Girl's Camp 2013 - "Got Oil?" Lafayette, IN

We got back from Utah with little time to spare because the very next morning less than 8 hours after we got home, Ashley had to leave for Girl's Camp.

Knowing that we had a pretty quick turnaround, I had done most of her camp packing beforehand but there were still a few last minute items to pack and move from her suitcase to her camp duffel.  She got to bed pretty late but she was ready to go by 6am the next morning.

I have gone to camp the last two years I've been a leader, but this year, I knew that it was just going to be too difficult.  I couldn't have managed being gone for over 3 weeks and then leaving again right away.  Plus at the time we were making the decision, we weren't sure if Dave would be back at work and if he would be available to help care for Paige.  In the end, I just had to make the decision not to go and know that you don't have to be everywhere and do everything.  Life goes on, I'm not that important and there are lots of other wonderful ladies who can go to camp with my girls.

So it was kind of weird dropping Ashley off at the carpool leaving for camp and watching everyone drive off.  The first day of camp was "Techie Tuesday" which was basically dress up like a nerd.  It was pretty cute to see all the Young Women in their nerdy attire as they got ready to leave.

In the end, I was glad I made the decision I did.  Honestly, I was pretty jet-lagged from our family vacation.  It took me over a week to get all the bags unpacked and put away even with Dave helping me.  Also, the weather that week so hot and humid in the 100s that I caught myself a couple of times, thanking my Heavenly Father that I was at girls camp in the heat.

I actually got a pretty good deal, because I did drive down and spend the last night at camp.  It's pretty nice to come to camp on the last day when everyone is tired and exhausted but you are feeling happy and energetic.  I got to spend the day with girls, help prepare dinner, be at our ward meeting and drive girls home, so everything worked out.

Ashley also had a good experience.  We were a teeny bit worried because this year was her first camp experience as the only YW from our ward her age.  Basically throughout the years all the girls her age have moved away.  Ashley is pretty good socially and easy to get along with but still it's always a little hard to go without friends and have to tent with people you don't know that well.  Fortunately, Ashley hung tough and had a good time.  She made new friends and didn't have any problems feeling left out, etc.

Ashley the "nerd" and her tent mates