When do you add someone to your BlogRoll?

This is a question I’ve been kicking around for some time as I’m never sure when I should or shouldn’t add someone’s blog to my list of blogs. I’ve gone with kind of the shot-gun approach and added many blogs to my list of Friends and Family. I even ended up adding just about everyone in my ward, but now I’m wondering if I have too many.

How do you decide if someone gets a spot on your blog roll?

Which of these is not like the other?

What do you think about these two pictures? Both are taken at Elementary schools, both feature the most powerful man in the world. Two very different styles.

 

10 Years ... Almost

A few months from now would have marked my 10 Year Anniversary of not giving a talk in church. I had already planned out a big party to celebrate and who I would ask to give a talk at my said party.

My world came crashing down two Sunday's ago. I was at home minding my own business when I got a phone call. I looked down at the number and didn't recognize it. I usually don't answer the phone in these situations. For whatever reason, I picked up. Here is how the call went (more or less...I obviously can't remember it word for word):

Me: Hello?

He Who Must Not Be Named: Is this Sister Cluff?

Me: Yes.

Unknown caller (at the time): Hey, it's Brother Jensen. How are you doing?

Me: Pretty good.

Brother Jensen: Are you feeling any better? I saw Chad at church today and he said you were sick.

Me: I'm feeling a little better, but still a little sick.

Brother Jensen: That's good. I hope you continue to get better. Well, the bishopric have been talking and we were inspired to ask you to give a talk for us this coming Sunday. Would this work for you?

Me: (Complete silence)

Brother Jensen: The talk is on sacrifice. We really think that you would do a good job and think the members of the ward would benefit from your words about the topic.

Me: Uhhh. Wow. I don't know what to say. I haven't given a talk in church since I was in high school!

Brother Jensen: Well, this will just bring back all that awkwardness then!

Me: Yes it will.

Brother Jensen: Sister Cluff, we really were inspired to ask you and we would love for you to give this talk. We have faith that you will do a great job.

Me: I guess.

Brother Jensen: Great. We really appreciate you and your husband and all that you do for the ward. We really can't thank you enough.

Seriously?? How do you say no to that? For those of you who don't know Brother Jensen (which is most of you that read our blog!), he is the nicest guy in the world. He is so sincere. You could tell he wasn't saying all of that just to say it. But I had a panic attack as soon as I hung up the phone. When I told Chad what happened and that I said yes, he freaked out. He was just as shocked as I was that I would say yes.

Speaking in public terrifies me. To death. Honestly. You know when Jerry Seinfeld says that the average person would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy? Well, that's me. I have no fear of death but complete fear of public speaking. I think of lot of it goes back to high school and jr. high and some traumatizing incidents that happened there.

So I made Chad give me a blessing (a prayer of comfort is the easiest way to sum it up for those who don't know what a blessing is) so I would at least survive the week and be able to prepare the talk. I'd worry about actually giving it later.

I was able to put together the talk without much problem (thank you lds.org!). My dad also gave me a book of quotes that helped me out. I practiced it Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday during Sacrament. My mom, sister, 3 nieces, and sister-in-law came to support me. Obviously Chad was there, too. It was very comforting to look down and see their faces.

During the Sacrament I said a prayer that I would be able to get through the talk, not be nervous, speak clearly and slowing (I tend to talk fast when I nervous), get across what I wanted to say, and that the Holy Ghost would be with me. Fortunately for me (and everyone else at my church!) all of the things I prayed for came true. The minute I stepped up there, my nerves settled and I was able to speak calmly. It was the calmest I have felt speaking in front of a crowd. And this is counting all the times I have had to teach Relief Society (this is what they call the class that the women in our church go to). And most importantly, I felt the Holy Ghost by my side guiding me through the talk.

So, I survived. My ten year clock has now been reset. So I don't plan on giving another talk in church until 2020. Knock on wood. But I'm serious. 2020. Not the vision, but the year. Besides, I see 20/10. Thank you lasik!

Seriously though, 2020. In case you forgot.

East Lawn Cemetery

East Lawn Cemetery in Provo, Ut. is a beautiful place. It also happens to be the place my parents are buried. We recently made a trek up there to visit and leave our traditional gift of a Diet Coke for my Mom and a Coke for my Dad.

As we were driving over, I saw the sun sinking and I knew if we could get there in time we could get some truly breathtaking shots. Unfortunately we got there just a few minutes too late to get what would have been a fully red Mt. Timp, but I love the growth of the tree imposed over an obviously sun-setting reflected on Timp.

I love this picture. It was really deep snow when we got there, and we had to kick-dig snow off of where we hoped the tombstones were so we could find what we were looking for. It took us about 6 – 10 times, but we finally found Doug and Nancy. I love the focus that Sara has on the ground, matched with the focus on her in the shot, with the blurring of the background.

I didn’t want to let Sara have all the fun, and she got this great action shot of me kicking the crap out of the snow.

We couldn’t uncover much, but we did what we could.

Coke was a pretty big deal in our house.

So many color contrasts, it’s great!

I like this picture too, with the lights starting to come on

I'm a Dude, She's a Dude, We're all Dudes now!

Chad brought up an interesting point the other night. He said that when "blogging" first came around, guys were the ones writing blogs. Over time it has moved on and now chicks mostly write blogs ... except in our family! He still blogs and I hardly do. Reason: I feel like I have nothing to blog about! For some reason I just feel like you won't want to hear about my crazy day (because maybe it won't be crazy to you) or what is going on in my boring life. Which is weird, but I love hearing what other people are up to! I read a lot of people's blogs. And I never think, "why are they writing about this??".

So to make Chad feel like I'm contributing, and to those who maybe actually do care what is going on in my life, I will update. A little. Or a lot.

I guess I will start with a story told by Chad, but now through my words (and experience). My extended family has a Christmas party once a year on my Grandpa Wyatt's birthday. I have not been to one of these parties since before Chad and I were married. They are always held in California and I'm never down there for Christmas, especially since my parents live up here now. Chad and I had not planned on going any where last year for Christmas. (Saying last year makes it sound like it was forever ago, not less than a month ago!). I was driving to my parents house the Saturday before the party and I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to go to the Wyatt party. I had no idea where this idea came from. I brushed it off immediately. I didn't mention anything until later that night to Chad. I just randomly said to him, "How do you feel about driving down to Victorville to go to the Wyatt Family Christmas Party and then turning around and driving right back home?" Chad looked at me with surprise and said I should think about it more.

I didn't think about it any more until Sunday after church. I sat down to read the talk my Relief Society lesson was on the following week. It was "Our Perfect Example" by President Henry B. Eyring (http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=2a3e56627ab94210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD). When I was done reading the article, it hit me even more that I needed to go. So I looked up hotel rates in Las Vegas and found really cheap prices (thank you bad economy!). I asked Chad again and he said, "It's up to you." I still wasn't decided because I thought I must be crazy for doing this! So I called my mom and dad to get their opinion since they were going to the party and maybe knew more about it than I did (like it wouldn't be worth it to go all the way down there for). My mom told me that she got a call from my uncle on their drive down saying that Grandma wasn't doing so well. I think he just wanted to warn everyone. My mom had this feeling that it would be her last Christmas party. So with that, I went to Chad and told him we were going. We booked the hotel that night and left Tuesday morning.

I'm so glad I listened to the prompting and went. It was so nice to see all of my family who I haven't seen in years. More importantly, it was all worth it just to see my Grandma Wyatt. She was in very bad shape, so bad that I don't think she knew who I was. It was so hard for me to see her like that; much harder than I thought it would be. But she held my hand and continually told me how much it meant for me to come and see her. I honestly think she was holding on to say goodbye to everyone. She returned to our Heavenly Father a little over a week later.

Grandma Wyatt was and is an amazing woman. She loved her family and she loved music. It isn't a Wyatt Christmas Party without music. I love her dearly and I'm happy to know that I'm sealed to her for time and all eternity. Now it's my turn to live up to the covenants I made and live a worthy life that I may return to her and all my family.

Here is my Grandma Wyatt in High School:

Grandma and Grandpa Wyatt on their 50th Anniversary:

Moral of the story: Listen to your promptings. The Holy Ghost is there for a reason.

Also, on a very lighter and sillier note: Does anyone know where I got the title of this blog??

Picture day

I guess today is picture day, my last post had a beautiful sunrise from right outside my house, when I got to work I was presented with an amazing view of Mt. Timpanogos, I couldn’t miss this opportunity!

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Driving in to Work

I was driving in to work today, and the a storm front yesterday had cleared out some of the inversion, and this is what I saw. I pulled over to take a picture, I hope you enjoy!

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This picture was taken literally within a block from my house and may be one of the best reasons why I really don’t want to live anywhere else but Eagle Mountain.