A Memorable Missionary Experience

At the end of Week 3, the Directors (Sox, Bug & Winnie) asked us if we'd all be willing to stay the weekend and help out on Saturday with something awesome. All the sister missionaries from the Temple Square Mission were to come up and do ropes courses, Lifeline, Zipline, and rappelling. Each rope course/activity had at least two of the staff there to assist, direct, etc...Afterwards, they catered lunch for us and we enjoyed talking with the many sisters who came. All in all, a fabulous way to end another week at God's summer home!

 The idea behind Spider's Web is that there are 13 holes made out of strung-up rope, different sizes and shapes. The girls must each go through a hole, but can only use that hole once. And without touch the sides of the rope as they go through. Sometimes if the group is being too noisy, you can limit it to only 2 people can talk so all the decisions are made and carried out through those two. Interestingly enough, most groups got through this ropes course easily and despite the rules, there was a ton of laughing at each other. What a wonderful group of women!

 Boots & I, the "Spider's Web" team

Brighton Camp, Week 3: July 6-11

Theme: DISNEY/PRINCESSES

Another week bites the dust! Camp is so fun, exhausting, but totally worth all the hard work. It's so fun to see the girls gain their testimony and bond with each other. Although 12 year-olds are SUPER dramatic and cliquey with each other, it's always a good time. This week it was really windy and overcast most of the time. It rained quite a bit so the overnighter (sleeping under the stars) was cancelled. There has been warnings of bears in the area so everyone's been super cautious about food going outside of the Dining Hall. Deer have started roaming the camp in the middle of the day, this week we saw at least 7 baby deer running around the Craft Shack and one almost walked in (we had the doors open for the breeze and it was standing on the porch like 5 feet away from me)! The animals never seem to be afraid of us...weird.

 Stitch, Waffle & Denver

 Paisley, China & I at one of the story stops for Legend (green stripe)

 Boots, Sunny & Buttercup

 Squeaky & Rodeo

 Squeaky, Rodeo, Hazel & Skippy

 Bird, Rain & Peaches

 China & I had a great time together painting green stripes on the girls' faces

 The big teepee the girls walk into to receive their feather for "soaring"

 Sunny w/ her girls at the last stop of Legend

 We were all really tired and covered in dirt, not looking forward to overnighter when all the sudden, a crack of thunder and downpour! Overnighter cancelled! There were whispers going around that prayers had been answered...:)

Making decorations for the upcoming week...it's always better/more convenient to work on decorations here and there all week long then to try and make them all on Friday as we're all trying to get home for the weekend

Happy Independence Day!

Even though Sunny & I were up at Brighton for the week, we still enjoyed the festivities of The Fourth. We get home around one on Fridays, so there was still much more partying to participate in. The only thing we missed about the holiday was missing out on the morning parade for the city. We usually go and eat a huge breakfast and sit right next to our next-door neighbors along with some family friends (more family than friends). But Sunny was able to see the Brighton Parade which included one of the Senior Missionary Couples, Codger & Stretcher in their vintage truck. She said they were even throwing full-sized candy bars! We also went to some Fireworks with family and friends that night. It was a Fourth of July never to be forgotten, that's for sure!

 Dad & Mom

 M, J, C and the R Girls (adorable!)

 Uncle R & Aunt L

 Uncle C & Aunt B

 P & M (Cousins)

 Dad, Uncle R & the R's (good friends of the fam)

Brighton Camp, Week 2: June 29-July 4

Theme: PATRIOT (in honor of the 4th)

Week 2 was fabulous now that I've gotten a routine down. Waking up at 6:30AM and going to bed at 11PM isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I'll survive. Love, love, love my roomies! (Boots, Hazel and Squeaky--in The Hovel.)

 Waiting in costumes for the girls to arrive

 Radar & I were a story stop along the Legend Trail (red stripe)

 Cute Radar, real cute

 Stitch & Squeaky

 Me & one of my best friend's little sisters, Emma

 I helped out with a unit this week because the counselor had a girl with special health needs which took a couple hours each day. When I asked if they needed help planning their skit, they all chimed in "No Ric Rac, we're done and memorized, we don't need your help" Okay then, I chuckled. Boy, what a responsible group of young ladies. They say we're the ones teaching the girls, but I think the girls taught me more. At the end of the week, their counselor (Denver) says "Girls, did Ric Rac shape you up?" and in response they said "No, we shaped her up!" :)

 The cabin my "temporary" girls stayed in; felt so proud to be a part-time counselor!

 Morning TNT skit; I was "Uncle Sam-antha"

 Found these wooden bowling pins up in the Craft Shack attic. Brought them down, dressed them up with some artistic genius and sold them. A hit among the girls, were completely sold out in 3 days!My favorite included a pink poodle whom we later named Prince who is now the mascot of The Hovel.

 Tried finding mini-versions of counselors this week. I present mini-Mermaid!

 Me & mini-Ric Rac; she was quite adorable!

 Scout, Waffle, Hazel, Mermaid and Sunny

 Pinecones/Headbands Night where the SOS and Kitchen Staff get together to finish all the preparations for Legend Ceremony and Pinecone Legend. This particular night turned into a karaoke/dance party to Hannah Montana, Taylor Swift, and more. Fun times! I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life....

 Fives chillin' while the dance party continues

 Sunny, Hazel, Mermaid and Bug jammin' out

 Mermaid (scroll up to compare to the mini version)

 Yet another TNT skit, Codger (a senior missionary) played Paul Revere

 Sunny & I (A British soldier-ette & "Uncle Sam-antha")

 Boots getting ready to rappel her girls down the rock where I was helping

 Group of girls after Lifeline--one just couldn't stand the wait and had to take a quick nap

 Emma rappelling down the rock, she's a champ!

 One of my counselors when I went to Brighton as a Beehive! Basically the reason I applied to work here. Sparkle is amazing!!! :D

 Emma & I saying our goodbyes, yes, there were tears between both of us

 Boots & I; best friends for life

The squirrels at Brighton are definitely NOT shy, no zooming in or anything, this little guy was ONLY like 6 inches away from me! Must be all the girls smuggling food outside to feed them...