Because girls camp was the second week of June at Mia Shalom and last year it was the end of July, it felt strange to start getting camp-related emails from the stake just a few months after the last camp wrapped up! But it turns out we all loved having it scheduled right at the beginning of summer! I feel like we spent less money, our meetings were more focused and less frou-frou, and we had a camp-freeee summer! (which helped me shift my focus on to TREK)
Us leaders arrived on Monday at Mia Shalom to get the camp site organized. It is always a really fun day to be together and chat, work hard and lunch and dine together. We never get to do that! We set up our kitchen, our huge tents, decide where we want our FEAST times and camp fires to be, put up our decorations (we are Individual Worth, RED this year. We had a big heart chandelier hanging over the eating tables, put up all the heart attacks the ward YCL's made etc. Our theme is LOVE-LOVE-LOVE! It all looked so cute!) and got the girls Welcome bags stuffed and organized, got the girls sweatshirt sizes figured out and post all the cabin assignments. We were in the Wilderness area this year- so pretty! But one less cabin for us, which meant there would be about 15 bodies in a cabin. Not a square to spare!
That first night was so cold. Like in my top 3 coldest nights I've ever spent. We woke to snow! As the girls arrived and stepped off the bus they were greeted by us cheering and a kiss on the cheek with our red lipsticked lips. It did get warmer each day and by Friday we were all in T-shirts. The cabins were plenty warm at night with so many bodies. There were no flies or mosquitoes, thanks to the cooler temps. We rarely even saw the pot guts like we usually do. There were, however a plethora of moths in the cabins at night. One night someone left a lantern on in my cabin. The amount of moths on the ceiling when we got back was freaky. It was the best year for me yet! I feel like I was able to relax, take it all in, really bond with the girls and be myself. This may have had to do with my good pal Kelly coming as the camp cook- she made it so fun and relaxed. Also, the new Bishopric are easy going men. They joined us Friday with their wives and had planned fun games, brought us lunch, and stayed until the late testimony meeting. The week had it all: laughter, learning, testimony building, physical exertion, service projects, skits and cheers, good food and lot's of bonding. Singing in the trees was so beautiful and powerful! We sang Walk Tall You're a Daughter of God. It was a success!
I always give the girls a little package with my FEAST time. This had red candies, quotes, scriptures and a worksheet to go with my message, as well as a little embroidery square, string and a needle to cross-stitch what they choose. It was fun to see the girls working on it and show me their creations throughout the week.
The bags looked cute all ready to go. Behind the bags is my gifts for my Secret Sister. I always make my girl an initial pillow. The "B" turned out cute! I've made a "V" for Veronica, an "M" for Madeline, and now a "B" for Bethany.
I always paint my nails our color before camp, along with a nail sticker to go with our theme. ( I did red this year, of course- with a white heart.) Paisley wanted to do her nails with me and chose these little press-ons. I thought they looked so cute on her sweet hands. Paisley really has sweet hands.
After a wonderful and tiring week, I entered the house that Saturday afternoon with a cute banner from Paisley, welcoming me home from a week away.
Us leaders arrived on Monday at Mia Shalom to get the camp site organized. It is always a really fun day to be together and chat, work hard and lunch and dine together. We never get to do that! We set up our kitchen, our huge tents, decide where we want our FEAST times and camp fires to be, put up our decorations (we are Individual Worth, RED this year. We had a big heart chandelier hanging over the eating tables, put up all the heart attacks the ward YCL's made etc. Our theme is LOVE-LOVE-LOVE! It all looked so cute!) and got the girls Welcome bags stuffed and organized, got the girls sweatshirt sizes figured out and post all the cabin assignments. We were in the Wilderness area this year- so pretty! But one less cabin for us, which meant there would be about 15 bodies in a cabin. Not a square to spare!
That first night was so cold. Like in my top 3 coldest nights I've ever spent. We woke to snow! As the girls arrived and stepped off the bus they were greeted by us cheering and a kiss on the cheek with our red lipsticked lips. It did get warmer each day and by Friday we were all in T-shirts. The cabins were plenty warm at night with so many bodies. There were no flies or mosquitoes, thanks to the cooler temps. We rarely even saw the pot guts like we usually do. There were, however a plethora of moths in the cabins at night. One night someone left a lantern on in my cabin. The amount of moths on the ceiling when we got back was freaky. It was the best year for me yet! I feel like I was able to relax, take it all in, really bond with the girls and be myself. This may have had to do with my good pal Kelly coming as the camp cook- she made it so fun and relaxed. Also, the new Bishopric are easy going men. They joined us Friday with their wives and had planned fun games, brought us lunch, and stayed until the late testimony meeting. The week had it all: laughter, learning, testimony building, physical exertion, service projects, skits and cheers, good food and lot's of bonding. Singing in the trees was so beautiful and powerful! We sang Walk Tall You're a Daughter of God. It was a success!
The bags looked cute all ready to go. Behind the bags is my gifts for my Secret Sister. I always make my girl an initial pillow. The "B" turned out cute! I've made a "V" for Veronica, an "M" for Madeline, and now a "B" for Bethany.
A plethora of emails back and forth! Hustle and bustle and get it done!
