Just Us

Our friendship began sitting across the room from one another in a woman’s Bible study.  There was Danielle with a beaming smile, kind eyes, and a spunky, bubbly personality.  I listened to Danielle talk that first night….sharing stories of Sudan, the story of how God brought her to small town, Glenwood, Iowa, and most importantly her desire and passion to share her Jesus with everyone she met.  How very quickly did I admire the young woman before me. In the following few years, we spent time together going to garage sales and thrift stores, hanging out drinking coffee, planting flowers and just talking.   During this time, Danielle shared many things---her passion for teaching, a love for crafting, and a desire to be a woman of grace.   She truly was a remarkable woman that taught me many things by the way she walked through life.   She taught me to laugh more, love fiercely, and not take for granted all of God’s sweet little blessings each day. ...

Well...it's been about 5 months since my last post.  But I have been meaning to write this one for awhile...just struggling to organize my thoughts.  The past few months have been super busy for the Hutchings' clan.  School...work...potty training....holidays...2 year old attitudes...painting...etc...etc.  In the midst of all this chaos, however, God has actually been teaching me a lot about slowing down to be thankful.  I know....slow down!??! Do I really have time for that?!?! It started shortly after the holidays.   At the time, there just seemed to be so much going on, so much that needed my attention, prayer, and energy.  If you are like me, you sometimes find yourself on this survival treadmill.  Ya know...the kind that never stops and you try to be ready for what's to come...yet what's right next to you always seems to go by in a blur.  Being a mom is like this at times.  We have so many responsibilities and roles to play each a...

Well....I was going to bed early tonight.  However, I received a text from a sister at about 7:50 pm. "Miss America pageant....10 minute warning. "  Now for any of you that have spent much time at the Dunn house growing up....you know that all talking...homework...etc ceases when a pageant is on.  As strange as this may seem, it was actually a Dunn girl/Papa Dirk tradition.  Yea...I said it.  Papa Dirk was a part of this special family time too.  Although he would FAKE that he was only watching to prove us wrong that our "picks" were not really worthy of the crown.  Then, he would end up sitting through the whole competition and celebrate loudly when his "pick" stole the crown. Growing up in a family of girls, there were always lots of dressing up, talent competitions, performances, and pageants in the family living room.  So watching REAL pageants on t.v. became another one of those friendly competitions.  We would all pick our favorites a...

August....just the sound of this month gives me such mixed feelings.  The sight of school supplies creates a strange feeling....almost nauseating...but at the same time the excitement of a new school year.  If you are not a teacher and are wondering what these last few weeks "off" are like for those of us teachers, well wait no longer.  It goes a little like this.... (NOTE: I'm leaving out a HUUUUUUGGGGEEE part.  Juggling being a mom and wife too!!!! I don't want you reading this post and have an anxiety attack. :)) *Wake up....make to-do list. One for home and one for your "other " home. *Attempt to cross off SOMETHING on your home list without becoming extremely overwhelmed with your other list...that is just waiting.....with all those other empty lines that you know will be full by the end of the day with many other things that have yet to be done. *If by chance you are able to go to school during the day, you are greeted by a empty classroom that s...

"AHHHHHHH!!!! Reid-Reid get me!! AHHH!!! Save me! Save me momma/daddy!"  Recently, these have become Rylee's favorite words when playing with her brother.  She LOVES it when he chases her...but hates to be caught.  Following our screaming, giggling morning chase around the house, I got to thinking how quiet...boring....empty it would be to have Reid without Rylee or Rylee without Reid. When we found out we were having twins, I had all kinds of emotions....joy, shock, disbelief...pretty much saying to God, "Really?  You really picked us for THIS? You must be mistaken...or joking...but I guess we will go with it.  You know what You're doing."  Funny how He works.  Dan and I both come from families with twins....so you think we would be prepared...maybe anticipating something like this...but we weren't.   There are so many sweet moments that make me realize what being "together" means to Reid and Rylee.  One of my favorite parts of the da...

It's amazing me lately how much I am learning about life through these two little rambunctious two year olds.  Yesterday was another lesson learned. So Rylee has become very aware of everyone's owies and has become extremely concerned with a couple little owies on Dan's leg.....nothing big but she is SO concerned.  For some reason, she calls owies--> hurts.  Randomly she will come grab my hand saying, "Come Mommy...daddy's hurts...need kisses." Sooo I was saying a prayer with the twins before bed last night.  After praying for a good night's rest, I started praying for daddy who was fishing.  Before I could even finish praying for Dan, she quickly she sits up in bed and shouts--"AND DADDY'S HURTS!!!!!"  I smiled and continued to pray for his hurts. :) Long after hearing their shouts of "AMEN" or Reid's "A-NEN" and closing their door last night, I have been thinking about Rylee's sweet little voice remindin...

So as the reality of summer begins to really set in......I realize I left something out about our summer in our last post.  While the twins and I chill at home enjoying the sunshine, our daddy's days are quite different.  While the Hutchings' house sleeps....Dan is getting ready for the day quietly making sure not to wake us all.  Ten minutes before he leaves, he stops whatever he is doing to go with me to get Reid and Rylee out of bed.  2 LOUD squeals which always include DADDY greet us when the door opens.  And for some reason he has to leave before they're up, they notice right away asking, "Where's daddy? Daddy?"  This is usually followed by a thorough search around the house for him.  Which leads me to why I titled this post.  While we are home enjoying our summer days, daddy is hard at work spending time with other kids that also need his patience, love and guidance.  We are so blessed to have a father that works so hard to make a diffe...