I again am surrounded by breathtaking autumn colors...

Oh my land... I cannot tell you how much I LOVE the fall. I know it also means winter is almost upon us, and in Logan, that's not such an inviting topic, but... fall is SO great! The colors, the crisp morning air, the sunsets descending over the tops of a sea of orange, red, and yellow leaves... Gah. Sometimes I just can't believe I live in such a beautiful place when it comes to Autumn time.

I walked to school this morning, hurrying to get up to campus for a test... actually, two tests today... and had to force myself not to whip out my camera from my backpack and start snapping away at the rows of trees that line the sidewalks of campus and Logan, in general. I don't know how He does it, but our Heavenly Father is so very good at giving us each little moments in which we feel so contented, happy, and simply marveling at the beauty and goodness that surrounds us. I love that He created this earth with all its seasons, variety and magnificence just for us. For His children's enjoyment and pleasure.

My husband made fun of me yesterday when, while holding his hand walking home from school, I kept veering from side to side finding leaves to crunch underneath my footfalls... tee hee. One of the BEST sounds... ever. It's fall break for us peeps at USU and I can't wait for the weekend. This season always makes me think of the words to a wonderful hymn:


For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

Thank goodness He loves us and places little rays of sunshine in our lives-- whether they be people or sights or smells or sounds... they are for our good, and just because He loves us. Tender mercies, I believe they are called.
And now for some pictures...

 Yes, this is the street where I live. If there's one wonderful thing about Logan, the tree-lined streets win hands-down. :)

 I love the leaves that are in between changing. So cool!

Happy Fall!

... I felt old-- weird.

I don't know about any of you other people out there that have just recently been married... or even just left the house for college... or just finished college... (basically any big "growing up" step in life) but there are times that I just feel old. Strange thing to feel, I know... being just twenty years of age, you'd think that I'd not have a problem with such a feeling. But anyways.
Thursday we encountered quite an unordinary thing- on our way home from the mountain we came across a rolled horse trailer-- accompanied by a mashed pickup and hurt horses as well as some rain-splattered college kids doing their best to help their Professor and his wife get things back in order. We stopped, flashers on to let others coming around the sharp corner know that there was a problem ahead... then got out of the suburban and walked up to the sight of the accident, curious about the hows and whys, but first offering our assistance. I had my boss's 4 kids with me-- all of them younger than me. We hung around for about an hour offering helping hands, ideas, and support for all involved. We talked with the college kids from BYU-Idaho and pieced together what had happened, helped stop the bleeding of an injured horse leg, saw them pull the trailer upright and bend the wheel well back into shape, and reconnect the beat up trailer to the beat up truck. Everything turned out just fine- no people got hurt, the 5 horses in the trailer were more-or-less okay, and the trailer and truck were operational as they pulled out in front of us. We breathed a sigh of relief and offered a quick prayer of thanks as we sent them on their way. The man in charge then shook my hand and I asked his name- the strong voice echoed the strong grip of the weathered cowboy- he too, I could tell, was relieved things were stabilized, at least, if not quite 'okay'. He thanked me with a bit of a smile and a nod of his head, and then he was gone...
We walked back to the suburban in a somber mood. Accidents do that to you sometimes- make you realize just how easily things can go awfully wrong... We were all grateful that they were safe and on their way home. But the thing that most stuck in my mind was the feeling I had as I shook that older man's hand- the way he looked at me and the respect and admiration that was unspoken there. He was glad to see that we were willing to stop and help- to stay with them until they got on the way again, and to know that there are still good people in the world. I felt as I shook his hand that I was just as much as an adult as he was. He spoke to me as an equal. And it felt really good to be my own person... to feel 'grown up' so-to-speak. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it seems to me that working here in the Tetons with guests from all over the world with bosses that are SO very giving and thoughtful and ready at any turn to offer any assistance they can-- working here is teaching me more every year I come back. It's teaching me to be an adult. To take on the world in a way many of us have forgotten. My bosses think of everyone and everything before they think of themselves- and I do so admire them for that quality- they are very selfless and I'm trying each day to be more like them in that regard.
And such is my story of the week. I felt older as I went through this experience... and I realized later that this is what life is all about. We "grow up" because of the life experiences we go through. This is why some people seem more mature than others their age- simply because they've gone through and learned from more testing and hard moments than others sometimes. I may be just twenty years old, but being married and working on a Wagon Train in the Tetons as a head cook makes me feel older sometimes... strange, but very true.

"I" became half of a permanent "We"...

I'm typing this post as the totally mature, grown-up, all-sorts (Camille, that's for you) of-married Carrie Cluff. ;) Just kidding. I really am just the same 'ol Carrie... just with a wedding band on my left-handed ring finger now. 

 Playing the part of a bride was sure fun... we took lots and lots of pictures in the beautiful dress that is my own wedding dress now... a dress I hope one day to pass on to my daughters.

 We had SO much help with the wedding plans, and with the many hands at work, we pulled together a simple, yet elegant and perfect wedding for my David and I. From a former elementary school librarian arranging my bouquet to friends and family in Arizona and Idaho helping set up for receptions/open houses... it was incredible to see how many people love us and were willing to pitch in. :)

The day of our wedding was a busy one... it started early after a good night's rest that always follows a day full of play. The two families got to meet the day before the wedding and boy did we play... hard! I slept next to my wonderful and very much cherished friend the last night as a single girl. She and I have shared many a night talking late into the wee hours of the morning about this man I chose to marry-- and I can't thank her enough for being there as a listening ear and a sound source of advice and counsel. I love that girl. :)

As much fun as girl-friends and sisters are, there is no comparison to being married to a very best friend. The ceremony within the walls of the Logan Temple left us both with permanent smiles as we came to realize that we were married-- FOREVER! The smiles didn't stop all day long. The 3 hour drive to my home after the luncheon flew by in a happy daze and the reception that night didn't even phase us. We were laughing and hugging and smiling our cheeks off all night. :D So many friends and family came to visit, wish us well, and leave something or other for us to start our new life with. :)

The next week involved a LOT of traveling... we journeyed clear to the land of Arizona for an Open House the next weekend... Thank you Leven Thumps for the entertainment you provided in the form of a book on CD. We adventured in Zions and did a bit of hiking, watched the Hunger Games in theaters, got to visit the St. George Temple as a newly married couple, and made it down in time to help with decorations for the big Open House. Again, we were showered with gifts and hugs and smiles and 'Congratulations!'-- it was neat to meet a lot of my new extended family. :)

It has now been 7 weeks since the big day. We're still very happily married and enjoying the newlywed feel as we work in Jackson for the summer. The summer will be a rough one as my job takes me away from my new husband 4 days of the week... not the ideal situation for a new couple, but we're surviving. Time on the weekends is well used to be with my sweet husband. I'm one happy camper for the time being. :D

I enjoyed a particularly lazy Saturday

Today's been great. So great. Despite the fact that my fiance's been away running in Albuquerque with the USU Track team I've had a remarkably grand day. Can I just say, life is good? It's been a strange week or so... last weekend was one of the most spiritually packed couple of days in my entire life! I had the privilege and blessing of entering the Lord's House on Friday night last week. It was incredible. Simply lovely and well worth the multitude of dreams growing up to enter the temple... as the song says,

"I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday." I will always cherish the special spirit that is found only within the walls of the temples of our God.

Saturday we got to spend with my family... watching conference, playing at the park, BBQ at lunch accompanied by a water fight, boys being boys... Ah, what a lovely time we had! :)

Also, it's finally (might I daresay...) SPRINGTIME in Logan!!! :D Yay!!!

It makes me happy. The sun is out, the flowers are blooming- trees are blossoming and budding... ahh, I love the feel of new life sprouting all around us.

Today has been a good day. Chilling with my sister and aunt- bunches of wedding planning and announcement delivering and non-school thinking. :) I can't wait for my wonderful boy to get home tonight from his track trip, but for now, I am so very contented with the world... God is good, He's watching over us always, and He knows exactly what to send us at the precise right moments. He loves you! He loves me. And that's all that really matters. :) Have a fabulous spring day everyone!!

I read some lovely blogs of my sweet friends...

And realized... it's about time for another post in my own blog. :) Ah!! Life is CRAZY... and wonderful. :D I'm getting married in May!! Wedding plans are rocketing full speed ahead-- bought the dress this weekend, taking silk flowers down to a florist during spring break to have the bouquet arranged, temple scheduled, decorations underway... such fun!

But really, I'm loving this whole process! It's been so so fun! :D My mother has been absolutely instrumental in such activities-- it's her first wedding, thus she's been a bit "in-over-her-head-stressed" about doing things right and on time, etc. But, that's not such a bad thing. :) That way, things get done. And fast. hehe.

I'm marrying my very best friend in 9 weeks. He's everything I've ever dreamed of in an eternal companion. We fit together like puzzle pieces in so many ways. So so many ways. We complement each other as well as urge each other to do better and be more... I've known him for over a year and a half now and I've seen many facets of him in various situations. It's been so good for us. I look forward to the years ahead of us and can't help but feel SO excited to see just how happy we'll make each other. Yes, life will be challenging and hard and rocky at times, but I can't think of a better way to spend it... at the side of my sweetheart.

Life presented some forks in the road...

Sometimes life happens fast.

But sometimes life can't happen fast enough.

Sometimes we're thrown into situations in life that challenge us.... that scare us.... that make us unsure, uneasy, or just uncomfortable.

Sometimes those same challenging situations present us with incredible opportunities and means to reaching those seemingly unreachable ends that we've been striving for.

Sometimes decisions have to be made.

Sometimes we can't make these decisions by ourselves... sometimes we need help choosing... simply because your decision is literally a fork in the road of life.

Sometimes life is challenging, but ALWAYS I have that help I need to see the bigger picture.

Thank goodness for my wonderful loving Father in Heaven, who sees all.

We enjoyed a snow-less Christmas at home...

Yes, it's true... the ground here in Idaho is completely barren of the cold, white, fluffy stuff we call snow... not the first Christmas I've spent in semi-warm weather, growing up in Southern Utah, but it was still a bit odd nonetheless. It's been a wonderful holiday though! Being home with the family has been just grand. :D I love being with my parents and siblings. They are so very entertaining... there's not a dull moment around this place, I swear! hehe.

The boys have been all sorts of spoiled with Dad bringing home dry ice every once in a while from work-- they've found all sorts of silly things to entertain them-- this would be the latest. They filled the bowl with water and plopped the dry ice in, then used dish soap and a thin rag to drag a bubble across the rim of the bowl-- thus resulting in a giant bubble filled with dry-ice-gas... hehe. So funny.

The brothers found a way to track Santa this Christmas online... it was so dang funny to watch them get the globe out and find just where Santa was... hehehe. I'm so glad to have siblings young enough to still really enjoy Christmas in the kid-ish way most of us forget. :)

So... for our traditional Christmas Eve competition (it's a different game every year... we compete for silly dollar-store-gifts.) we decided on a version of the popular food channel show 'Chopped'... as in, you're given several mystery ingredients to incorporate in a dish you concoct. We divided into 3 teams- sister/brother teams- for the entree round, then Mom and Dad battled it out in the dessert round.

Mom and Dad (our judges in the entree round) picked 6 ridiculous mystery ingredients to have us cook with... namely: alfalfa sprouts, dried pasilla peppers, plain yogurt, sunflower seeds, sliced ham, and candy canes... yeah, YOU try and make a delicious dish out of that!

My youngest sister and youngest brother blew us out of the water with their dish... it actually tasted good... still don't know how they managed that... ;) The dessert round was much much tastier-- partially because of the ingredients we kids chose to have them work with-- candy canes, marshmallow creme, frozen peaches, saltine crackers, and Yoohoo (a chocolate drink).

Christmas morning came quickly, it was probably the latest Christmas morning we've EVER had... it was nearly 7:00 by the time the boys had Mom and Dad up. However, it may have been a factor that we had decided not to open presents until after church. So, we enjoyed the morning with the toys Santa left and the stuffed stockings scattered about... then came a wonderful hour of church in which we got to sing 'Oh Holy Night' a Capella as a family-- we also heard from a couple incredible speakers... they brought the spirit of Christmas into the meeting so very well. And then it was back home to open presents... :D

The girls all received super warm, soft Snuggies from Grandma--- :D So fun.

Little brothers are still all AVID Aggie fans... this was probably one of his very favorite presents.

And this... this was my very favorite present to give this year-- sister and I picked it out and the siblings helped buy it for Mom. She's been wanting a nice picture of Christ for a long while. It was definitely a great one to watch her open. :D

There you are, folks... another Christmas with my family done and over... and I'm loving every minute of being home.