Truth

Have you ever had lunch, or even a phone conversation with a girlfriend and when it was over you wondered "how is she really?" I mean we get the niceties out of the way, job, house, dog/cat, husband, travel and the like. How often do we really get into it...you know the tough stuff: debt, heartache, family drama, infertility, feeling stuck, behind the scenes of a marriage, religion or on this day even politics? What is really going on with me, and do I share it?
I have to say I share with very few the really big things because it's so personal it's scary. But how do real friendships grow if no one is really saying anything? I wondered if I was alone in this, but I read the BEST blog posting ever today about truth and relationships. I thought it was so awesome that I had to post the link. It doesn't hurt that this blogger shares the same name either :)

FNL

It's finally here, finally!

I say that, but my mom has Direct TV and has already seen all the episodes that I will finally get to watch starting Friday night. Luckily she hasn't told me anything. Anything accept that I will love Tim Riggins this season more than I already do. I do, I love Tim Riggins. He is the secretly sweet bad boy that I would've had a total crush on in High School. Actually, I did have a crush on a guy like that in HS and now he has 4 kids, works construction, and is balding.

I already have the Tivo set to record, and encourage all of you who haven't seen it to give it a try.

Celine

Don’t be jealous. Kidding I’m sure you’re not…in fact you’re probably going to judge me for this. I went to the Celine Dion concert on Monday night. That’s right. I might have pulled out the old cd case that I haven’t used since the invention of iTunes to find those songs of the past. Who doesn’t remember Titanic, or Up Close & Personal, or Beauty & the Beast? So go ahead and judge…but I bet you remember too.

Christine and I had always wanted to see her. We had talked about going to Vegas a lot in the past 4 years to see her while she was at Caesars, but never made it. So when we found out last fall that she would be here in Dallas we went on a campaign to get some tickets. Come Monday we were on our way to the AAC, tickets in hand. Bless all the husbands and boyfriends that were forced to attend, including sweet Emmitt Smith.

Celine sounded better live than any performer I’ve ever heard. She was funny and enduring and of course made the crazy facial expressions and dramatic arm gestures I was expecting. She is SO tiny, and her dresses were even smaller. Our friend Lacy was in the 4th row and said it was rather easy to see up the dress. She danced and ran all over the stage in 4 inch heels. I can’t even make it to the front door in shoes like that. Overall it was entertaining, her voice was perfect, and we were thrilled we finally had the chance to see her.

NYE

I was given the gift of a nasty cold for Christmas. Come NYE I still wasn’t 100% so I passed on the parties and headed to Ft Worth. My parents were still in town from CA, and had avoided me and the illness, so I wanted to see them before they left on Jan 1st. We all had dinner, and my dad and Rob had made crème brule that was “orgasmic” according to Heather Shahan. It’s my dad’s specialty that he taught Rob how to make this trip.

It was a big family affair with Allison’s parents also coming over for the game time fun. We brought the wii, and played Taboo: boys vs. girls. Of course the girls team dominated. My dad described at length “covenant” and the word was actually “convent" but he didn’t see that. We all died laughing.



It isn’t a trip to Ft Worth without the Shahan family as well so they rounded out the group along with Heather’s sister Elizabeth and her husband Brian. Here is a photo of the whole clan (minus Tim, Allison’s dad, who is taking the picture) ringing in the 2009. Please don’t be frightened by the bearded superhero in the pink mask…that’s just my brother after lots of tequila.

2008

2008 was such a good year it's hard to narrow the list but I will try. Looking back at 2008:

Who Rocked: Kerri, Heather, Erin and Sonia for all giving birth to healthy baby boys, Jen for running the NYC Marathon, and Colleen for taking a risk on a new job.

Big Moves: Celeste moved to Houston, The Butlers to Denver, Rob & Allison to Ft Worth, and we got Elizabeth back in Dallas!

Favorite things in 2008: iphone, spanx, wii, DVR, and Chick-fil-a chocolate peppermint milkshakes (hence the need for spanx).

Favorite Movie/Book/Song of 2008: Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Movie: Slumdog Millionaire (yes, I know it just came out, but it is) Song: Natalie Grant, I will not be moved.

Vacation Moments: Taking Chris to the US Open, and a kiss on a park bench in Paris.

Blessed With: A job I enjoy, a house I call home, and selfless love from my family & Chris.

New Pals: Celeste and Callie (bonus points for not dying), Yoshi & Steven.

Daily Loves: Kona, starbucks, and a good morning kiss.

Personal Changes: Becoming a wife, changing my name, and joint checking.

Unforgettable: The time in Tahoe with everyone we love.

Thankful For: Forgiveness. Always given, I just forget to ask.

“Not well traveled, not well read, not well to do or well bred.
Just want to hear instead, “Well done”, good and faithful one”
-Nichole Nordeman: Legacy