Labels: family, fun, funny stuff

My Gram turned 85 last Friday. She keeps a schedule that is just madness- sheer madness!
Between her hospice volunteer work, Emmaus community events and groups, and running errands for various homebound friends, Gram does more at 85 than most people half her age.

Last year, she came up to Vegas for Thanksgiving (she lives in Yuma, AZ). The evening before she headed home, we all went out to hear Jon's band play. The above pic is the result of a little fun we had when she dozed off. (It was after midnight)

Please know that none of the empties are hers (neither bottles nor glasses)...

Labels: family, fun

Four days until a hug from Mandy, a Caleb laugh, that chicken smell. A morning with Dad (since he and I will be up way before anyone else), an afternoon jaunt, a late night cribbage game with Mom.
Family vacation is upon us, and that means some surf fishing with Uncle Jim, pool time with Tara and the boys, and hanging with my baby brother. I have a few predictions for the week:

1) My nephews will be completely taken with my Uncle Jim, as he is simply the coolest uncle ever. (Sorry Jon, but it is true. You are second coolest, if that helps)

2) I will forget sunscreen on my feet and ears at least once and end up looking like some strange Vulcan-Hobbit cross.

3) It will take four hours before Mandy and I are rolling our eyes at one another. (Sisters are fun for that, right?)

4) After 24 hours, Jon and Matt will be itching to get away from so many women folk. Uncle Jim will already be on the beach with his fishing poles.

5) At least one Wolske (legal or biological) will end up with a headache one morning out of the seven. It will probably be me, as even my mother admits I am a complete pantyweight.

There you have it. My vacation predictions for 2007.

Labels: family, Jon, life

A little over twenty years ago, I wrote an essay for a Father's Day contest. Our task was to finish the sentence "My dad is the greatest because..." My parents still have that essay -my careful fourth grade cursive on its Cabbage Patch Kids stationery. My guess is that it is in the stack of framed photos that need to be hung somewhere sometime (Does every home have a stack like that or is this a problem unique to Hutsons?)
I do not remember all the particulars, but I know that some mention was made of pancakes for breakfast. I recall that, when the essay was read to the congregation, there were a few chuckles-- I imagine that I would chuckle myself to read it now.
A lot has changed in those twenty years. Dad is no longer the "man in my life;" I cannot remember the last time I ate his pancakes for breakfast; it's been months since I even had breakfast with him! One thing has not changed- my dad is the greatest.

He is the greatest provider I could have hoped for- always sacrificing for the four of us. Many stories are told about the sailboat Dad could have gotten instead of kid sand the convertible which was not safe for little ones. I'd be willing to bet there were times he would have seriously considered a trade.

He is the greatest protector a kid could need. One of my most vivid Jr. High memories was my father marching in to the office at Belle Vue Middle School, pretty much taking no prisoners, when I was slugged on the school bus. I don't think I had ever seen Dad really angry until that point. (Needless to say, the young man in question did not see the school bus for the remainder of the year.)

He is the greatest at letting go. We three brats have not been an easy lot (See that picture? Daddy had hair until 1976!), but my father has learned to trust God to look after us when we are too stupid to do it ourselves. I am not a parent, so this concept is completely foreign to me. I have a hard enough time surrendering myself to God.

I have learned so much from my father- from how to make a perfect roux to changing a tire, yet the most important lesson he ever taught was simply to watch and listen. One of the most perceptive people I know is my dad, and it is because he watches and listens.

Our earthly relationships are supposed to give us a tiny sliver of what God has in store for our Eternity, and I am thankful to have a glimpse of Father's love through my dad.

Labels: Faith, family

Jon and I have been married just over four years. I wouldn't have thought I could grow too much, but thinking about Christine's questions helped me realize that I don't really know that girl anymore.

I was not exactly a kid when we married, but I was far from prepared to share my life and all that entails. I can remember our pre-marital counselor telling us that we "just made the cut" for age and success rates or something like that. At the time, I was probably rolling my eyes (on the inside)- I was twenty-seven years old, after all! My mother married at twenty, and my younger brother was making snarky comments about Jon maybe being my only chance. As far as I was concerned, I was getting long in the tooth.

Yeah, the age thing-- not really convinced that helps much. We were statistically old enough, but no more "ready" than anyone else. The funniest part is that, no matter what my expectations were, they were way off base. Whatever I thought about marriage, it pales in comparison to the reality.

Twenty-seven year old Kelly had no idea what was in store. She had not yet known the fear of leaving behind everything she knew to follow her husband into his dream. 2002 Kelly had not experienced the lows of not getting out of bed for days, or wondered if they would ever get their heads above water. But neither had she known the reassurance of a hand squeezing hers and a voice telling her that she was far from alone.

Four years have brought so many changes. I am far from the wife I should be, but with God's help and Jon's, I am making progress. I listen more and better; I let go more easily (a hard hard lesson); I pray more intentionally.

Is marriage what I expected? No, it is ever so much more. If this is what God can accomplish in us in four short years, the next thirty or so will blow my mind.

Labels: Faith, family, Jon, marriage, memes

So glad to be back in my own bed, with my own cat and my husband. I had a lovely visit with family and friends, but the time on each end without Jon wasn't as much fun, I have to say. I suppose I am a sap, but I just do not like being away from him.

I have to start with a mini-rant, I think. A few observations from our trip

1) Why does the Salisbury Regional Airport rate FOUR TSA officers on duty at one time-- this time being 5:30 AM on a January 1. There is only one security gate and the planes only have 37 passengers when full. Is this my federal tax money at work, or are they just sucking the citizens of the Peoples Republic of Maryland for this?

2) Note to supervisors everywhere: when talking to your charges on a two-way, beware of snarky comments about customers. I have enough brain cells to compose a letter of complaint.

3) Lovely Fruitland W@(-m@%t pharmacist: with that attitude, you will always be ringing up Stouffer's lasagna with the Advil Cold and Sinus. See, the joy of retail is that part of your job is to provide CUSTOMER SERVICE. Don't like it? The hospital pharmacy is always hiring.

4) Suggestion for Wicomico County Tourism Board: Come for the quiet, stay for the violent intestinal illness. Yes, Jon and I continued our Christmas tradition of going home for family, fun, and V & D. Next year? Arizona and Gram.

Ok, now that I have that out of the way, I can say that we had a fantastic visit. Jon was able to meet his newest nephew (8 mos) and we were able to meet our niece (3 mos). Lots of nephew time, lots of mom time (though not enough), and even a movie (Charlotte's Web made me cry). Good times.

Labels: family, Gripes

There has been some sparring going on over at the Family Guy's place. It would appear that we have a class-A man law violation in progress.

Cookie is her name, and she sent this message. I think it goes to any detractors, not just Uncle Jon (who will, by the way, be completely stupid over this dog).

NB- The message is PG. Mild language and violence.

Labels: family, funny stuff