Lakeside and Quilting

Camp was arranged a little differently this year. Wards had to share cook stations which was doable but a little tricky. So we decided that as a Stake, we would provide breakfast each morning. That way wards didn't have to wake up early and share cooking first thing. Elayne was our gal in charge of breakfast. She planned the meals and estimated food. She was amazing. She had everything organized so well and all we had to do was get up early and help out. It was nice because there is a huge kitchen up at Heber. Plenty of room for many hands. We got up with her on Tuesday and we made a boatload of French Toast with strawberries and whipped cream. Yum.

The brethren were getting everything ready out here.

Breakfast went very well. The smartest thing we did was stack trash on the way out. We had a bin for plates, silverware and cups. As we stacked, we saved a ton of garbage space. The missionaries up there told us that what could have been ten bags of garbage would now only be one. It was great.

In the morning, we were assigned to the Lake. The water was so pretty, if not very clean. There is just a lot of algae in it. It doesn't look extremely gross but you wouldn't want to go swimming in there.

Danja wanted to be in my boat because we planned on soaking everyone, which meant we would get soaked too. At the last minute Rebecca asked to join us. She had a camera, so we warned her up front of our intentions, but she had a plastic bag and was willing to risk it.

We had so much fun. We went and splashed a lot. We got Abby and June. We got Robyn and Sariah. We got Kelsie and Ivory. So fun. There are no rules against splashing so it was big free for all.

The best were the paddle boats because they had no oars and no way to defend themselves. Sometimes we would shamelessly soak innocent victims. I didn't feel too bad.

We tried getting Sis. Cobb, Sis. Tenny, and Sis. Mitchell, but they were too fast. We only had two oars and Danja and I couldn’t keep up. (Rebecca was in our boat, but we forgot to get her an oar. Plus, she had her camera to hold onto and I was already feeling guilty because there was plenty of water involved.) However, the leaders finally charged us and got their fair share of water. Canoeing was super fun. Everyone had a great time. (That is Lizzy, Corinne, and Lily)

By the time it was time to come in, not an inch of us was dry. Danja even jumped in as we neared the shore. I found out later that she was planning on tipping the canoe, but having Rebecca’s camera on board saved me. Thank goodness. Everyone pretty much looked the same...we all were drowned rats. But cute drowned rats.

I went and snuck a shower and then met my ward in the pavilion for the service project. I braided Robyn's hair and then Camie braided my hair.

They had quilts on tables and the girls were tying them. These quilts were going to girls of similar ages as those tying them; but girls without homes. All the quilts were made before camp, some by the young women, and then we tied ten quilts up there. I wasn’t quite sure how to tie a quilt. But I learned later when the Stake Leaders came out to finish the last one. It isn’t hard. Most things aren’t if you just take time to learn. The girls seemed to pick up on it quickly and did a great job.

Later, I went over to visit the girls and President Murray was over for lunch. We had a long conversation about Orange Mints. I gave one to June because she hates mint, but I don’t think you really taste the mint. While she was trying it, President Murray told us that one time he bought 9 bags at Target, which was all they had, because sometimes you can’t find them. June decided she liked them. SHOCKER!! Much later, in another campsite, I passed President Murray and he said he had something for me. It was an Orange Mint. He is the coolest guy.

Elayne brought 9-square from the Elementary. It was so fun. I have only see the kids play before, but I pretty much dominated. (Okay, not really. But I wasn't awful.) I ended up playing three separate times that day and when I went to bed my arms were SOOOO sore. Probably from rowing and 9 square. But it was a blast.

We had a long afternoon to ourselves since two wards were up on the challenge course. When I was walking with Sophie, we saw a deer bounding away through the woods. So she started to tell me a story about a deer. She said, “Just last night, we were at the fire pit and there was a deer right in the bushes nearby.” As she said this she pointed to bushes near us and gave a sigh of almost despair. Standing right there looking at us was a deer as if to say, ‘It isn’t so special to find a deer right there in the bushes.’ It made us laugh so hard. Her story was being acted out even as she said it.

Here are some pictures from flag. Everyone comes to the amphitheater and sits with their ward. This isn't the right day because I'm wearing the wrong clothes, but you get the idea. Love my cute 5th ward.

During flag that evening, President Murray and Brother Underwood did a skit where they were Superman and Mr. Incredible arguing about who was a better hero. They had some great dialogue. My favorite line was when Superman said, “Fly home Buddy.” Melinda usually writes the skits for the Brethren. She does a great job.

Tuesday night was the Faith walk, but we didn’t walk anywhere. Instead they had girls come out as the ten virgins. The unwise virgins were very funny. Abby Nielsen was hilarious as she talked about all her followers. Lily Stay was awesome with her black lipstick and serious slack face. Porsche was the cutest. She was a wise young woman and the pretend letter she wrote her father was so cute. The girls all did a great job. And it was sad when five were not admitted to the wedding. President Murray gave a great talk on building your oil in your own lamps. It was a great Faith Walk even if we didn’t walk anywhere. I love to see the girls build their testimonies. Girls Camp is such an amazing place to come closer to Christ.

In the evening we did star-gazing. A bit of a bust since the stars didn’t come out in full force, but we did find the Big Dipper and the North Star and the flyers with lights were a hit at the end. The girls had a lot of fun flinging those around.

Only bad part of day was that I lost my flonase. :( Not great to lose your allergy stuff in the woods. And I had just bought a new one. I never did find it, even when we cleaned out the cabin. I must have thrown it away by accident?

Standing Together As Righteous Sisters

The first week of summer was so much fun. We had Girls Camp right off. I think that is a great way to start the summer, although it was very hard to get the youth leaders to do anything while they were in school. I get that it is hard to do both, but I didn't feel like I was asking a lot.

The weather was perfect. It wasn't too hot but it was nice and sunny the entire time we were up at Heber. This was quite a change from last year when it rained almost the whole time at Shalom.

Our theme this year was Standing Together As Righteous Sisters or S.T.A.R.S. As a stake, we were the North Stars and our ward was the Big Dipper. I loved the colors Aspen chose with the brighter blue and the yellow. The shirts were adorable with the design Sophie did of the five girls standing together.

As a stake, we went up a little earlier, but not much. We only had an hour or so head start on the girls. We immediately got decorating. Amy made this cute yellow and blue banner to put in the amphitheater. The posts on the sides had our theme.

Our daily themes were:
Monday: Standing with Christ
Tuesday: Together we Shine Brighter
Wednesday: Build a Righteous Foundation
Thursday: Sisters We Are

Check out the cute stars mixed with the fabric strips.

In the pavilion, I adored the decorations. Each ward made a star for each girl with their picture on it. And they were in different colors depending on which value they were assigned. It took us a while to put them up, but I loved to see them swinging in the breeze and I loved looking through at each smiling happy face.

I found my favorite stars in the sky.

Jolene was hanging up stars and happened to be putting up her own. Smile twice Jolene.

We were in a cabin attached to the pavilion. It was pretty cushy. We had bunk beds and I took the extra bunk in the room with the SYCLs. All the rooms were connected, so we were all close regardless. Our cute buckets were attached to our beds and Melinda had already put a sweet star pillowcase in each one.

Shortly, the buses arrived. Everyone needed a wristband to be in our camp, so we got each girl as they got off the bus. It was a little busy, but it worked out.

We were at Camp Abish. Here is my ward heading up to their cabins. It was a hike uphill every time I wanted to visit them. I learned to dread that hill. So did the girls. But it was worth it to be so close to the lake. Other campsites had to hike a long way to the lake and we were right next door.

The cabins were nice and big. There was room for 16 girls and a table in the middle. I was sad the girls didn't get a yurt, but the cabins were just fine too. And actually, in retrospect, I'm glad they were in a cabin. (More on that later.)

It is great to see these girls together at camp. Such great friendships. You can find these two together in this post as well.

We had flag right away at camp which ended up being the longest flag ever in the hot, hot sun. The missionaries were going over all the rules. They did a cute job, but it was too long. We recommended to them that they meet with future stakes in the pavilion where there is shade.

The afternoon consisted of the Confidence Course for a few wards. I was assigned up there because my kids would be there too. I went to training and was assigned to Lifeline with Sister Mcsweeney. To train us they had us do the course. With blindfolds, we held onto the ropes and explored the course quietly. It was tricky. I hit all dead ends. I went back and tried again from the beginning and still hit all dead ends. I had almost given up when I circled a tree and hit my head on a higher rope. I hadn't even considered they would put one up higher. I was able to finish the course and return home. It was very cool. Our job was to take each group of girls through. Sister Mcsweeney would give quiet hints out on the course, and I would make sure the girls didn't stack up at the end where President Murray would greet them and take them home. Then, we would discuss with the girls their experience on the course. It was really cool. We didn't take any pictures, but Michelle did get a shot of this group getting ready to take their journey.

Meanwhile, there were several other stations at the Challenge Course. My ward was busy doing the Spider Web, and Shark Island to name a few. Danja is super excited. She was such a trooper to come with her brace.

The big event at the Challenge Course was the hanging ladder up to a suspended bridge and then over to a zipline. We had done the course before in the fall when we went to the open house. Now it was time for all the girls. It was really cool. Some of the girls were very scared. It was a challenge for them, while others just zipped through, literally. Michelle stood and took pictures of EVERYONE. She was amazing. I'm glad someone got a picture of her too.

My girls had such fun. They were pros. I don't think any of them were scared. Look how cute they are.

Almost all the leaders got a turn. I went. And it was fun to see pictures of the other leaders, like President Murray and Sister Stone. I was up there with such fantastic people.

That took up most of the day. In the evening, the wards did FHE in their own groups. As a stake we practiced for our upcoming skit. It was going to be epic...