The Olsen's: YW's camp & stuff

My calling at my church is in the Young Woman's. I teach and do activity's with the girls in our ward aged 12-17. I just got back from our yearly camp trip. It was a stake one, which means all the girls in YW's from 6 other wards. I was originally really excited to go. I work on the night that our YW's hold activity's so I usually miss out on those and because of that don't know the girls as well. I thought this was a great opportunity to get to know them better. A couple of days before we had to leave, I started to feel a little torn about going. I'm not much of a camper, I love being outdoors and doing outdoorsy stuff, but I love sleeping indoors and using nice clean bathrooms with running water. I also was having a hard time with the thought of leaving my baby (I've honestly never felt like that with any of my other babies). I knew I would regret it if I didn't go. So Tuesday morning my Mother in-law came in and drove me to the church and took the kids home with her for the three nights that I would be gone (Ryan was working most of the week in Fort McMurray). By the time we got to the campground, it was starting to rain. We hurriedly put up the three tents we had and a nice little garage canopy that we used for our kitchen area, and then it started to rain hard. I forgot my warm jacket in the van when my MIL dropped me off, so all I had was my hoodie which was wet. I was cold and miserable. I wasn't sure I made the right choice in going. After a few hours of this, a couple of friends let me borrow a fleece jacket and a raincoat and we headed off to meet with all the other wards for a fireside. By the time it was over the rain had ended and things started to look up.

I was actually really warm and comfortable at night, and the next day and for the rest of the time the sun shone brightly and the weather was beautiful. We had a really fun time. We went on a hike, swam and canoed in the lake, ate yummy food, played games, and just enjoyed each other's company and being in nature. We had 5 girls with us and they were seriously so good. They all got along with each other and were always happy to help and do what we asked of them. There was no grumpiness and no drama. I had so much fun with the girls and got to know them really well. They had so many opportunities for us to feel the spirit, and to learn and grow together. I am so glad I went. It was so nice to get home though and see the kids and have a nice hot shower! But at night when I was laying in my nice cozy bed and it was very, very hot, I was actually wishing I was in the cold tent all wrapped up cozily in my sleeping bag. I loved the experience, but it is good to be home! I missed my family. Especially Hayley. She was asleep when I got home so when she woke up I went in to get her. She stared at me for the longest time. It looked like she was thinking "is this really you". Then she would cuddle me, then look at me and laugh. I held her and just thought "I never want to put you down again". It was so nice to be re-united.

It has been hot, hot, hot. I shouldn't complain, but our house is like an oven. Hopefully we will be able to get out and spend our days playing in some water to keep us cool. Hayley is walking better and better each day. She is trying to walk more often. I'm sure she will be going full force in just a few days. It is very exciting and will make spending time outside much easier. Here are some random pics, and sorry, I didn't even take one picture of YW's camp. I just didn't want to worry about my camera.