Alphabet of Thanks

"Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My Alphabet of Thanks:

A: Adam - my husband & prince, amazing grace

B: Bible, books, bonfires, brownies, bows, babies, being silly, bikes

C: chocolate, candy, church, candles, Christmas, cuddling, Chicago, chicken

D: dogs (Daizee & Peyton), Disney, doodling, date nights

E: everyday that we are blessed to wake up to & start a new

F: family, friends-old & new, faith, favor, fun, fashion, fish, forgiveness, Fall, fruit

G: grace, greatness of all things great, gloves

H: Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, hikes in pretty places, honey

I: iPhone

J: jewelry, Jesus, Jennifer (Yes, I already mentioned family, but she's the one & only sister!)

K: kitchens filled with good food & good company

L: laughter, lip Gloss, lavender, love, leaders, lights

M: music, magazines, memories

N: nail polish, Nutella

O: orange juice in the mornings, ocean

P: pizza, pearls, promises kept, peanut butter

Q: questions-asking & answering (when I'm able)

R: recipes, restaurants, running

S: smiles, second chances, snowboarding, summer, San Diego, stationary, sunshine, sweat pants

T: taking pictures, talking, thinking, tea-hot & cold

U: University of Tennessee - Knoxville

V: victory, vitamins

W: wisdom of others, weddings, writing, walking, winter coats

X: X marks the spot where I can't think of an X word I'm thankful for

Y: youthfulness

Z: Zero candy bar

I hope you enjoyed reading through my list!

Now go make your own alphabet of Thanks, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Enjoy time with family and friends, and eat way too much food!

So far, in the Windy City

I love living somewhere that I can walk out of our building to restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, etc. We have had a blast so far here in Chicago, and have much more on the list of things we want to do, but here are some of the things we have done so far!

 

1. The first thing we did was find a church! Our pastors in San Diego set us up with their friends, Pastors Kent & Alli Munsey! If you visit Chicago, or live here, be sure to check out City Church Chicago!

 

2. Two words: deep dish. As a pizza addict, I also made it a priority to get some Chicago deep dish right away! I was hooked at first bite! But, I will have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed that I can't eat as much as I can normal pizza. Still...it is so good! Savour every buttery bite!

 

3. Navy Pier - I could not wait to get on the Ferris Wheel! Such a cool part of Chicago with amazing views!

 

4. John Hancock - 95th Floor - We went up here to start our anniversary night off, and we were less than a month new to the city, so it was awesome to see everything- literally everything! Breath taking! I work in this building on the 31st floor, but I have to say, the 95th is just a tad better.

5. Lincoln Park Zoo - FREE - We just recently went here, and I have to say, I love my neighborhood! Love that we can walk to a zoo, and it's not just what you would picture a free Zoo to look like! They had all the big animals and such beautiful views of the city. Romantic and fun day date, especially when it starts pouring down rain and you run to the nearest pup for some yummy, greasy grub, then walk back home in the rain!

 

 

6. Shopping/let's be honest-more of Window Shopping!

Chicago is home to some of the best shopping, and working on N. Michigan, it is a very hard temptation to walk home from work each day without making stops into all my favorite stores along the way. Magnificent Mile is definitely a must, even if you just walk to awe yourself over all the beauty! Good luck holding on to your wallet, fellow gazers.

 

This doesn't complete our list of what we've done, but that's all I have time for now! Besides the pizza above, we have eaten at several great restaurants, but perhaps I'll dedicate an entire post for those at some point as we get around to more. Deep dish deserved to make this list. Food is our hobby.

Cherish 2012: Princess

"A true princess is confident and secure in who she is and uses her privilege, authority, and position to service and lift up the people around her." - Pastor Leanne Matthesius

Last October, 2011, I attended my first Cherish Woman's conference when we were about one week new at our church in San Diego, but I wanted to get in on the good stuff, so I signed myself up and off I went! I ended up having an amazing time, meeting some of what became my closest friends in SD, and learning a lot - all while having a blast! I knew I wasn't missing out on Cherish 2012, so I signed up last year for this year's conference, little did I know I would already be moved along to our new city! Lucky for me I still made my way back to SD to spend a weekend with the C3 San Diego ladies! So glad I did!

 

 

When Pastor Leanne and the C3 team does something, they do it right! The place was sparkling from floor to ceiling, and the theme Princess was displayed throughout!

 

Shopping was even available!

 Pastor Becky's Hand Made Baby Headbands!

 Jewelry made by one of the C3 ladies!

 

The speakers at the conference were Pastor Leanne Matthesius - head pastor of C3 San Diego along with husband Jurgen Matthesius - Lisa Bevere, and Sharon Kelley. All three were incredible, and below are parts of what I took away! Enjoy!

 

Night One: Pastor Leanne, First Lady of C3 San Diego

 

 

This gorgeous, funny, powerhouse pastor is definitely one of my heroes and a phenomenal speaker! She always brings a prophetic word and is not afraid to challenge you to become a better you! She kicked off the conference on Friday night with a powerful word on being your own princess and becoming who God designed you to be. These were some of the gold nuggets I took from her message:

-The Bible should be a mirror for us as we read. 1 Peter 3:3

-Keep good company! We should have those in our lives that tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear. "The wise woman walks with the wise!"

-Have good character! We can't just sit back and hear great words without applying it to our lives. Character is what sets us apart from others.

-Use your position to help others! We are to preference others over ourselves. Matthew 24: 41-46

 

Day 2: Lisa Bevere & Sharon Kelley

 

 

 

Lisa Bevere:

As many of you probably know, Lisa Bevere is an author, speaker, and is married to the incredible John Bevere. She and John are great friends with Pastors Jurgen and Leanne at C3. She was outstanding all weekend, and I pulled too many great things to share them all, so these were a few of my favorites:

-If you change the way you see yourself, you will be able to change your world.

-We are all created to represent God in our own way as sole representatives, as we are not to RIVAL with one another! We are to celebrate each others unique qualities as women of God!

-We are to groom each other's blind spots! We all have blind spots!

-Great minds discuss ideas, not events or people!

 

Pastor Sharon Kelley:

Pastor Sharon and her husband Steve Kelley are the pastors at Wave Church in Virgina Beach, VA. That was my first time hearing her speak, and it was incredible! She has such a loving nature while bringing such a strong word for the right season. Here are of few of my favorite bits:

-Psalm 31 - Be strong and courageous!

-It is in our everyday life that we will see our life take off! Wake up and tell God you are ready for Him to use you! Romans 12:1-2

-If you want a Prince, be a Princess!!

-Who is influencing you? Take on the words of good & Godly influences!

-There must be honor in your marriage, life, and relationships!

 

Another amazing part of Cherish was getting to hear from the C3 Kidz pastor, Pastor Jenny, and the C3 Youth Pastor, Pastor Briana. They both brought incredible messages and it was great to see their passion! While I don't have kids yet, it was so great hearing their hearts and the passion for the younger generations. "You never know who you are pouring into when working with children. The greatest call on our lives is to pour ourselves into others!" - Pastor Jenny

 

That's my take on Cherish 2012! Thanks Pastor Leanne & C3 team for putting on an amazing conference! Until next year...

2 people, 2 dogs, 1 moving truck

I am slightly shocked that it has already been over a month here in the Windy City! That's right, Adam and I moved to Chicago for his job promotion. He's now the Territory Manager for his company. We have an ongoing slogan, "Home is where Newell-Rubbermaid takes us." We also know that this little journey is all part of God's plan for us, and knowing that has saved me many times from having a panic attack. I have had 3 license plates on my car since I got it new July 4, 2011! Her name is Minnie Pearl, and she has lived in 3 states- TN, CA, & now her new home- IL.

 

I realized before I started writing about our already amazing time here in Chicago, I wanted to backtrack to our gorgeous, scenic drive we had on the move out!

 

Here we go! We left on a Thursday afternoon, and arrived on Sunday night. I can't say I would want to make this drive again, but we made the most of it! 

 Route 1

We drove the big beast and pulled Minnie Pearl behind to save her miles.

After a rain storm leaving CA

 Good morning Utah

 Daizee got to drive that big beast and I didn't!

Pit stop to view the gorgeous look outs over the canyons

 Colorado River - This was one of our favorite parts!

 So much fun driving through all of the little ski resort towns!  

Sweet sissy's were so good all 4 days of our trip! Cuddled the entire way!

We made it to our new state!

 

And that was our journey!

PS...I spared you on the miles upon miles of corn, and more corn!



What to do? Where to go?

One thing that is for sure - God truly blessed us with the closest thing to paradise for our first year of marriage - San Diego, CA! If we had to drive out the day after our wedding to head to a new city, that one was certainly not a bad place to go! As our family and friends know, we absolutely fell in LOVE with Southern, CA. Palm trees, sandy beaches, coastal breeze....what more do you need? The list below is what we loved, and would definitely say are musts!

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO, ACCORDING TO THE SUTTLE'S...

1. C3 Church

We give credit to one of the world's greatest churches, C3-San Diego, for making us feel at home from the first weekend we were there.  We developed the best friendships and learned what it is really like to have fun in church, while getting to be around some of the most passionate people who live out their lives for God. Truly an absolute incredible atmosphere here, and you will NOT be sorry you attended! If you are looking for an incredible worship experience, passionate crowd, and a pastor who can do any voice or impression while creating the clearest way to understand the bible - you've found plans for Sunday! Visit www.c3sandiego.com !

2. San Diego Zoo

If you love animals, gorgeous scenery, and some good exercise, then you will love the San Diego Zoo!  Two trips in the books for me, and I would go again! Tip: don't forget to ride the sky lift! Also, I went on a weekday and a weekend, and the park is so big that it never gets too backed up. Don't stress over the potential crowds!

 

3. La Jolla Shores

You name it, it's here! Parks, Beach, Surfing, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Yoga, etc. One of the most gorgeous sunsets you'll find. Also, my personal favorite - free seal watching! Tip: go in the afternoon if you can't spend the day here because the seals are sure to be sunning on the rocks, which makes for great entertainment and fun for all!

 

4. Mission Bay - Aqua Adventures

Looking for some water activities & a good workout? Aqua Adventures on Mission Bay has everything you need for your adventure! My 3 visits included one kayaking adventure and 2 times paddle boarding (my fave).  However, don't think paddle boarding is as easy as it looks - you will not fall off, but you will get the most amazing arm workout you've ever had (and hope the wind works in your favor)!

4. Sunset Cliffs

This is home to the one the most gorgeous views I've seen, what looks like amazing surf, and relaxation! People come to walk, run, fish, surf, paddle board, or just sit and relax. I was mostly fond of the relaxing part.

 

5. Mission Beach
Enjoy the beautiful beach, go for a walk, run, or bike on the boardwalk (watch out for the speedy rollerbladers), eat - anything you are in the mood for is found here- seafood, pizza, Mexican, breakfast, etc. You also MUST ride the old wooden roller coaster! Be sure to look out while up top!

 

6. FOOD

San Diego is home to some of the most amazing food in the country, as well as the place that will always be remembered by me as where I grew out of my college jeans.

Some of our faves:

Island Prime -on the bay with amazing views of downtown - went 3 times & loved them all!

Brockton Villa- you MUST go for breakfast and eat the famous Coast Toast! You won't regret it!

Fish Market- fresh seafood fave with an amazing view of the bay and USS Midway

Hodad's - Burger! with bacon patty! and Frings (onion rings & fries) Milkshake!

George's - fresh seafood with an amazing view of La Jolla Shores

 

7. Disneyland (not in San Diego, but close enough)
It is worth the drive for Disneyland! We stayed 12 hours when we went, and loved every minute of it!

 

8. Hotel Del Coronado

A historic must see! The gorgeous Hotel Del is a one of a kind, beautiful landmark that sits on the cutest little "Island" and the sandy white beach. Take a walk around the shops and restaurants while you are there!

 

9. Little Italy

Farmer's Market every Saturday- bring your bags and load up! Beware of the yummy crepe stand that got us every time! Mmmm...I'm craving it now!

Also, so many good eats in Little Italy. Fun for nighttime with the streets lit up with colored lights! One of our faves there became Zia's Bistro - my personal pick is their Lasagna.

10. Ocean Beach Dog Park (if you have pups) 

Basically, your pups, if they are like mine, will run around and bark at the waves, being completely amazed at the process of them - which can make for great entertainment. If you have well trained dogs that use their brain, then you'll enjoy a nice game of fetch or let them go for a swim.  

I hope you have enjoyed the list and can use it to plan your next vaca! You won't be sorry if you visit the sunny state of California, especially paradise - San Diego! 

Once Upon A Time....ever so perfectly

To start things off, can I just mention that it was my goal to roll this blog out about....oh, 12 months ago?! But who knows that we don't always stick to our amazing plans in those busy minds of ours? So, here I am a year later, but I figure better late than never!

Once upon a time, a year ago on September 24, 2012, I became the happiest girl in the world! Adam and I had our absolute fairy tale wedding in Gallatin, TN with all of our family and friends, and well, it definitely turned out to be so much more than perfect! We had a year and one month of planning, meanwhile finishing up our Senior year at The University of Tennesee, Knoxville (Go Vols!)

 

It all came together beyond my wildest dreams. Anyone that was around me that year knows I had to have every little detail planned out, but you know what...this girl is only going to have ONE wedding, and I wanted it everything I had always imagined! And it was. Thank God for my 8 bridesmaids and both of our families that put up with me through a year of planning, engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette party, bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal dinner, and the one Big Day!

What I also need to share is that both us of growing up in small town, TN, going to the same high school, and thinking going away to UT - Knoxville (3 hours away) was a big deal...we were in for a big awakening! We found out in August, yes one month before our wedding, that Adam's job location was going to place us in SAN DIEGO, CA! Such a huge shock, but turned out to be the best, most incredible journey, and I'll share that part later.

Enjoy some of our wedding memories!

 Walking down to meet my Groom

 Love that my 8 bridesmaids & mom were up top & I never knew it!

 "something blue" - our date inside my dress (also showcasing those gorgeous but painful shoes)

Mr. and Mrs. Suttle

The Franklin Family - 100 yr. Great Gran (left), sister & parents, Grandmother (right)

Mr. and Mrs. Suttle, Mr. and Mrs. Poole, Adam's parents and brother, Mr. and Mrs. Georgiades

Our Wedding Party!

 ...and the 2 became 1

 "I will kill you if you get that on my face."

 "YOU ARE THE BEST THING"

 and so the comfy bride shoes came on!

 my gorgeous sister/maid of honor got the bouquet, after knocking down the other bridesmaids :)

 Adam's little brother jumped high for that garder!

 of course, there were birds

 Prince & Princess Suttle

Do you know how hard that was for me to pick JUST those photos? So many amazing wedding photos of our incredible day, but those are it for now.