if you haven't figured it out by now i am what some may call.... girly. i can't help it! i love all things pink, sparkly, cutesey, prissy, and soft. i love being a girl! in high school i was the type of girl that thrived in young womens (another attribute of a funbuncher) and my favorite lessons were always about our divine nature.
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| this is my laurel's class from my senior year :) 2 of them (kate and becca) are getting married this summer LOVE THEM <3 |
as women we have the remarkable ability to nuture, love, and heal hearts around us. i don't want you to misunderstand me in thinking that i think a woman is only good for raising and caring for a family, in fact i think that women make amazing professionals and i hope to one day have a career and make a difference in the world through that career and also in my own future family. BUT THAT IS JUST IT! the fact that i am a woman and that i do care so deeply about people and their feelings is what makes us so powerful.
i am part of a program called retreat for girls it is a summer camp for girls ages 11-15 we focus on teaching the girls about loving themselves, building their self worth, and increasing their testimonies in a God who loves and cares about their life.
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| this year's theme... i couldn't be more excited to get to learn and teach about this |
i was a participant of this program the very first year it ever started and i have been a counselor for the past 2 summers and i will be again this summer. now going on it's 8th year retreat for girls has forever changed my life. the women that i get to associate with while doing this program are some of my biggest heroes they are selfless, caring, strong, and intelligent.
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| counselors from the summer of 2010 drop by drop |
so what makes retreat retreat?
1. katie and anita
these two women are amazing they spend all year preparing for these magical two weeks of the summer. they prayerfully consider all aspects of the program planning everything from food to crafts. their whole family gets involved. they sacrifice so much to give to these girls. they truly just love each and every participant at retreat for girls. they spend every second of retreat dealing with all the drama that comes with girls and still finding time to be fantastic wives and mothers. these women are super heroes.
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| our directors anita and katie <3 |
2. the counselors
each of us as counselors spend hours, days, and weeks preparing everything for our group of girls. we prayerfully prepare devotionals, painstakingly cut out quotes, and carefully create decorations to bring retreat to life! while we are at retreat we spend literally every waking second with the girls. once the girls are in bed we bond together and learn from each other. retreat is not only a time for the girls to grow but us as counselors work through our own trials in our lives. we help and love each other.
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| 2010 counselors |
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| we coordinate outfits... it's precious |
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| registration |
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| late night practices for the theme activity |
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| counselors from summer 2011 daughters in his kingdom |
3. the speakers
with out these inspiring men and women we would be trying to plan 5 days worth of lessons about the gosple, life, and loving yourself. these people give substance to this program and honestly i feel that sometimes the speakers are more for me than for these precious little girls. in the past we have had speakers from john bytheway to a woman from africa speaking about how she escaped death and found happiness.
4. the decorations
this sounds so trivial but it is so true the decorations that go into retreat are what makes retreat not just a bunch of speakers. it adds the magic to this week. as a counselor i have made all of my decorations... i know how to hang over 15 things with sticky tack, and have learned the value of 3M hooks. but each and every sacrifice is worth it to be able to be apart of this program
5. the girls
it is hard for me to talk about my girls with out getting a little bit emotional. through those few days i just fall in love with each one of them. i could go on for hours about how my girls have taught me more than i could ever teach them.
they are an elect generation. each week is different but each week i watch miracles unfold as these girls go from being complete strangers to the best of friends. there are missionary experiences for some or for others it is the first time any of them have felt truly accepted.
i have learned patience, love, compassion, patience, problem solving, patience, and 13 different versions of the princess pat from these girls.
by the end of the week i am delirious from exhaustion but i wouldn't ever give up any of the experiences that i have had.
with out these inspiring men and women we would be trying to plan 5 days worth of lessons about the gosple, life, and loving yourself. these people give substance to this program and honestly i feel that sometimes the speakers are more for me than for these precious little girls. in the past we have had speakers from john bytheway to a woman from africa speaking about how she escaped death and found happiness.
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| the speakers truly care about each and every one of our girls |
this sounds so trivial but it is so true the decorations that go into retreat are what makes retreat not just a bunch of speakers. it adds the magic to this week. as a counselor i have made all of my decorations... i know how to hang over 15 things with sticky tack, and have learned the value of 3M hooks. but each and every sacrifice is worth it to be able to be apart of this program
5. the girls
it is hard for me to talk about my girls with out getting a little bit emotional. through those few days i just fall in love with each one of them. i could go on for hours about how my girls have taught me more than i could ever teach them.
they are an elect generation. each week is different but each week i watch miracles unfold as these girls go from being complete strangers to the best of friends. there are missionary experiences for some or for others it is the first time any of them have felt truly accepted.
i have learned patience, love, compassion, patience, problem solving, patience, and 13 different versions of the princess pat from these girls.
by the end of the week i am delirious from exhaustion but i wouldn't ever give up any of the experiences that i have had.
you can rarely feel as loved as a counselor does at the end of the week and its at that point when you realize that you have made a difference that everything that you have done becomes so worthless compared to what those girls have given you.
so if you haven't got the hint i may be a little excited for retreat this year. I CAN NOT EVEN WAIT. and the count down is on only 13 weeks 5 days and a few hours until retreat starts up again!
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