Mona and I couldn’t be more proud of Anna.  She’s truly a treasure to us.

Happy birthday, Anna.  We love you.  Now that you’re 21, I can finally tell this blonde joke…

How do you get a blonde on the roof?
….tell her drinks are on the house.

Click here for lots more pictures, including some from Easter.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

And that, my friend, is why our mom and dad celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today. 

Mom and Dad, you are such a blessing to us and everyone around you.  Congratulations on this awesome day.  We hope your time in Hawaii is relaxing and fun-filled.  If you take lots of pictures, we’ll get them up here on this blog to share with everyone.

Dave, Rod and I could not manage to get our schedules together to record a happy anniversary greeting.  So, we enlisted the services of a group that we know you love. 

Click the PLAY button and enjoy.

Love,
Dave, Dawn, Dan, Alysa, Mike, Nick
Ron, Mona, Anna, Ben, Emily
Rod, Kathy, Christopher, Tim, Malia, Grace, Josie

Today is Rod’s 44th birthday, and he told me that he needed to get a few things off his chest.

First, when Rod made Captain in the Navy, there were a few people who thought that Rod’s head may finally be too big for his britches.  Rod said… “Who me”?

Second, Rod has recently taken up softball again.  Actually, it’s a compulsory group activity in the new cross-branch school Rod’s attending in Norfolk, VA.  The spectators learned that Rod’s grip isn’t what it used to be when he was younger.

Third, Rod and Kathy home school their kids; and in order to qualify for the home school program, they have to pass teacher certification.  Following is a copy of Rod’s latest test results.  Fortunately for Rod, Kathy gets to score the test and he fared pretty well.

1. A miss is as good as a ____
Mr.

2. Better to be safe than ____
punch a 5th grader

3. Strike while the ____
bug is close

4. It’s always darkest before ____
daylight saving time

5. Don’t bite the hand that ____
looks dirty

6. You can’t teach an old dog new ___
…math.

7. If you lie down with dogs, you’ll ___
…stink in the morning.

8. Love all, trust ___
…me.

9. The pen is mightier than the ___
…pigs.

10. An idle mind is ___
…the best way to relax.

11. Where there’s smoke there’s ___
…pollution.

12. Happy the bride who ___
…gets all the presents.

13. A penny saved is ___
…not much.

14. Two’s company, three’s ___
…the Musketeers.

15. Don’t put off till tomorrow what ___
…you put on to go to bed.

16. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and ___
…you have to blow your nose.

17. There are none so blind as ___
…Stevie Wonder.

18. Children should be seen and not ___
…spanked or grounded.

19. If at first you don’t succeed ___
…get new batteries.

20. You get out of something only what you ___
…see in the picture on the box.

21. When the blind leadeth the blind ___
…get out of the way.

22. Better late than ___
…pregnant.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROD!  WE LOVE YOU.

This week brought the sad news of my mom’s sister Mary’s passing.  Mary had battled cancer for some time and on Monday she went to be with the Lord.  It is such hard news to bear.  What can we say to family and friends who remain and have to deal with the pain of their loss?…

We’re sorry.  We’re here for you. We love you. And, most importantly, God loves you more.

To say that the Lord holds our lives in His hands from cradle to grave is an understatement.  For Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”  And in John 1:1-2 Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” 

I spoke with mom and dad last night and they said the memorial service was very nice.  Dad said that one of the songs they played was “Amazing Grace” by Elvis.  Mary was a huge Elvis fan.  It’s interesting that I sang a slightly different version of Amazing Grace last night with about 400 other people at a National Day of Prayer gathering.  I’m including the version we sang last night here with the lyrics. 

I would encourage you to listen and read along.  My favorite part is the chorus when it says, “My chains are gone.  I’ve been set free.” 

Mary’s chains are gone now, and she’s been set free forever.

“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”
by Chris Tomlin

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Today is my dad’s birthday, and I have a special message I want to share with you in honor of him and of HIM.  You see, this has been an extraordinary year for our family.  Today I know my dad like I’ve never known him before, and he’s a treasure to me and every member of our family. 

I don’t normally mix birthday and Christmas greetings, but the video below hits the mark for today and Christmas.

Dad, happy birthday.  We love you very much.

To everyone reading this, we wish you a blessed Christmas.

Ron, Mona, Anna, Ben and Emily.

Enjoy the video…

This has been a week of celebration for us.  We’ll take turns by age and finish with a slideshow of assorted Huttons…

Mona is celebrating the 47th anniversary of her birth and we’re rejoicing with her.  One thing we all love about Mona is her sense of compassion.  Our last trip to the dentist office went something like this…

Mona said, “I want a tooth pulled. I don’t want gas or Novocain because I’m in a terrible hurry. Just pull the tooth as quickly as possible.”

“You’re a brave woman,” said the dentist. “Now, show me which tooth it is.”

Mona turns to Ron and says: “Open your mouth and show the dentist which tooth it is, dear.”

Anna came home from FSU last Friday to spend Christmas with us.  It’s such a treat to have Anna home.  We don’t see her nearly as much as we’d like to.  Everything just seems brighter when she’s around.

Ben celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday this week.  We are very proud of Ben.  You’ll probably notice in some of the slideshow pics that Ben towers over his mom and sisters now.  I can’t believe how fast Ben is growing up.  God has some incredible plans for Ben’s life and it’s a joy to be part of it.

Emily performed beautifully at her Christmas piano recital this past Sunday.  The event was wonderful, as usual, and this year Emily was the anchor pianist because she’s worked very hard and her teacher saved the best for last.

CLICK HERE for a assorted Hutton slideshow.

Yesterday was Emily’s 14th birthday; and since she loves a good joke, I’m giving her this one.  The answer is below.

Happy birthday Emily.  We love you very much.

Dad

HERE’S THE JOKE…

Q: What’s invisible and smells like carrots?

A: Bunny farts!

21 years ago today I was 24 and Mona was 25.  We stood at the alter in front of a very special group of family and friends in Copper Harbor, MI, and vowed for better or worse.  We’ve had both; and today I’m beginning to understand why that’s critical to a relationship ordained by God and meant to last forever.

God knew I needed Mona to help me become the man He meant me to be.  Today I know that too better than ever.

Mona, I love you.  Thank you and happy anniversary.

Mona heard a song on the radio the other day that was a blessing to her, and she asked me if I could find it.  I did and have included it here for you too.

Turn up your speakers, click the blue Play button below, and follow along with the lyrics.  I hope this song is a blessing to you as it has been to us.

Ron

The Words I Would Say
by Sidewalk Prophets

Three in the morning,
And I’m still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I’d say,
If we were face to face,
I’d tell you just what you mean to me,
I’d tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You’re going to do great things,
I already know,
God’s got his hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don’t forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I’ve already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You’re going to do great things,
I already know,
God’s got his hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don’t forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You’re going to do great things,
I already know,
God’s got his hand on you so,
Don’t live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don’t forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

Today’s a very proud day for the baby (brother) of this family.  Rod entered the Navy ROTC program at the University of Minnesota straight out of high school and his Navy career has been an inspiring series of assignments and promotions. 

Today Rod was promoted to the rank of Captain.  That is higher than Commander, the rank Rod had for the last 4 (?) years, and the next promotion will be to Rear Admiral (lower half).

I know the air must be getting thin way up at the top, but Rod hasn’t lost his sense of Huttonness, as evidenced in the following picture.

Congratulations Rod!  We are very proud of you.

Mom, I couldn’t decide what to get you, so I got you a hat, a song, a joke and a birthday video.  I hope you have an awesome birthday.

Love,
Ron

Birthday hat…

Birthday song…

Birthday joke…

An old couple is on a walk, when a pigeon flies by and relieves himself on the woman’s head.

“Yech!” says the woman. “Get some toilet paper.”

“What for?” says the man. “He must be half-a-mile away by now.”

Birthday video…