capturing the moments~

Thankfully, I finally finished up the bulk of my cooking. It took me three six-hour days in the kitchen, but I completely filled a 22 cubic foot freezer. That seems like such a huge amount of time. It did take longer to adapt some of my recipes to be gluten free, but seeing as how those meals will last probably six months, it was totally worth it. We won't discuss how much money Costco made of the Hutchison family this week, but it will make for reduced grocery bills over the next months. There are a few more things I would like to make if time permits, but the focus of this week is a major house clean and leaving for vacation Friday evening.

I spent the entire day out yesterday running errands, visiting two friends that just had babies, visiting the chiropractor (a result of last week's mishap), and going to my book club. I'll have to tell you about my unusual, wildly fabulous book club sometime. We often stay out until the wee hours of the morning, occasionally even 3am, but last night was an earlier night and I got home a little after 12 :o) I am going back to the chiropractor on Thursday and taking Anna and Haven as I figured if our accident has bothered my back this much, then maybe they could use a little adjusting as well.

Today my sister Kristen has everyone except Anna at the zoo. She's also taking them for haircuts. I don't know what I'm going to do when she goes to Ireland for her DTS next year...

I just wanted to mention again how much I am loving the Holy Experience blog. If you didn't check it out last time I mentioned it, I highly encourage you to do so. She has a way of conveying deep meaning and profound truth that often gets overlooked in the busy-ness of life. She causes me to stop and drink deeply from a well of peace and to be still and know that He Is God. She has also posted a couple of times recently of watching her son shedding layers of his boyhood and growing into his manhood. I so identify with this as I am beginning to see that in Caleb increasingly. It is sweet beyond words, and though my heart aches, it is a good ache. Visit there. Savor it. Drink it up.

Here are a few fun photos from last week...

A little hide and seek fun as Dad puts the cabinets together...

Suddenly, out of nowhere...
Superman, Superman, and Batgirl appear to save...
Well, whoever needs saving...


The moon one evening last week as Glen went for a walk...

We also went to my grandparents' house in Kentucky on Sunday. My Dad is from there and all his family is still there. We visit four or five times a year. My grandparents have a working farm, even now into their late seventies. One of the hallmarks of their farm is that my grandfather does a good majority his work with Belgian draft horses instead of modern machinery. Belgian horses are exceptionally strong and willing work horses, yet they are very gentle. They are huge! I remember as a little girl sitting on top of these huge horses, but I was never scared as my Papaw would hold me tightly, and his horses listened keenly and responded to his every word. Some of my best childhood memories were made there.

Two little boys and a Dad...

Growing into a young lady...

A boy and his fish...

Patiently waiting...

My sister Kristen and Moriah...

A Dad and his girl...



Nothing says country like homemade ice cream
out of the back of a pickup...




My Papaw...


My Nanny...



Cousins...

I know I've mentioned it before, but I am so, so thankful my children are growing up with the same fun memories of going to Nanny and Papaw's house that I have. I am very close to my grandparents, they pretty much raised me until I was two or three. They are such an example of strength, hard work, and faithfulness to each other and to the Lord. They have been married over sixty years, and you can just feel how in love with each other they are to this day :o) I am so thankful my children have their influence and love in their lives. My dad will take over their farm one day, so I hope my grandchildren and hopefully even great-grandchildren are able to enjoy visiting there as well.

Family...it's what life is made of.