Taken For Granted

There are moments in life when we all feel

taken for granted!

Those moments usually leave us ticked off and often, make us want to give up and throw in the towel.  I've been there ... done that ... even thrown in the towel at times!

But how many times have you stopped and asked yourself what

YOU

are taking for granted?

I'll admit, I haven't done it much but I did ... this past Sunday!

As I sat in church I had an epiphany and was flooded with thoughts of the simple things I have been taking for granted.

I looked over at the pew where the deacons sit and it was ...

That's an odd sight for our ward, which has so many young men who are always there in their Sunday best!

I suddenly thought... 

"How am going to renew my covenants with my Father-in-Heaven without any deacons here?"  

My heart felt a little empty as I missed all those 12 and 13 year old boys!!  I realized how much I have been taking them for granted and the immeasurable opportunity they provide me every Sunday.

As I starred at the empty row I noticed the man in front of me, an elder in our ward.  He rose and went and sat on that empty pew.  

Quickly one elder after another stood, leaving their wives to wrestle the children.  It was awesome to see all their wives smile just like I was!  I loved it!!!

In just matter of minutes that pew was filled with grown men.  I thought how thankful I was for the rank and order of the Priesthood, which would allow me to still renew my covenants!

Then I watched gleefully as the deacons suddenly came in the back door.  They'd been busy setting up chairs around the building so we wouldn't have to do it ... another thing I've been taking for granted.   (Along with them emptying all the garbages after church!!  They're awesome!!)

I watched those elders, those grown men, one by one, return to sit with their families.

They all held the Priesthood but they knew if a deacon appeared then this duty, of passing the Sacrament, belonged to that deacon. 

Again, the rank and order of the Gospel, and the fact that someone will always step up, in service for ME ... is something I've been taking for granted.

As those men returned to their seats I watched their little ones crawl up on their laps, so happy to have their daddy's sit with them once more.

I looked at my pew ... empty.

I smiled at the Lifeguard from afar.  He's our bishop so he sits on the stand.  He smiled back and I thought about days gone by when I wrestled two boys in those very pews.  

They relished in frustrating me with their irreverent antics!  Why is it fun to torture a tired mama in church?

I sighed and realized I had taken those days for granted!  OH!!!  Soooooo for granted!!!

How I would love to sit with those little boys again! Irreverent or not, they never failed to make me smile!!  They still do, even though they're all grown up and even though they seem to relish in being "thugs" ... as if they could pull that off in their white shirts and ties!! LOL!!

Time are hard when you're trying to keep those little one's quiet in church but none the less, they are wonderful days ... days, in my weariness, that I took for granted.

By this time the meeting had started.  Announcements were being made from the pulpit.  

"Just a reminder of Stake Conference next week and the Provo Temple Dedication the week after that so we won't be together for a couple of weeks."

I knew this was happening but I was bummed.  The Lifeguard and I had already missed a couple Sunday's this past month for reasons beyond our control.  We miss our ward when we don't see them each Sunday!

Not only that ... but I really miss my calling!!  I have a new calling by the way.  I'm going to blog about that another day because it's quite a story, but not today!  

Anyway, I was truly feelin' bad and realizing how much I take our good ward for granted!!  They are so loving to me and the Lifeguard!!

Soon the blessing and passing of the sacrament was in full swing.  As I sat there quietly reflecting, my mind wandered to Saturday night.  

The Lifeguard and I had the opportunity to witness a beautiful sight as we sat in the Celestial Room of the Salt Lake Temple.

We watched a group of grown children and grandchildren stand all together, quietly waiting for their mother to join them.  She's over 70 years old and they've waited oh so long to be in that room with her.

It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed as she entered and was embraced by each of them.  There were smiles and tears and just ... true joy!!

The Lifeguard and I stood against the wall and smiled at the scene ... and cried too!

I was reminded of the great gift the temple is ... it's something I've been taking for granted!!

These reminders of things I had been taking for granted were a tender mercy to me from the Lord.  It's good to be reminded of all the goodness in our lives ... even though life is sometimes hard.

I stood from that meeting feeling more grateful than I had in a while.

And then Monday came ...

An unexpected reminder came by way of our missionary in the Dominican Republic. 

On Monday I received a personal note from Dillon on the presidential campaign. I was surprised he knew anything about it, after all, he is in another country and it hasn't been a topic in our letters.

I was surprised to learn that it has been a topic in the Dominican Republic, and in fact, all over the world ... and a hot topic at that!

Dillon's explanation caught me off guard and brought me to my knees, quite literally!!

He more or less said ...

It is because America offers HOPE to the hopeless!!

Dillon has made friends from all over the world.  On his p-days he has taught many of them English.  They've shared with him their HOPE of one day, coming to America ... their HOPE that one day they can bless their families with the things we have take for granted!

My heart was suddenly ripped into shreds!!!

As tears rolled down my cheeks, I realized I have been taking for granted this wonderful country with all her freedom and opportunity!  I've forgotten, because I was born on this sacred ground, what a privilege it is to live here!

As I kneel to pray tonight, my prayer will be longer and will be one filled with gratitude for all I have been taking for granted!

What are YOU taking for granted?

Will you, like me, drop to your knees when you realize?

The Christmas Without a Tree

I won't lie...

this Christmas I've felt a little ...

I won't lie...

this blue-ness has taken me by surprise, as I've never really had a "blue Christmas" like Elvis sings about.

It seems I've found myself without some people this year.

My baby boy is in the Dominican Republic.

My first born is now married and moved away.

My parents are in California.

With the exception of the Lifeguard, all these peeps have moved on!

Now, don't get me wrong ...

I am so happy for them ...

and I wouldn't want things any other way!!

But still, I've been BLUE.  My Sweetheart said it perfectly one night as I sobbed in my kitchen ...

Christmas has seemed to make it harder than I ever imagined.

So with that said ... I have been slow in decorating for Christmas.

In fact, today it is

 and on this 8th day before Christmas, I finally got the courage to decorate my Christmas tree.

"COURAGE" you say?

Yes ... that is the proper word...

The tree in my family room is not one that will be found on a magazine cover or in the Festival of Tree's.  In fact, the tree in my family room cannot be found in any other place on the planet ... it's absolutely 

ONE OF A KIND!

It's filled with our happiest moments from the past 25 years.

Today I dared to crack open the boxes filled with those "moments" of memories.

Today I dared to let my heart crack a little, as if remembering those "moments" would break me right in two.

Interesting enough ... as I unwrapped and placed each ornament ... a immeasurable SMILE covered my face and indescribable JOY filled my heart!

That box of ornaments I have been so afraid of is really the thing I've been needing as I've been searching for the Christmas spirit ... not the Christmas spirit that comes from shopping ... but the Christmas spirit that comes from Christ.

As I took each ornament out of the box, my mind was flooded with 

By "my creations", I'm referring to the two boys I created with the Lifeguard.

As I carefully placed each ornament on the tree ... I was reminded of the good life Christ has given me.  Has it always been easy? OH MY!!  HEAVEN'S NO!!!!  But it has been MY life, the life Christ designed just for me ... the life He has walked with me through ... good or bad, He's never let me alone!

These are always the first ornaments I place on the tree...

They are the ornaments we got as each of our "creations" came into the world.

I especially smile at Tyson's.  The little thing is just a brass baby bottle that the woman at Walmart engraved for me. It reminds me of meager times when "fancy" ornaments were not an option.  Those were fun times, full of simple sweetness.

Dillon's ornament reminds me how he would not sleep unless he was in his snowsuit.  It was truly memorable ... and weird!

Next was this group of ornaments.  Every year we talk of the story that comes with them ... as does anyone else who comes and sees them hanging there.

Back in 1996 Grantsville played Morgan for the football State Championship.  It was game time and Morgan came running out of the locker room with GOLD shoes on, sending a silent message that they planned to go home with the GOLD trophy.

Well, really all this did was rile up the Cowboys.  My brother Brandon was a lineman on that team and as we were about to score the winning touchdown, he was down in his stance, face to face with a Morgan player.  He smiled as he said, 

"Looks like you've got on the wrong colored shoes!"  

Just then we hiked the ball and we SCORED to take the Championship.

That is a story that will go down in the

HISTORY BOOKS

of Grantsville!!

One year when I hung the ornament of Tyson holding the trophy, Hummer suddenly disappeared.  I found him crying in his room.  He was upset that there wasn't a picture of him holding it.  I explained how he was only baby at the time but he didn't care for my excuse.  In fact, he was kinda mad at the Cowboys for not having won another so he could have his picture taken with it!

Hence another HUGE ornament was made with a picture of him.  It sat in the front branches of the tree for years and I laughed every time I saw it!

Then 10 years later, as a little league player, Hummer rode on the firetruck TWICE in one year as a state champion in baseball AND football!  Even though he had his own championship ornament, he still insisted the huge one stay front and center.

Then in 2014, when Dillon was a high school senior, GHS won the 3A baseball State Championship!!!  It was then I took the huge picture ornament and hid it deep in the branches of the tree.  I couldn't take it down all together because it still makes me laugh.  But why is it hidden?  Because Hummer now has his OWN picture holding a Championship trophy.  It, however, will not be revealed until he returns home from his mission next Christmas because he hasn't been home for a Christmas since the Championship!

But I will tell you ... this picture is the one that's on the ornament!

Speaking of why Dillon isn't home, these are my most tender ornaments...

They represent the 3 missionaries who live (or lived) in our home ... the 3 Elder Hutchins!

Jeff ... 1986 ... Anchorage Alaska

Tyson ... 2011 ... New York New York North

Dillon ... 2014 ... Dominican Republic East

Yes, it's on purpose that those little paper ornaments they made in Kindergarten are next to the missionary badges.  They remind me that 

"By small and simple things

are great things

brought to pass!"

Little boys and girls do grow up ... but they grow up to be incredible men and women who do incredible things!

I love these ornament because they remind me that I can do hard things!

These are from the two treks we went on in 2008 and 2014

We were so blessed to go with each of our sons.

These experiences will forever bless their lives as they learned they can do really hard things too!  But the most important lesson we learned ... is that we don't have to do hard things ALONE!  Heavenly Father will always help us!

What ornament to do next?

Awe!!  Disney!!

If you've been there, you never want to forget it!  Disney was our kids' Christmas gift one year.

And that button?  Dillon got it when he was there for his 16th birthday!  Everyone did indeed tell him Happy Birthday all day (and so he decided to wear it the next day too)!  HA! HA!

Since we did Disney, let's do Florida next!

Yup, this is a weird combination since Ashford is NOT in Florida!

A few years ago Jeff and I went to Florida on business.  While there, we drove down to Daytona, not knowing it was Spring Break ... in other words, not knowing we were driving into SIN at it's core!!  We promised ourselves our children would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER visit Daytona!!

Well, enter Ashford.  Our son played baseball there and you'd think Iowa would be pretty safe.  It was, until they scheduled a tourney in Daytona during SPRING BREAK!!! 

Ummm, yeah!  That's all I have to say on that subject!!

Speaking of Ashford, Tyson did play there.  Then he played at USU Eastern.  Finally he landed himself at BYU and because of that, he owns this shrine on the tree.

Baseball was the dream but alas BYU was the bigger dream and we are so happy for him!

School ... our tree "remembers" school very well.

All of us ... meaning our grandparents, parents, [ourselves] and our children all attended the same sweet school on Main Street in Grantsville.

We all played on the "old gym floor" ... very, very, very sentimental doesn't begin to describe our feelings for that place, with it's dangerous balcony!

One day it burned down.

Yes, go ahead and sigh ... or cry ... we did.

That ornament is a piece of that old gym floor.

It's a treasure!

It even bears the scar of years and years of kids roller skating on it.

This ornament is also a reminder of that old floor...

Tyson and Dillon both preformed in the Nutcracker there!

Tyson was a Russian Dancer.

Dillon was a mouse and he still hasn't forgiven Mr. Painter for that!  HA! HA!

We once went on what the Lifeguard calls "the best trip in the history of trips" and these ornaments are a reminder of that ...

We watched the beloved Braves play the Red Sox AND the Yankees.  It was 4 looooong days of baseball but it was worth the smiles!  Plus we got to sample every mixture of soda Coke makes, which is A LOT ...  belly ache!

This ornament is all about family ...

It's our Christmas tradition and one we will be doing this weekend.  We will cry that Hummer isn't there ... but trust me, everyone will be crying ... it's just the nature of "linking up!"

I won't lie, these ornaments remind me of treasured times WITHOUT our kids.  These represent the trips just the Lifeguard and I enjoyed ALONE.  

The last one was just a few weeks ago.  I'm going to blog about it sometime but not today.

There is no place I would rather be than than with the Lifeguard! And if you're not a believer in trips alone with your spouse ... may I recommend it to you?!  It really does make us better parents.

We adore our kids though ...

We have tons of ornaments to represent them from the time they were little to today!

This represents the day I sobbed my eyes out and could not be consoled ...

The day my baby boy went to a full day of school.  First grade!  I still kinda tear up thinking about the emotions of that day!

One of the sweetest things on our tree are our grandparents!

Meet Grandma and Grandpa Jefferies ... "Little Grandma" and the Lifeguard had a very special bond.  He adores her in every way!

Meet my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson.  Yup, that is little tiny me, holding my Grandma's hand.  I miss her.

My Grandma gave me the same Christmas present every single year ... a teddy bear!  Oh and how I loved them each and every one!  This the ornament that remembers her!

is what our tree does!

It remembers ...

 treasured family traditions. 

It remembers ...

 the houses we've lived in.

It remembers ...

 our one and only dog ... now dead ... along with our 2 bunnies and several fish.  The stories are quite tragic, hence why we don't have pets anymore.

It remembers ...

our treasured church callings.  Yes, that pink thing is a "unicorn horn".  It's a good story, trust me!

It remembers ...

 friends who are spending Christmas in Heaven.

It remembers ...

 days of endless Sesame Street and Barney episodes... along with every late night premier of Harry Potter!

.

It remembers ...

 Fields of Dreams ... the literal one and the one's where little Hutchins boy's have run endless bases from.

It remembers ...

 the 11th day in September when our country stood united.

It remembers ...

 the White House and the long, long walk to the Lincoln Memorial.

It remembers ...

 Nauvoo and the spirit at Carthage.

This year we got a brand new ornament...

It represents our brand new daughter.

It represents the day she and Tyson were married for ETERNITY in the Salt Lake Temple.

That was one of our

very best days!

It also represents the fact that it's been 25 years since the Lifeguard and I stood on those very same steps and began our ETERNITY!

So yeah ... it's 8 days before Christmas ... but the Christmas Spirit has FINALLY arrived in our home and in my heart!

I'll be honest, I didn't think it would come ... the Spirit of Christmas I mean.  I really planned to skip it this year!

Funny how a tree 
filled with memories
can change everything.

To top it off, my brother Shaun made this video for our parents.

It's of all their Grandchildren telling the Christmas story.

It is, perhaps, what gave me the courage to open my box of ornaments.

Hope it gives you courage too!

For after all, what Christmas comes down to is

remembering Christ!

He's the one who really changed everything ...
it wasn't the tree at all.