Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
I DO! And I’m there on a mini vay-cay.
I’m spending a long weekend with my youngest brother, sister-in-law and 3 nephews – 3 year old twins and a 1 year old.

And it is JUST in the NICK OF TIME!
You know how I looooove teenagers? Well by the end of Thursday’s seminary, I didn’t. It's Spring! We're all tired! We've had enough!

We were working on scripture mastery and I suddenly realized that with the ENTIRE back row of girls chatting and the Bonehead Brothers discussing something ultra important in their corner, I was the ONLY one saying the scripture mastery.

Mid verse, I took two steps, snatched the colorful overheads off the overhead and said, “You know what? I’m the ONLY one working on this. We’ve been working on this for 2 weeks. You guys are obviously over it. You can pass it off on your own time.” Yes, I practiced great restraint.

We went on to do some scripture chasing and then jump into 2nd and 3rd John. Our lesson was about people who set examples and how many people they affect. We looked at Christ’s baptism. Hmmm….how many people have followed that example. We decided trillions. We looked at Nephi, Moroni and Joseph Smith. The idea was that these people set an example for the people around them but they may not have even realized how far reaching their examples were.

We always have great discussion (and I'm not talking about individual conversations) in our class and wonderful participation.

So then, I passed out little squares of colored paper and asked them to write a short note to someone in the class who they thought set a good example. I told them they didn’t have to sign it, but in some meaningful detail.

Oh….and you can’t say that someone reminds you of an animal or has spunk. (We’ve already had experience with these comments – “You remind me of a toucan?????????”)

Then the students put their notes on my desk. As they were working on another assignment, I quickly glanced through them and selected a few to read to the class.

I PURPOSELY DID NOT PICK THE BONEHEAD BROTHERS.

I read a few to the class and passed out the rest, bore testimony, had a prayer, dismissed the class. I kept the Bonehead Brothers’ notes on the desk. They came up, “No way, we want our notes. Why didn’t you pass ours out?”

I’ll tell you why! They had written to EACH OTHER!

Tyler had written “Garrett, I really appreciate how you always dress modestly and we can't see your boxers……….” And it went downhill from there.

I didn’t even read what Garrett had written Tyler.

“Yeah, why didn’t you read ours?” Garrett asked.

“Because you’re an ass.”
Well, there you have it.

They didn't even flinch.

I did call him when he was on his way to school.

Here’s our conversation:
Me: “Seriously Garrett, I am sick of you and Tyler talking in class. You two should be setting the example not talking like the girls in the back row.”
G: “Mom, we weren't talking! When you motioned to me to leave class, I wasn’t talking. I was laughing.” (Oh......well............that explains EVERYTHING and THAT is totally okay!)
Me: “You are soooo lucky I am going out of town. Hopefully, when I get home, I won’t still have the desire to put my hands around your neck and squeeze slowly.”
G: “Umm…..Yeah……Sorry!”
Me: “Have a good day. I’ll talk to you later.”

Yep - I think he knows that he is a beloved son of God and has great potential!

Oh and that I will kick his butt if he doesn't cut it out.