David Archuleta or Justin Bieber?

Such a hard choice, I know! I just spent a week pondering deep issues such as this at girls' camp. It was crazy getting ready for it with kid arrangements, weaning, other calling, bla, bla, bla, I wondered why I didn't just say I couldn't handle it. I felt really good about going, though, and so did Gary. I was operating under the notion that I needed to go and help some girl somehow . . . maybe. I hope a little. But it turns out there was one girl the experience helped that I didn't consider - me.

The food was delicious, we played dancing games, sang silly songs, came up with fun ditties, played games (I learned one called Ninja Strike I'll have to show you), and all the good stuff. But the best part was being in nature and remembering the point of things. I didn't think about budgets or coupons or computers or cars or anything else that makes me crazy. But they did give me time to read the scriptures and write in my journal. And I discovered . . . I LOVED it! It was so exciting to do it and not just be shoving it into the day. Being back now, of course it's hard to fit things in just like it was before, but I tasted of the awesomeness, and I want more.

One experience that shows what I learned (and also how it amusing it was) is the 2nd year hike. There was only one second year from our ward, and I went along with her. The hike was 5 miles, and the uphill portion was straight up. The girl isn't in the best shape, but she's a trooper, and didn't complain on the outset. However, it soon got to be more than she could handle, and she had to stop often. We started out with the front of the pack, and ended up in the very back. I told her that whenever I have a hard time with some physical challenge I sing a song in my head to get me going. I started by singing "Staying Alive," and she was okay with that. Then on the next hill I started singing, "She's going the distance! She's going for speed . . ." She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "Um, old people music isn't going to help." Hahahahahaha. Surely the group of 13 year olds ahead of me would know the song, right? Nope. None of them. My girl mentioned being embarassed by her "old-people-music leader." One more reminder (there were many at camp) that I am "old." (Note to people older than me: You are not old. Old is 80. But then you can be proud of being 80, all the general authorities are. Best ones anyway.)

So, music aside, we got to a place where the hill was very steep, and the girl was very tired. She said, "I can't make it." But I told her she could. And it took some courage-gathering, but she did it! She was so proud of herself for the rest of the day, she was just beaming. I was so proud of her, too. It seems like a small thing, but such a good thing to realize that we can accomplish things that are hard, even when it gets to a point when we think, "No way." We talked later how we really can't do hard things alone, that's why we need people with us, and that the best help of all is the Lord. Even if we feel we don't have anyone to coach us up the hill, the truth is we always have the best coach of all.

Tiring, but inspiring. That's camp in a nutshell. And overall I'd rather have Archuleta as my boyfriend, but Bieber's songs are so catchy . . .

P.S. I only had 3 hours of sleep the night before camp due to preparations. I noted that I started my mission out the same way. And my marriage . . . the other camp director says she does the same thing. Do you do that? Start out events that require much sleep ahead of time with little to none?