Fences

Agency
Obedience
Knowledge
Testimony

All these things have been on my mind. I think that I've found that as one increases or decreases so do the others. They reinforce each other. One more reason the gospel is so true.

The more I learn about alternative lifestyles the more I'm sure that the way that I (try to) live is the best. Is that arrogance or confidence?

One thing I'm sure of is that such confidence is not common. Most the people I've met since being in California have very little spiritual confidence. People seem so afraid to attribute the beautiful things of this world to God. Its hard for me to understand that when his presence and hand is so obvious to me.

Would people do some of the things they do if they felt and saw God's love for them and others? I know God loves these people and he wants them to be happy. And that knowledge makes me different.

I miss Haley. It's nice having another testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ around.

Love your life.

Since You've Been Gone

What up my bloggers????

I'm back online. For a moment. I'll probably get pretty regular internet access from now on although facebook is still blocked. But I get the notifications that someone has written on my wall in my email, so its still nice to feel the love. And please email if you can. I don't get cell phone service but if you text or leave a voice mail I'll get back to you when I get a signal.

So here's some things I want to tell you about my summer thus far:

• My Pathfinder is the shiz in California. Haley and I drove into CA from Reno and the first time we stopped was in San Jose for gas. The first thing anyone said to me in CA was "That's a nice car, are you interested in selling it?" This coming from a man driving a giant black truck with huge rims. Then when I drove into camp and met my boss. He said "sweet truck. What year is it? You've kept it in really good condition." So anyone who has ever criticized my car...California loves it and it knows cars better than you.
• Being in the religous minority is different. Haley and I have never hid our beliefs but we don't exactly advertise them. Slowly people caught on though and they have either been curious or not but I think they all think we're pretty cool. We know that they know that we are different but I don't think any of them realize how different we really are.
• At camp, being in the religous minority isn't that bad because the standards that the YMCA asks us to live for the sake of their campers are the standards that Haley and I choose to live everyday. There are some really awesome people out here. Good people.
• People who aren't LDS say the F-word alot.
• Not all people our age who are not LDS drink. Or drink to get drunk. Some don't like it. Some know that its unprofessional and tasteless.
• Some do drink to get drunk though. I've decided that I don't have a problem with people drinking. I have a problem with people drinking irresponsibly. I have a problem with underage drinking and with drunkeness. I don't really view drinking alcohol as a sinful behaviour for those that don't know better (they're not accountable) but when drinking breaks the law, I have a problem.
• Being a lifeguard again is...fun/wierd. There are definitely perks to not being a counselor but I'm kind of in this weird no-man's-land where I'm not a coordinator (in charge with no campers) and I'm not a counselor (not in charge with campers). I'm the lifegaurd (not in charge, no campers). I've been trying to work out a niche for myself and make myself more useful and I think that some have seen that I can be used in more ways than I am. I've started a little swimming lesson skill session that the kids can sign up for and I've been told that they've never really had anything like that going on at the pool.
• Playing capture the flag is fun.
• I don't get as tan as fast in California as I do at home because of the elevation
• The part of CA I'm in is full of hippies. For realsz.
• I'm old. I didn't really think it would be that big of a deal. But at the end of the day I find myself sick of hanging out with 18 year olds who think I'm old enough to be their grandma. I find myself gravitating towards the people in camp who are my age or older (or at least act like it) and a lot of times that is my supervisors and Will.
• Men who are not LDS can be just as charming and persistent as those that are. In fact its ironic because the things that I have found to be lacking in YSA males lately (degrees, jobs, ambition, self-motivation, desire to date) I've found here at my job in California...minus the LDS part. Can't these things exist together?
• I have nasty, nasty roommates who use my stuff and think that they are lesbians.

That's about all I've got for now. I would love to hear from whoever has the time to get in touch with me somehow.

My address is:

Heather Handy

YMCA Camp Campbell

16275 Highway 9

Boulder Creek, CA 95006

"If you love me won't you let me know" -- Coldplay