Young Women Activities

The summer has been so busy that I felt like I really didn't get to spend that much time with the girls. Luckily we got to celebrate the end of summer by doing two fun activities in one week! For mutual we went over to Key Biscayne and walked on the beach. We got to watch the sunset and get a little exercise in at the same time. It was really fun to get out with everyone!

That weekend we had our end of summer sleepover. The girls all came over to my house as well as the leaders Kim and Andrea. We missed you Marisabel! The girls decided that they wanted to go swimming that night so we got to hang out outside and enjoy a perfect summer night. When we came back in, some of the girls wanted to learn the "Cups" song. I learned it at camp when I was a teenager and so we got lots of practice in. I think some of the girls actually learned it! After, the girls watched "It", the 1980's Steven King movie. Apparently it wasnt as scary to them as it was to me when I was younger because the girls found it pretty funny. 

The next morning we all woke up a little late and made breakfast. We had pancakes and eggs and chowed down. After we went swimming and laid out. I think the girls had a really good time... I know I did! Sadly, we didn't get a group shot but I am so happy so many girls could come. We will miss Melanie and Alejandra as they move on to Relief Society. Love you girls! 

Girls Camp 2013

One of the most exciting parts of being called as young women's president was the opportunity to go to Girls Camp! I LOVED camp as a girl and have such amazing memories from those times. Turns out camp is a piece of cake a lot of work but totally worth it. We had an incredibly successful fundraiser which allowed us to have some fun with the food and gifts. 

I couldn't come up until Tuesday night, but I dropped the girls off on Monday morning at the stake center. Unfortunately my car broke down on my way to work. Luckily it was just the battery and alternator which were a fast fix and didn't keep me from going up to Orlando the next day. 

The girls all had such a blast! We really got to bond and hang out. I learned a lot of Spanish over the week and I was surprised how much I could understand when I had to. Both the ward camp director and the other parent who came with us only spoke Spanish so we all learned pretty fast how to communicate. 

Some of the highlights of the week: Being mistaken for a teenager most of the time, laughing a lot, being in nature, reading the scriptures, watching testimonies grow, being cold, lots of selfies, crafts and yummy, yummy food! 

The girls made "exploding boxes" as their craft

The city girls really enjoyed nature and took lots of pictures of all of the beautiful sites!

The ward camp director was great and cooked for us the whole time. She made amazing Latin food that everyone envied! Hermana Solis cooked the big meal for the whole camp and everyone was so impressed. I think I gained 10 pounds that week :) 

 I even got to try balliadas which were AMAZING! I have a renewed desire to learn how to cook better and learn some of the recipes from the people in our ward. 

The girls really enjoyed the obstacle course at the camp site. A few of the girls even tried to rope walk, which resulted in one of the girls falling in the water! Chelsea handled it like a champ though and proudly swam to the other side. 

One of the fun parts of the camp was the performances. The girls did a great job performing and got the reputation of being just a little ghetto for their perfectly rapped rendition of "Glamorous" by Fergie and Melanie's beat boxing during the performance.

The theme was "Stand in Holy Places". I think all of the girls learned how to have peace and make good choices, no matter where they are. Camp was a great spiritual stimulus for the girls. 

On the last day they had a ceremony recognizing all of the girls and the hard work the girls put into camp. They did great! 

Most importantly, the girls had fun! The girls are so fun-loving and crazy! I couldn't have asked for a better break from work and life then spending the week with these awesome girls! 

So for my own selfish reasons, one of the best nights of camp was the night my Mom came out and visited me and the girls. All growing up, my Mom worked with the youth at church. When I plan activities and prepare for anything with the girls, I think about what my Mom would do. She is such an inspiration to me of how to be a great mother and friend. The week was emotionally and spiritually uplifting, but it all made perfect by having my Mom there! The girls LOVED her and all called her Grandma (which she loved). 

It was a great week at Girls Camp. I have SOOO many ideas for next year and I already have a huge list! But in the end, what matters is that the girls had a great time. I am so glad we have this program that allows us to learn as grow as Children of God. Love you girls and cant wait for next year! 

Temple Trip

At the beginning of March I had the chance to go on a Youth Temple Trip with my ward. Since we are about 4 hours from the Orlando Temple, I got up at 3:20 in the morning to be ready for the bus at 4am. Talk about early! We had some issues with the buses but in the end we were ready to go at 5am and off to Orlando. Everyone pretty much slept on the way to the temple so it was nice and quiet. I can sleep through a hurricane so I was passed out the whole time. We got the temple and the youth had the chance to do baptisms for the dead. The Orlando temple was built when I was 7 years old so I remember going to the open house and then going there as a youth for baptisms for the dead. This is also the temple I was married in and so it holds a very special place in my heart.

 Its just too early to get up!

The girls had a great time and I loved being able to help them. I was able to enjoy the afternoon in the temple, followed by some amazing Chinese food. The youth made a harlem shake video on the way home (which I slept through) and we had a great time talking and getting to know each other. We got home late that night and I felt like a zombie, but it was an amazing experience. I took for granted having temples close to me in Utah. After spending 8 hours on a bus for get to and from the temple, I am just grateful I can go!

 With Emely, Alejandra, Karen, Chelsea and Beverly

One of the most beautiful places on earth

New Beginnings

So the first part of this year has been so busy! And unfortunately (or fortunately) it is only going to get busier! One of the big things to check off the list was New Beginnings. New Beginnings is an opportunity for the leaders of the young women in our congregation to remind the girls of the importance of the Personal Progress program and to welcome the new girls to the program. I started looking on Pinterest for ideas and kinda hit a road black. This year the theme for the youth is Stand in Holy Places. I love the theme! When I was a teenager I went to EFY (church camp) and this was the theme one year. I remember learning how to be an example of Christ to everyone around me and to make everywhere I am holy by being true to what I believe. We have talked a lot about the theme and since Girls Camp will be using this theme, I didn't want to over do it. Then I came across the blog of a friend I used to work with. (The address is http://courtneyaitken.blogspot.com/) She does amazing graphic images for Young Women lessons and activities. So I decided to use the New Beginnings ideas she posted and go with the theme "Bloom Where You Are Planted". I ended up loving this theme. It symbolizes that we can all become what we want, no matter where we are. Many of these Young Women come from less than ideal circumstances and I thought the message was the perfect message to them. So I ran with it! My counselors were so awesome and really brought the Spirit to the meeting. I think the girls loved it! And best of all, we had 11 girls there!! WHAT?! That is the best attendance we have had for anything in a long time :) Made me a happy camper!

The whole night was awesome. I really felt rejuvenated and I learned so much from the talks everyone gave. Sometimes I feel like I get more from our activities then the Young Women do! I love being able to serve these girls and I am so grateful Derek and I are in Miami.

 The whole crew together. Some of the cutest and sweetest girls!

 The table and decorations

 Each girl got a picture frame with a picture of the Salt Lake temple and the theme. I also found some cards at Michael's that said "Bloom where you are planted" (Thanks Buffy!) and used those to write the girls a little note. 

 The new beehives being introduced by their sisters.

 Yummy cupcakes!

My counselors! I love these ladies :)

College Acceptance

I realize now that I took so many things for granted when I was growing up. I grew up with awesome parents and siblings, I never wanted for anything and I had the world at my fingertips. Since we moved down here to Miami, I now see that not everyone has what I had. Working with the Young Women at church has been especially humbling. These girls fight for a lot of the things they have in life, and they are far happier then I ever was in my teenage years. Last fall I had the chance to help one of the girls apply for BYU/BYU-I. She has amazing parents who helped her get everything in and I got to help her edit her essays. It made me nostalgic for the days when I applied for BYU and dreamed of leaving home and growing up.

Last night, I was with my counselors and another girl from our ward watching Vampire Diaries and talking. I got a call around 10 and it was this same young women I had helped with her applications. She said, "Emily, I checked my application status and for BYU-I it says admitted." So of course I start yelling "You got in!!" All she could say was "I am going to college!" We were all clapping and yelling. Pretty much a magical moment. I told her to hang up and go tell her parents and since then I haven't stopped smiling. She is the first to go to college in her family and has so much ability. It is so awesome to see the opportunity and promise that education grants us. I will admit I struggled to get through college (took me 6 years), but I am so glad Derek and I made the sacrifices we did to help me graduate.

I am so grateful the church has colleges that provide opportunities for us to learn and grow. I am also grateful I had the chance to see a friend have the opportunity to go to college. Definitely a moment I won't forget.

Young Women In Excellence

So like I mentioned in the previous post, I have had the opportunity to serve in the Young Women organization in my church. Last Sunday we had Young Women in Excellence, a yearly celebration of the girls accomplishments. It was a little stressful planning and executing, but it turned out perfect. I feel so blessed to have great councilors and young women who make all of that work worth it.

We decided to have the theme be "There's No Place Like Home" from the Wizard of Oz. We each spoke as one of the characters from the story and connected it to Personal Progress. If you don't know, Personal Progress is a program our church created that helps the young girls learn more about the scriptures and learn how to be virtuous young women. We had talks on knowledge and charity and how to get home. I think the girls really enjoyed it and in all it was a fun night. I am excited for more activities to come. Next is New Beginnings and then Girls Camp!

Derek was nice enough to come translate for me

 The main table

 The girls got slipper shaped cookies and a wand as their gift

The crew :)