The Graduate and the Baseball Player

My princess graduated from pre-school!  They had a little ceremony, where they were each presented with a folder of the work they had completed over the last year.  It is amazing how much she has learned!  They also sang a few songs for us and then had a little reception.  Hannah said goodbye to all of the friends she has made this year and her two wonderful teachers.  I am so thankful for Mrs. Lehman and Mrs. Halley.  They really worked hard to make the kids feel special and at home in their classroom.  Hannah had a great year!

My dad was in town for the weekend, so he was able to attend the ceremony with us.  After lunch, he and Hannah went to the park and to get ice cream together.  I think it is really special for the grandkids to get to spend one-on-one time with their grandparents!  That night Dad took Harry to a baseball game.  He had so much fun!  He got to eat all kinds of junk at the game (plus the trip to Dairy Queen on the way home!).  We weren't sure how long he would last, but Dad said he made it all the way to the 6th inning before deciding that it was time to go get ice cream.  When he got home, he went on an on about the "baseball guys" and how they slid into base.  It was adorable!    

Sisters, Mothers and Grandmothers

I had a real treat a couple of weekends ago--I was able to spend some time with my sister, mother and my grandmother.  When we all lived in closer proximity to one another, we saw each other all the time.  Now that we are further away, our visits are less frequent, but more valued and cherished.  On Saturday the "ladies" all went out to lunch.  Hannah felt so special to get to join in the grown-up fun!  It was a sweet time.  I so enjoyed visiting with Grandma (my dad's mom).  She has such good insight on the important things in life.  She has lived a full and blessed life of 83 years.  It was a joy to be in her company.  

On Sunday, we all got together for Mother's Day and were a part of my nephew's baptism.  It's always sweet to see Pampa baptize his grandchildren.  It was so great to worship and celebrate together.  We are so thankful for the youngest member of our family, little Liam!  

I am thankful that I was able to celebrate Mother's Day with some of the most important women in my life.  I am thankful for all they have given to me and instilled in me!  I hope to be as encouraging and inspiring to my own daughter as they have been to me.  I have been blessed to have been surrounded by such a loving group of women all of my life.  I love you Mama, Joanna, Mimi and Grandma!  You are truly women whose worth is far above jewels.

P.S.  Nana would want me to clarify, that in the above picture, she is partaking of ROOT beer.  Just in case you were curious. :) 

Callouses in the Creator's Hands

So today, when we were riding around town, Hannah asked me why animals don't have to wear shoes.  I told her that God gave them "built in" shoes by creating them with paws, hooves, talons (and yes, I actually said "talons" which gave me a flashback to Napoleon Dynamite).  I said, "Their feet are hard already, so they don't need to wear shoes."  Harry pipes up, "Yeah, like me!".  Harry seriously has the nastiest feet I have ever seen on a man this side of 70.  I've had to take a pumice to them several times all ready.  Ken has nick-named him "hammer toe", it's just that bad.  Well, I'm happy that his massive callouses are seen by him as a special gift from his Creator!  Now he has another reason why he won't want to wear shoes when we go outside. :)

All this makes me think...what things in my life do I see as hindrances, ugliness, defectiveness, that my Creator had given me?  What brokenness is their in my life, that I think is holding me back?  Could my "callouses" actually be assets?  In God's hands, they can be!  What an encouraging thought.  Left to myself, my weaknesses will always be just that.  Weaknesses.  Given to God, to His purposes, my weaknesses can become a venue for His strength!  What a crazy thought, that God can actually be MORE glorified, BETTER served, more PURELY loved when I bring my weaknesses to Him, rather than trying to be strong on my own!  After all, HIS power is made perfect through MY weakness!  So, cheers to my weaknesses, my frailties, my ugliness!  May God take them and make them a place where other's see His beauty in me.

Earth Week 2009

We celebrated Earth Day for the first time this year.  Now, in the past, I have usually scoffed at all of the 'tree hugging liberals" that have celebrated this holiday every year.  However, my heart has begun to be softened towards those who love our earth and I have begun to see the value in cherishing the gifts of nature that God has given us.  After all, Jesus not only came to redeem His human creatures, but to begin to create a new heavens and a new earth!  I can do my small part in this task.  

That being said, how green can the Huttos be?  Our very livelihood depends on poisoning the ground, streams, and insects in an attempt to rid the world of weeds and pests.  :)  Aside from  getting my husband into a new career path, I have been baby-stepping my way into a greener lifestyle.  We have purchased energy star appliances when our old ones have died.  We recycle diligently--we actually reduced our trash output by more than half!  Our recycling bins are always full every Tuesday.  I've been trying to buy eco-friendly cleaning products.  My newest venture is to switch all of my paper towels and napkins to recycled paper only products.

This year we celebrated Earth Day by taking the kids to the Disney movie "Earth".  It was very good, even if it was a little over Harry's head.  Hannah loved it!  Ken also helped the kids plant some flowers and herbs, so they can watch them grow.  We also got 3 fir trees (tiny baby ones) that we will plant in pots until next Spring when they will go in our yard.  Our family goal is to have a compost pile in the near future.  Baby steps, right?! 

A Mary's heart

I've been down in the dumps lately.  It might be the recent weather we've been having (cold and rainy) or the recent sickness we've been experiencing.  We weren't able to worship together as a family for Easter because Hannah was sick, which was a real bummer.  I've also been feeling exhausted lately, like I just can't seem to catch up with things.  For a "results oriented" person, this is especially frustrating.  

I came with a heavy heart to the women's Bible study as my church this morning.  But, as always, Jesus meets me when I'm down and out and expecting nothing from Him.  He's sneaky that way. :)  This morning we talked about Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  Now, in those stories, I always relate to Martha more.  That is what my life tends to look like--doing for Jesus rather than being with Jesus.  I have recognized in the past that I often use service for God as a way to avoid having to be honest and intimate with Him.  

Then there's Mary.  Oh, Mary!  Emotional, oblivious, extravagant Mary!  As we took a deeper look at her life this morning, I was really struck by Mary's vulnerability with Christ.  She was willing to look foolish, lazy, or even scandalous in her openness to Him.  She sat as His feet as He taught (when she should have been in the kitchen).  When her brother died, she collapsed before Him and wept--in a raw and honest way expressed her disappointment, her sorrow, her pain.  In an act of beautiful worship, she anointed His feet with a bottle of perfume that cost a year's salary, and proceeded to wipe His feet with her hair.  She didn't care that everyone criticized her for this.  She didn't care that they were scandalized by her unconventional behavior.  Mary's heart saw Jesus for what He really is.  He is worth everything.  Her heart was enraptured by Him so much so, that the opinion of others mattered very little to her.  

Is Jesus a means to an end for me?  Do I serve Him because I think that it's "the right thing to do" or because I want the benefits of an obedient life?  Do I obey Him because I want to get to Heaven when I die, or because I want godly children? Do I somehow think, that by obeying God, I will put Him in my debt, that He will owe me an easy life?   That would be using Jesus as a means to an end.  He would be the means, but not the goal. 

 Or am I like Mary, serving Jesus, obeying Jesus, loving Jesus, because I want more Jesus?  Is He the end goal of my life?  Do I sit at His feet and gaze into His face, because I am enraptured by His beauty? Do I open the Scriptures, expectant that He will show me more of Himself?  Do I open myself to be honest and vulnerable in my prayer life (as one of my friends puts in, "buck naked honest before God"?  Is He worth everything to me?  Would I blow a year's salary as an offering of praise and thanksgiving?  These are the questions that I must be honest with myself about.  My hope is this:  Only the Spirit can open my eyes to His beauty.  My heart is willing to see.  I am reminded of this prayerful hymn and it gives my heart reason to sing...

More Love to Thee, O Christ

 More love to Thee, O Christ, 
more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: 
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

 Once earthly joy I craved, 
sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: 
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

 Then shall my latest breath 
whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be: 
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

P.S.  I just randomly put a picture of Hannah up that I liked.  No real reason for it other than I love her face.

I just can't seem to get enough...

Of these precious faces!  Sometimes I just like to sit and watch my kids talk and play and eat because I cherish their little faces so much.  It makes me sad to think that they are changing and growing all of the time.  The face I saw at breakfast this morning (with cocoa crispy rings around the mouth) will not be the same little face I'll see tomorrow morning (the cocoa crispy rings, however, remain a constant).  So, I'm eating up those little expressions, round cheeks, big blue eyes and little pink mouths--cocoa crispy rings and all--and treasuring them in my heart. They are a daily reminder of God's goodness to me.

Spring Fever

I decided to go with my friend to have some Spring pictures taken of our kids.  It was really fun.  The last time we went to a photographer's studio, the kids were much younger and it did not go so well.  They did a great job.  Here are a few of my favorites.  I don't usually like the themed backdrops, but for some reason, I did like this one.