Courtney was super excited to get her braces off, she was hoping that it would happen before school got out but it happened five days later. She had a beautiful smile before now it is a gorgeous smile.
Girl's Camp:
Courtney didn't want to go again and then decides that she would give camp one more try as it was going to be in a new place.
The theme: B.O.O.T Camp: Building Our Own Testimonies.
(Some of this text comes from one of the leader that went up with the girls...I figured since she was there her words were better then mine and Courtney wouldn't help me.)
They went to a ranch this year out in East Texas. They stayed in cabins, which Courtney tells me they were old, worn, and disgusting! They were little wood shacks with about 8 bunk beds along the outside walls, with mattresses that were so old they were falling apart. Some of them even had bugs inside them!
Courtney was calling me about every hour asking me to come and get her....I said, "You will be okay...it is good for you. Try and make the most of it, have a happy attitude and then finally don't be a spoiled brat. Oh and stop calling me, weren't you supposed to leave your cell phone at home?" I guess I was starting to get a little frustrated with her.
There was lots of things they could do such as: archery, going on hikes, playing in the lake, canoeing, eating, and R&R (reading & reflection). She got to serve a meal, help prepare the food, had there was even a shaving cream fight!
She also had many testimony building experiences that she will never forget! One of these was about a very powerful night. A tornado warning had been issued, the girls all had to ran to the 'shelter' (a huge steel framed cabin on the lake...with JUST steel frames...not sturdy walls). All the girls huddled together in 2 big rooms crying, hugging close together and singing. At one point the Sheriff told them that this was very serious and that the tornado was coming right for them.....ALL the girls started singing "I know that my Redeemer Lives' very quietly, but very powerful! The stake President just stood, along with the leaders and sang quietly, we then sang "I am a child of God".....Then Pres Dotter offered a prayer and the storm HIT....for about 20 min the walls shook, the lights swung, the thunder and lightening crashed so loud and it rained in sheets!.....then, it was gone! All were OK! Later that night they learned that the storm that had them in it's direct path had parted and gone all around them, but not through. All were safe due to the power of the amazing priesthood, the power of prayer, and the righteous young women who were where they were supposed to be serving their Heavenly Father!
So, despite the stifling heat and bugs and cabins and toilets, she had amazing food, fun and crazy leaders that made camp awesome! I asked her if she would go back again...she said she is done with camp...I asked if she would go one more year so Ashley would have a big sister there like Tiffani was there for her for her first year. She said she would think about it.
The cute little girls having fun!
Getting autographs on their visors.
Kylie and her good friend Caroline.
Kylie all wet.
Kylie with her teacher: Ms. Rosa:
Going through the bounce things.
Ashley and some of her friends.
Nate jumping into the water.
Liz and Josh with Hallie
After they got done it started to rain.....
A couple of days later Mike and Ashley are working in the backyard, planting a few more trees and flowers when Mike hit something with the rake, first he thought it was a baby mouse but then realized it was a baby bunny and that their was a nest of baby bunnies. The girls thought they were cute and have loved watching them change every day...then they got big enough to leave and haven't come back...sad for them, yea for us as they like to eat the flowers.
The trees that Mike planted all along the fence.
