This is going to be my new theme and mantra...It is a song used at
Brave Girls Camp...If you have not heard it go download it today!
It's: {Everybody} by Ingrid Michaelson
The ironic thing about it, I had never heard it until the Monday before I left for Brave Girls Camp...I lOVED it and downloaded it onto my ipod before leaving and listened to it on the plane and I knew it was a special song...
So true...Everybody wants to LOVE and everybody want to BE LOVED...
That is what BRAVE Girls Camp is all about...
LOVE...Healing...Sharing...Expressing that through art...and through music...
What an {amazing} experience...
When Melody invited me and she said, "Brave Girls Camp will change your life." I thought hmmmmmm...Life changing...That's pretty big...Because I love Mel and what she offered was such a gift I went...
Brave Girls Camp is life changing...I feel so blessed, so lucky, so grateful for the {amazing} women who I was able to share this experience with.
I went with Christy Tomlinson who has been one of my dearest friends in the industry, who has always been there for me...
And then there were a group of women I had never met and a few I had met, sorta knew...
Now we are Brave Girl Sisters! I couldn't LOVE a group of Women more...We were up in the beautiful mountains of Idaho, away from the "world" away from home, family, TV, internet, and yes...Cell phones...I was worried at first...But as the experience unfolded so beautifully I knew I needed the break...
Taking the time away when I have so much going on was a gift to myself...
From the moment we met up I knew this was going to be great! We were met by Marq at the bus stop and he greeted us with beautiful handmade bags filled with treats, a journal a beautiful map and a secret bag that said "don't open yet." We rode up the mountain with some mixed feelings...I was excited and nervous at the same time...Here was a group of women who I didn't know, and didn't know me...Would they like me?
Once we arrived to the turn off to the cabin we were greeted by Mel...Her big beautiful smile, open arms and cowboy hat!
We made promises...
and threw our worldly cares into the wind...
committing to be in the present...{amazing}
As we walked down the dirt road to the beautiful cabin that we would call home the excitement continued to build...We were greeted by all of the Brave Girl Staff...Warm smiles, big hugs and I felt at home...The cabin was beautiful...Every detail had been taken care of...The white lights, green swags of tulle, greenery,
candles, fresh flowers, paper lanterns and photos of our loved ones surrounding us...Like I said...I felt at home instantly...Love was there...
Melody and her sister Kathy
surrounded us with their dream of creating a place where women could come, feel loved and safe and share their hopes and dreams, sorrows and joys...
again...{amazing}
We ate the most beautiful food prepared by Kathy and the "staff" their family and their amazing friends served us in so many ways...They are my Brave Girl Sisters! Each meal was to die for...The detail was in every little thing...
We ate like queens...
We learned some new tools for ourselves, some new way of looking at our lives, we shared stories, some very painful, raw, and true...We cleaned house...Then we created to remind us...
We shared ideas, learned new techniques, played with paint, mist, mallets and and used the chip art to pound words that meant something to us...
We sang,
danced, laughed
and cried...We drank lots of Diet Dr. Pepper...
Talked for hours...hiked in the mountains, we saw beauty around us,
and in us,
we walked by the river, took photos,
saw geese, a fox, and even a bald eagle...We learned what freedom was about...
We created beautiful collages and mini books filled with truths...
We listened...We slept very little...Too much "work" to be done...We made friendships that will last a lifetime...
We saw the beauty in each other...
We celebrated our differences...
We walked in each others shoes
and learned it was ok to be who we are...
We shared our hearts...And learned how to love each other
and ourselves...
{amazing}
Like I said...this was a "life changing" experience...One I will treasure forever...Thank you to all my Brave Girl Sisters...I love you...
Thanks to Melody, to Kathy and to their "staff" my sisters I LOVE you...
Now to take these truths into my life...It is not easy...but it is worth it...
{I am worth it}...
Go to Brave Girls Camp...{YOU are worth it}...
kiss kiss
m
I love you Margie!!!!!!
Posted by: melody ross | February 22, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Stop it! tears of joy right now! You are beyond awesome! miss your sweet spirit so much. even when it is more LOUD!~ than sweet :) tm
hugs!
E
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=567552594 | February 22, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Yes, the tears are coming. I'm hurting today missing my Brave Girl Sisters so much. It was an incredible experience and yes, 'life changing'. I'm still processing as it was so incredible. I am blessed my friend Margie that I saw the beauty of your heart! Love . . . we did!
Posted by: Cheryl Waters | February 22, 2010 at 11:40 AM
So beautiful Margie! My heart feels so warm and filled with love. I'm so very grateful to have shared this experience with you and all the other Brave Girls. I keep smiling and can't get you all off my mind today. Definitely hard to get back to the groove of real life (especially work!) but I'm feeling much more relaxed, much more loved and with alot more support and strength to face the world knowing I've got my Brave Girls with me. :)
Posted by: Lisa | February 22, 2010 at 11:52 AM
I MISS YOU SO MUCH ALREADY MARGIE!!! Can't wait till we can meet up again. LOVE YOU GIRL!!!
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1545053899 | February 22, 2010 at 11:56 AM
OMGosh this sounds so PERFECT! I LOVE this idea! Love that you went with Christy too! I would LOVE to meet both of you girls! :)))
xoxo
Love ya,
K
Posted by: Kimberly | February 22, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Thanks for all the laughter and heartfelt sharing, Margie. So happy to have become friends.
jennydoh
Posted by: Jenny Doh | February 22, 2010 at 12:06 PM
That was definitely a week of being where we were supposed to be, when we were supposed to be there. I am this week, too, and making things happen. . . but I sure miss all of you.
And can I say how much I love that you used the crazy laugh picture?? HAHAHAHA!!
Posted by: Jennifer Rummler | February 22, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Oh this makes my heart yearn to be back there with all my BGC sista's!! Margie you are so worth it, and I love love love you!
Posted by: Rachel | February 22, 2010 at 01:44 PM
You are in so much trouble little lady. Out of all of the pictures....the crazy laugh one....REALLY!?? You know I love you you anyway. This was a beautiful post. I am SO glad to know you!!
Posted by: Chelsea Merrill | February 22, 2010 at 03:17 PM
I have heard of this...it is a dream of mine to go!! Someday!!! Glad you had so much fun and met so many wonderful people!
Posted by: Leslie | February 22, 2010 at 03:39 PM
I'm already signed up for October! I can't wait! I need this today.
Posted by: JaYne | February 22, 2010 at 03:51 PM
This is a beautiful post Margie!! I went to the first BGC last Oct. It is a magical, life changing experience for sure. Love and hugs to you!!
Posted by: Delyne | February 22, 2010 at 04:05 PM
Wow, this sounds like an amazing experience. So glad you enjoyed it :)
Posted by: Lynn | February 22, 2010 at 04:27 PM
Sounds like an awesome experience!!! thanks for sharing!
Really enjoyed seeing you and your lovely girls at CHA!
Posted by: vicki | February 22, 2010 at 06:03 PM
It's sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful and life changing experience! Love all the pics! :-)
Posted by: gscrapbooks | February 23, 2010 at 06:01 AM
Welcome Home! You do so much for us it's great to see you get to do something for yourself!
Posted by: Kathy Kurth | February 23, 2010 at 08:49 AM
Oh Margie, thank you for sharing. I now dream of going myself. I think I'd enjoy working a week as much as attending. Because you posted about leaving for GBC, I found Melody's site and just read and read and read. Such a blessing. Thank you so much for sharing! Love the pics!
Posted by: Cynthia | February 23, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Sounds AMAZING! Thank you for sharing with us.
Posted by: Meme | February 23, 2010 at 01:35 PM
awww. i LOVE this. love that it was so perfect for you & all the others!
love you! TONS!
xo
r
Posted by: Rhonna Farrer | February 23, 2010 at 04:27 PM
I love your blog today (well, everyday . . . but especially today). I am glad youi are back and well rested.
Posted by: Rhonda Zamora | February 23, 2010 at 04:45 PM
WOW....it sounds so amazing!! I wish we had gatherings over here in Australia like that. My heart needs something like that. It sounds so empowering, wish I was there.
Thank you so much for visiting me on my blog and leaving a comment. I was so excited to see that you had taken the time to pay me a little visit and even leaving a comment.
I am eagerly awaiting for your products to be available on the Aussie online stores, they are amazing! Congrats on the new journey, of course it will be wonderful! xox
Posted by: Didee | February 23, 2010 at 06:59 PM
Your brave girl butterfly rocks and how cute are you in those camos?
Posted by: April | February 23, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Such a beautiful blog post. Elena told me a little about it. I SO want to go...
Posted by: Krystie Whillock | February 24, 2010 at 10:15 PM
So, I admit I'm hormonal right now, but choked up when I read your comments. What a lovely experience that sounds like, and something I think we all need in our lives. Good for you for doing that for yourself!
Posted by: Julianne | February 25, 2010 at 12:14 AM