with the new paint. It really sounds nice! It is amazing how difficult it is to choose a color. I am always terrified that what I like on a sample card will not be what I like on the wall.

I am so grateful that you accepted your calling. I have often received a calling at the most inopportune time and amazingly it has always worked out for my good as well as I believe the good of those I was called to serve. This was usually quite a work in progress. For example, I started teaching Seminary in St. Louis shortly after we moved into our first rental (at the end of September - we moved there in August), and then into our 2nd rental (which we moved into at Christmas time), and we were still house hunting.

It was incredibly stressful and I had a class that had run out the teacher who had started the first of September with them. It was tough!!!! But I did have to take a firm hand and lay down some strict rules for behavior. I tried the "lots of love and wow them as a teacher" stuff first but that just didn't cut it. After two weeks, I found myself walking out of the class and in tears and prayers for the day. I felt like such a failure. In the afternoon, I had a strong sense of the Spirit whispering to my mind that it wasn't about me. It was about these kids and the love that Heavenly Father had for them. His purposes could not be brought about for them in chaos and confusion. I knew what to do. I called all of the parents that evening and told them that our classroom was not what they would hope for their children and gave them some specifics of what was going on. I told them I was committed to giving the best I had to give in their behalf and that I would be well prepared to teach them the Old Testament. I told them that I would have to lay some strict rules down and that if one of the students could not behave with respect to the purposes of our classroom, they would be asked to leave.

The parents really got behind me. The kids arrived the next morning humbled and a bit off their game. It was an uncomfortable couple of weeks that followed as I gave them my best and they held back, but slowly the ice thawed and they found they really enjoyed learning the gospel. Actually there were some of the kids that were thrilled to have Seminary become something worthwhile right off the bat. Not only are the trouble makers losing out, the good kids often suffer at the expense of those that are causing the rucus.

That was one of my favorite classes ever. I still have contact with some of those kids and I still love them with all of my heart. One girl who remained distant to me that whole year told me after she was married with two children that she found that I was right and expressed thanks for what I had done. That was very gratifying because I had felt sad to not reach her. Her time in High school ended with her inactive and with a baby out of wedlock and no husband. After the baby was born, she returned to church and eventually married.

This seminary experience happened as our family experienced three moves, a pregnancy, a child starting middle school, a child trying to overcome the trauma of a broken thigh bone and hospitalization, and a husband often working anywhere from 12 - 16 hour days. I look back and marvel that we made it through those times but we did and I firmly believe that we were blessed for our faithfulness in doing our part and trusting in the arm of God to do it.

I love you Sara! You will discover the best way to do for those boys just what they need. You are not alone in this effort. They are loved by their Heavenly Father and their parents. These can be your best allies in focusing their energies toward that which is good. When most parents know you really want what is best for their children, they will join with you in making it happen in the church classroom. You can talk with each boy individually by going to their homes and sitting down with them and their mom and dad. If this is the path you take, talk directly to the boy and tell him the reasons you must have order in the classroom. Tell them you hope they will be able to manage on their own but if they need help, perhaps their mom or dad can attend class with them. (This is not to shame them but to honestly help them.) If you take this approach, you must be 100% ready to follow through. If the boy is just not willing to obey, he will find it better to not have his parent come to class with him and will straighten up. If it is a genuine struggle for him to be appropriate, a parent there will be a blessing to him.

These are two of the solutions I have used to deal with challenges in the classroom. I hope they spark your thinking. As you pray for these boys you will know just what to do for them.

Hi, Sara,

Check out sugardoodle.net for resources for your Primary class. I am teaching the Valiant 8's and use it all the time. Good luck with your rowdies!

Love, Jean

I like your blog entries Sara. They are always interesting. I am teaching Isaac and Rebecca as well this week. Perhaps Abraham's servant was looking for a kind person to be the wife. She certainly fits with all she did to give drink not only to the servant but all of his animals as well. I am stressing Kindness. With Rebecca I am emphasizing that anything worth having is worth working long and hard for--you would know that with your home. Also, the Johnny Lingo story. I hope Jared treats you like an "8 cow" wife. I am sure he does.
Any ideas you have would be helpful. Give all a hug for me. Love you.

We also want to see pictures of the inside of your house and your paint colors.