Ode to Tweens!
This weekend I had the chance to come along on a girl's Jr. High ministry outing with my sister's church, and we took them camping on Catalina Island. Jaime (my sis) is the leader of the ministry "The Cultured Pearls" and planed the whole thing from start to finish so it was cool to be more of a helper than the captain.
The girls were extremely friendly and excited about going camping without their parents and their ages ranged from 14-8 so we really got a chance to enjoy the adventures from their perspectives. I couldn't believe how much weight everyone pulled. And I mean WEIGHT! We had 19 pieces of luggage filled with gear, supplies and etc. that somehow only 9 of us total managed to lug back and forth without any outside help. I remember looking back at the older girls carrying the smaller girls' bags, along with their own, and shoving an extra suitcase around as well without complaint. I have traveled with grown ladies twice their size who couldn't have managed that kind of strength! It was amazing and a true reflection on my sister's leadership- that everyone was pulling their own weight and then some without an audible grumble.
They were tough and brave little girls with the FUNNIEST things to say. That age is still very innocent and yet incredibly smart.
So, in honor of the weekend, I wanted to share a few quotable moments from the weekend that had me rolling in the aisles...
The girls were extremely friendly and excited about going camping without their parents and their ages ranged from 14-8 so we really got a chance to enjoy the adventures from their perspectives. I couldn't believe how much weight everyone pulled. And I mean WEIGHT! We had 19 pieces of luggage filled with gear, supplies and etc. that somehow only 9 of us total managed to lug back and forth without any outside help. I remember looking back at the older girls carrying the smaller girls' bags, along with their own, and shoving an extra suitcase around as well without complaint. I have traveled with grown ladies twice their size who couldn't have managed that kind of strength! It was amazing and a true reflection on my sister's leadership- that everyone was pulling their own weight and then some without an audible grumble.
They were tough and brave little girls with the FUNNIEST things to say. That age is still very innocent and yet incredibly smart.
So, in honor of the weekend, I wanted to share a few quotable moments from the weekend that had me rolling in the aisles...
- "Sometimes I sing to my food, but not to rice crispies. I don't like them so I ignore them." - Cheri age 12
- "Watch out for Breana, she's little but gassy. She totally boxed us in all night!" - Grace Age 14 on her tent-mate Breana, Age 8.
- "Chrissie, you are SOOOO girly!" Rachel, Age 8 after my reaction to her fascination with touching bugs.
- "Hey look! We don't have a campfire, we have a LAMPfire!" Grace, Age 14- after we gathered all the lights into a pile in lieu of a campfire circle.
"Okay everyone, if the trolley driver rejects our luggage amounts you all know what to do, right?" - Jaime
"YEAH!! Tie him up and take over!" The girls.
"And Cheri will be behind the wheel right Cheri?" Jaime
"WAIT! I'm older, how come SHE gets to drive?" Noelle, Age 14
"So you are upset about not getting to drive an imaginary bus in an imaginary scenario?" Chrissie
"Well I'M OLDER! I should get to drive before her!" Noelle
"Oh Noelle.... eventually you are going to realize that being an older sister doesn't guarantee you every first." Chrissie
