The Selfie Generation

I remember when I was a young mother of two little boys.  I would often wish I could have a

HOUSE KEEPER

for there were always toys strewn all about and I was tired.

Then those little boys grew into teenage boys.  I would often wish I could have a

CHEF

for they were always hungry and I couldn't keep them full.

Then they grew up 

and left my nest.

From my new point of view I realize that messy house was a

beautiful mess

and grilled cheese sandwiches around the table were

a treasure.

If I had a wish from my Empty Nest today I would wish for a

PHOTOGRAPHER

to document every second of days gone by and every second of the days yet to come, a photographer who could capture each

precious memory.

As I pick up my phone I realize my wish is fulfilled by those 

two sons of mine

who have left the nest.

They let me be their friends on Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram were they document their precious memories.

They live in the 

"selfie generation" 

where the moments of their lives are snapped and shared and

I LOVE IT!

A photographer friend of mine told me this generation will prove to be the most photographed of any other generation 

EVER!!

They capture EVERYTHING ... 

like unsuspecting twins! 

And unsuspecting grandpa's!  I guarantee you Grandpa Hutch didn't know he was pimpin'!

"Me and grandpa straight pimpin!"

They share pics of their fathers when they were little boys! For some reason they love to call them by their first name!

"Jeffrey in his youth"

Their friends send messages to their fathers as well, although it's always sent through the son.

"Tell Jeffery I said Hello there" 

LOVE is professed

"Two things I love"

and so are deep fears!!

"#Fathers&Sons"

Sunsets seems to be super popular among the "self generation"

"Up on the T snitches"

as well as documented kissing!

Catching yourself on a security cam is also a big hit.

and so is catching people who care!

"He cares"

They like to document those awkward moments

"Awkward pic of the day..."

and also the angry one's

(step it up BYU!!)

"He is mad"

They like to sweep

"Just sweepin Bear River"

and celebrate!!

"Utah State Champion Selfie"

They like to give weather reports

"What the hail..."

and let you know what they're eating!

"Maceys doesn't mess around"

They show appreciation for gifts

"The parents know how to do Easter!"

They all seem to be appreciative and I like it!

"Rockin the new jam jams!"

It appears they generally like what they wear

"Man this is a nice shirt"

plaid seems to be a popular choice!

"New suit game"

They stand as reminders of good citizens

"I voted.  Did you?"

and reminders of good perspective!

"Best Christmas present yet! #Elderhutchins"

They say hello from their cars

"Greetings" 

and from church ... (hmmm?)

"Adult stake conference #thuggin"

I love how they aren't afraid to express themselves

"Screenshot but no reply? Lame"

and how they compliment each other.

"Kourtney England likes your photo"

It all is really quite 

wonderful!

I know Social Media has been cursed and cautioned against.  I agree we must be careful but when used the right way, it's a gift to help us remember all those moments that only happen 

ONCE IN A LIFETIME!

So BUCKLE UP and give yourself permission to

  enjoy the ride!

as your children document their lives!

Ummmm, yeah! Random pic found on Hummer's phone.

Explanation? ... Anyone? ... Anyone?

Note from the Empty Nester:

Make sure your kiddo's download those pics 

from their phones so you'll have them

2400 Eyes ...

Well, it's St. Patty's Day and
I must ask if you believe in the

I personally think I COULD believe
which makes me super sad that I'm not Irish

because I don't qualify for the

HOWEVER

I did have a day in March which was the luckiest day of my life!!

I remember it like it was yesterday and yet it was

It was a sunny Saturday ...
March 18, 1989

it was the exact day I fell ...

The guy DID look
a little bit Irish, 

with his red hair
but the fact is,

he wan't Irish at all,

he was simply...

"Perfect"

is not how our "Lucky in Love" began

because I had seen "Mr Perfect" 

a thousand times over in my life.

  

We went to high school together, 

so that would cover at least a few thousand sightings.  

Our family had some tight connections 

so that would be another thousand, give or take.

So yeah, it wasn't "Love at First Sight"

but it was LOVE from the very first  

Let me tell you how the "Hello" came to be

because it's quite funny and shocking at the same time.

It was a set up by 2 very fine ladies

in our little village. They are named

Mom & Mom

and to make the story complete,

this "set up" took place at a

FUNERAL.

Yes, it's true.

a knock came to my door, followed by a
 "Hello" that would change
mine and Mr. Perfect's lives forever.

When I think back to where the date took place

I laugh ... and I laugh ... and I laugh

You see, our little village has tradition that is over 130 years old.

It's a gathering of EVERYONE in town.

EVERY. ONE. IN. TOWN.

and in case you didn't know, Mr. Perfect and I are related to 

EVERY. ONE. IN. TOWN.

The Grantsville Sociable

was our very first date.

(these are some of our relatives performing in it)

As we entered the auditorium it seemed all eyes turned our way.
By "ALL" I mean the eyes of 1200 of our closest relatives.
 2400 EYES

Okay, 2400 might be a bit exaggerated.
There were 2400 eyes there, probably not all on us
but it felt like that many.

My Grandpa rose right out of his seat and hurried to the door
to tell me how happy he was about this date.
Oh I love him.  I miss him.

The program started and it took about 10 seconds for
 "Mr Perfect"
to hold my hand. 

Seems a little inappropriate in hindsight
but it was lovely at the moment!

We moved from the Program into the Dinner ...
into the hallways and Hospitality Rooms ...
finally ending by Dancing to the live bands...
where much of our family stared at us. 

2400 EYES

It could have been a lot of pressure if I'd been paying attention

but I could only see
"Mr Perfect"

and he could only see me.

After he took me home I floated up to bed

and being an avid journal writer at the time,
I wrote the following words...

.

It wasn't very many days later when
"Mr Perfect"
whispered those same words in my ear.
We both knew.

We reminisce every year when the 

3rd Saturday of March
rolls around.

We always return to that historical tradition in our little village

The Grantsville Sociable

It's 131 years old this year!!

Much has changed from

We are a bit older
and we absolutely have flatter and less hair
but nothing could keep us away from
The Sociable

There won't be 2400 eyes looking at "us" this year

but there will be 2400 eyes looking at
"Mr Perfect"

because he's the Co-Chair.

That means he's gone to lots of work to make the

26th Anniversary of our first date

one to remember!!

I wanted to invite YOU to come and
be one of the 2400 eyes looking at him.

If we're really lucky there might be
a couple of "first daters" there and we can all stare at them too.
Maybe 26 years later they'll be

One night
"Mr Perfect"  and I
danced in our kitchen
while he sang in my ear.

It was a song
by Kenny Chesney called

You had me
from Hello

It was pretty awesome.

Why do I share that tidbit?
 Because it will make my son's cringe.
(and I love that!)

But also to let you know that saying

 at the Sociable is magical...

"Hello" to old friends and new one's too.

Come see for yourself!

I hope you'll join us on Saturday!!  

Be sure you say "Hello" to me 

but be sure you don't sing it to me,  

that would just be creepy for all of us!
AND
please take note that the Co-Chair's name is really
JEFF
If you call him "Mr. Wonderful" 
it will be equally creepy!

You can buy your tickets HERE
or at the City Hall, Soelberg's and Maceys
and also at the door.

You can also enter to win free tickets by
liking the facebook page HERE and leaving a comment.

Here's a song so you can practice dancing in your kitchen.

Keep it on hand

Do you ever keep something on hand

that actually isn't your favorite

and yet you replenish it as soon as it's gone?

My sweet mother-in-law does that.

She keeps those on hand

for this fella.

He is her baby.
She loves him.

She likes to
make him happy.

She wants him to have a treat when he comes

at night to help his dad into bed.

It's a sacred time for all of them.

I go with him sometimes and when I do,
this perfectly loving man usually says
it's my turn to pray.

Then he grins.

For the past few years
I have also found myself

keeping something

on hand.

There are two girls
who like
to snack on them.

We want them to have a treat when

they come to visit.

They make us smile and laugh

and sometimes

they take a turn to pray.

WHAT DO YOU KEEP ON HAND?

Blessed are ...

Before I begin, may I remind you ...

The Hutchins Family loves sports!!

Hence, making the following a message straight from the heart

about something that is dear to my heart.

Every day I kneel to pray, asking my Heavenly Father for blessings

in fact, sometimes I beg Him for them.

I did that A LOT in 2014 but that's a story for another day.

This morning after rising from my knees, after asking for blessings

 I realized how easily they (blessings) can be received

and how they are here for OUR taking!

It's promised in Matthew ...

Are you one of those?

A PEACEMAKER I mean.

Are you really?  Are you REALLY?

Let me take off my cloak of pride right here

 and REALLY dare open my heart ...

If someone had asked me that question at anytime during my

43 years of living, I would have given an exuberant, 

"Absolutely!!  I am, for positive, a peacemaker."

But if I step back and 

STOP LOOKING AT MYSELF

but instead look at the people who have come in contact with me

and if was humble enough to be honest, I would have to say,

DANG IT!!!

DANG IT! DANG IT! DANG IT!

Now that I live in this new place called "Empty Nesting" 

my life is slower and it seems my sight is much more clear.  

And I won't lie,

I'm kinda ashamed at some of things I see in my past, 

things that didn't make me a peacemaker.

Hence why I opened up my blog today

(covered in dust from lack of use)

 to share one valuable thing I have learned 

in my years of living in a small town ...

People are more important than sports.

(and by people, I don't mean your own kiddos.)

EVERY single person you know

is more important that sports.

So if you've forgotten that, make it right again,

even if you are the one who has been hurt.

Your future "Empty Nest self" will be proud of you!

Be a peacemaker my friends.

A New Season...

Today is the first of many days I will sit in this place. My alarm went off at 5:00 AM and not long after, my mom was climbing into my car. Our drive on the freeway, through the stoplights and up the hill was full of apprehension, but peace.

We walked through the doors and rode the elevator together. When we landed on the 2nd floor, they took her and left me, praying she would be okay by herself.

As I sit here alone and stare out the window, it's snowing. The seasons are changing, which seems fitting as my life is changing seasons as well.

It's been 2 weeks since I found out my mom might leave me sooner than I'd hoped. It's been 2 weeks since her diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma ... Cancer.

It's one of those things that takes you by surprise and stops your heart ... It's one of those things that happen to "other people".

In the chair where I sit, I'm thankful for the snow.  It makes the world seem peaceful somehow.... kind of like the strange peace I have felt in the past couple weeks.

I'll be honest, I've cried ... but my tears have been wiped away by an unseen being, whispering to me that all is well. I know it is. No matter the outcome.

It's those whisperings that will carry me through as the snow continues to fall ... and as Mom and I continue to drive up the hill ... and as I continue to stare out this window as she travels through this new season of her life.

As I sit in my chair, I know I'm really not alone. I've learned that from my Mom. It's because of her that I know that "unseen being" is not a stranger to me. He is my Father-in-Heaven ... and He is yours.

Our Father-in-Heaven doesn't let any of His children fight alone.

Not daughters staring out windows ...

Not mothers riding up hills ... 

and not you.

If you're feeling alone today, pray to Him, he'll come and sit with you.  I know He never turns down that request.

No One FIGHTS Alone