The Fabulous Life of Stefanie

It's almost 2009! Like most people, these last few days of the year leave me time to reflect back on where I was last year, and where I would like to be next year. It also gives me time to be thankful for the experiences I have had, and I think that '08 may go down as the best and biggest experiences for me yet. Last year I had just started at the Treatment Center, my first big girl job since finishing grad school. I was just beginning to figure out how to balance a career, a social life, and my own needs and dreams. I had a great support network of friends here and afar. I was single, but no longer as broken, and much more open to the idea of not being single any longer; unfortunately I was still unable to meet anyone that I wanted to give that up for. I was looking forward to '08 for what it would bring professionally, but also still hoping and praying for what it might bring me personally. This year I am in my second big girl job, after moving on from the Treatment Cente...

On Monday evening this world lost a tremendous woman, while heaven welcomed home a beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Friend and Christian. I feel absolutely blessed to have known Janet O'Shea , and to have been privy to her stories, her wit, and her elegant way of living and allowing others to live. She was a woman of tremendous grace and love, and will be missed by many. I am lucky to have spent this past year getting to know her and the beautiful family that she has; I am luckiest of all to have witnessed the incredible love between her and my own love, Matty. Witnessing the love and care that he had for his Gramma was inspiring, and further solidified my commitment to raise a family with him with all of the honor that Janet raised her own family. Further, it was proof that there is something so incredibly awe-inspiring about the O'Shea men, that you can't help but love them with everything that you have inside of you. Thank you Janet, for welcoming me into your fa...

The holiday season is definitely here, I can tell by my jam packed schedule, the Christmas cards in the mail, the ones I need to get sent out on the table, the mass baking going on in our kitchen, holiday parties every other night, the onslaught of phone calls from relatives, and an overall feeling of...bliss? Yep. Let me explain. I was talking to Nina on the phone last night, something that doesn't get to happen nearly enough, and she was telling me what she's been up to (grad school finals up the wazoo, working too much, taking care of the hubby) and as I was telling her what I've been up to (baking cookies to make yummy plates for co-workers, decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies, having a glass of wine) she fell silent before pointing out the fact that I am in total domestic bliss . The words "I haven't really been out, I've got so many cookies to bake and I need to wrap Matty's presents, and I've got this volunteer project next week" ...

Here it is - the last month of 08, and what a year it has been! I had so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and so much to look forward to as the year ends and a new one begins. I spent the holiday with the O'Sheas, and it was lovely as could be. Matty's Aunt Jane is an amazing cook, and she made enough to feed an army...or 9 of us. It was so much fun to hang out with the family, especially Matty's Dad, who may just be one of the funniest people on the planet, and definitely the best story teller ever. We traded work stories, and found out we have come "clientele" in common. Matty and I had spent that morning baking and watching the Macy's Parade, and spent the later evening hanging out with Emily and her sister. The next day we got even more family time in with Matty's sister - who turned another year more fabulous - over lunch and presents for the birthday girl. We got to spend a lot of time with loved ones, and the whole weekend together, which ...