Thoughts about Girls' Camp

In preparation for Girls’ Camp, I went to a meeting last week with five other YW leaders in the ward. Our ward got reservations to go up to the church’s Heber Valley Campground, and as a requirement for going, your ward needed to attend this two-hour training where they tell you all that you need to know about the dress code, the activities they already have planned, the facilities, etc.. It was really interesting. I think all of us left feeling excited to take the girls up there. I like the idea of having a cabin to sleep in, it sounds like we will have some privacy even though there will be other stakes and wards there, and I have such nice memories of girls’ camp from when I was younger.

All of the camps kind of mesh together in my mind, but I thought I would share some of my memories:

My first year, Sister Milligan and Sister Utley were our leaders. I was grateful that they steered the older girls to do nice things for us instead of mean things – all I remember is that they gave us orange straws with a Frankenstein-ish character on them that we drank out of at every meal. I also cut a little piece of my thumb off while I peeled potatoes for our dinner one night. Ouch!

I remember Mom coming up the couple of years that she was in Young Women’s. She taught a class on journal-keeping that was really well done. I have this memory of sitting in the class wondering why I had never heard her say any of these things? Looking back though, I can see that she did teach me about journal-keeping at home. She would set all of our journals out on the dining room table on Sundays so that we would write in them. That training led to the very detailed records I kept in my teenage journals of every boy who ever said ‘hi’ to me in Junior High and High School. Hmmm. :)

I remember having a lot of fun being with the ward and stake girls. I honestly don’t remember anyone being catty or unkind.

My favorite memories of girls’ camp are of the testimony meetings. Those were some of the first times I felt and recognized the spirit. I remember sitting next to the warm campfire, listening to my leaders and friends bear testimony of God, then looking up into the star-filled sky and feeling so strongly that God loved me. I feel so grateful for the camp program and for those leaders who helped it to be such a good experience for me - hope I said thank you! :)

Here you go, Wendy!

Here are some pictures from Garrett's birthday. I can't believe how quickly his first year has gone by! He is crawling/slithering, standing up next to things, and getting his fifth tooth! He didn't care too much about the gifts, but he did want to get at the cake - :)

Enjoying the kids -

We had Stake Conference this past Sunday. I always love Stake Conference and General Conference because I try to come away with a goal or two. It doesn't necessarily coincide with what the speakers talked about, but I have really tried over the past few years to try to be more open to the things I can do better.

This conference's theme was really straightforward - pray, read the scriptures, have family home evening, and attend the temple. There are ways that I can improve in all of those areas, but as I sat in the Saturday night meeting, I felt that what I need to do better is show the kids that I love them. I am so grateful for that prompting! I realized that I want to smile at the kids more, I want to tell them positive things more often, I want to speak more gently with them, I want them to know that they are capable, good people, and I want them to enjoy being at home. I can still do better, but I can honestly say that this week has been so fun. :) I really enjoy our kids, and it has been so satisfying to show them a little better this week just how much I love them.

Ethan's baptism

It was so great to see Ethan baptized a few weeks ago. Every time I saw him during the day - waiting for Scott to help him with his tie in the morning, sitting in the Relief Society room waiting to be baptized, playing with cousins at our house after the baptism - he had a big smile on his face. I think he really liked that people would gather just for him, and I hope he also felt the importance of what he did. He is a good boy. It was another one of those days where I felt such gratitude to have him in our family. I also felt some awe that Heavenly Father would trust Scott and me with Ethan's little soul. It makes me want to do better at showing him and the other kids that I love them. I remember a talk from Women's Conference a few years ago where the speaker said that we needed to show our love for our children because that is how they learn about Heavenly Father's love for them too.

As I was sitting in the audience during the baptismal service, I felt a little emotional because Dad and Wendy could not be there. The thought came to me though that although they could not be there, Mom could be there. I hope that she is still able to be a part of our lives from time to time. I am grateful not only for people on earth who love us, but also for people who are in the spirit world who continue to love and care for us too.