I don't really even know where to start when I think of what I want to share about my amazing week at girls camp. I cannot speak enough good words about these amazing young women and how much I learned form them. They are truly daughters of God and they live as examples and representatives of him every day of their lives. It has been a good five years since I was in the Young Womens Program but this experience reminded me of what a divinely inspired program it is.
We had a pretty small group--we started out with 7 girls, but one girl got sick and had to go home so we had only 6 left. I am so glad we had such a small group because we were all able to really get to know one another and grow to love one another. I have to be honest, I was TERRIFIED for girls camp! I was put in the primary almost immediately after mac and I were married and moved into this ward so I really didn't know these girls-AT ALL!! I look back and kinda chuckle that I was nervous they wouldn't like me or girls camp wouldn't be fun, because with girls like these there is no way it could have been lame!
I had a really special experience the first night we were at girls camp. One of the stake camp directors had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan and she shared her experience and a slide show of pictures from her time over there. I think the girls were concerned their leader was slightly unstable (since I bawled through the entire fireside...like really, the whole thing) but they were still nice to me anyway. With Mac being in the Utah Air National Guard and planning to have a life long military career, I have been plagued with fears about the day when he will be deployed overseas. I try to be strong when we talk about it but the thought would always strike fear into my heart. All the "what ifs" would fly through my mind and I would think of every worst case scenario. I wasn't strong. I would worry and worry again. During this fireside something incredible happened. I didn't feel afraid anymore. I felt peace. I felt confidence that no matter what happens, regardless of whether mac goes over seas and comes home or doesn't come home, Heavenly Father has a plan for me and knows what I need in my life. My testimony in eternal families was strengthened and I felt such gratitude that I am sealed to Mac for eternity, and no earthly war can change that fact. I realized I have to have faith and leave it in the Lords hands. I feel so proud to be Macs wife. He is truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known. He is a leader in every sense of the word. Some people try to lead by telling you what to do because they know more than you, but Mac leads by example. He is one of those people who will be right next to those he is serving, doing the dirty work right along with them. People are just drawn to him because of his optimistic personality. I know he will be able to do great things wherever he is.
Here are some fun pictures from Camp:
