We Are Girl Scouts

I joined Girl Scout’s 31 years ago. To me it was a fun way to get together with friends on the weekends. It happened at a great time in my life too when my best friend was moving away and I needed to make a new crew for the transition to middle school. Our troop leader was very active and would take us camping regularly. But we had to earn those trips by selling cookies! We would set up our table on Friday afternoons after school outside of banks. Back then everyone would come to the bank to deposit their paychecks and walk out with cash! My troop leader was really smart and I've only just realized that brilliance recently!

Girl Scouts was an awesome opportunity and I have since been a fan of the program. As an adult I can see how helpful it was for my confidence, adventurousness and learning entrepreneurial life skills. 
We did things that I loved such as sewing, crafts, cooking and camping. Incidentally these are all things I still love- minus camping in tents 😉. (Now I have intense respect for any mom who goes and voluntarily sleeps on a thing mattress on the ground!) 
 I remember my mom reflecting on her experience with Girl Scouts fondly and reciting the Girl Scout pledge and talking about her experience. I can’t say I remember learning the pledge at all! Luckily there is a lot more I do remember and am grateful for.
My daughter started Girl Scouts two years ago and it's been wonderful sharing this experience with her. I’m also going to share this space so she can tell you a little about what she loves about Girls Scouts!

---

​Hi I am Aleia. I love <3 Girl Scouts it is awesome.  This is my second year of Girl Scouts.  My favorite thing about Girl Scouts are meeting new friends, going new places, and making crafts. The Girl Scouts Promise is: “On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” I have that memorized and I’m working on learning the Law.
  The Law is: “I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”

---

It's been fun selling cookies the last two years. My favorite cookies are the S’mores, Tagalongs, Toffee-Tastic Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, and Do-Si-Dos.  My mom loves <3 Samoas and Trefoils.  My dad loves <3 all of them. My brother isn't sure and wants another taste test of all of them. My goal was to sell three hundred boxes this year, I have sold 175 and I am going change my goal to 200. Making the goal is good and it's ok if you don't make it. We still get money for our troop. Thank you for supporting my troop.  ​

---

Megan, again! I see that Aleia needed to show me up just a little with her knowledge of the promise! She can recite it from memory and I'm impressed. I'm also amused by her long list of "favorites." We are so grateful for all of the support we have gotten from our friends and neighbors in selling cookies this year. 
Here are some of our favorite simple ways to enjoy them: As Ice Cream Sandwiches or with a big roasted marshmallow in between! Sure there are some really sweet recipes out there too and the most intriguing that we may just give a try is using cookies at the bottom of cupcake wrappers and then pouring your favorite cheesecake recipe on top! I remember my mom doing that with Vanilla Wafers so I'm all over that! (Plus I have a low-carb friendly cheesecake recipe I LOVE and could appreciate having the occasional cookie "crust.") No matter how you enjoy your Girl Scout cookies, know that you can enjoy that you're helping girls learn more and more about hard work and entrepreneurship.  And that is entirely appreciated.