Richard, Susan, and the kidlings: Girls Camp 2013

As a member of the Young Women's presidency in my church ward I was lucky enough get to go to Girl's Camp up at Mia Shalom again this year. This was my 12th time up at Mia Shalom, and I have loved it each and every time. Our theme this year was "Safe Harbors" and I think that Mia Shalom is one of my Safe Harbors, one of those holy places that I can always go to and feel the Lord's spirit. Where I am guided and learn and grow. I have had experiences up there that have changed my life. In fact, the most memorable year up there for me as a teenager was the year that I was a youth leader in the exact same camp site that we were in this year. I took time to walk to a few specific places, and could still remember the feelings that I felt there and how hard I worked, and how humbled I was, and how the Lord used those around me to help me. So good. I added to those good memories this year :)

These were my girls :) We were combined with the Spanish branch and we were so glad- I wish we could always be with them! We had so much fun together!!

These two were the gigglers. They were constantly bursting into fits of giggles that deprived them of any motor coordination. It made for some entertaining activities and I thought they would end up in the lake for sure :) They didn't, but it did take a while for them to get where they wanted to go :)

Doing the confidence courses is always one of my favorite parts. The girls get a chance to push themselves and work together and trust each other. It always brings us together and gets everyone to open up.

And laugh. Lots of laughter and fun as they conquered each challenge!

This was a good moment. This amazing girl started out super shy and was scared to death to do this activity. But she did it anyway. She was shaking and crying, but kept going all the way through. She had everyone up cheering for her and snapping pictures of her doing it, just like her own paparazzi. She tried everything else we threw at her the whole rest of the week and never stopped smiling. Courage in action.

We came back to this partner tight-rope walk at least 4 times. The girls were determined to conquer this one, and so many did!!

Yup, even I got a turn on this one :) Love it!

So many faces and so many stories. But they are not for me to write here today. These girls have already overcome so much and are well on their way to being the type of women they want to be. They amaze me with their kindness, their goodness, and their strength. "The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about." They are winning. As one of the other leaders mentioned, these girls are the ones who will be the leaders for my own girls someday- and I would be thrilled if they were.

And a shout out to some amazing leaders! In all our dirty, stinky, exhausted glory- Joni, Afro, Julie, Marcela, Alison, Hannah, Michelle, Tricia (and Shay and Kimberly who had left the night before this pic!).