How the week started...

Well this week started off with a bang. Just a lot going on at work this week and other things so my mind was apparently feeling the overload and this was the result. I went an entire day without myself or anyone else noticing I wore a brown boot and a black boot! I was at the Gym AFTER work changing my shoes and there it was before me!

Book and Movie Reviews.

I have seen several movies and read some good books lately thought I would post some reviews:

Movies:

Marley and Me: was one of my favorite books and the movie did the book justice. If you've ever loved a dog or wondered how people could love dogs this movie is for you. Its one you'll be laughing and crying. I don't think I've cried this much at a movie before. I rate it a 9 out of 10.

7 pounds: This movie was so mysterious I had to see it. They can't tell you what its about before you go or it ruins how the movie unfolds. I figured it in the first 15/20 minutes but it still made for a good movie. I rate it a 6.5

Benjamin Button: I knew going in it would be epic and long. It had some good themes for love and for life but alot of the 3 hours I could of done without. It had a lot of hype and didn't quite live up to. I rate it a 6

Books:

Twilight: Well I didn't think at first I would red these, since its all the rage right now but once I started these books I couldn't stop. I read all 4 in less than a month. They for the female reader and I found them highly entertaining. I give them a 9.

ComeBack: This is a memoir a mother and daughter write together. One of the most powerful books I've read. The daughter in adolescence goes into drugs and down the deep end and its about their journey together of healing and redemption. There is some heavy natured material in the daughter's early childhood experiences and her decent in adolescence. As a therapist I found it so thought provoking and moving, there are a lot of her experiences and process in therapy in the book. As a person it was even more powerful, we all have our stuff, our dysfunctions, we work really hard to hide them and when we finally are honest with ourselves, each other and open ourselves to change, so much awaking and living can really start. This one is a 10.

19 Minutes: Also a heavy one. Its a fictional story but the themes it brings up are very real. It is about bullying, a school shooting and so much more. Its great reminding us how complex most human stories are, we try to simplify blame and responsibility, but the whole picture is sometimes painfully revealing. Its an 8.

Top 8 in 08!

Here's my top 8 from 08 in review, no particular order:


1) Trip to Italy, was on my list of my dream vacations, got to spend it with friends and had a great time, despite the cold!


2) Passed my licensing exam and obtained my clinical license, it felt like a real accomplishment after logging 4,000 post graduate school hours and completing two years of supervision. As with all things in life just means I am barely starting to know a few more things but the learning curve on being a good therapist is always an ongoing journey.


3) Book club began, so much fun and I have enjoyed devouring books now that I am done studying for license exam it was a great time to start it.


4) Anniversary trip to Tree House Cottages, we celebrated 4 years of marriage! such a wonderful little place to stay, this month we will celebrate 10 years since we first started dating!



5) Finished year long PCIT training, this was an intensive process but very well worth it.



6) Trip to Chicago, first time there and glad to have shared it with my brother and with Ryan. also received free round trip ticket through a series of event comming home from this trip, which will be fun to use in 09!



7) Found New Church Home, we have been visiting for months a smaller congregation in our area and feel like it might be just right place for us right now.

8) Two of my long time Friends had babies this year. I can feel the transition time in entering a new life phase. I am so happy for both of them!!

Holiday Highlights...

We enjoyed the holidays as usual, Ryan and I both got to take some time off work. Thought I would catch you up on some of the highlights:




This was little fruit dish I put together for my holiday brunch at work. Sad part is this the first and last time I got to use this cute snow man platter. I left it in the car after I used it and I guess it got too cold, when I went to move it to the back seat one morning, I barely taped it on the dash and the head feel right off!. RIP snow man platter.



We spent Christmas in Broken Arrow, I didn't take many pictures there. We had a good time, we slept a lot, we ate a lot, got lots of great gifts, enjoyed time with family, saw the Movie Marley and Me and cried and cried, it was as great as the book!





Then it was back to OKC, Matt and Lori came and stayed a night with us, so did the Chloe and Allie. More sleeping and eating and reading (I have been totally engrossed in the Twilight books since starting them earlier this month).





Then we hosted New Years Eve at our house it was Friends and Fondue the best way I could think to ring in the new year! More eating, laughing and an all around good time.

The holidays are over I go back to work tomorrow, the tree and other decorations need to come down too but I find myself reluctant to take any of it down, I wish it was acceptable decor year round. Hope your holidays were great too!!

Italy!

Sorry its been so long since I've posted my trip pics. Its been non-stop since I've been home. I can't believe Christmas is just next week!!

Colosseum:

Pantheon (the coldest and wettest day we were there):

Climbing to the top of St. Peters at the Vatican:

Mid week enjoying some American Cuisine at Hard Rock:

Venice:

Trevi Fountain: (Traidition to throw a coin in to ensure your return to Rome)

Last night in Rome:



We took 547 pictures! So this are just as sampling. It was an amazing trip but wore me out by the end!

Home Sweet Home...

We are home!! I will have to sift throught the 547 pics we took to see what to post and give an overview of our trip. For now I am a little bumbed to go back to work and the real world today but enjoyed sleeping in my own bed, Dr. Pepper and can't till Rory will be here when I get home from work today. After first glance at pics I think this is one of my favorites:

Marriage Retreat....

Last weekend we enjoyed retreating and focusing on our relationship. This year has been a hard one with Ryan's increased work demands and time away. We've tried to make the most of the time we get to have together like this weekend retreat and other fun get aways like Chicago and our upcomming Rome trip (one week away!).