Summer Week 4

June 18 - 23

For the past 6 months I have had Girls Camp on the brain. At different points it has consumed me. It has been a fun journey to watch the process of inspiration come for this important event. I have been stretched and strengthened. I am humbled and grateful for all who contributed to make it a success.

Our Theme was "Ignite Your FIRE Within."

Monday at 4 pm we invited the YCL {youth camp leaders} to come up for a special night of training and pampering. We did a faith walk, had dinner, prepared gifts for the girls they were in charge of, played night games and had a nice scripture study.

This is the first time the stake has done this. I personally enjoyed it. It was wonderful to get to know these girls better. And I really feel like those that were there that night did a fabulous job being a leader throughout the week.

Tuesday at 10 am camp started for everyone.

I was on the verge of puking and jumping for joy with excitement. {Monday was the same.} Whew! I had to remind myself to breathe. Our opening activity was spiritual. In the past they have always be fun but we wanted to set the mood and tone of camp. We had Moses come and speak to the girls about being able to do hard things in the Lord. And then we hiked to the alter with 2 pieces of wood. One to make an alter as a sign of our devotion and another to ignite our personal testimony. We were striving to give them their own personal burning bush experience throughout camp.

Early Tuesday morning before camp started Jen and I hiked up to the alter and added gold reflective and red cellophane to this sagebush at the top of our alter. IT WAS THE BURNING BUSH. We were so happy with how it turned out. You could see it from camp reflecting and blowing in the wind.

                      This is the alter we made from the wood we carried up.

This is Kevin. Kelli Fulk caught him and he quickly became the camp mascot. I let Kelli put him on my should and he cawled up my head. It was creepy!

I really do not want to give a play by play of each and every activity we planned and how it went. But I do want to record that I LOVED CAMP. It was an amazing experience. After camp was over I felt like I had a relationship with each of the leaders in all of the wards. I know so many of the girls by name and have a real love for them. So much of the stake callling is training and activities. I miss all the interaction with the girls that you get at the ward level. I got all that and MORE at camp. It was great.

There were some down moments too. Wednesday was hard. I think stress and exhaustion had a lot to do with the events that happened in the evening {cleaning the bathroom twice from bodily fluids and stake leaders not communicating.} But I had to keep going and even when I couldn't my prayers of strength were answered. I know the Lord loves the young women of our stake and I'm grateful to witness that as His instrument. I know that my FIRE was ignited and strengthen.

I cannot sing enough praises to my husband. He is SO amazing to me. Once again I could not fulfill my calling without his support. He goes above and beyond. He was up at camp 3 full days plus he built me an eternal flame {big metal pipe contramption in the back of the pick up.} Everything in this picture was for the opening activity alone. He doesn't ever complain and always supports and helps with whatever I need. I am blessed beyond measure. Thank you Kurt. Once again I am humbled by you. Thank you! THANK YOU.

Another larger than life thank you to my parents for coming up and spending the week at my house with the kids. And if that wasn't enough they spent quality time with them doing Richards' Retreat Pirate theme. My kids LOVED it and are super blessed. Thanks mom and dad.

Friday night Kurt took the boys up for the Father and Son's campout {because he hadn't spent enough time at Camp Hycliffs that week!} I told you he was amazing. Naturally the boys loved it all but unfortunately no pictures.