Girls Camp

I haven't attended girls camp since I was in Young Womens myself. It has been about 17 years. I LOVED it as a teenager. It was the highlight week of my summer. I grew up in Oregon and because of the rain, we slept in cabins (not fancy ones), ate most of our meals at a dining hall, and had access to crafts, repelling, the camp store for treats, and swimming. We had our afternoons free to explore any activity we wanted or to stay in our cabin and visit with our friends (or play pranks as I recall at times!) But most importantly, and I can't believe I haven't got to this important fact yet; we had flushing pottys and hot showers nearby. As camp drew nearer this summer I started panicking a bit about the tents, porta pottys, latrines, crude showers....etc that my girls kept reminding me of. However, little did I know what a treat girls camp would be for me this year.....
To try and summarize this life altering week for me would be impossible. Girl's camp these days should be renamed: Spiritual Retreat week. It was overwhelming, exhausting, and one of the most spiritually packed weeks of my life. I had the opportunity to witness, priesthood blessings for three of my girls who are struggling. These blessings were given by a member of our stake presidency. It was amazing to hear him bless them with things they needed and specific to them when he barely knows them. Our stake president joined us for our testimony meeting. Since we have a very small ward, we were done quicker than the other wards, so he opened it up for questions. He shared things that were personal about his dysfunctional upbringing that some of my girls relate to. Things I have yearned to be able to talk with them about, but never quite sure how to. He brought peace to their troubled little hearts like no one else has been able and gave them sound doctrine. He encouraged them to make choices now so they can prepare to make things better for their own families like he has done.
It was an amazing week for me. The spirit was so strong. Many times throughout the week we talked about how you can have temple like experiences in the mountains like happened during scripture times before they had temples when they would go up to the mountains to talk and be closer to God. I am convinced of the truth of that after my week up there. I came home with renewed determination to live more worthy to have the spirit with me always and to let it reside in my home. I feel blessed to be serving as Young Women President so that I could partake in these great experiences and be strengthened through them. I LOVE GIRLS CAMP!!
This is what Mt. Charleston looks like--It is a 40 minute drive from my house--hard to believe it after visiting Las Vegas, huh! I got to go with the first year girls on their hike

Hanging at the table with Sis. Taylor: all wearing the "Live Like you Believe" shirts which was the theme this year. I'll let you try and guess which one is the leader.
Jen, Me, Kaydee, Susan, and Melinda --the amazingly talented leaders I get to work with
Playing around with the camera trying to make it look like Aubrey is in the flames (*on a side note, it was big hair day)
My talented leaders did dutch oven one day for lunch. It turned out soooo good. BBQ chicken, potatoes, and peach cobbler. The greatest part was that all the girls helped.
Campfire with the Bishop and his wife. Were so sad that they are moving! And yes we are roasting the Krispie Kreme donuts he brought up. Along with starbursts, marshmellows, banana boats, and pizza. You can roast just about anything I've learned from my girls!
Jen and I got to do the Zip Line with our friends Amber and Whitney who were up at camp for two days helping with crafts.
" Bernice and Hesta Sue" they hiked all the way from "Hollywood" to teach us about manners. Ironically Bernice in orange is actually my hair dresser (when she's not busy being Bernice). These two are known all over the valley of Las Vegas in mormon circles for their alter egos. They are hilarious!! (The picture doesn't give them justice, it was getting late and I only had my small camera up at girl's camp in case of rain.)

What a week of fun, spirituality, and bonding. It was nice to be able to focus completely on the girls and not worry about my family for a few days. The tents were really nice, the porta potties were doable ( and way better than the latrines that are there that they've used in years past) and even the crude shower had hot water if you were willing to get up early which I did once! Camp Stimson was a great place!!