December Wrap Up!

One of our favorite things to do in December is participate in Christmas Crew!
Here is our group for this year ~ The Hutch & Hutch Gang!

Every year our youth group joins with The Elf Louise organization and helps deliver
presents all around the area.

Each group provides Santa's and Elf Louise provides the outfits and gifts.
It is a highlight for us every year!



Here is our Santa (Pastor Jared) with some of the girls.



Pastor Stuart (Our Favorite Elf) and Pastor Sean spreading Christmas cheer at our annual Youthquake Christmas party.



We spent one Sunday baking cookies with my sister Mini and her girls - Priscilla and Dedee. The cookies were being sent to my nephew Mark in Korea.
Lots of fun!



Ali Bug and Ju Bean helping out...





All of us girls with some of our goods ready to be shipped out.



Ali getting inducted to the National Junior Honor Society.



Alex and long time friend, Davis at the NHS reception...Congratulations!




Alex danced in our church Christmas Music presentation. (She is on the far left.)



All the dancers backstage.















Our Favorite Elf - Stuart got married!
What a beautiful bride and wedding it was!
Congratulations Allison and Stuart!














Christmas Eve at my sisters house.

















Since the girls no longer let me film them coming down the stairs and opening their presents...I am posting these Christmas morning photo's! We do not have any little ones in our home any more...kind of weird to not go searching for toys to buy for them!


They are still so cute on Christmas morning!

During Christmas break we like to go visit our sweet friends in Oklahoma.

The Harwells and Steckers are always on our tour of visiting.

Here are pictures from the Stecker ~ Hutcherson reunion!

Always a great time catching up...except this time Rick was beginning to come down with something...after this picture we went back to our hotel and he stayed in bed for 2 days!

We returned home last night to Winston...even though I was sick ( yes, I got what Rick had and so did Alex) I was so happy to see this face and be home again!

This picture is for Noni...from Winston!

December 2008 was a wonderful month!

All Glory to God!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER!

Last Friday was a grand day in the life of our little family! Our dear Meredith accomplished her goal of attending & graduating from College.
Not only did she graduate but she graduated with Highest Honors ~~ Summa Cum Laude!!!
(Shouts and Hand Claps for Mere!)

This is huge for us since neither Rick or I graduated from College.

Family Picture with our Graduate!

Mere Bear accepting her diploma

Cheers for the Graduates!

The Graduates exiting the ceremony.

Mere is in the second row with an "M" on top of her hat.

The decorated hats were great!

It really helped to locate her!

As I ironed her graduation gown on Friday morning I began to tear up.

Rick walked in and asked me if my allergies were bothering me...I said "No!"...and then I really cried as I pointed to her gown to express to him why I was crying!

We both are amazed at our daughters accomplishments and the blessings the Lord has provided.

As we think about the past 22 years of prayers that we have prayed for this daughter and how the Lord delivered and took care of us in the midst of some difficult seasons...we both are emotional.

This is the daughter that at a very young age we noticed her ability to perform and choreograph.

Despite us not being able to afford dance classes for her - The Lord provided the gift of dance to develop and strengthen in her as He guided her to become an amazingly gifted dancer and choreographer!

We learned that when He places a gift and calling on your life He will provide the pathway to grow and use it...not always the way the world would accomplish it!

Mere has gone from choreographing neighborhood shows with her friends to

choreographing a multitude of performances and shows for schools and church's.

As well as win awards for her performances.

Now she is on her way to becoming a High School Dance Director!!

What we witnessed last Friday was an amazing thing!

His power gave her skill, determination, and discipline.

What she has done with it is beautiful!

We are so proud of her!


CONGRATULATIONS MEREDITH!!!!

Love,

Mom, Dad, Alex and Julia

Lots To Share!

So much going on and lots to share!

Since Thanksgiving I have been busy preparing to put on a Market Days event at our church.
The event was last Saturday. It was crazy and fun!

We had around 40 vendors with a variety of great items.
I had a booth with all my Inspired Looks Accessories on display and for sale.
This is one of my favorite shows to do throughout the year because I get to see so many friends and customers that shop every year at this event. It is always nice to hug and catch up a little with these friends that I do not get to see so often.

The Mug N Muffin team, my daughters & some of my girlfriends helped to make that day such a success! I could not have done it without them! THANKS GIRLS!!

I wish I had pictures to show - but never had time to stop and snap any...like I said it was crazy!
I would love to show you what our church looked like...all decked out with decoration for the season, with people everywhere, vendors with their amazing items. Most of all I would like to have shown you the Christmas spirit that was everywhere...people shopping and having a good time with friends and family, families getting Christmas photo's taken by the large display of trees, folks enjoying the live Christmas music that was being performed by my friend Tina Wilson (She RockS!) and in the midst of all that hustle and bustle there was sweet ministry that took place in many different fashions.

A HUGE Thank You to all the vendors and their families for participating in this event with us.
What a special day you helped us deliver!
Praise The Lord for the many people that shopped and helped us raise around $5000. dollars to
benefit the single parents during the Christmas season!

Onto other updates...

CATY MAYER ~

During the week of Thanksgiving Caty had many tests done and received GREAT reports!
On Wednesday we received a text message that announced "The Doctor looked over the scans and said the tumor is gone! Happy Thanksgiving! Praise GOD!"

I screamed - YES! - when I read that!

I wanted to share this update with you since many of you have been praying for Caty and her family. This is a great report and we are rejoicing!

The Doctor says that she will continue with the scheduled plan of treatments even though the tumor has been killed and the bone is restructuring itself. Apparently this type of cancer (Ewings Sarcoma) is known to aggressively return.

Her next session of Chemo treatments begin this Friday - December, 12th.
On Monday - December 15th she will add radiation to her treatments.

Please pray for her as she begins this new phase of her treatments.
They are praying that she will be well enough to enjoy Christmas at home and not at the hospital or be banned from family participation due to low counts and immune system.

She continues to be a courageous young warrior and shares her story often to encourage others!

We enjoyed a night out with their family last weekend...it was a great evening and a rarity since she became ill.


SHARLET LYNN ~

Sharlet is another good friend that battled cancer.
I had her and Caty come be my guest at a ladies event I did at our church.
You can check out her story on my blog from my October posting called - "WOW!".

I wanted to share with you this exciting opportunity she had.
Recently she was featured in Newsweek magazine regarding her cancer journey and the use of the caring bridge website.
Read more about it by going here...NEWSWEEK. If it does not open to that page click on the Health page and look for the story titled - " Fighting on Two Fronts".


We are busy trying to get Christmas decoration up, attend the girls dance performances, attend Christmas parties, Open houses, Graduation, and help with our friends wedding.

Oh and I have something really special I am working on...Next week I will have all the details to announce it!

All I can say is Ladies ~ Save the Date of JANUARY 23rd, 2009!


Be Inspired!

Veronica