Girls Camp 2025

 For the past several years, girls camp has been in a different place.  That makes planning and anticipating so hard.  But, we finally hit on the right place!  The lodge at Ensign Ranch.  One of the priesthood leaders who came up said it felt more like a "wellness retreat," and that hit the nail on the head.  

We had a great theme, (Doubt Not, Fear Not) and a great symbol, the sunflower--a heliotrope that follows the sun (AKA the SON Jesus Christ.)  We sang "Let Us All Press On," about 50 times (we did it in different ways--pointing at different groups, and doing the wave), I sang "Rise and Shine" horribly to wake them up.  It was just such a good week.  The food was awesome, and the cooks (Chunie & Caroline) came up with a fun twist to do "doubt not fear not" food sampling several times a day.  It was mostly delicious (I wasn't into the anchovy or squid--but other than that yum!) 

Seriously Sarah--getting this pic of Peak Norton (last day--pretty tired!)

Rescue carries during our camp skills relays

Sarah killing it at archery

3 in the target

Derek shooting too (I also shot!) 

 

We did a human pyramid for my "organize yourselves" Come Follow Me lesson.  Haha.  It was pretty fun.  We did not succeed in a full pyramid.  

The pickleball tournament was super fun.  They have 3 courts and a bunch of supplies.  Sarah got to partner with Chunie and they took 3rd. 

Derek served as tournament director so I could take photos.  (Until a light sprinkle caused me to put my camera away.) 

With very little experience--Sarah did pretty well--and got better each game I think. 

All the things in the schedule went really well.  The number of things on the schedule were just right (with some free time for ping pong, air hockey, and extra crafts.) 

One of our key goals was unity--and the girls did come together really beautifully, all 14 of them. 

I felt inspired to ask the people leading devotionals to tell a story of Jesus that helped them realize they could look to him and get to know him--which helped them doubt not and fear not.  Each devotional took this in a bit of a different direction.  It was so fantastic. 

The stained glass art that the girls did was beautiful.  (Lisa and I both felt inspired to do stained glass!)  They shared some of the truths they had learned about the Savior in their art. I also gave them each one of the screw up shirts--where they did the yellow logo on the yellow shirts.  Keep looking for Christ.  He is there and will help you doubt not and fear not.  Even if you can't discern him at first. I just felt like the Lord was with me--with all of us.  

It was so fun to be there with Derek and Sarah (Derek was there Tues even-Friday even).  Sarah was a good YCL.  She did a great job helping us move things along.  

Anyway, of course I have some thoughts for next year, but overall, I want to do this again. Same place, same staff. And we'll have a new crop of 1st years!

Randall Anniversary Official Photos

 The official photos turned out SO good!  The Norton ones will be our Christmas card this year--since Libby will be gone and we won't get to do another family photo.  Crazy to think she's got less than 2 weeks to go time.  Basically just one more week.  Yikes!

Thanks Autumn Noel Photography! 

Lake Easton Camping 2025

 When I saw the weather forecast for our camping trip this year, I was not a happy camper.  It was going to be MUCH colder and wetter than I like.  (Okay, I like no rain and 80 degree days for camping--yes, I'm picky.)  But thanks to a fun group of campers, new tents that don't leak, and lovely sunshine that made 70 feel more like 80--it was a great trip.  

I love Lake Easton.  So glad I get to go there again this week with Girls Camp! 

They did a lot of rock hauling again this year.  Not sure how they managed to get this huge one onto the paddle board. 

The Floatilla (I was taking a quick break, but spent some quality time out there!)

The kids learned BS and loved Spoons.  I went to bed relatively early each night but Thursday.  Thank goodness for earplugs, as my tent was pretty near the tables. 

I was very glad I brought my full on coat.  And gloves.  And hand warmers.  But Friday was great!  And it was also warm and dry for our packing up on Saturday.  I guess I'd rather set up in the rain than pack up in the rain (where you have to come home and unpack everything to dry it out.) 

Center Circle Wrestling Camp 2025

 This year Center Circle was a blast and went off, basically without a hitch.  

4th time is the charm? 

We got everything for the store in one big shop (Derek was able to help me, so saved me from hefting all those flats of Gatorade.) 

We got a really good variety of things and they sold!  We had a very successful store.  

We also had a good laundry day.  Clark and I have this down.  I had the idea to ziptie the laundry bags closed so they don't burst in the big washers.  Gold.  Then we also could more easily count our loads.  We did about 120 loads.  We started at 8:30 am and finished by 2:30.  Not bad! 

The fire alarm didn't go off.  We had no catastrophic injuries.  Sarah even had a great time even though she was kinda dreading it. Sarah won at least one match and was in the finals for the takedown tournament and for sumo.  Ben won two matches (his goal was one, so this was overachieving!)  He looked good in all his matches--but he did have to wrestle the lightweight camp MVP.  Kid was a tiny beast!  Both Ben and Sarah have gotten so much better. 

I came home tired (keeping the store open until 11 pm isn't good for my sleep!)  But happy that we did a good job. 

Almost all the SW kids.  One had to leave early and one wasn't done loading his stuff yet.  
We also had 2 SW Coaches stay and help out the whole time, Braden and Dylan.  It was a blast having them hanging out in the store. 

Small SW girls group

Big bunch of guys

I put names on a lot of shirts, as well as some funny stuff.

The spread