The theme was “Enjoy the Journey,” and the leaders did an amazing job putting it together.  The highlight was a trip along the “Iron Rod” that ended up at the “Tree of Life.”  You had to be there to understand the coolness.

Our crew right after our skit on SKIT NIGHT!

Getting ready for our skit...

Mikayla (dressed for the skit)

Ashley (dressed for the skit)

Megan, Sariah, and a YW from another ward

Tajheeta, Janna, Eileen and Mikayla

Ellie, Chanell & Ashley

Megan (on the end) helping the YCLs lead the group in camp songs.

YCLs leading the group in camp songs again.

Ruth, our Stake Camp Director, and Megan

The girls were involved in a service project - they were making educational packets for 3rd world countries.

Janna & Mikayla

Ellie, Chanell & Tajheeta

GROUP HUG!!!

A stellar game of NINJA

Ashley with Sister Kimble (a Stake YW leader from our ward)

Janna, Mikayla & Ferree

The Tree of Life

After working on it since she was 12, Liz finished up all of her Personal Progress requirements DAYS before this New Beginnings Program.   She earned her Young Woman Recognition Award and Young Woman Medallion.  We are so proud of her and the dedication it took to accomplish this.  Her final 10-hour project was making a quilt out some of her favorite T-shirts (see the final picture below).  Another one of our young women, Alex Kimble, also finished hers up within hours of New Beginnings.  They are both graduating from High School this year and were very excited to wrap this up before the end of the school year.

Megan, who is also working on her Personal Progress, was the one that was in charge of New Beginnings this year.  She did one of her 10-hour projects learning (from me) how to put a large activity together.  She did all of the leg work for the program and played a large part in the program (she created a game to teach about the Young Women’s program).  Mikayla is also working on her Personal Progress.  And, Ashley, who just turned 12, will also start working on it.

Megan: The master of ceremonies

Ashley came to New Beginnings because she will be entering the Young Women's program this year.

Mikayla gave a talk about running and how persevering in running is similar to sticking it out with Personal Progress and accomplishing your goal.

Megan played a song on her Ukulele.

Liz was a cheerleader for the game that Megan had us playing.

Liz and Alex, who had just completed their Personal Progress, were recognized by one of the Stake YW Leaders.

Megan being a ham...we have discovered lately that she has quite the public personality.

Some of the girls at the event...that's Mikayla in the back.

Liz and Alex with 2 of the Stake Leaders.

Tajheeta, who is our Beehive President, welcoming Ashley, who would be joining the Beehives soon.

This is the quilt Liz made out of her t-shirts for a personal progress 10-hour project. Thank you, Betsy Mitchell, for teaching Liz how to do it!

Another shot of the quilt

This is Liz with her Personal Progress book, sitting on her Personal Progress Quilt. Yeah, Liz!

But Megan is a beautiful teenager inside and outside…AND she tends to make really good and wise decisions…so maybe we will be ok .

Megan got to pick something cool to do for her 16th birthday. What’s cool to Megan is History. So she and I spent a Saturday in Atlanta visiting the Atlanta History Center and the Michael C. Carlos Museum (at Emory University). The latter museum has art collections that include objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Near East, and the ancient Americas.

During our day we also got to have lunch at The Cheesecake Factory…a favorite for most of us. The day ended with the traditional pizza/cake family party.

This is Megan in front of the Swan House on the large property at the Atlanta History Center. We took a tour of the home. This was taken from the AHC website: "Traditionally known as one of the most recognized and photographed landmarks in Atlanta, Swan House is an elegant, classically styled mansion built in 1928 for the Edward H. Inman family, heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune. The mansion, designed by famed Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze, provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Atlanta family during the 1920s and 1930s. "Audio and guided tours of Swan House allow visitors to explore the many rooms of this beautifully restored historic home including the foyer, breakfast room and hall, library, living room, dining room, kitchen, butler's pantry, Mrs. Inman's bedroom and bathroom, grandchildren's bedroom, guest bedroom, and Mr. Inman's bedroom. "Additionally, a stroll around the Swan House grounds provides many breathtaking views complete with gardens and fountains."

This is Megan entering the Tullie Smith Farm at the ATL History Museum. From their website: "A plantation-plain house built in the 1840s by the Robert Smith family, Tullie Smith Farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally located east of Atlanta, outside the city limits, the house survived the near-total destruction of Atlanta in 1864. "Tullie Smith House is surrounded by a separate open-hearth kitchen, blacksmith shop, smokehouse, double corncrib, pioneer log cabin, and barn, as well as traditional vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. Costumed interpreters lead tours of the house and perform activities typical of nineteenth century rural Georgia during special programming."

This is Megan at The Cheesecake Factory - pre meal.

This is Megan at The Cheesecake Factory when she got her birthday suprise from the serving crew.

This is Megan at the Cheesecake Factory - post meal (they feed you A LOT there!)

Megan with her birthday cake...

The traditional mirror decorations...

Lighting of the candles...

Megan opening presents (and Ashley in the background)

Donovan and Liz...

Mikayla and Megan

 

Liz (YCL), Megan (4th year) and Mikayla (3rd year) got to go to our Stake Camp this year and each one had a great experience.  There were tons of cool pics shared on Facebook…and I had a hard time picking which ones to share on the blog because I consider ALL of the girls there “My girls” since I serve them in the Young Women’s Presidency.   But I just selected a few of my favorites for the blog.

The AMAZING Young Women in our ward right after they completed their skit for "Skit Night."

I didn't get a very good photo of the skit because they had glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets on and the stage was darkened. But here you can see Megan in the middle and the different groups were responding differently to her suggestions. The moral was that we can all work together and get along.

This is another ward that had just completed their skit.

There was a braiding class at the camp. Liz, who is already an expert "braider" did these braids for her friends.

Some of the fearless Leaders - LtoR: Sister Stone, Sister Joyner & Sister Watts

Some of "my girls"

Mikayla is on the far Left, with Janna, Kissa, Beebee & Jhoseline.

Mikayla with Janna

Liz, Alex & Kirstin

Megan getting a lift from Sister Joyner

Vanessa & Liz ("sisters")

This is a group of YCLs (or Youth Camp Leaders -ages 16-18). They were leading the younger girls in camp songs before a meeting.

Megan (right) with a camp friend from a different ward.

Laura, Vanessa & Liz

This was Liz's last YW Camp! Next year she will be 18 and graduated...how sad!!! By next March Ashley will be 12 and I will have FOUR Young Women in the program--for a couple of months before Liz moves on to Relief Society.

Mikayla (2nd from Left) with new friends from other wards.

This is our awesome Stake Young Women's Presidency!

The theme of the camp was the Doctor Seuss Book "Oh the Places you Will Go." The girls thought it was funny that the sign was right above the door to the bathroom :-).

The girls hanging out in their AIR CONDITIONED CABIN!! Not all YW Camps are like this...a lot of them (all over the world) do primitive camping. But I think they are pretty lucky given how hot and humid it was that week!

The first night of camp they had a "Let's Make a Deal" Game Show for the girls. They were supposed to dress up crazy like people used to do for that TV show. This is Megan's craziness.

More Crazy Megan

Going along with the Dr. Seuss Theme, here is "The Cat in the Hat" with "Thing 1" and "Thing 2."

Megan on her bunk.

Mikayla (middle) playing NINJA with Sister Watts and Kadison.

Some more of my Young Women LtoR: Laura, Tajheeta, Kadison, Katie & Eileen.

Liz (17) and Laura with a girl from another ward.

Sister Watts and Rachel

Liz - REALLY??

More Ninja for Mikayla

LtoR: Megan (15), Tajheeta, Katie, Melissa, Kadison & Katie (I don't know who the girls in the back are).

Megan got a Stake Award for being a "Peacemaker."

Here are a couple of videos of some of the singing that went on at camp that I got to be a part of.  As mentioned above, the YCL’s or Youth Camp Leaders, got to lead the younger girls in Camp Songs before the main gatherings.  They all had a lot of ENERGY!!!

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 1

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 2

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 3

ABOVE:  YW Camp: YCLs singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me”

This is the YCLs singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me” before one of the nightly meetings.

I love this song and I missed most of it…I only got them singing the last verse (see lyrics below).

Lyrics:
by Sally DeFord

1.If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

2.If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

3.If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

4.If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit’s voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings? Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

5.f the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior’s love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger? Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

6.He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

One of the goals of ”The Trek” is to help the youth appreciate what the pioneers did for us…all that they sacrificed and went through in order to find a place ”out in the West” where they could practice our religion without fear and persecution.  Other things that are accomplished by the Trek are:  1)  the Youth learn to appreciate the modern conveniences and luxuries that we enjoy but take for granted, 2) unity is developed amongst the youth of the Stake, and 3)  they learn to work together as a group for a common goal. 

Frank participated in a Trek several years ago and had an amazing experience. This is the first Trek that our kids have been involved in. Liz, Megan and Mikayla all got to participate.  According to their report, all of the above goals were achieved.

 I’ve posted one of these links before…but for more info on the Mormon Pioneers, click on these:

 Mormon Pioneers:  The Pioneer Story

 Mormon Trail of Pioneers

 The Pioneer Trek

 **Here is a quote from one of the above links:

 ”All along the Mormon trail, and during the years that the pioneers traversed this great trek west, hundreds of Saints of all ages, especially the young and elderly, died from hunger, cold, sickness, disease, and exhaustion.¹ Countless stories have been told and recorded of the trials and tribulations of the Mormon pioneers. Nevertheless the Saints remained faithful and continued forward with “faith in every footstep.”²

On July 24, 1847, the first pioneers finally reached the end of the Mormon trail. Led by Brigham Young they came out of the mountains and looked down upon the Salt Lake Valley. Upon seeing the valley President Young declared, “This is the right place.”³ The Saints had been led to a place where they could live in safety and worship God according to their beliefs without the overwhelming persecution they’d faced in the east.

From 1847 to 1868 about 60,000-70,000 pioneers traveled from Europe and the Eastern US to join the Saints in the Great Salt Lake Valley, which later became part of the state of Utah.”

I took the first four pictures when I dropped them off...before they got dirty :-). For the rest of the pictures I was at the mercy of other people, so I didn't get a lot of good ones of my kids...but I was very happy to get the ones I did. Jackie Ober (Stake YW 2nd Counselor), Melissa, Mikayla, Megan, Nancy Goodyear (Stake YW Pres), Liz, Ma? #1, Ma? #2.

Jackie Ober (Stake YW 2nd Counselor), Melissa, Mikayla, Megan, Nancy Goodyear (Stake YW Pres), Liz, Ma? #1, Ma? #2.

Here are a bunch of the handcarts that the "families" pulled during the Trek. This was the first year that our stake did a Trek and the Stake leaders and Priests and Laurels actually made all of the carts in the Spring.

Mikayla, Melissa, Megan & Liz (who was not too happy to be there).

Can you see Liz? She is in the center/front, right above the wheel of the handcart (braided hair).

Another gathering of the youth...

This is Mikayla's "Family." She is on the Right in the pink shirt.

This is the Buck's Family (they were a "Ma and Pa" for the Trek)...Melissa G. is in the center.

The Bucks again...both on the Right.

I don't know the rest of these kids, but you can see Katie P. from our ward at the back of the wagon.

That's Melissa G. in the middle.

There's Liz behind the wagon...

Katie P. again (front Left)...

Melissa and the Bucks again...

That's Megan sitting with her back to the camera...I wasn't able to get a lot of good photos of her.

Hmmm...looks like a real pioneer camp...

Vikki P. (Center, facing forward)

That's Megan on the far Left (looking down) and you can also see Vikki P. from our ward (center, looking down).

Liz...making pancakes the hard way...

That's Liz on the Left...looking at all of the fired-up dutch ovens. Mmmmmm.....

Liz helping make pancakes...

I don't know who the guy is...but that's Megan in the background.

Mikayla enduring the heat and humidity of the great Georgia outdoors...the Trek took place during an unusually hot June...temps were in the 90's...PLUS humidity...I was proud of them for enduring it so well.

...entertainment...like the Pioneers had...

Sariah B. (far Left) at the dance.

Ferree B. (2nd from Left) at the dance.

Mikayla's first "Church Dance." :-) She turned 14 a month before the Trek.

"Stick Pulling" was an activity the pioneer men entertained themselves with. That's Bro. Heaton from our ward on the Right.

A stick-pulling win...you can see Mikayla in the pink shirt off to the Right.

Brother Heaton and his cute baby! The baby was only there for part of the Trek.

Yuck!! We were really worried about the girls getting ticks...but it didn't happen. They really didn't even have many bug bites.

Online Videos about the Mormon Pioneers:

All of the girls certify in different areas (First Aid, cooking outside, putting up a tent, identifying animals/bugs, starting fires, etc).For all of the girls that are going to camp for the 4th year, they have something called a “4th Year High Adventure.”  This year Megan got to participate in that.  She had an amazing time.  First they went rappelling.  She ended up going “Aussie Style,” which means face first.  I don’t think I could do that!  After they were done rappelling, all of the girls and leaders drove to Helen, GA, and went tubing on the Chattahoochee River.

Katie, Kissa, Megan, Shaunna (leader) & Betsy (leader). Harnessed and ready to go!

Kissa, Megan, Melissa, Katie & Kadison

Megan getting her harness on...

Shaunna (leader)...I love that picture! She is too funny. :-)

The view from the top of the hill. They had to drive for 2 hours to find a hill high enough to rappell off of. :-) Isn't it beautiful though?

Megan: "Do I really want to do this??"

Megan getting prepared...

 

Megan going over the hill!

Kadison ready to tackle the hill...

 

Kadison and Melissa going tandem....

Kissa

Katie getting ready...

Katie

 

Megan getting ready to go "Aussie Style" - or face-first.

 

 

Over the edge!

She's so brave!

Another beautiful picture of Georgia...this was taken on the way to the Rappelling area.

This is a bunch of our youth and a few leaders that attended the all-day youth conference (that ended with a dance). Some kids also showed up later on in the day after soccer games and such.

The youth being more casual...

Dane offering himself up as a target for bean bag practice.

Dane, Kadison, Melissa & Laura.

Getting candy ready for the Cake Walk...which was really a Candy Walk this year. That's Megan on the far right.

Lunch Time!

That's Brother Wells going the extra mile to help out with lunch preparations.

Adam and Kadison

Megan and Melissa

Kadison and Adam (again)

Laura and Brother Z (her dad :-) ).

Rachel, Rachel's friend, and Sariah...doing the lunch thing.

This is one of the kids trying out the bean bag toss.

This was a test run of the Candy Walk ;-).

The youth were doing the cake walk with a few of the early-arriving special needs kids.

The hat making table.

Princess Tyler :-)

Some of the outside activities...

...more outside activities...

There were a bunch of bunnies in the petting zoo this year...they were soooo cute!!

Rachel...the bunny lady...they all seemed to flock to her.

Sariah and a bunny...

One of the special needs kids getting a chance to meet the pony...

...and getting a ride too...

...this was a T-ball booth...

...they had a photo booth for the kids too...

...mini golf and bowling...

...crazy balloon booth...

...more bean bag throwing...our ward was in charge of the Candy Walk and the Bean Bag Throw.

 

Youth Conference 2010: Youth Waiting for the Conference to Start from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Youth Conference 2010: Laura, Dane & Tyler from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Youth Conference 2010: Special Needs Carnival from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.