Mission: Possible, YW Camp 2015, Friday and Saturday

Friday

Our Thursday Night Hike ended much, much later than it was supposed to (due to the fact that we walked a lot farther than we originally intended). And then it was accidentally announced that I would be teaching yoga bright and early again. While this was not in my original plan, because I was really looking forward to an extra half hour of sleep (let me just interject again how important sleep is to me), I did it again and it was fun and I survived the day just fine.

When Friday came, I kept thinking about how we planned for 9 months and spent so much time and had so many meetings and here we were and camp was almost at an end. Is all that time and prep worth it? Yes, for sure. But three days goes by quickly.

I joined the third years for ropes course this year. Our group got every single person over the towering wall. I doubted if it would be possible. But when you are determined and strategic and work together and you have some super star girls on your team, you can do it.

I am a planner. I'm not very comfortable with being put on the spot or doing things last minute. Well, miscommunication led to us finding out that 15 min. before an activity, Suzanne and I would be leading it. We quickly dressed in our spy gear and asked the girl's to go on "missions". For each mission they had to arrange themselves in a different way and get to know each other by talking about a question. For example, they had to find someone who had the same number of siblings as them and then talk about a talent or hobby they enjoy doing. It ended up being a fun way to mingle and get to know each other as a stake. I was satisfied with how it went, especially for winging it a bit.



Friday night was Bishop's night, ward time, and then Stake testimony meeting. I loved hearing the sweet testimonies that were strengthened during the week.

Saturday
I couldn't believe the last day had come! Everyone packed up and cleaned up and started pulling away. My heart was sad because it was , yet, extremely satisfied with how it all came together. It was such a wonderful week.


In so many ways, I felt quite inadequate for my calling. It came at a really busy and intense time in my life. But all the Lord asks is that we are willing to serve and He guides us along the way. He truly does. He also teaches us through these experiences.

I learned to pray, and pray hard, and then get up and go for it. I learned that it's ok if things don't turn out perfectly, if they could have been better, if you stumble over your words when you are speaking, or if you forget something. Things don't have to be perfect to be good. When you try your hardest, the Lord and the Spirit make up the difference. I learned to be flexible and to wing it sometimes. I learned to love a lot of great people in our stake. I learned the importance of unity. I learned that we each have different strengths and weaknesses and when we come together, and build off of that, it turns out beautifully. I learned to speak in front of a crowd without visibly shaking. I learned to dance in front of a crowd without caring. I learned that the Lord loves each of us, we matter, what we are doing matters, and He wants us to love and help each other. I learned that the Lord gives us inspiration and guidance when we rely on Him, and not on ourselves.

Mission: Girls Camp 2015 . . .  Possible!

Mission: Possible, YW camp 2015, Thursday

Thursday

6:30am came too quickly Thursday morning. The girls camp schedule of late nights and early mornings is not my kind of schedule. But there is so much to fit into 3 days that sleep gets put on the back burner. I wasn't even one of those who stayed up late doing KNARPs (Pranks backwards=nice, harmless pranks). But 6:30am came and it was time for fitness. 

I led a mini-yoga class out in the field for fitness. I was tired and groggy, but after a few sun salutations with a group of girls and leaders, I was feeling much better.

Our schedule for the day looked like this . . . busy!

On the first day, each of the girls was given a lanyard with a name tag, schedule booklet, and song book.

As they went to their various activities, they received stickers to put on the back of their name tag. There were stickers for skit night, ropes course, polar dip, fitness, service, etc. They also received a sticker from their level leaders to place on the front of their name tags.

When I remembered to, I grabbed a few of the stickers as I did activities and got the first year's level sticker when I joined those sweet girls and awesome leaders for their certification meal. Ok, and I also just stole the Polar dip sticker because it was cool. I decided I was entitled to claim leftover stickers because I helped plan the whole camp. ;)

We had our night hike that night. And Night hike was actually a hike this year--about 3 miles! in the dark. It's not usually that intense, but we had to make some last minute changes to our plan and route because another stake had to switch to Ensign just a few days before camp. It was a long trek late at night, but I think it drove home the point. We can do hard things. With God, we can do all things. Our night hike experience was based off of this.  The girls were given "burdens" (rocks) along the way that they had to carry in their arms and on their backs. Each rock represented a different real life burden (your mom gets cancer, you get in a fight with a friend, etc.). There were leaders sharing messages along the way. At the end, the girls turned their burdens over to the Lord and their loads were lifted.

I loved sitting in the amphitheater at the end waiting for the last group to finish the night hike before the stake president spoke. Beautiful music was playing. Everyone was quiet. Seeing a picture of our Savior up on the stage next to the Mission: Possible banner really hit it home. We go through lots of trials and hard things in life--some because of our own choices, some because of the choices of others, and some just because that's how life goes. But when we turn to our Savior--the one who has atoned for all of our sins and who understands all that we go through--our burdens are lightened and we receive enough strength to keep going.  

Bonus: They got to keep the bags they carried the rocks in.

Mission: Possible, YW Camp 2015, Wednesday

Wednesday:
The girls poured in on Wednesday morning ready and excited for camp (and maybe those first years were feeling a little nervous, like first years usually do). Everyone checked in and received their camp shirt. I loved having the scripture on the back this year.

Wednesday and Thursday were HOT (by Washington standards) and I battled migraines both days. But I wasn't about to miss out on the good stuff of camp.

Most of the day was spent in level time and skit prep, but the girls also went to Golden Hour. Golden Hour here is when the girl's get to listen to a special speaker. It was a good message about missionary work and doing the Lord's work and tied in well to our Spy theme.

Each of the levels chose a Spy Agency to be for the week. They each picked an acronym and what it stood for.

The agencies were:
1st years: VIP (Valiant In Progress)
2nd years: FBI (Faithful Bureau of Integrity)
3rd years: SASS (Secret Agent Service Sisters)
4th years: BRAVE (Beautiful Righteous Astounding Virtuous Ever-faithful)
Stake: MTC (Make Today Count)

They created level flags. I didn't get a picture of all of them, but they looked really nice.

There were some pretty cool decorations, too. I wish I had taken pictures. I only got the VIP entrance on the last day. They had a purple carpet to walk down, too.

Wednesday night was skit night! It turned out really well. I wish had videos of each of the level skits because they were really great. Each group got 2 songs and were told to use the songs however they wanted within their skit. Their skit was to introduce their level's Spy Agency.

Some of the levels had awesome lip synchs and dances, some were really funny, and some were quite creative, and maybe a little weird, too. We loved the cooks and other camp leaders skit using the song Mah Na Mah Na. ;) Like I said, I wish I had videos of them all. It was a fun first night.

Here is our stake skit! haha

Mission: Possible, YW Camp 2015, Tuesday

Incredible things happen at YW camp because we are in a beautiful, dedicated camp and love, friendship, and the Spirit of the Lord abound. It would take me a long time to recap all of the amazing and wonderful things that happened while at girls camp. I'll try to record the highlights though.

Tuesday:

We arrived at camp on Tuesday morning. Suzanne and I tried to be the first ones up there to get checked in and sort out a few logistical details and get ready for a busy day. On the first day, in our stake, all of the level leaders, cooks, YCLs and 4th years arrive at camp. 

The 4th years leave right away with their hike leaders for an overnight backpacking experience. The rest of us get organized, set up, decorate, etc. for the girls who arrive the next day.

Suzanne and I ran around like crazy all day. We were tracking people down, putting out fires, and making decisions left and right (where to set up the nurses tent, which direction to put the tables, getting rats out of the shed, squirrel nests and bees out of the cabins,passing out t-shirts, getting everyone checked in, etc.). I can't imagine what chaos might have ensued if we didn't have so many wonderful people helping out and carrying out their responsibilities so well. 

We got the Stake Leaders area all set up. Our Secret Spy Agency was the MTC (Make Today Count). I adore each of these ladies!

One of my favorite moments of the whole week happened on Tuesday. The Stake YW presidency gathered the YCLs. Our YW President shared an encouraging and inspirational message to these beautiful young women about leadership and their role as YCL's. Then we placed a tub of warm water at each girl's feet. They soaked their feet and washed them off. The stake leaders went around and rubbed each girl's feet (who wanted it) with sweet smelling lotion. They gave them fresh, cute socks to place on after the pampering.

As I carried tubs of water back and forth and passed out socks and observed the scene, a sense of reverence and beauty and love came over me. We sat in a field surrounded by towering trees and the wide sky above. All was calm. While leaders lovingly sat at girl's feet, they talked quietly with each other. These stake leaders humbly served. They set the example as to how a leader leads--by serving and loving and getting to work. 

My thoughts kept drifting back to our Savior and his ministry on the earth. He taught "he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (matt. 23:11). Christ loved and humbly served, even himself washing the feet of the apostles. He came "as he that serveth" (luke 22:27). Likewise, He wants us to serve and love. Sometimes we are on the serving end and sometimes the receiving end, but, either way, love, humility, unity and joy increases through service. 

Mission: Possible, YW camp 2015, part 1

The day after Layla's birthday, I headed out to spend a week at Ensign Ranch with the Young Women of our stake for girls camp.

I have a deep love of girls camp and the amazing experience it provides for the girls and the women of our stake. Our testimonies of Jesus Christ are strengthened, we become more unified as a stake and develop friendships, and we learn things about ourselves and who we are and about this beautiful world that we are blessed to live on.

I was thrilled to be able to go to YW camp this year, yet terrified to go as the Stake Assistant Camp Director.

Suzanne and I were novices at serving in this capacity, but I couldn't have asked for a better Director to figure things out with.

And it was her birthday on the first day of camp.

But I shouldn't get ahead of myself because YW camp was months in the making. Seriously, I had no idea how many meetings and how much time planning girls camp actually took. There were so many details to plan and organize.

One of the biggest items on our to-do list was deciding on the camp theme. Our stake YW's presidency had been talking before I was called as assistant and they wanted to have the theme have a focus on missionary work. When I heard this, my first thought was a little dream I'd had since I was a YCL at my own girls camp--Mission: Possible. 

You see, one year ,when I was a Laurel, they asked us as YCLs to give suggestions for next year's camp theme. My friend and I thought it would be so fun to have a Spy theme and use Mission: Possible.  We shared our idea, but our stake went with something else instead. 

Back then, I wanted to have that theme so I could run around like one of Charlie's Angels and wear sunglasses and pose with my fingers like a gun.

My reasons for suggesting Mission: Possible this year were a little different. I still thought the Spy theme would be fun, but mostly I wanted the girls to understand that each of them has important, unique missions to accomplish in their lives and those missions, and the ultimate mission to return to our Father in Heaven, are possible through Jesus Christ.  

We chose the scripture "With God, all things are possible." -Matt. 19:26

We decided on daily statements to help them understand their missions and how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help them accomplish them. We shared these with the leaders who would be at camp so they could incorporate them into their plans for the girls.

Wednesday: Share the Gospel (be an everyday missionary, prepare to go on a full-time mission, set an example, bear your testimony and live it)

Thursday: Discover You Life's Mission (what are your talents, gifts and skills? how can you use them to bless others?, you have an individual worth and divine nature, what might your career be--nurse, mother, writer, personal trainer, zoologist, engineer??, What does Heavenly Father need YOU to do?, serve and uplift others each day, we have small daily missions (call your grandma, smile at a stranger, give advice to a friend, etc.) and missions that span a longer time (a church calling, the mother of an energetic kid or the mother of 8 kids, leading an organization, volunteering at a school, becoming a doctor etc.), how do you figure out what Heavnely Father needs you to do--prayer, the Holy Ghost, scripture study, your patriarchal blessing can guide)

Friday: Make and Keep Sacred Covenants (keep your baptismal covenants and prepare for temple covenants, make decisions today to help you return to Heavenly Father)

We got an amazing staff of women to work and plan with to get camp all together.  These are the four YCL advisors who worked with me and Suzanne.

At our first YCL meeting, we presented the theme, went over some housekeeping business, and took the girls pictures individually and in groups. 

Our next big meeting (there were plenty of smaller meetings in between these big events) was the YCL retreat. We stayed overnight at a beach house. The girls played games, met as committees, and we held devotionals. I got to speak to the girls about our theme, Mission: Possible.

The six of us and the YW Stake Presidency. I love these ladies.

Our High Council and Stake Presidency members. These are wonderful leaders.

We had meetings with the Camp Directors and level leaders, and then in May was the big Camp Kick-off with all of the girls.

Many of the wonderful women who served at camp . . .

Another one of our big meetings was right before camp. We ran around the gym like crazy sorting shirts, sweatshirts, preparing name tags and booklets, and finishing the backdrop.

Like I said, there were so many details to plan for camp that by the time July 7th rolled around we were ready to do it, not necessarily ready in the way that we felt confident that we had it all together and knew what we were doing, but ready to let it all play out, for good or for bad. 

on autism and being kind

I got my first real mean comment (accompanied by evil glare) this afternoon. The lady said I should control my child and make him be quiet. Well, first, she did a very loud "Shhhhh" in our direction. Then she marched over snapped at me and before I could open my mouth turned around and walked away.

Oh, I'm sure this wasn't the first time someone around me has thought it, but it was the first time someone has been quite visibly upset/snappy/made their comment and walked away from me.

First of all, I am shocked and surprised that someone could be so hurtful, but at the same time I completely get that she clearly didn't understand that my child has autism, and with that comes some challenging behaviors. I feel sad for her that she didn't see the whole picture.

Maybe she didn't see that I was trying to keep him quiet while we were listening to the orientation speech for the older kid's class. I had tried multiple times. The only thing I hadn't tried yet was the duct tape. :/

Maybe she didn't realize that he was actually being quite quiet by Perry standards! He wasn't screaming, yelling, biting, screeching, kicking, or hitting. He was playing with blocks and humming to himself.

Maybe she wasn't aware that singing quietly helps my son regulate himself.

Maybe she didn't see all of the scratch marks covering my arms from his earlier tantrum and that I have to pick and choose my battles.

Maybe she doesn't understand that families with a child with autism need to live, too. They need to be able to go out in public and to participate in activities.

Maybe she thought she could do better. (Is there a borrow a child with a disability program out there to teach people some empathy??).

Maybe she didn't notice how nicely he was playing with his sister.

Or maybe she has autism and sensory issues, too and my son's noises pushed her to her max. I don't really know.

I don't want to judge her either. I haven't walked in her shoes.

But her actions make me want to be a little kinder to people around me. I can look at others as if they are trying their best. I can lend a hand to someone who is struggling instead of cut them with my words and my eyes. I can smile at and show love and forgiveness to those who don't understand autism or children with extras.

Layla is 4

This little girl gets quite excited about birthdays, especially her own.

She asked for a Minnie Mouse party with her friends.

Kyler drew this Minnie Poster for pin the bow on Minnie. He is such an awesome little artist and an amazing big brother.

The boys helped set up the house for the party. They set out the barbies and minnie dolls in one room, minnie mouse art at the table, and hid minnie mouse heads in the backyard for a game.

When the girls arrived, they went to the table to make a minnie mouse picture. As they finished, they played with the toys we set out and played pin the bow on minnie.

The boys gave it a try, too.

We went outside to collect paper Minnie's that were hidden all over. Once each girl found four of them, in honor of Layla's new age, we went back inside for cake and presents.

She brings a whole bunch of joy into our lives.

Happy Birthday, Layla girl!!