Mady's Retreat

The week of July 18-24  Mady and her friend Chelsea spent the week at Utah State University at a camp put on be Deseret Book (Time Out For Women) called Retreat for Girls.  This was Mady's second year at this camp and Chelsie's first.  It is a retreat similar to Especially for Youth, except that boys aren't allowed.  They have all kinds of activities throughout the week.  This year the theme of the retreat was "Daughters in His Kingdom"  D&C 25:1-2.  They had speakers from the "Time Out For Women" circuit come and speak to them.  Mady and Chelsea heard John Bytheway, Chad Hymas, John Hinton III, Anthony Sweat, Carmen Rasmussen, Katie Smith and Kris Belcher speak to them thoughout the week.  They had a service project where they made education folders for those in need, and made crafts as well as playing games.  Every night they had a devotional before bedtime with their counselors.  There were about 160 girls at Mady's session and they were divided up into groups of 10.  Mady's counselors nickname was Origami because she could make origami anything.  The girls always have a good time and come home with a renewed energy to live the Gospel.  Here are some fun pictures:



Top Row:  Cammie, Justice, Mady, Chelsi, McKenzie, Camille,
Bottom row:  Lindsey, Azelin, Whitney, Jessica, Taliya, Rachel.



Girls from Mady's group:  Azelin, Mady, Chelsi, and Justice.



Austin, Chelsi, Grandma Patsy, and Mady outside the Taggart
student center before the final presentation for Retreat for Girls.



Chelsi, Origami, and Mady at the reception before the closing social.
Origami was the nick-name of their counselor.

It is so nice to see that my children love each other.  Austin and his
good friend McCarty came up with us to the closing social.

For the closing song the girls held hands in a cross and sang the song
"Happily Ever After" as a group.  The group circled around the whole audience.
Everyone had tears in their eyes. 

Chelsi had never been to Idaho so we got a picture of her under the
sign.  We spent the weekend in Dayton with Grandma and Grandpa after
the RFG closing social.  It was very relaxing. 

While we were waiting for the closing social we hung out in the
USU bookstore.  Here is Austin with an "AGGIE" hat.  lol

The kids took a jeep ride up through the Dayton Basin and took their
picture at the lookout there.  This is McCarty Amy, Austin, Mady and Chelsi.