they were necessary or harmful to the goal of the princes?

Do you think Lily's experience will changer her college choice?

How does Anubus help the princes?

When did you figure out Dr Sabok was that bad guy? 

This story is about sacrifice, who makes these sacrifices and why do they make them?

What does the epilogue foreshadow for book 2 "Recreated"?

Did you like the book?  Racist?   Unrealistic Fiction with unbelievable characters? 

Did you Think to Pray?

I taught this song to my Jr Singing Time group yesterday.  We started by just discussing prayer.  I asked them the questions When? Where? and Why? Then we talked about the importance of morning prayer.  I then introduced the first verse and chorus.  Next week I plan on introducing the second verse.  I am not sure if we will learn the 3rd verse. I might quit after the second.    

Ere you left your room this morning,

Did you think to pray?

In the name of Christ our Savior.

Did you sue for loving favor,

As a shield today?

When you heart was full of anger,

Did you think to pray?

Did you plea for grace me brother,

that you might forgive another?

Who had crossed your way?

When sore trails came upon you,

did you think to pray?

When your heart was filled with sorrow,

balm of Gilead did you borrow

at the break of day?

Oh how praying 

rests the weary,

prayer will change the night to day

so when life gets dark and dreary,

Don't forget to pray

Link to pictures with words

Tell me the Stories of Jesus

With my Junior singing time group I am planning on putting all 12 pictures on the board and singing one line at a time choosing a child to find the picture and putting them in order on the board.  Every time we add a line we will sing through what we have in order.  

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,

Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here,

Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,

Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Oh, let me hear how the children stood round his knee,

I shall imagine his blessings resting on me;

Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,

All in the love light of Jesus' face.

Tell me in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea,

Tossing the boat on the tempest on Galilee!

And how the Master, ready and kind,

Chided the billows and hushed the wind.

For my senior singing time group I a going to use the idea found here (http://afprimarysingingtime.blogspot.com/2013/02/q-how-to-teach-song-from-scratch.html).  It is #5 on her list (which is an excellent list) called blurs.  I printed them in black ink and 9 per page to help conserve ink.  I made copies at the church, I am doing 5 groups and only giving them one verse at a time.