Women's Camp

Our stake did a really neat thing this year, they hosted a "Women's Camp" for all of the Women in the Stake ages 8+. They did a kickoff in February and gave the women some goals to work on and this gathering was meant to bring everyone together. The theme was "United through Christ" and I can not even believe the amount of work and planning that went into this event. It was a HUGE undertaking and I loved it so much. I loved mingling and gathering with sisters from my stake and not just my home ward. I loved participating in the classes and activities. I love the music and thoughts and feelings that were shared. I loved camping in the mountains with Lydia and some of our girl-friends from the ward. It was truly a gem of a weekend. 

The first night we were there, I was asked to speak to the group. I didn't get any pictures because I was speaking. As the Stake Primary President I was able to share some thoughts right alongside the Stake Relief Society President, the Stake Young Women's President. It was a neat opportunity to have all of the sisters in our stewardship gathered together and speak to them together. 



Lydia was also asked to speak in front of the group. I would guess that there were about 300 women gathered together there. Sister Amy Taufer from the Stake Relief Society asked if Lydia and Audrey Ward (our neighbor and friend) would speak about their experience with Family History and the Temple. They both did such a wonderful job. Lydia has had so many neat opportunities for public speaking this year and I am so proud of her. I will try to copy her talk to the bottom of this blog post. (We pulled some of it from when she spoke to the Primary Leaders about the Children and Youth program, but I feel like the whole thing pulled together for a really beautiful message to the women of the Stake.) 

We camped in the same tent and Lily and Iris Young (Brooke) and Sophie Teng (Jen). Lydia was with her friends and I was with mine and we played card games and laughed until far into the night. The next morning we woke up at 5:20 a.m. to go on a sunrise hike. It was SO fun. It started our pitch-dark and slowly brightened into a beautiful day. We were left behind by the large group because I was asked to lead the slower group. We hiked until a certain time and then headed back for breakfast. I loved this hike with Lydia and enjoyed the sunrise and scenery. 










The next day was filled with classes and activities and lots and lots of food. Lydia and I taught a finger knitting class and made hundreds of yarn necklaces and headbands. 

 The entire experience was fabulous and even knowing the amount of work that went into it, I would love for the Stake to host this again. I loved connecting with women in our stake and loved this activity even more than I thought I would. 

Immediately after the camp, Lydia and I went to Cowabunga Bay because it was the very last day that we could go. Later that evening we met up with Audrey and Leah Ward to celebrate Lydia and Audrey doing so well with their talks by eating hamburgers at JCWs. It was the perfect end to a great day.