Life happens.

Have you taken note of this blog?

A little something appears to be missing.

That little something being called...

It would appear as though nothing has
happened all year long.

I suppose you could say nothing really has,

if you want to call "nothing"

LIFE.

Awe LIFE.
You've gotta live it.
You might as well love it.

And I have.

But all the living and the loving
has left little time for blogging!


You know, how I was going to blog about ...

That day Dillon  participated in half-time at the
Jazz game...
and how he fell down...
but still WON!

OR...

the tradition in which the Hutchins Clan sits outside in the cold...
on purpose and for a long time.

OR...

the story behind all these children wearing buckets on their heads.

OR...

why Ty is stunting with the cheerleaders.
Oh wait, I don't know why.
This picture was sent to me "anonymously". 

OR...

how they tore down the school that Jeff and I, our parents, our aunt and uncles, our siblings and our children ALL attended.

OR...

how Jeff game me a gift wrapped in Barbie paper but crossed off every single "Barbie" and wrote "Krista".

OR...

an explanation of why Dillon is wearing spandex and talking like a 2 year old little girl.

OR...

the story of the princess.

OR...

the story of the girls who used to be princesses and how now they're NOT.

OR...

the reason behind Craig sitting at the kids' table and hand feeding the little people.

OR...

why rainy days and Sundays always make me smile.

OR...

how excited we were when Austin signed on to play football at Weber State University.

OR...

how these two convinced this little red head to refer to his unborn baby brother as "BUCKY"!

OR...

how this boy was named Grantsville High School's "Most Valuable Player" and Tooele County's "Player of the year".

OR...

how that same boy graduated from Grantsville High School.

OR...

the story of the great party after.

OR...

how Dillon graduated
from Jr. High.

OR...

the story of the other great party.

OR...

how Ryan and Katelyn finally got married.

OR...

how these kids went to EFY and it changed it their lives.

OR...

how Dill got a new set of eyes that are soft, small... and really
tricky to put in.

OR...

how fun it was to watch Tyson play in the Utah High School All-Star football game...

and in the
Utah High School
All-Star

baseball
game.

OR...

the mystery of how my baby grew old enough to go to football camp with the high school team.

OR...

the spiritual, hard to put into words, experience of visiting Nauvoo.

OR...

the peaceful, perfect way to return home, experience of visiting Carthage.

OR...

how my renegades took a picture of this stranger because they thought he looked like Justin Wells.

OR...

how we tried to drive all night so we could spend the 4th of July with these little weasles.

OR...

the story of 3 boys, ALOT of food
and alot fun.

OR...

the story of the day Hummer became a Strippling warrior.

OR...

how awesome it is when brothers get to do very important things on the very same day.

OR...

how Tyson slipped out of this GHS baseball uniform just in time for Dillon to slip into it.

OR...

how ridiculous it was to realize all the Palmer girls look the same at 9:00 a.m. but some are smart enough to put on clothes.

OR...

the story of how incredible it was to see all my cousins in one place.

OR...

the joys of teenage drama because they lead to teenage hugs for old Auntie's.

OR...

the story of what really old Auntie's do when one of them is turning fifty.

OR...

how goodbye's are harder for little people than
they are for big people...

unless you are a
teenage girl 

 but then again, they
cry at everything.

OR...

the story of our son's new home, 1303 miles away from his old one.

OR...

how great our visit was with the Cafarelli's...
a.k.a Tyson's new parents.

OR...

how goodbye's are easier when you know you're doing the right thing.

OR...

how Hummer is reaping the rewards of being an only child... and how
he is good with it.

OR...

the story of how I love this man more today than I did any day prior.

OR...

how LIFE
just happened when I wasn't looking.

Cookies not included.

When you think of Grannies, do you think of

COOKIES?

Not me...

Not with my Grandma Carrie...

She didn't do...

COOKIES.

This morning I glanced at the clock ... 8:30.

My shoulder hurt, I'll rest it some.

And at 9:00 I'll get up.

At 9:00 the phone rang.

"Krista... Grandma... "

Nothing else had to be said,

I knew.

The spirit wispered it to me last night while Jeff and Dad were giving her a blessing.

However, that whisper didn't stop me from running.

"Tyson ... Grandma... "

He followed me

and we ran to the car.

I turned, running back to grab my toothbrush.

The thought came to grab some clothing too

but my heart decided against it and I grabbed just a robe.

Robe zipped, toothbrush in hand, breaking the speed limit,

I flew to my parents home.

I heard my Sweet Mama...

CRYING.

She deserved to cry.
She has taken care of Grandma for 4 years.
She has done a good job.
She should have no regrets.

The paramedics were there

as was Uncle Dean and Aunt DeAnn.

They were calm.

Then I heard Uncle Dean quietly say,

"Let her go."

With that, the paramedics stopped.

Then came the

SWEETNESS

It's the feeling that only comes in times like these.

I have felt it a few times in my life.

I'm thankful to know where it comes from.

I'm thankful to know it will always come.

Grandma Carrie was gone.

Yet I knew she was still lingering.

I could feel her watching as

one by one

her 9 children

comforted one another.

I'll bet that made her happy.

Those 9 love each other.

They will be okay.

Then several of the 37 came.

I'm sure that made her happy too.

 

Eventually I was surrounded with those I love

most in the world.

As I looked around, I realized I owed much of my

HAPPINESS

to Grandma Carrie.

Thanks for that Grandma!

Thanks for giving birth to

NINE children,

who then gave birth to 37

of my very best friends.

We wouldn't have each other without you.

And we wouldn't have the most awesome

Christmas Party known to man!

(Even though we've had to ban children under 18 and

adults over 50... and maybe Rick,  from now on.)

And thanks...

 for letting me stay up late with you when I was little and watch Lawrence Welk from the orange rocker next to yours.

And thanks...

 for living in that house with those cool 70's beads in the bathroom.

And thanks...

 for letting us live in that cool house when ours burned to the ground. Where would have gone without you?

And thanks...

 for moving back to Grantsville 4 years ago, so my kids could cry today because they knew who you were.

And thanks...

 for eating those potatoes I cooked in mom's oven on Tuesday.

I'm glad I didn't know then you would leave us today.

And thanks...

for being my mom's friend these past 4 years, she will miss you but you left her with a healed heart.

And did I say thanks for The 37?
Oh I did...
but thanks again!

And thanks for not makin' cookies...

we never needed those anyway.

We just needed you...

 for without you we couldn't have each other.

I love you Grandma.

I hope you had a happy homecoming.

And Grandma,when we see you again...

HUGS all around

Okay?