The Grimm Adventures: Retreat For Girls :)

So, another blog post in such a short amount of time. You would think that there is something wrong with me…but alas, there is not. I am just here to tell you guys all about one phenomenal experience that I had pretty recently. I had the amazing opportunity to go and be a counselor at an amazing girl’s organization called Retreat for Girls. For those of you who don’t know what RFG is...I am so sorry. Let me tell you a little bit about this life changing program. Retreat for girls is kind of like Academy for girls, for those of you who were familiar with Academy. If you’re still kind of lost, it is a 5 day overnight program for 11-5 year old girls where they can take a retreat from the things of this world and just focus on the love their Father in Heaven has for them and be surrounded by other girls there for the same purpose and ambition to have their testimony grow. There are speakers, classes, a service project, crafts, devotionals, delicious food and some pretty awesome counselors, participants and directors. Imagine Time Out for Women, but for younger girls! It’s truly such an amazing experience. I went as a participant and I was a counselor this year and I am so grateful for the experience that it was. Not only did my testimony increase in ways I can’t even express, but I laughed a whole lot too :) My first week girls will always be just that, my first set of girls! They were total sweethearts, I didn’t have a single problem with any of them. They listened to me, obeyed the cell phone policy like absolute champs, the only thing they didn’t do was my dance I so lovingly choreographed for them. And maybe a few were a little nuts over the EFY boys ;) But they just melted my heart, loved me when I needed to be loved, and gave me the best first week as a counselor I could ever ask for. A huge portion of my heart left with them when they left Friday night. Granted, I was absolutely exhausted in almost every way humanly possible, but that was all right. Because I came into week two a much better counselor and person because of my first girls. They taught me more than I could express to you in words, they helped me feel the love that my Heavenly Father has for each and every one of them, which is pretty incredible. I definitely think there is a reason that Katie Smith, the director of RFG, calls it mommy boot camp :) My second week girls were just as incredible as the first. I could seriously love these girls no more than I already do, they all have brought such a light into my life that words can’t explain. There is something about 12 and 13 year old girls that just melts my heart. Both sessions of girls made me laugh, and even sometimes made me cry a little bit. But all in all, what an incredible experience I had as a counselor. I know that not everybody has the same beliefs and definitely doesn’t share the same faith as me, but since this is my blog I think it should be ok for me to express how I feel. I love the Gospel, I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I can’t imagine my life without the truthfulness it provides for me. I count my blessings every single day for a loving Father in heaven who is waiting to poor infinite amounts of blessings into my life and who loves me unconditionally. It truly is amazing, when you think about it. I know for a fact that my life was blessed by the decision to be a counselor for RFG. There is no such thing as a coincidence, and I will forever be grateful for that very sacred experience. I know that this post didn’t give you a whole lot to work off of, so I want to direct you to the blog that one of the other counselors started, and it is all about retreat and how we can Live It! Every single day in our lives. From testimonies from the counselors to experiences from the participants, it’s truly an amazing blog. So here is the link to that! Retreat For Girls: I Will Live It! Thank you for being so amazing, person reading this. I love you and appreciate you more than words can express :)