Brighton

If there ever was a place that changed my life.  

That would be Brighton LDS Girl's Camp.

There is a special place, up in the mountains, that I hold so dear to my heart.  It has been in my heart since I was about twelve years old.  So for about ten years now.  Which is crazy to think that ten years ago was when I first experienced the amazing.... amazing doesn't even describe it.  Brighton changed my life as a girl and I had the amazing opportunity to go back as a counselor, after I got back home from my mission.

Hoops, Kermit, Darling, and Angel were four amazing counselors for me for the four years I was able to go up as a young woman.  I had so much fun.  I felt the spirit of God.  I felt the love of God.  Brighton is where I found my testimony and knew that God, my Father, loved me and was constantly watching over me.

Brighton is a place that I wish I could be forever.  Up in the mountains, in the beauty of nature.  Hiking, camping, just being outside and seeing the amazing creations all around me.  If I could go anywhere, I would go up to the mountains.

I went by the name of Seashells while I was a counselors, I still love going by that name.  It is a name that is forever in my heart and mind.  It is a part of me.  I will respond to Seashells better than I respond to Chelsea.

There is no way to duplicate the beauty, the love, and the feeling when you walk onto the grounds of Brighton Girl's Camp.

If you have a girl, young woman, even if you aren't religious or are a member of the LDS  church.  I don't care, they don't care, just send your girls to this camp.  It will change their lives.  They will be able to make new friends from all over the place and who knows, maybe your little girl can change the life of another girl her age or the counselor that has the amazing chance to be with her for the week.

There was a girl named Eva in one of my groups.  She was the cutest little thing I have ever seen.  Super bubbly and happy personality.  She was okay with who she was.  She knew who she was and wasn't afraid to be her.  She was amazing.  Those she wasn't too keen on hiking. 

There was a hike that was an all day hike.  You were able to hike up to the top of seven different mountain peaks that surrounded the camp.  Which to me sounded like that best thing in the world!!!

I would only be able to go on that hike if more than half my girls wanted to go on it. I could really only leave two or three girls behind with another counselor.  I had ten girls the week that Eva was in my group. And the first time I asked the girls if they wanted to go..... only four of them wanted to go.

I wasn't expecting to be able to go.  I kept talking to them about it because they kept asking.  They were interested in this hike, because I loved hiking I was able to talk it up.  The night before I have seven girls to wanted to go.  Eva sat by me when we were cooking by the fire and asked, "If I go, do you get to go?"  I smiled at her and said yes.  If you go, I get to go with you and the two other girls that didn't want to go would be with another counselor.

She nodded and after little moment of silence and staring at the fire.  She told me she would go, as long as I could go.  

I couldn't help but smile in that moment.  I told the director that night that I had eight girls going, but didn't hear back for a while if I was able to go to.  Of course I was able to go and I was so excited!!!

The hike was amazing. And although it was tough and hard. All the girls made it to the top of each peak.  The sites were amazing. It was an unforgettable experience.  

Eva, as we were walking down the mountain back to camp found me and told me thank you, it really was as amazing as you said it would be, and worth it.  I couldn't do anything but smile and thank her. For she was the one that made it possible for me to go on that hike in the first place.

Bright LDS Girls Camp is full of so many memories.  Full of so much love and beauty.  I will never forget that place nor the faces that have made that place to memorable.

Brighton is forever a part of me.

New Year, New Goals, New Me

Yes I know everyone says that a new year changes everything.  You can change yourself.  You have a whole new year to start over and be someone different.  Do something different.  Better yourself. Or maybe you just want to do that same thing  that you have done before. :P

I believe that the great part is that you can do whatever you want.

This year I am excited and stoked to announce that I am starting hair school!!!! :)

It was great to be able to wear colors today because I was able to create this lovely outfit with a Carly dress and the Mimi Shawl.  It is fun being able to sell these amazing comfy yet super cute clothes.  I get to show my creativeness in the clothes I wear and soon in the hair that I will be able to cut and color! :)

From here on out I will be wearing black, black, and more black for school.  It will be fun to see how I can make an all black outfit cute, comfy, and me.

Safe Place

Hi my name is Chelsea.  I am  a member of  the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I love Jesus Christ and my loving Father in Heaven.

And I want to be here to help those come unto Christ as I myself come unto Christ as well.  I don't have all the answers and I will never know anything until I come face to face with the Lord and His Son, but I want to be here to help those that do have questions.  To those that may feel lost.  Ones that are confused.  Or ones that want a good study partner.  

Most importantly I want a safe place where people can feel good to ask questions and to learn more. Where people can share their opinions, their passions,  their thoughts without the fear of being torn to pieces by the ugly parts of the world.  A place where there is no judging.  No painful words or thoughts or feeling.  a SAFE PLACE

Here is something that happened recently, and I hope that I was able to help.

I had a question in the comment for a friend, she stated.

Why go to church when you can praise god every single day without being dressed up? God loves all of his children. Why go to a church where you are constantly judged by what you wear and how much god loves you because of what you wear? Makes no sense

Which is a good and valid question.  I get it.  The judging eyes hurt. And the people of this world aren't perfect so the judging eyes may always be around.... Which sucks. 

So this is what came to my heart to help her.

Now if we can do this without fighting or hurt feelings I will continue this. But if there is at all negative feelings on my end or your end. I will stop. So let me know if you get any negative feelings. The Spirit can speak through my words, as long as you are willing to listen.

I agree 100% God does love all his children and He wants everyone to come back to Him. And He being our loving Father has given us a plan to help us find our way back.
We make promises to Him as well as He making promises to us. It's like a conversation. There has to be work done on both parts or it doesn't work.
Going to church on Sunday isn't just to dress up and worship Him. Although if it is possible to dress us, that is great. But really I wouldn't mind seeing people in jeans, as long as they feel like they are giving their best and respect to their Loving Heavenly Father.
Yes I know that a lot of people don't see that way, which is sad. But that is why trusting in the Lord and in His church is so important than trusting in the people that go to His church. We are all imperfect people, but as long as we are striving to Come Unto Christ, we are walking along his path.
NOW, the main reason WHY you go to church is to renew your promise with Him by taking the sacrament. The sacrament is like a mini Baptism, renews your promise to take upon yourself the name of Christ and to follow Him. It "washes" away your sins or mistakes, whichever you prefer to call them, that you have done within the week.
I understand the feeling of being judged. I see it all the time. It sucks and it hurts. But I want you to do one thing for me and if not for me then do it for yourself.
Go to your room or somewhere quiet.
Kneel down, or do something that shows respect to God.
Pray. Talk to your Father in Heaven.
Thank for you everything and anything you want to thank Him for.
And then ask Him one question and one question only - even if you know the answer-
"Heavenly Father do you love me?"
Once you get that answer, ask yourself. Are you willing and able to look past the ugly parts of the world and do as the Lord asks. Showing your love to Him by doing as He asks us to?

I also found a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 59: 4-12 

4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
6 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ........
7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8 Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
If you have any questions, let me know, and if wanted you can always message me. :)

I hope that she can understand my words and feel the Spirit testify to her of the truth.  I hope that there is nothing in there is make her feel hurt.  Having an open heart and the will to listen is the best way for us to learn from each other.  The hate in this world is strong and it is slowly taking over..... We need to fight back, not by fighting each other, but from learning from each other in a safe place of the love and knowledge of other people.  Together we are strong, separate we are weak. 

As we come together to learn of truths we can rise above anything.  This is why we are here.  To build each other up, so that we can rise and make it back to our Heavenly father!

Bark Box

So I have been wanting to try barkbox out for the longest time and now they have finally set it to where it comes out monthly instead of one big buy to start it!!! Means I can try it now!!! So excited!!!! :)

I also found out that I can give everyone a free month, and in return I get a free month, but there is also the option to donate a box to a dog shelter and that sounds oh so amazing!

So
https://www.barkbox.com/r/SEASHELLS
With this link, you can get yourself a free month of barkbox! And on top of that give a box to a shelter dog! Brighten your day, and the day of a dog that is still waiting for his forever home.

Brighton Advice

If you remember anything from what is written here, I hope you remember this very first thing.
LOVE YOUR GIRLS!
Know that not only will you be changing their lives, but they will be changing yours. Enjoy the small things. Enjoy the time when it’s raining and you can’t do any ropes courses, but you can sit inside a cabin and just enjoy the time together. Each and every girl you will meet and have in your unit is there for a reason. LOVE THEM. Even if they are a little difficult to handle at times or you don’t understand why they are acting a certain way. LOVE HER. You will be learning so much every minute of everyday, if you are willing to learn from everything that surrounds you.
If there is nothing else that you can do, LOVE, is the best answer.

Seashells
Always pee clear!
AND BE PROUD OF C LEAR PEE

Gone but Found

Being outside those walls is an interesting feeling. I haven't been gone for too long, but it's a completely different world out here. Luckily I found somewhere that I can be safe and I don't have to worry too much about what happens during the night time. I should have stopped running in circles years ago.  I should have left those walls sooner.  Maybe this way I will be able to be found.  I can feel normal.  I can be me.  I don't have to be Alexandria anymore.   

Although, I'm not completely sure on what to call myself right now; but for now, that doesn't matter.  There is no one around me to call me by a name.  It's just me and the things around me.  Maybe I can just call myself 'A'.  Nothing special.  Nothing extraordinary.  I'm just A.

It's kind of funny.  Now that I am out here, I keep thinking how different it is.  How I really didn't know anything while I was living inside of those walls.  I mean, I left the place, but it was always with them.  I never left alone, almost like they were scared that I would get lost.... That I would never come back.   That they would never see me again.....  But now I am here.  Alone.  I haven't felt more found.... I think I am on to something.  I am finding something, I am slowly finding myself.  And now I have all the time in the world to be able to continue to search.  And one day I will be found!  

So I may be gone, but in a way, I feel like I've been found.

YOU Have the POWER

Life isn't what anyone wants.  People swear and will call others bad names, sometimes that's the only way some people can feel go about themselves.
I hope that little girl has gotten stronger because of that little experience, that a simple word like ass won't ruin her whole day.  Because hell, there is so much more out there that will hit her that a thousand bricks.  Life sucks sometimes; sometimes just because of the people that you have to deal with.  It gets hard.  But if you can stand your ground and you know who and what you are, life will never knock you down for long. Be strong, be stronger than you think you could ever be.  I know each and everyone of us on this earth has a power that we can't even imagine, and that's because we are children of God.  Someone who has given us the power to handle anything that the world has to throw at us.
If someone calls you an ass, and you know you're not.  Well prove them wrong by being the person you are! don't change to be the person they think you are!

You're beautiful! You're strong! And you are one of a kind!

People love you, don't let one person ruin your day, or your life.

Keep going.
Shoot for the stars!
Reach your goals!
Make your dreams come true.

YOU HAVE THE POWER.