A New Year's Message to my Blog Buddies

When I think back on the many blessings of 2006, one of the greatest has been the discovery of blogging. Oh, what a fabulous outlet it has been--creatively, emotionally, and personally. My main objective in writing it was to have a place to be fully me, a place where I could share the thoughts that I so choose to share with friends and strangers without censoring myself too much. It has been a constant place for creative expression this year, and I honestly would feel less alive without my blog. I have journaled for years, but there is something special about blogging because it allows you the honesty of journaling, along with the opportunity to share those honest thoughts with other humans.

I just want to say "thank you" to my blog buddies who read and comment here. You are those "other humans", and in an unexpected way, I have found a sense of community with you. Some of you I already knew personally. Some of you, I have "met" along the way. One of you, I have been able to meet in person. And another of you, I have talked to on the phone. ALL OF YOU are special and amazing people, who I am grateful to have in my life. You are a support system to me, even if you don't mean to be (though somehow I think that you do)! And while many of you are strangers in the sense that we've never officially met, I count you as friends, because you have let me into your life through your blogs and touched my life by reading and commenting on mine.

May God richly bless you in 2007.

With love,

Starshine

*Inhale, Exhale*

I am back in California. I had a wonderful week with eSuitor, visiting my family for Christmas in Texas. On our last night, eSuitor and I had a date at a lovely restaurant, where we feasted on ribs, steak and bananas foster. Mmmm. It was one of those nice, long meals where you sit and talk for hours, not rushing away from the table.

We had a good conversation in which we discussed the events of the week. One of the things that struck me was how great it was to step out of my busy LA life and SLOW DOWN! I got to catch my breath and mosey a little, free from the demands of life in this crazy city. We talked about the importance of practicing "the discipline of slowing" upon our return to So Cal. Already, I can feel what a challenge it will be.

I would love some input. How do you create margin in your busy schedules? How do you practice the discipline of slowing?

O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, Shine On!

Dear Jesus,

I admit that I have totally been caught up in the holiday whirlwind and not given you anywhere near the attention and focus that I would have liked to. Excuses are not going to help, and I know that is not what you desire. You just want me to love You. So I didn't want to go to bed tonight without pausing for just a moment to tell you that. I love You, Jesus. My life is what it is because of You. Your love allows me to breathe and to live with inner-freedom.

I was sitting in church tonight, listening to the words of "O, Holy Night"

Fall on your knees,
O, hear the angels' voices.
O, night divine,
O, night when Christ was born.

I tried to imagine what it was like for You that holy night when You, the God of the Universe, humbled Yourself and put on human flesh. To live among us. To show us Your love. To save us. I know that it wasn't an original thought, but I want to say "Thank You". Thank You for loving me so much, that You came all those years ago so that I could have a life with You now. That was amazing love. That was and is the best Christmas gift the world has ever known.

I pray, Lord, that as I move into the new year, that I will not be too busy for You. You are the most important thing.

I love You. Because of You, it is a Merry Christmas.

Thank You, Jesus Christ!

Vaca: not just Spanish for "Cow"

That's right people, I'm going on vacation! Tomorrow, I leave for the Lone Star State to spend a week with my family, see some friends, and to celebrate Christmas with loved ones. I hope that my Christmas vacation will be filled with the following:

-quality time with my family--Dad, Mom, sis and bro-in-law.

-fireside chats and cuddles with eSuitor. :)

-Scrabble games. Mom and I usually bring out the board this time of year.

-sampling Alice's famous Christmas cookies.

-celebrating the birth of Jesus.

-reading a couple books that are on my list.

-fitness and being active. I plan to take some nice walks around my Dad's ranch and around my Mom's neighborhood.

-going hunting with my sister. My sister is an incredible markswoman. I don't know if she's planning to hunt with a rifle or a bow-and-arrow, but I'm planning to go sit with her and watch her do her thing!

-celebrate my friend Kelly's 30th birthday! Yay Kell-Bell!

-eat some good Tex-Mex. mmmmm.

-see friends

-see Buttercup

-go to an annual Christmas eve party with friends from church. It's become a tradition for the last 12 or so years.

-shop.

-see some "Early Bird Specials" at the local theatre with eSuitor.

They really are a girl's best friend!

On Saturday, I drove down to eSuitor's neck of the woods for lunch. After lunch, he began driving us to an undisclosed location. He took me here, to get my opinion on something:

Nothing was purchased, but looking was never so much fun!!! For the entire rest of the day, I was totally gushy. I'd give eSuitor a compliment about something or tell him that I love him or just have a generally pleased glow about me. He'd say, "It's the diamonds talking, isn't it?", to which I'd giggle and nod. His response: "Wow. I guess they really are a girl's best friend. I might need to take you to look at diamonds more often."

I knew I picked a keeper! ;)

Love you, sweetie!

Old Family Photos

My cousin and fairy godmother, MB, recently lent me a photo album with old black and white family photos. I love looking at pictures, and I'm particularly taken by photos of family members that were taken long before I ever knew them.

This is a picture of my grandparents when they were young and in love. I'm not sure how old they were. In their late teens or early twenties?

I also love this picture of my Dad when he was a little boy. He just looks so precious! I want to squeeze him and give him a hug.

Here's my Dad as a teenager. I like this photo because I can see myself in him. The red hair, the freckles, the nose, and just a hint of mischief!

The Movie Meme

1. Popcorn or candy? Hot Tamales and Junior Mints, por favor!

2. Name a movie you’ve been meaning to see forever. Braveheart...I know, I know, I should have seen it a long time ago!

3. You are given the power to recall one Oscar: I really wanted Joaquin Phoenix to win for Walk the Line. But I wouldn't want to take anyone's Oscar away from them...that would be mean!

4. Steal one costume from a movie for your wardrobe. Which will it be? Any of Elle Wood's outfits from Legally Blonde.

5. Your favorite film franchise is…Christopher Guest's mockumentaries: Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind.

6. Invite five movie people over for dinner. Who are they? Why’d you invite them? What do you feed them?

Carol Burnett
Reese Witherspoon
Lucille Ball (posthumously, of course, but I would have loved to meet her)
Julie Andrews
Kate Winslet

We would have some great girl talk and I imagine that we'd all laugh our booties off. I respect their work so much, and I would love to just gleen knowledge of the craft from them.

Oh, and we'd have pizza followed by ice cream sundaes in our pjs. Cuz that just sounds fun.

7. What is the appropriate punishment for people who answer cell phones in the movie theater?

I thought that was against the law. :)

8. Choose a female bodyguard: Ripley from Aliens. Mystique from X-Men. Sarah Connor from Terminator 2. The Bride from Kill Bill. Mace from Strange Days. ???

9. What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever seen in a movie? I screamed outloud all the way through Signs. I don't handle suspense very well.

10. Your favorite genre (excluding comedy and drama) is?

I love a good Jane Austen romance. I'm a total girl that way. Sense and Sensibility is pretty much a perfect movie.

11. You are given the power to greenlight movies at a major studio for one year. How do you wield this power? I'd make sure that my actor friends and I get cast in some seriously good films, and then give those the green light!

12. Bonnie or Clyde? Bonnie--she wears cool hats.

13: Who are you tagging to answer this survey: Sharon at Grab the Fish

On Set!

Lights, Camera, Action!

What a great weekend! I just wrapped shooting on my first film since moving to LA! It was so much fun! The film is a spoof of The Chronicles of Narnia. My character was named "Moosy". She's a thickly accented Texan character, with a penchant for smacking her gum, filing her nails, and over-accessorizing. I love comedy, so this role was a total blast to play. I feel very blessed and grateful to have been able to live my dreams this weekend.

Nothing says "Texas-trashy" quite like big hair, fushia press-on nails and many, many accessories!

Here's a picture of one of the crew flocking the trees of the "forest" on set.

Thirteen Life Experiences I'll Never Forget

1.) Waking up in San Antonio, Texas to thirteen inches of freshly fallen snow. And playing and playing and playing in it! We had heard the night before that there was a chance for snow. I was afraid to peek out my curtains when I woke up for fear of disappointment. I was definitely not disappointed! When we'd come in to warm up, our parents didn't let us stay in for too long because they knew that the snow wouldn't last long. It was an awesome couple of days of snow play!

2.) Realizing in fifth grade that I loved acting. I remember auditioning in front of my class and feeling like I had come alive!

3.) My first year living in New York City.

4.) Going to Moscow when I was sixteen.

5.) Meeting Jesus at summer camp.

6.) Having lunch with my Mom, Dad, and sister last year--the first time the four of us were together as a family in thirteen years. It was the most wonderful gift my (divorced) parents could have given me.

7.) Going hunting with my Dad when I was a little girl and listening to "I'm Just a Coca-Cola Cowboy" on the radio together.

8.) Feeling awkward in my college sorority.

9.) Vivid dreams when I was a child that I could fly, and not quite understanding why I couldn't when I woke up.

10.) Special time spent with my mom and John when they came to visit me in Spain. We knew that John was sick with cancer, so it made our time together so full of meaning. I remember crying in his lap and telling him, "I don't want you to die." He was so strong and at peace.

11.) My sister's and my Christmas ritual: sleep in same room, tell each other as we're drifting to sleep that we're pretty sure we heard reindeer on the roof, wake up and check out loot, open stockings together on mom's bed, cinnamon rolls with orange frosting and mimosas, open presents in front of the fire to Perry Como tunes. 'Tis the season!

12.) Being a part of the "triumphant trio". My mom, my sister and me. We have been through so much together. They are my family, my dearest friends and my confidants. I am so blessed to be so close with them. We are a part of each other, and I love that!

13.) Falling in love with eSuitor. Who knew that the simple click of a mouse would be the beginning of such a wonderful relationship?! Of course, it didn't hurt that he had this picture on his profile. When I saw those pecs, I just couldn't resist. Good move, baby! Grrrrr.

My Knight in Shining Armour

Don't you like the British spelling of "armour" so much more than the American counterpart of "armor"? I do.

The last two days have been so incredibly hectic and full. Let me back up to last week, though. I had an audition for a film that is a comedic spoof on the Chronicles of Narnia. Yesterday, I had a callback and found out today at work that I got the part, and that I needed to be at rehearsal this evening.

To make a very LONG story short, eSuitor and I had planned to have dinner at my apartment this evening when I got off work. Yesterday, I gave him my key (the only copy I have) to let himself into my apartment. That way he could beat rush hour and start cooking dinner before I got home. Well, when I received news of getting the part and having rehearsal this evening, I called him and told him our dinner wouldn't work, at which point he reminded me that he has my only key, and he lives at least 40 mins away from me when there is no traffic at all. I called my landlady, and she assured me that she would let me in when I got home.

Well, I got home and the landlady was nowhere to be found. So Sir Suitor drove all the way to my place and let me in and then drove all the way home. He's not a night owl, by any stretch, so I know what a loving sacrifice he made.

My heart is swelling with gratitude--gratitude for getting the part in this film, gratitute for a warm apartment to come home to, and gratitude for having a man in my life who didn't think anything of driving across town to let me into it.

I am blessed.

Thank You, Lord.