Celine Dion Concert!!!!!!!!!

On a snowy Tuesday, January 20th, Jenny, Matt D.,
Addi, Maddox, Kit and I drove to Apex, to Matt, Kristen
and Turner's house for an early dinner...and for goodbyes
to The Depp Family. The month went by so fast, and
now my overseas family had to return to their work in
Russia. We told Matt and Family goodbye after eating,
then drove carefully to the RDU airport. Jenny and I
did shed a few tears as we said our goodbye one more
time. We got wonderful hugs and kisses from Addi and
Maddox. Within the new terminal, we were able to watch
them go through security. It was amazing how the children
knew automatically to take off their shoes at this part of
their journey. Once Addi gave her shoes to be put into a
bin, she came running back to Kit and I. She claimed that
she needed one more hug! My heart soared with the love
from this little four year old girl! Then she went running
back to her parents. Once they passed through the metal
detector, they all put on their shoes and collected their
belongings. We all waved our last goodbyes as they passed
out of sight. Originally, I was to meet my wonderful friend,
Betty, at the RBC Center for a concert. But due to the
weather, it had been postponed until the following night.
That was good for me since I was going to be running late.

But on Wednesday night, Betty and I headed to Raleigh to
the RBC Center for a fantastic, super-duper, magnificent
night with CELINE DION LIVE!!!!!! From the time she
appeared center stage and was singing "I Drove All Night,"
we were entranced! What an incredible voice! Of course,
Betty and I knew she could sing, but to hear it live was
fabulous! She was so personable with her audience too and
had quite a sense of humor. I loved hearing her speak
English very well with a Canadian French accent!

We first saw Celine as she was walking below to go under
the stage. Then the music started and here she rose,
center stage, coming up from below! Actually, there was
a multi-screen box in the center. As it rose upward, there
she was singing with all kinds of energy.


We had great seats, but I loved the big screens to help
us to see her better.

She moved all over that stage too. It had colored lights

and a moving sidewalk area too. Celine was full of life

the entire night.

There were two stage ramps that led right out above the

audience. I'm sure that the guys in those areas were

extremely happy!

Here, Celine is facing our seats. You can see the band

in each of the four corners of the stage. They were on

platforms that moved up and down. Sometimes they

were there, sometimes they were below.

This is the other stage ramp going in the opposite direction.

Celine on the big screen again! She sang all of our favorite

songs from the past. She also sang many songs from her

new CD. Every song was terrific!

Celine on the big screen again.

Celine sang for about 90 minutes in all and that was a lot!

Celine changed her outfit probably 5-6 times! It was fun

anticipating what she would have on for the next round

of songs.

There were dancers who accompanied Celine for some of

the songs. They were great too. Sorry for the blurry pic.

It was a great evening of fun with my buddy Betty! We

always have a great time together. I want to thank her

for inviting me to share the concert with her. She received

the tickets for her birthday and shared one of them with

me. Just one terrific example of her beautiful heart.

Thank you Betty a thousand times for an evening that

was terrific, and helped me to deal with my children

heading back overseas. Love you girl!

Mamaw, Daisy and The Beautiful Sky!

One January day I was traveling to Trinity, my home with Mom and Dad.

As I traveled during the evening, I realized that God had once again painted

the sky. It was beautiful! The following pictures demonstrate that beauty.

Gorgeous colors!

More of the same sky!

A bit further down the road.

I love this one best! Please know that I was careful and

stopped before taking these shots!

Another afternoon, my son-in-law, Matt, was playing

with my camera and took the shot above from our deck.

For those of you who know us, you realize that this isn't

our cat, Mikala. This is Daisy, and she is a bit older than

Mikala. Both are old cats around the age of 15-16 years

old. Daisy belongs to Mom and Dad...but she loves Dad

best! She will not sit on Mom's nor my lap. But she loves

to jump up into my Dad's lap and lay there awhile. She's
Dad's girl!

She's a sweet, lovable old cat, but she will run when people

who are not around much enter the house. She knows me

well now. At night, when I go back to my bedroom, I can

count on Daisy to be lying on the bed! She used to sleep on

Dad's bed, and still does some. When Mom was dealing

with her broken shoulder, Daisy slept on her bed at night,

as though she was going to comfort Mom! She's a mess!

And here is my beautiful Mom! The kids call her Mamaw.

January was a difficult month for Mom as she was sick

with pneumonia. Her body along with the antibiotics

fought hard against the disease. And Mom won too, although

this has left her very weak and without an appetite. But

she is getting stronger everyday. Praise the Lord! Soon

we hope that she will be strong enough to drive and have

the get-up-and-go that she used to have.

The Boone Family at the Beach

All of our immediate family had a great time at the beach
during the weekend of Jan. 9-11. We have never been
to the beach in January, but this was one thing that
Jenny had expressed that she wanted to do while home.
So Kit and I rented a house at Carolina Beach, one that
was big enough for all eleven of us!

On the way to the beach, we stopped for lunch at Subway.

Here's our beach house where we created some wonderful

family memories. It was modern, beautiful and we loved

staying here. Love those winter rates!

The view of the ocean from the front of the house on

the porch.

Maddox had lots of fun playing with the fake lemons!

Kit relaxing and watching.

Melissa, Adam and Addi watching TV and working on

the computer. We had WiFi!

Maddox is so entertaining as he does his creative dancing!

Addi and Maddox entertaining Turner. Three precious

little blessings!

The kitchen area, a part of the great room.

After unloading the cars, it was time to get to the beach!

There was beach here, but rocks have been brought in

to prevent erosion. We all know how those storms and

hurricanes erode our NC beaches.

Maddox climbing on the rocks and having fun!

Soon, those shoes had to go! Barefoot in the sand and then

the water!

Addi explored the rocks too, but then....

Those shoes had to come off!

And then, watch the video and see what happens to

Maddox!

Grandad squinting in the sunlight.

Melissa and Adam

Kristen and Matt

Gran, Addi and Turner

All in their PJs playing on the floor!

On Saturday morning, we all traveled just down the road

to Fort Fisher to spend the morning at The NC Aquarium.

It is a great facility and we had a great time.

Matt D., Kit and Adam watching the children have fun.

Maddox and Addi show interest in this swampy area.

Maddox and Uncle Adam observe the rattlesnakes! Oooh!

Addi near the alligator tank. They had white claws!

Turner had plenty of attention with Melissa, Kristen and

Jenny! He was sound asleep in the stroller. Actually, these

ladies preferred to NOT look at the rattlesnakes and the

alligators!

There were many tanks with all kinds of sea life. Here

Grandad is helping Maddox to touch a crab at the touch pool.

Maddox didn't hesitate to touch the various critters!

This is just one on many tanks with beautiful fish.

Anyone tired? Did you see every fish, turtle, octopus,

jellyfish? Some of our group still had things to see, while

others waited patiently. Actually, everyone is enjoying

Turner as he woke up near the end of our visit to the

Aquarium!

And here is the "Star of the Stroller", Turner Boone! He

was trying to tell us something in his own baby language!

Turner says, "I love when my Daddy holds me! Look at

me...I'm up really high!!"

Maddox and Turner...Maddox dancing!

Maddox, Melissa and Turner at the Aquarium

One Saturday night, we had dinner at The Olive Garden

in Wilmington. The food and company were great!

Jenny, Baby-to-Be-Depp, Matt, Turner in his stroller,

and Kristen

Melissa and Adam

Gran had to get up and take a look at Turner!

Grandad, Addi, Maddox and Matt D.

The next morning...our last day at the beach...

We had to return to the beach one more time. Maddox

and Grandad enjoying the walk...well, one of them was

walking!

Addi and Gran explored what the ocean had washed ashore.

Addi, Melissa, Adam and Maddox searching through the

rocks for seashell treasures. This was a great place to

find conch shells...whole ones! But we didn't have any

luck on this Sunday morning.

Maddox and Melissa...He loved Melissa! Even after he

left America, he asked his Mom one day, "Where is

Melissa?" Matt, Kristen and Turner in the background.

Turner's first beach trip! I'm sure that he'll remember

it too!!!

Jenny and Dad...father and daughter. :-)

Melissa and Adam posing on the beach!

Addi and Maddox, playing at the beach one last time

before we had to head home.