Sometimes I Dream of Lobster Stew {Our Trip to Maine, part one}

On November 8, 2010 a tragedy happened that would soon bring two families together. Andrew L. Hutchins was killed in Afghanistan. 

"Hutch" served with my husband in the 101st Airborne Division with the 3rd STB, 3rd BCT Rakkasans. They were Military Policeofficers. Soldiers. Friends. Brothers in Arms. It's hard to believe that one day, one single moment, can forever change a life. Many lives. 

After Hutch was killed my husband vowed to always stay in touch with his family. Not in an intrusive way. If they didn't want him around then he wouldn't push. Luckily, they welcomed him with open arms. Not only into their lives but, into their home. Into their family.

The first anniversary of Hutch's death my husband went to Maine to be with Hutch's wife and infant daughter, his parents and his brother. That would only be the beginning of an amazing connection between all involved. 

When Hubs took me with him last year I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't sure I could handle the emotions around it all. I didn't know Hutch, yet I cry each and every time I sit and write about him and his family or I talk about him in depth....and even when I think long and hard about our daughter's name, Mabry Mae Hutchins. {she is named after him to honor his sacrifice} I certainly didn't expect to fall in love with the people that Hutch loved so dearly. He has an amazing family. His dad met us at the airport with great big hugs and kisses, took us to his home and made us dinner. His stepmom made sure we saw as much as we could see in the short time we were there. His young wife brought their now toddler daughter to visit with us. We enjoyed those three days more than I think I will ever be able to convey to them. I will forever treasure the days spent in Maine. {and look forward to many, many more!}

I don't know why I feel compelled to write about Hutch and his family so often. I won't apologize for it. He deserves to be remembered. So MANY soldiers are forgotten. Or, their story is told once or twice and "that's enough". I think I will come back and write about Hutch and his sacrifice and his family often. VERY often. He will not be forgotten. Not by his family. Not by my husband. Not by me. Not by any of you if you stick with my blog long enough. :o)

I sat down to write today because I found some pictures from last November when we went to Maine. I wanted to share them with you. And then I just started typing and all of that above came out. Now, I'll share the pictures. And why this post is titled what it is titled.

The day after we arrived in Maine, Hutch's dad took us to this amazing little restaurant on the water.


Cook's Lobster House on Bailey Island, Maine. Seriously, if you find yourself in the area, GO! Have the Lobster Stew. Thank me later.

Lobstah Stew, y'all. {that's Maine talk and Southern talk right there!} See those enormous chunks of lobster? Heaven in your mouth. No joke.


Fresh Maine Lobster, or Lobstah, if you're reading from Maine. {Hubs had already taken two pieces off of my plate before I got a picture. Did he forget I'm a blogger and take pictures of all of the food???!!?!}

After we ate lunch, we walked around the tiny island for a little bit. It was cold and dreary but, like nothing I had ever seen before. Simple beautiful.















While we walked around in the cold, Hutch's dad sat in the warm truck and loved on our Mabry.



Until November of this year, I'll keep looking back on these pictures. I can't wait to get back up there and hug the necks of a family that I never knew I had...and would've never met under any other circumstances.

{there are more pictures...waiting to be edited. Coming soon. *wink*}

Today We Remember

{Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13 NIV}


We will never forget the sacrifices made by the men and women who laid down their lives for our country.

where were you?

where was i?
i can't remember where i was on november 14th, 2004.
nor can i remember where i was on september 1, 2010.
but, i do remember where i was on september 11, 2001.

i was pregnant with my first son, jake.
i was living on the west side of jacksonville, fl with four of my girlfriends.
when the first plane hit i was still in my warm bed.
the first person to call that horrific morning was my mom.
"are you watching tv?"
no, i'm in bed. where else would i be on a tuesday morning at 9 o'clock in the MORNING??
"go turn on the tv."
ugh...ok, fine.
i dragged my feet and probably grumbled all the way into the living room.
i am not a morning person.

once i plopped my very tired, very pregnant bum onto the couch and flipped on the tv i saw it.
i questioned what i was even seeing.
how could this happen?
was it an accident?
who would do this sort of thing?

then it became real for me.
for my unborn son.
for my fiance.

hubs (then fiance) was in the army reserves in 2001.
i was crying and worried and sick to my stomach.
would he have to leave us to go fight these mean people that have nothing better to do with their time than to attack the most amazing country in the whole world???
would he be by my side as i delivered our baby?
would he help me raise him and any other blessings we received?
would he come home?

my question on september 11, 2001 was answered in february of 2003.
hubs was called to iraq. for a twelve month tour that turned into a sixteen month tour.
then, he came home.

we are in the middle of another deployment now.
still for the same reason he, and thousands and thousands of other brave men and women, were called in 2003.
prayerfully hubs' twelve month tour will only be twelve months this time.
until he comes home...we are proud. so very proud of him.
and love him more than words can say.

while we had many years in between deployments.
and many babies.
and houses.
and memories.
there are so many families in america that were stripped of those dreams in just seconds.

i didn't understand what it meant to be proud of your country until that day.
it didn't matter to me if i had an american flag flying outside my house.
i half heartedly said the pledge of allegiance.
the national anthem had little meaning to me.

today, i'm proud.
i have a flag flying outside of my home everyday.
i stand tall with my hand planted firmly over my heart.
tears fall down my face every time i hear the national anthem.

we will never forget september 11, 2001.
it has forever changed our lives.

are you a proud american?
will you say a prayer for those who lost a loved one as a result of september 11?
will you fly your flag today? and everyday?
will you thank a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine?
this army wife thanks you!

may God continue to bless AMERICA!