LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE

Young Women's Camp 2011

I was the camp director for the young women in my ward this year. I didn't really love the preparation for camp because I got asked to do it a little late, and it was a bit of a headache trying to get everything ready on time, but I thoroughly enjoyed the camping experience with the girls. I had heard horror stories of the drama that comes with girls camping and so I was slightly nervous but very motivated at the same time to make this the best camping experience the girls have ever had. And so with all of that hard work, and a lot of help from the other leaders (we had our own camp cook couple), our camp turned out to be a success! Besides a little bit of whining and slacking off at the service project, the girls had a great time, good attitudes, helped, and were really nice to each other. I was so happy in the end. 

Some of the highlights include: finding a spooky, abandoned cabin and the girls breaking in to explore. Our Cinderella Skit on chastity that took the show. The girls were amazing actresses! The Piel's were our camp cooks and took such great care of us! Our ward quickly became known for having the best food!  Our new Bishop took the girls on a hunt for Navajo Sam and got really spooked! They talked about it for days! Ramona Jack brought up a big bath tub, foot scrub, lotion, and polishes for manicures and pedicures. The girls loved it and it came at perfect time when were were almost at our stinkiest! It rained every afternoon, and so we had lots of time to talk and do crafts underneath our big tent. And last, during testimony night hearing some of the new girls testimonies and how they love their Heavenly Father and want to do what is right. 

I feel so lucky that I could experience girls camp again, and get to know the amazing young women in my ward. I always loved going to girls camp when I was a youth, and it was a treat to experience it again as a leader! 

new beginnings: get to the heart of the values

L to R: Mikayla, Janelle, Victoria, Reagan

Aren't these girls beauties?? Man I just love em. Janelle chose to be in charge of New Beginnings for one of her value projects. All this Mormon lingo might cause difficulties in understanding what is going on here, but I don't want to explain, just look at the links. This night was exciting for two reasons: because Reagan is our new little Beehive and got to learn all about Personal Progress, and we also introduced the new value: Virtue! Janelle really went all out and definitely surpassed her 10 hours for the project. She had big colored heart decorations hanging from the ceiling and all around the room, a great presentation, a great speaker, awesome programs (she is an artist as you can see from the program she created below), and a chocolate fountain!

Any chance I get to brag about these cute girls I take. They are great!

youth temple trip

Looking back at this photo makes me smile. Our Young Men group is huge compared to the Young Women. I'm so glad Matthias got to come with me on this trip. We drove the Bixler boys out to the temple and stopped on the way back for lunch with the group. I am amazed at the dedication of the youth, the temple is 2 hours away. They gave up a Saturday to serve at the temple. Good kids, good kids. This was my first time going to the temple as a leader - Beth and I laughed about our job, but we loved being with the girls. They were so sweet.

YW in excellence

Young Women in Excellence was last month. Here are some cute pictures of our whopping 4 Young Women. Janelle (top left) is our only Laurel. She is an amazing artist, volleyball player, and is on the tennis team. She has crazy style, kinda like you would see a cool librarian wearing, mismatching but unbelievably cute. Mikayla (top right) is one of my Miamaids and she is the bomb. She wants to be a clothing designer when she grows up. She's the best babysitter ever, is a text sending machine, and is the sweetest girl ever. I love her polka-dot sneaks. Victoria (bottom left) is my other Miamaid. She writes for the Herald Times once a week, is super witty, plays volleyball and throws the shot put. She's a go getter and all about girl power. She actually planned the entire YW in Excellence for her value project. She wouldn't even let me make refreshments. Reagan (bottom right) is our brand spankin' new Young Woman. She is so funny and happy and spastic. She LOVES music and is always jammin' out to her ipod.

Although we are few in numbers, we are a really tight group. These girls are so different from each other, but are so accepting, encouraging, and loving towards each other. I love them all!

And here is a picture of the lovely leaders. (It's funny how we outnumber the girls at every activity.) Left to Right: Eva (Personal Progress leader), Beth (President), Geniel (2nd), me (1st), Jennifer (Secretary.) I feel a little silly at times because of the age gap between these ladies and I but they are great cuz they don't make me feel like a little girl, except for the time that I was the only leader that would take the girls on a bike ride. I guess that is why they need me.