New Pictures

Just wanted to post something . . .

Emily started gymnastics a few weeks ago. It was a huge hurdle for her to be able to participate, but last time she did everything! I was so happy, I cried. It has been a long road with her from day one, but it's beginning to pay off. Here she is in her gymnastics leotard, playing the piano. She loves music!

Here's one was to keep a teething baby occupied. If I'd have only known that before. Oh, yikes, gotta go! Nathan is eating dog biscuits! Ack!!!

Linda's Answer

I thought I would put Linda's answer in a post for all to see rather than hidden in a comment. Her answer reminds me of "National Treasure 2":

Hmmm. Lunch with anyone. There are so many. Dead, perhaps Abraham Lincoln. There were prophesies about that time in history that even he knew about. Also, his death had a bit of a mystery as he had foreseen his own funeral.Alive, Barrack Obama. I want to see who he really is. There is too much hype flying around - both negative and positive.

Fun Finding a Tree

I just wanted to blog and share some of the fun we had with our visitors this past week.  As Christmas is approaching we found ourselves without a Christmas tree.  So, we decided to make a day out of it, and so off we went to the tree farm to cut down our very own tree.  

Brad and Deborah had fun with the boys 

while Rachel had fun catching the tree after James chopped it down!   Way to go Rachel!

Overall it was a fun experience, though a bit cold.  For more pics visit the Hutchings Family blog.  I hope everyone had fun and is feeling better.  :)

Answer to the Question

I'm going to answer Liz's question with a condition: I'm eliminating Jesus, Joseph Smith, and scriptural prophets.   I mean, who doesn't want to meet Elijah?

That said, here I go.

Dead person: Martin Luther.  There's just too much legend now surrounding him, but I suspect he was a godly man, humble but bold.  I can't even fathom the anxiety he felt on October 31, 1517 as he nailed that paper to the door of the Wittenburg Castle Church.  I'd like to see into his eyes and discuss those events that ushered in the Reformation and therefore Restoration.

Live Person: Nelson Mandela.  Those in the know say that the South African government has hired "life coaches" to help Mandela live as long as possible.  They fear that his death will mark the end of peace in that country.  He spent 27 years in prison, then became president of a country with a strong and vibrant history of legal and government sanctioned separation based on skin color.

There you go.  It took me a while to come up with these, and I'm sure tomorrow I'll think of something better, but hey, there are just too many amazing people to limit oneself!

A new Question . . .

I think James has admin on this since he set it up, so let him know what you want!  He is very good at these things.  :)

I realized I didn't post any new question.  Before I do I would like to ask that you just create a new blog to respond since we don't get notifications for new comments.   

Hmmm. . . what to ask?

If you could have lunch with anyone (dead or alive) who would you choose?  Feel free to choose one dead and one alive to make things a little more fun!  :)

Where would I like to go?

This is a question that I have never given much thought to as I have never really had opportunity to travel.  But it appears that a trip may be in our near future  and so now I begin to wonder where would I go?  I would love to go to Rome to see all of the great architecture and art.  I would also love to go to Hawaii, so I would love to hear how the newlyweds enjoyed it!  But alas it appears that my first international trip will be somewhere I never would have guessed.  Do I have you interested yet? Hmmmm. . .   Well, I guess I will tell you then.  I believe I get to go to South Africa next March with James' choirs.   I am very excited and am looking forward to the trip.  One of his students is from South Africa and told the school there about the choir and got an invitation.  James is very excited to do an international tour with his choir as well as just getting to go.  The hotel they will put the choir up in is on a park with great wildlife.  I'm sad I cannot take the boys but I definitely cannot afford that.  Maybe the next tour they can come on.  It is pretty exciting to think that I may get to join James' choirs on international tours.  They won't happen every year but maybe every few years.  That is pretty exciting to think about.  I hope we get to go to London, Rome, Paris and many more exciting places!  I guess only time will tell.

Speaking of travel. . .

Since no one else posted I just have to assume that the place you would love to go most would be Columbia, MO to see me!  Ha Ha!  Anyway I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been looking at flight schedules and now the cheaper flights are telling me that there are only 2 seats left, so they are going fast.  I know you are planning to take care of it this weekend but would just like to warn that you will most likely end up paying more for every day you wait.  Or who knows you may get lucky but not usually when booking on a weekend for travel on the holidays.  If I can help you search just let me know.  I did find a great flight but it left Wed morning and I know that conflicts some schedules.  Crazy teachers!  :)

Anyway I hope that everyone can come and visit and enjoy James' yummy cooking!