Christmas Eve Surprise

Christmas is a season of surprises and beautiful gifts. This year our youngest daughter received the surprise of her life and the sweetest gift a girl could dream of - a Christmas Eve question that will change the course of her life - the "will-you-marry-me" kind of surprise, complete with a gorgeous sparkly engagement ring and an adorable young man she's dreamed of since she was just fourteen. God is so good to us, more than we deserve. His gifts come wrapped in the most unexpected surprises and we are beyond grateful for His lavish care and love for us. Here's Heather and Jason's Christmas Eve engagement story!

HEATHER & JASON

Her surprise began in the most simple of ways - the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was a time for us to remember what this season is really all about and what's most important. Afterwards Jason invited her to begin a new Christmas Eve tradition with him. They went to a park near our home, enjoyed a special dessert, and exchanged handwritten letters and a Christmas ornament. Heather made one for Jason to commemorate last Christmas when he told her he loved her for the first time. 

They went for a walk under moonlit skies filled with stars and Jason planned for them to end at a chosen spot. His accomplices, big sister Amber and her new hubby Austin, who married in May, waited in the bushes to capture everything on film and video. There was a lovely gift wrapped in silver paper with a big bow sitting in the middle of a semi-circle of candlelight. 

As soon as Heather noticed the scene she pulled Jason aside and probably said something like, "Oh, my gosh! Someone is getting engaged here tonight. We should go before they get here!" Jason most likely smiled and said, "Hey, let's go over and take a look!" To which Heather probably replied, "Are you crazy! We're going to ruin everything!" It's a good thing Heather's so tiny and Jason's so muscular because he practically pulled her through the bushes and suggested they open the box! He knelt down, opened the lid and removed a blue velvet box. It was only when he ended up on one knee before her that she realized she was the one being proposed to this Christmas Eve! 

Of course, she cried, he slipped the ring on her finger, she finally said, "Yes!" after many happy tears and they embraced. In fact, that's the same embrace Amber and Austin left them in as they drove away some time later. We greeted Heather and Jason back at the house along with the Johnson family to wish them well and pray for the new adventure that awaits them. 

And so, another chapter begins in the life of the Sutters. The new year is just around the corner and we face more happy changes and an ever-growing family. I can't think of a better way to ring in 2013!

THE GORGEOUS SPARKLY RING

SHE SAID, "YES!"

Big Apple Dreams

November 23, 2012
Friday
Day #3


This morning we woke to our last day in the Big Apple
I won’t miss the crowds, the garbage in the streets, or the naked cowboy on the corner
But I will miss the gorgeous architecture, the beauty of the parks,
And the excitement of being in the city that truly never sleeps
I’m not sure what I expected but New York doesn't disappointment
We made our way down towards the waterfront to Battery Park
And took a one-hour harbor cruise to see the city from the water
The sky was clear, the weather gorgeous, and Manhattan was amazing from the water
Since both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were closed
Due to damage from hurricane Sandy
We were able to cruise close enough to enjoy them
As the boat turned and Lady Liberty’s face came into view
I thought about the countless immigrants who sailed into New York harbor
Seeking freedom and hoping for a better life
After weeks at sea, the dangers of a long voyage, and hearts filled with expectation
Weeping tears of joy at the sight of Liberty’s beautiful face
New York would have been their first glimpse of America’s shores

MANHATTAN SKYLINE

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

THE FREEDOM TOWER FROM THE WATERFRONT

ME AND EMILY

THE LADY

THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY

STATEN ISLAND FERRY

We landed and walked through the financial district, past the Charging Bull
The sculpture located on Broadway created by famed artist, Arturo Di Modica
Many of the buildings near the waterfront area
Were being gutted and storm damaged waste thrown into huge dumpsters in the street
Floridians are no stranger to the devastating power of hurricanes
New York wasn’t prepared
Several of the tunnels we drove through during our taxi rides
Were completely under water and had to be pumped dry

TRINITY'S ENTRANCE

We strolled the streets and made our way to Trinity Church on Wall Street
In 1697 the church received its charter from King William III of England
Trinity burned in 1776 when Manhattan caught fire
As the Continental Army retook New York
Alexander Hamilton and John Jay were both members of Trinity
Hamilton is buried here in the churchyard
Following George Washington’s inauguration he attended a Thanksgiving service here

THE ORNATE PULPIT

The church has been added to and rebuilt several times
And the current building was completed in 1846
Those of you who know me well know I not only LOVE history
But I LOVE historic architecture
This church is one of the most beautiful structures I’ve ever seen
It reminds me of something you’d find in Europe
Soaring arches, intricate stained glass windows, ornate carved woodwork
A beautiful pipe organ, a chapel for quiet reflection, and marble carved crypts
Being surrounded by centuries old architecture and old world beauty
Was simply breathtaking
Everywhere I looked there was something else to marvel over
It was the perfect place to reflect

BREATHTAKING 

BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Call it a morbid fascination or just a complete love of everything historical
But the Sutter family enjoys strolling through old graveyards
Wondering over the stones and the epitaphs honoring those long gone
This particular cemetery was full of beautiful sentiments and very old stones
Including those of William and Elizabeth Bradford, pilgrims to the new world
I could have stayed and wandered among the quiet rows for another hour
But time was pressing so we moved on

MARBLE CRYPT

REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO

REMEMBERING THOSE LONG GONE

Our last stop before heading to John F. Kennedy airport for the flight home

Was Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan
Sandwiched between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues
It’s also bordered by the New York City Library and other iconic buildings
Like the American Radiator Building, now the Bryant Park Hotel
Built in 1924 in Gothic Art Deco style
Bryant Park has a long and storied history
Today it’s a beautiful ten-acre plot of nature amidst towering skyscrapers
It has wonderful shops, eateries, and an ice skating rink
Which Marilyn and I saw from the top of the Empire State Building
The park provides a fun place for families to gather and friends to meet
We watched the children making their way around the ice rink
Some with their parent’s assistance, some wearing crash helmets and knee pads
I personally would have needed a pillow strapped to my bum!
I shopped in a wonderful little boutique, purchasing gifts for my girls
We stepped into a taxi for a ride back to our hotel
Grabbed our bags and headed to the airport
Our last cab ride was with our favorite driver, Naveed
He regaled us with stories about surviving Hurricane Sandy
And Janine rode up front discussing the latest football game, of course

BRYANT PARK

THE RADIATOR BUILDING

Now, it all seems like a bit of a dream
Three days – four crazy women – one city – and the Macy’s parade
Words and photographs are all that remain to help us recount
The priceless memories and stories the four of us will share for a lifetime
New York will always be our Big Apple

Mouth-Open-Awestruck-First-Time-In-New-York-Tourist

Day #2
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

Next on the agenda was a trip to another iconic New York City institution
Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes Christmas show
Since December of 1932 Radio City has been entertaining people, young and old alike
From vaudeville, to famous opening night movies, like White Christmas and King Kong
It’s served as a place of beauty offering high quality shows at affordable prices
The architecture and interior details are stunning vintage art deco
The show itself was absolutely fabulous
The lavish costumes, beautiful dancers, creative routines, great props, the live orchestra
And the gorgeous portrayal of the nativity with live animals
Was enough to overwhelm the senses
It was so enchanting it was easy to get lost
I forgot to take off my 3D glasses twice
The girls were more than happy to point that out
I was just fulfilling my role as mouth-open-awestruck-first-time-in-New-York-tourist
So, (roll of the eyes, talk to the hand) what-eeeevvver!

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

TIN SOLDIERS

THE BIG RED BUS

LOOK AT ALL THOSE LEGS!

Later that evening
Emily, Marilyn and I spent time wandering around Rockefeller Center and Times Square
There were plenty of ice skaters
The Christmas tree was standing tall in the plaza
Surrounded by scaffolding so they could string it with thousands of twinkling lights
The store windows were dressed to delight, tempting shoppers to spend their money
We pressed our noses against a chocolate shop that featured treats from Switzerland
I don’t know anyone who can afford $88.00 a pound for chocolate
I wonder if they could cut a bonbon in half for me?
The Anthropologie windows were my favorite
They were so creative and whimsical – beautiful winter scenes
Featuring the most gorgeous clothing and items for your home
Laced with winter wonderland snow scenes
It was fun to window shop since that’s all my poor little pockets could afford
I’ll take away the memories and photographs instead since they’re my favorite things
Next stop, Time Square
The bright lights, the milling crowds, the sights, the sounds, the breathtaking buildings
The half-naked cowboy
Yes, you read that correctly
He was tall, muscular, dark, and I’m sure handsome, though I couldn't see his face
He wore only a pair of white skivvies with cowboy boots
A wide brimmed hat, and a guitar
It’s New York – what do you expect?
And no, there are absolutely no pictures
Once I spotted him it was all I could do to trip over the walkway
Eyes glued to the ground, which is very difficult
When you’re making your way through thousands of people
Gawking at all sorts of sights, including Skivvy-man
“Avert your gaze, ladies and for heaven’s sake, don’t make eye contact!”
I wonder what his mother is thinking right now?
“Well, for God’s sake, Harold, make sure you’re wearing clean underpants!”
“You never know when you might be in an accident!”
Well, there’s a memory I’m not sure I want to take away with me

ROCKEFELLER CENTER

ANTHROPOLOGIE WINDOW

BROADWAY MARQUIS

TIMES SQUARE

BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY

While the three of us were enjoying the sights
Janine was being treated to the Patriots-Jets game at MetLife Stadium
Too bad the Patriots crushed the Jets, 49 to 19
No matter; it was a dream for them to share that memory together
The timing couldn't have been more perfect
In fact, three things on Janine’s bucket list happened on Thanksgiving Day
Watching the Macy’s parade, seeing Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes
And going to a football game at MetLife Stadium with her younger brother, Johnny
In the Lord’s goodness and love for my sweet friend
He arranged all three on the same day to bless her heart
He cares for His children in such wonderful ways, even to the tiniest detail
All because He loves us
That’s something to be thankful for

NEXT UP

DAY #3

MANHATTAN HARBOR CRUISE 

TRINITY CHURCH

Squealing Like a Little Kid - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

November 22, 2012
Thursday
Day #2


We rolled out of bed this morning around 5:15
Dressed quickly in warm layers and grabbed breakfast at our hotel
We hit the streets of New York and walked to the corner of 39th and 6th
It’s Thanksgiving Day and we’re here to witness an iconic tradition
The Macy’s parade – something I have watched on television since I was a child
We stood in the cold, surrounded by three or four million of our closest friends
There were tons of families with jubilant smiling kids and plenty of holiday cheer
Except for Mr. Cranky-pants and his obnoxious son
Bless their hearts but they nearly started a fist fight with another family
Who’d been there since 5:00 am holding a spot for Grandma and the littlest ones
They were practically nose to nose at one point, hollering at each other
Apparently the best way to hold your spot is with folding camp chairs
And linking arms against the encroaching press of Scrooge-like parade goers
If we’re lucky maybe a New York pigeon
Will fly over Mr. Cranky-pants and drop a little present on him

The parade finally arrived at our corner around 9:45
It was thrilling to be there, even with the crush of the crowds
Which now stood about 15 people deep behind us
I must admit squealing like a little kid when the first of our favorite balloons
Came floating down the street, bobbing and bouncing to the beat of holiday music
Kermit the Frog, Charlie Brown, Spider Man, Mickey Mouse, and Buzz Light Year
There were wonderful marching bands, colorful floats, and a few celebrities –
Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, Trace Adkins, Flo Rida, Carly Rae Jepsen
And of course the jolly man in red -Santa Claus!
Friends and family looked for us on television during the parade
But we were far from the glint of the television cameras
It’s probably a good thing; you never know what might have happened!
It took some time to meander back since the crowds were so heavy
We had reservations at Ben’s Delicatessen but police had the street blocked off
In order to deflate the huge balloons and load them into trucks
We opted instead for sandwiches and the chance to rest our weary feet
And people watch – oh, my – New York does not disappoint!

MARILYN CHIT-CHATTING

CHARLIE BROWN

ELF ON THE SHELF

KERMIT THE FROG

OUR JANINE

PIRATE SHIP

CAPTAIN MICKEY - AHOY, MATE!

THE BIG MAN IN RED - SANTA CLAUS

 - STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT POST - 

THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

City Streets and Bright Lights

We visited the 9/11 Memorial first while the sun was setting over the skyline
In a way it reminded me of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington
Simple, elegant, sobering, reverent, and hauntingly beautiful
With the new Freedom Tower keeping watch over the grounds
It was a moving sight
The footprint of each tower featured reflecting pools
Surrounded by thirty foot falls on every side, lit with the soft glow of lights
The water cascaded down into the pool then stopped and flowed over an invisible edge
In the center of each pool is a square black hole
That descends seventy feet below the surface into the darkness
The names of all those who perished that awful day
Are stamped in metal and line the edges of each pool
The names are also lit with a soft light that filters through the letters
When you read the names silently to yourself
You can’t help but think about that person
Who were they? What was their life like? Who did they leave behind? How is their family?
I’ve always felt that reading names on headstones or memorials
Is a way to remember, calling that person by their name so they’re not forgotten
There are places to sit in the park under the trees, to think, to reflect, to remember
The city is in the process of planting a tree for every person who lost their life
They’re also working on a museum that will include historical artifacts from that day
Unfortunately hurricane Sandy flooded the construction site
And there’s a massive cleanup underway

THE FAB FOUR

9-11 MEMORIAL

FREEDOM TOWER

We ate dinner at the Heartland Brewery in the basement of the Empire State Building
The food was excellent and we enjoyed each other’s company
The ambiance was that of a 1930’s Art Deco bistro
Afterwards Marilyn and I went all the way to the top of the Empire State Building
To see the gorgeous city lights for miles in all directions
They stretched out before us like a twinkling fairy land
We could see the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty in the harbor, the Flatiron building
The Chrysler building, Macy’s, where parade preparations were taking place
And the ice skaters in Bryant Park gliding around and around in the frosty night air
The view was amazing and took our breaths away
The building itself is a work of art; an architectural treasure
It was a great way to end our first day, high above the city streets and bright lights

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

CITY STREETS

BRIGHT LIGHTS

THE CHRYSLER BUILDING

TWINKLING FAIRYLAND

  STAYED TUNED FOR MORE ADVENTURES

THE FAB FOUR IN NEW YORK CITY

Day #2

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Show

Rockefeller Center

Times Square

The Fab Four Do New York - "What Happens in New York Stays in New York!"

November 21, 2012
Wednesday
Day #1

We arrive at Orlando International Airport
Emily Jessee, Marilyn Kiester, Janine Warner, and me
Otherwise known as the Fab Four
Our departing travel plans go smoothly
Then Emily gets a little pat-down at the security check
I’m trying to choke down Dramamine pills without water
Marilyn’s sage advice is to save up some spit first
She’s not only super helpful, she’s also brilliant
As we board the plane Janine wants to know if the pilot is cute
They usually are; I don’t think I've ever seen an unattractive airline pilot
I’m still pinching myself and no, not over the cute pilot

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

WINDOW TO NEW YORK

CAB RIDE

FOOD CART

I cannot believe the Fab Four is winging their way through blue skies
On the way to the Big Apple; I don’t think New York is prepared
We settle in, buckle our seat belts and look at each other in disbelief
We’re really flying to New York to watch the Macy’s parade tomorrow
In the meantime, I congratulate Mark, our fantastic flight attendant

On his fine demonstration during pre-flight procedures
He laughingly threatens to use me as the model for the bright yellow inflatable vests
Blinking lights and all – oh goody!
I’m pretty sure he reports seats 13 B, C, D and E as possible troublemakers
He not too far off
I hope we make it through the whole trip without any major incidents
Or police involvement
Several friends have suggested someone alert the NYPD or the mayor
Janine has already asked Johnny, her brother, to be ready with bail money for four
One can never tell when we’re together
Our motto is, “What happens in New York stays in New York!”
Unless, of course, it’s blog-worthy
We land around 1:45 in the afternoon
OMG! Welcome to New York City

Our first cabbie is an Indian gentleman
Who drives like a bat out of hell
I've heard stories about cab rides in New York City
They’re all true!
New York cab drivers only seem to have two speeds –
Mario Andretti race mode or slamming on the brakes every five feet
In the backseat, Emily is either sucking in her breath
Or grabbing the cab seat with her derriere
Marilyn is tucked very snugly between Emily and I; poor woman
At least there’s no danger of her sliding across the seat
As we take every street corner at a breakneck pace
Janine is in the front seat talking politics and sports with the driver
With great gusto, a loud voice, and hand motions
I think she’ll fit right in
Traffic is really bad and it takes nearly an hour to reach our hotel
This is a miracle in and of itself
It’s amazing how the taxi drivers weave in and out of traffic in very small places
Between hordes of people who simple can’t be bothered with pedestrian etiquette
The crush of other cars, buses, taxis, tour buses, bicycles, and trucks,
Not to mention the constant presence of construction crews at work everywhere,
And the crazy tangle of one-way streets - it’s amazing we  didn't hit anything

Our second cabbie is a polite Haitian man and former Miami resident
He and Janine talked politics the entire ride
Fingers point, voices raise
As they compare and contrast Michael Bloomberg and Rudi Giuliani
All the while I’m thinking silently to myself
“Please don’t anger this man! Who knows where he might drop us off!”

With each successive cab ride today, the vehicles got smaller and smaller
Marilyn, Emily and I just get cozier and cozier
It’s a good thing we really like each other and put on deodorant this morning

STAY TUNED FOR THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF THE FAB FOUR

More of Day #1 - The 9/11 Memorial and the Empire State Building

Dear Blogosphere

Dear Blogosphere,

I'm hope this little note find you well. I've missed you. The pace of life and my to-do list have kept me from spending time with you but that hasn't stopped me from thinking about your blank pages and the way I'm able to tell stories with the written word and my favorite photographs.

I have the titles of future blog posts rolling around in my head - "Death by Muffin" and "Soapbox Confessional." Perhaps sometime soon I'll be able to steal away for a few hours to do something I've grown to love.

What's not to love about blogging? It's a place to express yourself, share your passions, tell stories about your life and people you love, discover the funny comments people leave for you, and the way it keeps friends and family connected when you're far away and lonesome for the ones you miss so much.

So, dear, wonderful Blogosphere, I hope to see you soon.

Love,

Kim