Monthly Archives: May 2009

Day 1: San Francisco

Posted on by
3

IMG_0815Jon and I decided that blogging is relaxing for me, SO to relax, I will keep our blog readers updated on our vacation. So here it goes…hope you enjoy.

 Our trip had a very exciting beginning. It wasn’t exciting at the time, but now it was hilarious. Jon and I had to drive about 1.5 hours to the airport in Charlotte, NC. We had just parked at the airport, and we were unloading our luggage when I asked Jon (in a very panicked voice) if he saw my wallet up there. He calmly responded no. As I begin feel my blood pressure rise, I call my mom to see if she saw my wallet on her counter (we left from her house, and I had written her a check before leaving). She said no. Let’s just say I was about to break down into tears…well as I was asking my mom to look in other places I had been in the house, I remembered that I had put my wallet in Jon’s glove box because he didn’t want me to take it with us, I had put my id into my camera back. DISASTER AVOIDED…..

 Due to my fiasco, we were late getting to the ticket counter, SO the lady didn’t charge us for our bags (YEAH, $15 saved) because she said that she didn’t want us to miss our flight. She did tell us not to tell anyone because she didn’t want to ruin her image so her name has been withheld to protect her identity. Flights were incredible. Each landed about an hour earlier than scheduled, each gave us three rounds of drinks and multiple (like 2+) bags of prezels a piece…who said the economy was struggling? AND, contrary to what usually happens to Jon and me, all of our luggage arrived when we did!

 SO, on to Day ONE in San Francisco…..We started the day by getting our rental car, a Jeep Patriot which is a pretty cool SUV. It’s small, but comfortable and perfect for our purpose. On our way to buy a charger for our Garmin (we forgot it in the car during the wallet fiasco), we found that there is an “Arlington Cemetary of the west coast.” Since is Memorial Day weekend, we wanted to visit and pay our respects to men who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. Jon and I remembered men in our lives that have served in some form in the military (Grandpa Buecher, Grandpa Avery, my cousin, Walter Osteen, and a cousin of mom Sutter). It was really neat to see all of the flags that had been placed in preparation of the festivities on Monday. Boy & Girl Scout troops worked together to honor each fallen soldier. After visiting the cemetery, we decided we needed to find some heavier clothes. We knew it would be “chilly” in San Francisco, but we didn’t even comprehend how chilly. We went to Goodwill and threw some items together to make us a warmer…what a great idea! You’ll have to check out the pictures of our styles….Jon even got complimented on his awesome coat.

 Bound for the Golden Gate Bridge, we got onto the infamous California 1. We had plans of walking across the bridge, but that quickly changed with the 54 degree weather and the wind chill. What a beautiful view. We drove around some scenic ways so we could get some better views.

 We checked into our hotel and then headed out to see Fisherman’s Wharf and get some food. Did you guys know San Francisco is one of the hilliest cities in the World. Well, Jon and I had a grand idea of walking to the Wharf (2.3 miles). Well, check out the pics for the hills. OH MY WORD. Definitely got a good thigh and calf workout. We ate some amazing food at a seafood restaurant. I had trout stuffed with crab meat. Jon took a “great” picture of my meal. After supper, we conveniently walked another 2 or so miles back to our hotel where we both vowed to take advantage of the hot tub for our very sore muscles. Thankfully, we had asked our waiter for a flatter way home, and it was much easier to handle.

 I have uploaded all of our pictures to picassa, so please browse them. We have really enjoyed my new camera, and Jon is turning out to be quite the photographer with it. I’m so proud of him. http://picasaweb.google.com/ashleigh.sutter/Personal?authkey=Gv1sRgCK6p_IW6h5fcKw&feat=directlink

Advertisement

Distractions have given way to blogging…..

Posted on by
Reply

SO, praise the Lord, I have been given time at work to study. I have been taking advantage of it. . .well, with the exception of the time I take to write this blog, and that’s only because I have spent 6.5 hours studying. My head is about to pop, and the sad part is there is still so much more to fit in.

Nothing too new to report at the homestead. Jon and I are pleased to report that we have no more children living with us. That’s right, Joe and Dan moved out last weekend. It’s bittersweet to see them go. Jon and I are looking forward to being “newlyweds” again for the next 3.5 months. Joe will be moving back in with us to finish up his last two years at BJU. We were so proud to see Dan graduate last Saturday cum laude…great job, AND he proposed to Isabelle, so we have ANOTHER wedding. I guess that is the downsize to marrying into a big family. ha ha. That’s four weddings in 31 months. CRAZY. Thankfully, Joe is taking the monastic approach (not literally), but waiting 5 years before marrying. Here are some pics from the past weekend. http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=251698&id=603205205&l=44bf4b4d7f

SO, I always enjoy feedback from my blog, and I wanted to respond to a complaint that I received. “You don’t write much about your family…We always hear about the Sutters.” So, in response, I would like to dedicate the rest of my post on updating you about my family.

My Mom

My Mom

My mom (who I didn’t get to see on Mother’s Day) is the hardest working person I have ever met. As long as I can remember, she has worked two jobs, and she would always put her needs/wants behind what we as kids wanted. Even now, she puts aside doing jobs she may want to do in order to watch my niece and nephew or something like that. She even comes to help on projects at my house. A couple months back, she spent the afternoon helping me plant rose bushes, and she has agreed to help me re-do Jon’s room one weekend in June. She is very involved in her church and is continually striving to be a woman of God. It’s been encouraging to see the transformation in her life over the past few years.

Brandi…oh, Brandi. She is the entertainer of our family. She frequently has all of us over for food or cookouts. Her dog (beast) Molly is as sweet and loving as can be and enjoys everyone’s attention when we are there. Unfortunately for my mom, Brandi’s Rook (card game) skills aren’t as good as her entertaining skills. Jon and I enjoy playing games with mom and Brandi, but they frequently lose due to Brandi’s above mentioned skills. She is currently working at Penske Truck Leasing and loving it. If you ever need a Penske truck, she’s your gal. Sorry no pics of Brandi on my computer. They have been backed up on the external hard drive. ;-(

The Family

The Family

Becki, Dallas, Ethan, & Madelyn…what can you say about the cutest kids in the world. Becki is trying to compete with my mom for the hardest working person position. She is juggling three part-time jobs. Basically, she’s a genius when it comes to medical insurance billing and medicare/medicaid, so everyone wants her. It’s a great quality (everyone wanting you) to have in this economy. Somehow, she is also raising two of the cutest kids in the world. Ethan and Madelyn are my pride and joy. Ethan is 3.5, and Madelyn is 16 months. Jon and I get to watch them tomorrow night, and we are pretty excited.

My puppy

My puppy

Jon and Lexi – the loves of my life. What more can be said? I don’t know where I would be without them. My wonderful hubby is taking me on a fancy date tonight. I’m not sure what the occasion is, but I’m excited to go.

Me – My life consists of studying. I’m stressing about my exam next week, but I am praying for peace, and I can feel it if I’m patient enough. God has blessed me with so many things…great family and friends, a great church, a wonderful small group, a challenging job, and a desire to never stop learning. I’m blessed beyond my imagination.

That’s all for now…Any more complaints? let me know.

Joe deserves credit

Posted on by
2

Last night I came home from my spinning class at 7:45. I had a lot on my plate. I needed to study and clean my disaster site that is also known as my house. I walked in to find a SUPER clean kitchen with a little candle lit on the counter. I was VERY thankful to see the sink empty, the counters washed, the floors swept, etc. I walked into the living room to thank Joe (Dan had been gone all day….I’m sure most know why, but if you not, you def need to ask him) 😉 When I walked into the living room, Joe wasn’t there, BUT what was there was another spotless room in my house. The piano had been dusted and straightened, the coffee table the same, the floors swept and vacuumed, and all of my clutter combined into an easy, sortable stack. WOW, was I thankful. To top it off, he even bought sodas to enjoy with the supper I brought home for the two of us (Jon worked until 11 last night, so it was Joe & Ash night at the Sutter house…I’m not much fun as far as company goes because I was studying for most of the time, but it was still enjoyable.

Well, I’m super excited about an awesome weekend. Dan graduates tomorrow, and the family will arrive this afternoon. We are having a cookout at our place tomorrow for lunch in celebration of Dan’s graduation and now his engagement. 😉

Well, since I’m leaving work early today, I came into work at 7, so I better get back to it, so I can still leave early.

Yesterday in History….

Posted on by
1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE. In celebration, I thought we would reflect on what has happened on this momentous day in history.

1626 Dutch explorer Peter Minuit landed on what is now Manhattan.
1776 Rhode Island declared its freedom from England, two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
1886 A labor demonstration for an eight-hour workday at Haymarket Square in Chicago turned into a riot when a bomb exploded.
1927 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded.
1946 A two-day riot at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay ended after five people were killed.
1961 A group of Freedom Riders left Washington, D.C., for New Orleans to challenge racial segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals.
1980 Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito died at age 87.
1989 Fired White House aide Oliver North was convicted of shredding documents and two other charges stemming from the Iran-Contra affair. (The convictions were overturned on appeal.)
1994 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat signed an accord on Palestinian autonomy that granted self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
1998 Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was given four life sentences plus 30 years by a federal judge in Sacramento, Calif., under a plea agreement that spared him the death penalty.
2000 Londoners elected their mayor for the first time.
2006 A federal judge sentenced Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison for his role in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
2007 A judge in Los Angeles sentenced hotel heiress Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. (Hilton served three weeks.)Some interesting people you share your birthday with? Chris Tomlin, Audri Hepburn, Lance Bass from ‘N Sync, and among many others Horace Mann the famous educator.

Also, on a sadder note, Moe of The Three Stooges dies on this day in 1975.