This Week...
...our discussion for Family Home Evening was on Apostles and Prophets - ancient and modern pattern. I love the sweet simplicity of the Gospel. God needs a way to communicate with his people. He has always called prophets and apostles and continues to do so now. We discussed the time of Christ, the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith, and our modern day prophet Thomas S. Monson.
...I went to Girl's Camp! I love being with the young women and women of the stake at Girl's Camp. We typically go to Teancum Timbers for Girl's Camp. It's just past Dayton, only an hour and 15 minutes away. This year however, the water pump went out the weekend before camp. Fourth of July weekend. It was not going to be fixed any time soon. We got a call saying we were being relocated to Ensign Ranch, which is just past Cle Elum. As leaders of the fourth year hike, we had to find a new route for our hike and overnight camp. I was given a suggestion of Salmon La Sac and tried to call about it all weekend. The only problem was, it was Fourth of July Weekend. No one was answering the phone. Well, maybe a bit naively, I thought we'd just head in that direction and figure it out once we got there. The morning we left, I was hit with a wave of sickness as I realized that I may have messed up royally. On the drive, my companion leader called Ensign and then the Ranger Station for help and advice. They were able to clarify where we needed to go for a three mile hike and a campground for overnight stay. We stopped at the Ranger Station to get maps and parking passes. Phew!
We had the best Preisthood Leaders with us on our hike, Brother Adams and Brother Behrmann. These men were so willing to help. They carried packs and injured girls on their backs. They taught about natural disasters and constellations.
Lexi and Zaylee rest in their tent
Myken takes a nap before her tent is even up. To say we were tired is an understatement. The trail and the heat zapped us.
We squished in for dinner. The girls had to bring their own food with their own means of preparing it. We had a couple mishaps with girls not being prepared, but for the most part they ate well on their over-nighter.
These little chipmunks were everywhere in our camp. Once they saw that we had made camp and that we had food, they moved in for the duration of our over-nighter (I like that word).
Cooper Lake was a hot spot for everyone. Or should I say a cool spot? Haha! Jade and Emily were among the first to shed their shoes and walk in the cool water.
Isabel was next...
Followed by Michelle...
The log protruding from the Lake provided great fun for those willing enough to swim out to it. Jade, Emily, and Isabel were the ones eager enough to go for it.
We played some games before going to bed. Maddie Moon was the resident game facilitator. The games kept us on our toes and made us laugh so much.
Brother Behrmann enjoys the view.
This is our group before we set out on our hike back out. We formed bonds and pushed ourselves to new limits. We gave each other nicknames and shared personal parts of our lives. We are the Fourth Years. Our nicknames: I was Turtle because I joked that I'd be the one fallen over on my pack with my feet up in the air. Jade was Dolphin because she was always in the water. Sister Swanberg was Ninja because she won the game Ninja Vanish (Fu-un game!) was Poe because she likes to write poetry, Emily was. Isabel was Panda Bear. Zaylee was Zanilla. Myken was the Mykenator. Lexi was Hero because she pushed herself to go on this hike even though she has cerebral palsy. Michelle was Moose. Hannah was, Maddie was, Peyton was. I made the joke that I was Turtle and Sister Swanberg was Ninja and together we were Ninja Turtle! It was so great to work with her. She is an amazing woman.
Once we got back to camp, Sister Swanberg and I could be heard to say, more than once, "I want my Cooper Lake back." It was such a great experience; time to get to know the girls and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, time to think about God and His plan. Time to be brave and push hard.
Upon arrival back at camp, the girls got special treatment. The tent moms had foot soaking stations set up for them to relax and take a load off. Literally! Those packs were heavy!
Gathering for dinner. Yummy! Emily Watts is one that joined us back at camp. Such a great girl!
Six joined us at camp as well. She and Zaylee prep the tomatoes for the taco salad. (Tent Moms Kim Harker and Jessica Perkins in the background.)
Sister Swanberg set up a service scavenger hunt. I just loved seeing my little orange-vested girls walking around.
These are my excellent YCL's, or Youth Camp Leaders. Emily Haertling, Maughan, Calaway, and Maddie Barron. They were so willing and helpful. They had great positive attitudes and wanted to be put to work. So fun to work with them!
Yeah, They're cool and they know it!
They found the treasure at the end of the scavenger hunt. We each took turns relating one thing about service and it turned into a neat sharing of personal experience and testimony. The girls have really caught the vision of service.
Then we moved on to certification. I had a new group of YCL's to help with that. I turned it over to them, told them what I needed them to teach, and stepped back to watch the outcome. It turned out great! I was thrilled with my YCL's. I was tempted to step in and double check or take over, but I quickly stepped back down. They were capable and reliable.
They had to learn how to make a proper bed roll. Zaylee practices making one for barbie.
They had to learn how to sword fight. Wait. What?! No, they had to learn how to splint a leg.
That's better. Thank you Emily.
Here's the group with our certification YCL's. Boo-yah!
Shelly Norman and Terri Moon at the music tent.
Two of my all time faves - Noreen Hale and Emma Nieforth.
I loved the theme for camp this year. Chart Your Course. It was taken from a talk by President Monson. They used each symbol for each day, Lighthouse, Compass, Life Preserver, Oars. This year the theme was really a part of camp. I thought about it a lot and felt the application to my life. I was inspired by our devotionals and tree of life fireside. The spirit was there and we all came closer to Christ.
A little bit of sass from Lexi in the amphitheater.
The Cooks always put on a good show. They make camp so much fun with their props and lyrics.
Laurie Garcia and Molly Collins
The Bishops in the Stake are good sports. They do a skit every year and put up with our Girl's Camp antics.
It was such a privilege to work with these woman on the 4th year level. Kim Harker, Stephanie Swanberg, Jessica Perkins, and Julie McGary. Once we found our groove, we were laughing, joking, staying up late, sharing inside jokes, and working so well together. I'm so grateful I had the chance to get to know them.
