Camp 2011

I'm so behind...gah. 

Young Women Camp was amazing, as it always is.  It was an interesting experience this year in that I wasn't the leader over the 2nd year Youth Camp Leaders but instead, I'm in the Stake YW presidency.

Stake YW Presidency: Mel, Lisa, and Karla

I was also the pseudo-camp secretary because the previous one got a new calling a few months ago.  So in addition to doing my stake stuff, I also did stuff like collecting receipts, getting the camp booklets printed, took the headcount each night AND I had to be the camp photographer.

YW camp director, Meesa

Can I share something with you?

I almost despised being camp photographer.  Why? 

Ohhhh, lots of reasons.  (Tell me SOMEONE said that like Savannah in "Savannah Smiles." Please?)

Reason number one:  I prefer to take pictures when I want to, not because I have to. 

Anytime I was in the middle of doing a million other things, someone would call me on the walkie talkie and say, "Jeanelle, come get a photo of this!" Then I'd have to drop everything and run to take a picture of the sun coming through the trees and then try to remember what I was doing before I got pulled away. My brain just doesn't work like a real photographer's.  And that's okay...

Not a terrible nature shot - go figure.

Reason number two: I'm kind of a crummy photographer.  Case in point: this photo of one of the levels.  Notice my friend Lisa off to the right?  Yeah, I probably shouldn't have had her in the photo since she wasn't in that level.  Especially since this is the picture that each girl and leader in that level got to take home with them to help them remember their wonderful year at camp.  Instead they are probably saying, "Why is Sister Clement in our ding dang picture?"

2nd level campers with an extra.  So embarrassing.

Reason number three:  I like taking pictures of people I know and love or of people whose parents I know and love.  It's actually hard to take pictures of people you don't know well or don't know at all.  You think "did I get a picture of her already?"  Or you feel guilty for taking the millionth picture of the Robinsons because you know and love them so much.

My other family: Becca, Steve & Emily

But want to know what I loved about camp this year?

1. I loved meeting this girl.



BFFs

 Sharon was our craft lady and besides having a PhD in crafts, she was super fun and we clicked right away.  Love.  Her.  (even though I'm old enough to be her, ugh, MOTHER.) We also established the first ever gum wall at camp (uh, YEAH we did!)  It was a hit.  (Hopefully some of you have seen the Seattle gum wall...)
 

Oh and I have to post this blurry photo because it makes me laugh every time...Sharon and I were going to pose like this, belly to belly, in our stake photo but chickened out. Oh how I loved laughing with her, Melanie, Lisa and everyone else in the stake level that week.  Camp completely fills my bucket every year.

2. I loved being a Stake person instead of being in charge of a level. 

Mel, Mindy, Elizabeth and Quinae - we all shot guns!

Don't get me wrong - the last four years were the best ever and I would go back to doing that job in a heartbeat but this year was a nice change.  I loved that I had time to actually talk to people. 

darling Leah

I loved that I had time to get to know girls in all of the levels.  I loved that I had a TON less stress. I also loved being able to just LOVE the 2nd YCLs instead of telling them what to do all the time. So nice!

Lindsey, Jenn & Paige

I also REALLY loved wearing wings (we were fairy godmothers.) And seriously? I think I'd like to incorporate this particular hairstyle a bit more in my every day life. 

the stake board on our way to the polar bear dip

3. I loved doing something that pulled me out of my comfort zone.  I can't go into details about it because it's kind of a secret thing and I know there are camp girls who read my blog...but I was grateful to be asked to do something that was difficult for me.  I had an amazing spiritual experience because of it and I will be forever grateful for that "stretch."

4. I loved bonding with this simply beautiful girl. 

Lovely Lilly

I mentioned her here in my trek blog but Lilly and I made a soul-to-soul connection at camp.  We frequently would look at each other and just start crying.  I know with everything that I am that she and I were supposed to meet on trek and we were supposed to be at camp together. I'm so grateful she came to camp - she had such a great experience being a 2nd YCL and she was so good for the younger girls.  I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for putting special girls like Lilly in my life.  I love getting that taste of being a mom during that week at camp...I'm so blessed.