Girls camp 2024

We went to Lake of the Ozarks with the girls from our original Olathe 3rd ward. They have been split into two wards now, so it was nice to be together again.

A few highlights:

Starting out fresh and clean!

Taking a tour of Ozark Caverns

I spent all my time filling this table with food

It was HOT....so so hot. I borrowed this AC unit from Bobby, my favorite chiropractor. It saved our lives. It was the best thing I brought. 

This truck was a close second...I used it to haul everyone and everything up and down from the water. When AJ and I got to a a point where we couldn't handle the heat or the drama or the human interaction or the mosquitos one more second, we would escape to the truck and let the AC bring us back to life. 

Everything in that kitchen was BIG. Big bowls, big ovens, big appetites. Cooking for 35 people is a full time job! 

We made floating lanterns

The final morning devotional

The last photo, a little worse for wear, but lots of love and memories made!

Girls Camp 2022: Day 3

Girls Camp: Day 3

We went for a trail ride on one of the hottest days of the summer. Still totally awesome. 

 

We stopped at the Short Stop for those famous ice cream cones. But for the second time this weekend, we were robbed of the experience. Ice cream machines broken just as we got to the front of the line. 

There were lots of votes on what we should do instead, so we ended up going over to Eureka Springs for a little window shopping and a visit to the Thorncrown Chapel.

It was brutally hot and we were wiped out from camping and horses and travel. But my kids were pretty excited about this artsy town. Megan made plans to move into the community as soon as she can. 

Finally back at camp, we settled into finishing up crafts, enjoying nature and making a yummy dinner. 

One of my favorite things about being with these girls at camp is seeing what they do when they have time to just be bored. They never disappoint. 

Our final devotional. I love the glowy string light at night. 

Group hugs!

Our lovely girls after packing up the next morning. We were up bright and early to beat the heat!

We learned alot and grew a strong bond. I was so grateful for the way my daughters stepped up for me and for Mark overcoming his strong aversion to camping and heat and sleeping in a tent to come and support me when I needed him. 

And when it was all said and done, I think these girls had a great time and they learned that even when the ice cream machine breaks, you can press on and go find ice cream at the Redneck waterslide. 

Girls Camp 2022: Day 2

Day 2:

Morning devotional

A quick get-to-know-you game

And we were off to Redneck Waterslide. They were quick studies in the line up technique!

 

Ice cream cone feast!

Let me tell you, it was hot enough that they only thing to do after a day of water....more water!

I intervened on behalf of a couple fish that were being smuggled back to camp. You're welcome, fishies. 

While the kids tooled about in the water, I headed back to make tinfoil dinners and rest of the girls started working on their painted scriptures. They turned out pretty cool!

I dug deep into my memory to teach Emma how to clean (and cook) the already dead fish she found. 

I stayed close to make sure that nobody took a bite of that dead cooked fish. yeck. 

Fireside devotional and off to bed!

Roaring "River" Girls Camp: Day 1

Girls Camp.

Day One. 

Bright and early at the Stake Center

Remember that glorious river we camped by just one month ago? It's gone. 

Dry.

Gone. 

And I want to bawl. 

But we're all here and it's time to suck it up and set up the tents.

And then we do the only thing we can do if we want to survive this week....we find water. This is the same spot that was totally submerged when we were last here. Now it's down about 4 feet and smells fishy. But it'll do the trick. 

Some girls and leaders prefer to set up in the cool shady water under the bridge. 

There were crawdads and minnows to catch!

Aliya and Laney made an arena for their biggest captive. 

Meanwhile, down by the river...they figured out that just past the fishy lukewarm wading pool was a cool spring-fed river. And it was glorious. 

Mark and Megan took on the task of building the best Ebeneezer. 

I occupied myself with finding mini fossils. 

Dinner time!

Woof-ems for dessert

And a bedtime devotional. 

Day 1 in the books!