Girls camp was SO awesome!!

Girls camp was so much fun! Lindsey and I had a GREAT time. We left Thursday, July 3 and returned Monday, July 7. We rode in chartered buses a first for many girls, they loved being all together. Before we even arrived at Camp LoMia the camp songs begin, don't know how long it will take to get them out of my head.

We were at the main camp. I had never been there so it was all new to me. I will tell you if you are going to girls camp this is the ONLY way to go. We had showers (okay we could only take one 3 minute shower, but it was better than nothing), flushing toilets (you had to hold the handle down while you sang the Happy Birthday song, so it wouldn't clog and only use 3 squares. Better than port-a-johns), cabins (we were actually in a bungalow with a patio), beds with mattresses, electricity, and COOKS that made amazing meals.

The activities were super fun. I got to go with the 2nd years on their hike (4 miles) absolutely beautiful. It rained every night, but one which cooled things off. The night programs were so great. Our skit was the BEST!

Back at our cabin, I was with the 1st years we had a dance off, sang some 80's songs, played games, read from this book I have on judging others (to put them to sleep), smashed bugs, at lots of junk food, exchanged secret sister gifts/or did acts of kindness, and got to know each other better. We did compliment journals. Every girl had a journal and each girl was asked to write something nice about that person daily. It was so neat to have the girls look for the positives in each other.

We had wonderful YCL's and a lot of the stake was from our ward, so we got a little bit of favoritism. After our hikes we came back to a CASE of Dr. Pepper. One of the cooks was from our ward and he had gone into town and brought us back a case of DP with a note saying "to the Orchard Ranch leaders from your secret admirer!" That was so nice. The girls were a little jealous. A few nights later we used the soda's as prizes for the winner of the card game SPOONS.

The spirit was so strong there. The girls were so obedient and did what they were asked. One prank was played on our 1st year cabin and they were beside themselves. "Who would do this to us?" We had been at a night program and came back to all our bedding on the floor (all but one bed that is). The girls were so sad. We leaders told them that if this was the only prank that happened to us we would take it (it could have been so much worse)!

Back to the spiritual side of camp. Wow, I loved it! We had a wonderful Sacrament mtg. service and then divided up into laurels, miamaids, and beehives for class time. It was all great! We fasted and all since it was the first Sunday of the month and that was amazing too. Our ward testimony mtg. was pretty emotional. I loved it all.

I sure hope I get to go back next year. I loved getting to know the young women better and the other leaders. It was great to be there with Lindsey for her FIRST time. She loved all the singing and being with her friends. It was so much FUN!

Lindsey writing in her journal.
Our 1st, 2nd, 3rd year girls and the leaders. We had a great time together.
Selena Trader, Valerie Aguinaga, Melinda Hunt, Me, and Stephanie Porter all amazing ladies. Full of fun and talent ALL sleep deprived.
Lindsey participating in the Bishop's challenge walking on the rope bridge.
Lindsey and Olivia Knapp great friends.

Bishop challenge activity ARCHERY, Lindsey loved it!

Skit night, Lindsey is Organic girl in the GREEN. Our theme was WONDER WOMEN and so our skit was about super hero's participating in a spelling BEE. Each girl was a different super hero. It was SO funny!

Camp was truly amazing. I love the programs the church has for our youth. I am glad Lindsey got to rub shoulders with girls in our stake, so when she is at school she will have a bigger friend pool to support her and help her make good decisions.

I want to thank Erik and the younger kids for supporting me in this adventure. The kids had lots of fun with Erik. They got to spend the 4th of July with the Morris cousins eating lunch and swimming. Saturday Carly went with Oma and Whitney to the movies. That night Erik took them to Peter Piper. Where Conner won the jack pot of 500 tickets!! Sunday went well, forgot to tell Erik to take a picture of Carly's hair, but he said it looked fine (I guess a sweet lady in our ward Wendy Brimhall offered to come and do Carly's hair, but Erik said he could do it thanks anyways). Sunday night the Edwards had them over for dinner and fun. When we got home on Monday afternoon, the house was spotless and all the laundry was done!! Thanks so much! I love Erik and how he supports me in all I do.

As you can imagine Cole won't let me out of his site. He hugs on me and loves on me worried I might leave him again. The kids all want to be around me I love it.

Back to reality...so far Monday night we meet up with the Steverson's, Lopez's, and Oma & Papa for pizza and swimming. Today we went to the summer movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks", bought some school clothes for Carly and shoes for Conner. Stopped by and helped Papa on his computer and now trying to slowly unpack all my bins and bags from camp.