My Nephew Loves Me

Here's the little guy saying my name! 

...or attempting to!

Gradjumucation

I graduated!

Actually.

I graduated in December.

But I just walked! Hooray!

Here are some pics of that momentous day. Only my parents were able to come, but it was great!

Until We Meet Again

My dear sweet Grandma Jean passed away Tuesday night.

She had not been doing well for a while, and it suddenly picked up. I was lucky enough to be in the town she lived last weekend, and so I got to see her and say goodbye. 

It was sad to have to say goodbye, but what really got me was how miserable she must have been. I am glad she now no longer has to endure that.

My grandpa is also getting old and frail, but this picture was taken just days before his wife's passing:

I just love them!

The story of the night of her passing it very sweet. My uncles and other family members had given my grandma many priesthood blessings to keep her here to stay with her husband a little longer. That night after dinner they decided to give her another blessing. This one was a little different. They released her from all previous blessings. They knew she was uncomfortable and that it most likely her time to go home to our Heavenly Father. 

After the blessing all of her children and other family members that were there sat around her bed singing hymns. She passed away while they were singing "Come, Come ye Saints." What I love about that is that there is a line in the song that says,

"And should we die before our journey's through,

Happy Day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

with the just, we shall dwell!"

My grandma's journey was through, but she is still now dwelling with the just. She is now free from toil and sorrow too. And she deserves it.

A few things I will always remember about my grandma:

• Her calm voice
• Her extensive sea shell collection (of which I was lucky to get once piece from when she moved a couple months ago)
• Her patience with my grandpa, especially when he started getting dementia 
• Her love of ALL her grandchildren, including her step-grandchildren, of which I technically am (although I have not known any grandma on that side other than her)
• Her love that included her Book of Birthdays. She never missed one. With over 70 grandchildren.
• Her strong testimony of the Savior.
• Her faith to go to Zaire, Africa with my grandpa as a mission president and open up that mission. 

I am so happy that families are forever. 

So instead of pouting about this, I'm just gonna say,

See you later, Grandma...

Hutchings Cousin Gathering, 2008

Hutch Fam Reunion, 2007

Dropping off my brother at the Missionary Training Center, 2003

Hutchings Family Reunion, 2003

Grandma and Grandpa visit, 1990

My baby blessing, 1988

My Beautiful Grandma Jean

I love you Grandma!

Change the First Five Years, and You Change Everything

Warning: I'm getting on my soapbox here! I can't help it when I talk about my job...

I went to my first teacher conference today.

First thing I want to say.
I'm a teacher.
Not a babysitter.

Have you ever said or thought that anyone can do daycare? or even oh they just teach daycare...?
I teach Early Head Start (preschool) along with running a daycare, but I still have gotten comments such as "oh so basically you're just doing daycare."
It really gets to me, but I hold my tongue.
They just don't understand.

Here is your chance to understand:



I take my job seriously.
And I hope if you ever put your children in child care or preschool, you will take it seriously too.

I love my students.
I would do absolutely anything for them.

No matter what message my paycheck and the general population say about my profession,
I know it matters. And hopefully one day the general population, and especially  my paycheck [:)] will reflect that!

And just to make this post even more serious (sometimes I hate when I post serious things, I just like talking about fun things!) I'm gonna add this video.

If you're a teacher, an easy crier, and especially if you've ever had to call DCFS, have a box of tissues handy...

My Famous Baby Brother. NBD.

Check it out.
My little brother is on my church's website!
And if you don't know, my church is worldwide. Literally.
When I lived in Ghana I went to my church there and learned the same principles that I would have in the U.S.
My point being...people all over the world will see him.

So you can too!

Ok...so maybe his picture is kinda small...and he's blurred out...
But I am still proud of him!
And what this represents.
He gets up crazy early every morning and attends our church's "bible study" class, which we call seminary.
All before he goes to high school.
what. a. stud. 



If you want to see it on the actual site go here.

Home again!

I'm back from my trip to San Antonio! A day later that I had originally thought, too...

On my first full day we went downtown and went to "The Alamo."
I now know why they had to try to remember it...it's a lot tinier than I realized!

We ate lunch at a nearby mall, and my dad got suckered into buying 13 cookies by the cookie lady-for 5 people and a baby! Typical of my dad...

The next day we went to the Riverwalk.
So beautiful! It's amazing that it is hiding right in downtown San Antonio!
But, of course, I was way too distracted by my nephew to take any good pictures...oops.
I do have us getting saranaded at lunch, though!
And my mom, sister-in-law, and I under a pretty canopy.

[Isn't he just the cutest?!]

Also that same day...
I FINALLY SAW THE HUNGER GAMES.
Remember how I posted about how obsessed I am with it?
Yeah, well, I recently moved and by the time I made friends everyone had already bought midnight showing tickets. I didn't feel so keen on going by myself...so I [not-so-]patiently waited...
I finally went.
It's amazing!

Day 3 in San Antonio was chill.
I hung out with my family.
Looked at some potential future houses for my brother and sister-in-law.
Went out to lunch and had my very first taste of brisket in a burrito. Delicious!
Also. Got a million salsas... [I look really weird here...pay no mind]

The [supposed] last day was Easter!

I love Easter, it represents so much.
It represents my entire purpose here on this earth.
It represents the amazing sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
And because of that sacrifice, it represents the opportunity I have to live again, and live with my family again. Live with that beautiful blue eyed boy again. Forever.

Well, my post should end right now.
But alas, it does not.
My flight to go home was that night, last night.
CANCELLED.

So I got to be so super lucky and go back to spend more time with my nephew.
And then wake up at 3:30 am to try for the first flight in the morning.
Didn't make it.
So instead I flew from San Antonio to Atlanta ["but wait!" I know your thinking.."isn't Atlanta the opposite direction??" Yes. Yes it is.]
So then from there I went to Salt Lake.
And now I am finally home.
Still tired after a nap, but so happy I had such a great spring break with the people I love!

I'm in Texas!

I'll post pictures when I return!

Right now I'm just enjoying hanging out with my family, especially my little nephew.

He calls me "Taytee."

Adorable.

But the best is that he calls my little brother, Sammy, "Zappy!"

Don't forget it's Easter Weekend!