Young Women Personal Progress Retreat

I have so much to catch up on! We just got back from a trip to New York, and then a conference weekend at the cabin, so I feel like I am way behind in "real life".

The weekend just before we went to New York, we had a Beehive Personal Progress Retreat up at our cabin. It was SO much fun!

We went up on Friday afternoon, and as soon as we got there, started working on making journals. 

 torn scrapbook paper

cut-up squares of layered paper

We used the regular memo notebooks that were really inexpensive during the school supply sales.

We had scrapbook paper, Mod Podge (with glitter mixed in with it -- the girls LOVE glitter!), scissors, and foam brushes, and let the girls create their own masterpieces. Some tore bits of paper, some cut shapes out... each had their own unique, darling creation. I wish I had taken a picture of each of the finished journals, because they were great!

We left the journal-making table up the whole time so that they could go over and put another layer of Mod Podge on it whenever they wanted to.

After they worked on their journals for a bit, we had hamburgers on the grill (this is where Bob came in to the schedule). After dinner, we had three 20 minute workshops on Personal Progress Value Experiences. My two advisors and I had each prepared a workshop in which we taught and discussed a different Value Experience. We made sure they were ones that the girls hadn't already finished. We even gave them journal-writing time so that they could have those three Value Experiences completed.

working on passing off a value experience

After the workshops, we moved on to another craft. We made Value bracelets with beads in all the colors of the values. Bob had made a little charm for each of the girls to put on their bracelets. The charm has the word "Shine" and also "2012" on it. Shine refers to the YW/YM theme this year: Arise and shine forth....

working on their bracelets

I should have noticed all of the Dr. Pepper being consumed in the above photo... then I might have had an idea of how late the girls would be up... (Note to self: next time, hide the Dr. Pepper)

Bob helping with terminating
the ends of the bracelet

While the girls were working on their bracelets, we (the advisors and I) interviewed each of the girls to update our records as far as what they have achieved in their Personal Progress.

When we were done with the bracelets, we moved on to a "Getting to Know You Game" that Jeanne (one of the advisors) had prepared for the girls to play. It was sort of like speed dating, but more like speed friends... with questions for the girls to be able to get to know each other.

After the game, we all got together and had a devotional on Friendship, which was given by the other advisor, Courtney. Perfect ending to a fun evening. It really wasn't the end of the evening for the girls. They had a lot more energy and wakefulness to work off.

The night was just beginning for them. They stayed up til somewhere in the 4:00 hour. Oh to be young.

The next morning, we had breakfast, and then gathered for a Personal Progress Devotional given by the bishop. I have a few strings I can pull with him, since I'm married to him. :) He said just the right things to help motivate the girls and also to help them recognize how important Personal Progress is and should be in their lives.

We went on a walk together around the loop and soaked up all of the fall colors and the crisp, cool air. It was perfect!

It was a fun overnight with the girls that had a lot of of substance in addition to the fun. We packed in as much as we could in the schedule. I think it might be fun to make it a tradition every year!