A Long-Awaited Return

One of my cousins on my mom's side came back from his mission this last week. He went to Bangalore, India (and partially Independence, MO for Visa issues) but he's home free! His homecoming talk was fabulous and all of the family that could make it was there. Even fam from Colorado! :) Afterwards, we went back to his house for light brunch and to talk mission stories. Other than the cold I was sporting, it was a great time.

 Welcome Home!

Brighton Camp, Week 8: August 10-15

FINAL WEEK OF CAMP!

Theme: CHRISTMAS

This week was the perfect ending to a fantastic summer! The girls who came were well-behaved, polite and genuinely wanted to be there. It was fun to have Mountaineers (3rd years); they did extra overnighters and Perch. For decorations, we put up a huge Christmas tree, along with lights, garland, and a stocking for every member of the staff. The counselors also set aside one sock from each of the girls and we got to fill them on Thursday (Christmas Eve) with cookies, an orange, candy, etc...

 

We finished up the week cleaning the camp and getting it ready for closing. We also had our own staff Christmas Eve on Friday night. We all rolled out our sleeping bags in the Dining Hall and slept by the light of the Christmas tree. My stocking was so full, I could hardly sleep thinking of all the good things in it. I think overall, throughout this week, I definitely found my inner child. We would play Christmas music in the Craft Shack and it rained, it actually started to feel like December. Some mornings, we woke up to freezing temperatures, so that just made Christmas all that more real.

 

The Brighton Committee came early on Saturday, we opened our stockings, and they made a gourmet breakfast. (Pumpkin pancakes, chocolate chips, fruit, etc...) I was stuffed! We cleaned up our stuff and got to work cleaning everything. A testimony meeting followed, which was an amazing experience after an entire summer of working together and becoming like sisters. Then we packed up and went home, as hugs were given and tears were abundant. 

 

I'll never forget the impact Brighton Girls Camp has had on my life and all the friendships I've made there, with the girls who've come, as well as the staff. Some of my very best friends/sisters have been made at Brighton and I can't imagine my life without them. So here's to a MIRACULOUS summer, filled with love, kindness, and especially miracles. Love you girls!

 Bug & I on devotional night

 

 Me & Buttercup

 

 Opening gifts on Christmas morning. We drew names weeks before so there was a lot of time to think and prepare the perfect gift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Abu & Sunny

 Careful Sunny...there's a bird whose taken up residence in your bag...

 Me, Abu & Rodeo

 Boots & Me

Girls of "The Pine": Milla, Me, Jett & Buttercup

 Sunny's group of girls after processing (done during Legend)

 Me & Buttercup during Legend

 Smiles after doing a reindeer skit

 "The Outback": cabin where Sunny lived for the second 1/2 of the summer.

 

 

 Trail to Lifeline out in the woods away from camp

 

 

 

 

 Sunny & Stitch getting ready for Lifeline

 Lifeline: An activity where you can't talk and are blindfolded, taken to a rope and have to follow that same white rope till you reach the end. Obstacles: trees/roots to trip over, several black & brown ropes coming off the white leading to a dead-end. This was one of my favorite activities to help with.

 

 Sunny leading one of her girls to the start of the line

 

 

 

 Penny-Waggon rappelling upside down the Rock

A girl had the same dress as me!

Brighton Camp, Week 7: August 3-8

Theme: SPORTS

After making countless decorations in the Craft Shack, we were ready for this week to begin. Dozens of signs/logos for different sports teams hung on the walls of the dining hall. It was comical to see which staff members went for which teams and how they stood their ground, defending their team throughout the week. It also rained a lot this week, so overnighter was cancelled again. Since this was the second-to-final week of camp, we were all cleaning things up, prepping for the last week. We signed our names on the walls of whichever cabin we stayed in for the summer, which made it more real that we were leaving soon. :(

 Singing to the girls as they come up to the Rock

 Hankes & Ruby using the luggage as a napping place. Hey, it was only dry spot to be found.

 Scout & I

 Me, helping out at the rappel rock

 A little marmot that appeared as the girls were rappelling, he soon brought four more of his friends... 

 The Crafties made a "Crafty Castle" in the attic of the Craft Shack, didn't last too long but was fun none-the-less

 Many of the Committee members:

Timber, Skeeter, Nutmeg, Basil, Zim, Cocoa & Apple

The Craftie's names' on the door of the Craft Shack, don't they look great?