June 2024 Newsletter

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (and they did!)

What an incredible weekend for the 131 ladies who attended the Mother-Daughter Retreat May 31-June 2. There were so many great moments from the weekend and we wanted to share the story of one family who started coming to the Mother-Daughter Retreat almost 20 years ago!

Leslie Paulsen first came to Angeles Crest as a junior high leader with Calvary Church of Placentia. Later she started attending the Mother-Daughter Retreat in 2006 with her daughter Kirsty, when she was 8 years old. More recently, Leslie has been blessed with her 5 granddaughters (Hannah, Kayli, Leila, Alexis and Sarah) joining her and Kirsty at the Mother-Daughter retreat as well. Like they say, the more the merrier. =)

Leslie and Kirsty never miss a retreat, even after moving to Arizona in 2012. They would make the drive out across state lines, no matter what. A few years ago, it looked like Leslie might have to miss the retreat when she was unexpectedly in the hospital and scheduled to get checked out the same day the retreat started. But, she told her doctor, “I’m not going to miss this” and had him check her out a day early. Thankfully, her daughter, who is now an adult, took the lead and got Leslie and the granddaughters to camp where they had an amazing weekend.

In 2023, when the retreat had to be canceled due to the roads still being closed after the damage from the winter blizzard, Leslie decided they weren’t going to miss camp that year. So, she piled all the girls in her car and drove to the gas station near her home in Arizona and picked up snacks and supplies like they usually would before their road trip to California. But, instead of driving to Los Angeles, she drove back to their house where they put on their own Paulsen Mother-Daughter Retreat, complete with matching pajamas and makeshift tents in the living room. Like I said before, they weren’t going to miss camp… no matter what.

This year, Angeles Crest was open once again and welcomed the Paulsen family back and it did not disappoint. All the moms and their girls got to enjoy color wars, make succulent arrangements, painting class, and much more. The theme was God’s Promises and one of the teaching verses was Proverbs 3:5-6:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Putting this verse into practice led to one of the highlights for Leslie at this year’s retreat. Her granddaughters were all excited to try the zipline for the first time, but as they got to the front of the line, two of the girls were too afraid to go. Leslie reminded the girls of the verse they had been learning and to trust the Lord. After some hesitation, the girls decided to put their trust in Him and give the zipline a try. Of course, as soon as they got off they asked if they could go again.

Angeles Crest has been a big part of the Paulsen family’s life. Not only have Leslie and Kirsty been able to grow and spend time together at the annual retreat, but the next generation of their family has been able to experience it too. What an incredible legacy. We can’t wait to see the Paulsen family next year!

Save $25 on Father/Son Retreat

We wouldn’t want the boys to miss out on the fun that the girls had at the Mother/ Daughter Retreat. Luckily, now is the time to sign up for the upcoming Father-Son Retreat taking place September 27th-29th. And, if you sign up before July 31st, you can save $25 per family on your registration.

Don’t miss out on:

• Speaker Rudy Hagood from Reunion Church
• Worship by past Father-Son retreat camper, Dylan Reynolds from Newbury Park First Christian
• Special Event “DUDE” Pine Car Derby
• Fishing Derby (Bring your own gear)
• Hatchet Throwing and MORE!