NICOLE'S EULOGY DELIVERED BY HER BEST FRIEND, LAURI SHACKETT, MAY 7TH, 2003:

Words for my Best Friend, Nicole Marie Johnson. I will always remember. Everyone keeps telling me how sorry they are that I lost my best friend. But I'm standing here today to tell you that I haven't. 
Yes, my relationship with Nicole has changed...  No, I can't call her or send her text messages, and I can't hug her in the hallways at school or walk to class with her and I can't go on road trips with her or listen to her sing Britney at the top of her lungs...but, she is still with me.  I feel her every minute of everyday.  I can still talk to her, go running with her, and she still laughs at me when I do something she finds funny.  She's more with me now than she was before...I just can't see her.

I'm still gonna ask for her advice and approval on everything -from my PROM dress to my future husband.  Nicole will be there for me like she always was.  She was and still is an amazing friend...she has every quality that everyone else strives to have.  She is genuine!  With every action and every word, she revealed how she truly felt...On the outside she was this incredible girl-beautiful, athletic, smart, a TRUE friend, loving- I could go on and on forever...but that is who she was on the inside, too.  She showed everyone who she really was—and never held back.

Nicole was positive.  She definitely viewed the glass as half full in every situation.  She found a way to see the good in everyone, no matter the circumstance.  When she injured her back and couldn't play sports for awhile, she took advantage of her singing and acting talents and decided to head in the theatre direction. 

She could cheer up anyone - but especially me...one particularly rough day, she stopped by my house with my favorite snack - Nilla wafers and a BIG hug - in hopes of putting a smile on my face...it worked.  Everyone knows that Nicole's hugs are the best.  When Nicole hugs you, it's as if the whole world stops turning - just for that hug...her hug!  She had a way of making everyone feel important.  Nicole is loving.  She has the biggest heart I have ever come to know.  It's evident through all of her actions - it shows even through how she applies sunscreen so delicately on my back and how she waits so patiently for me to wake up every time we have a sleep over.

She is sweet-tempered.  Her sweet little voice shows her compassion.  During Spring break , we were driving to Santa Barbara and there was a mosquito eater in the car.  Ashley, Shaunte', and I were freaking out and wanted to kill it, but Nicole, of course, was just laughing at us and wanted it to leave the car peacefully - without contact from me or Shaunte'...so we found a way to let it go for her.

Nicole is enthusiastic.  As everyone has said - she really does bounce.  She was always dancing around and having a good time.  She had endless energy - and it was contagious.  Most importantly - Nicole is a light.  She shines - and she'll never stop shining in my heart.  She shines on the soccer field, on the track, in school, on stage, and in all our hearts.

Nicole made my day, everyday!  She possessed something that attracted people and she had them follow her down the right path.  She guided us in the right direction and that's where she left off...now we have to finish the way she would have wanted.  I think Dani Weiss summed up Nicole perfectly when she wrote a letter to me, "I don't know if it's her beautiful personality which is released through the genuine smile, and slight sparkle found in her bright blue eyes or her constant drive to succeed in life, which attracts human beings like a magnet, but whatever it was drew me in and kept me there like a deep breath one doesn't blow out."  She is that "deep breath" inside of us - she is not next to us anymore - but she is forever in each one of us.

Today, I know we are all asking the question, "why now? Why Nicole, God?  Why so young?  Why do you take people that don't deserve to die?"  We have to remind ourselves that he doesn't take the ones that don't deserve to die...He, instead, takes the great ones that DO deserve to be by His side for eternity and who deserve to live the perfect life and see all of the perfect and beautiful creations that we were made to ultimately see.  He chooses his angels carefully, so I know she will be watching over us...and that she is in His good hands.

I believe Nicole figured out how to live life in 17 years in what takes most people a lifetime.  A part of that was how she lived her life on a day to day basis.  Nicole told me about a song that her father dedicated to her and her brother, Shane.  We would sing it for each other..."I Hope You Dance."  That is exactly what she did - every chance she had - she danced.  It reminds me of this one time when her favorite song came on the radio when we were driving through a parking lot.  She immediately insisted that we let her get out and on top of the car to dance!

She never wasted a moment. She did what she needed to do here on earth, and now God wants her to be with Him.  Through Nicole's death, she has already been a witness to many people at Westlake and throughout our entire community.  Many people are now interested in church so that they could try to find Nicole's happiness and be like her.   Many wonder what it is that makes Nicole shine so brightly - I know - it's her deep love for God.  She lived every moment for Him.  For those who don't know God, and want to know Nicole better, get to know her God of Creation.  It is what she would have wanted.  Knowing that Nicole was a Christian give me a sense of peace to know that as happy as she was here one earth, now she is the happiest she has ever been, for it is a level of happiness and greatness that we can't even begin to comprehend.

Nicole - YOU were a warm and giving friend who made a difference - not just in my life but in the lives of all our friends and many others.  The world is a brighter place because of you. :)

Nicole - THANK YOU for being who you were and for giving me the strength to carry on

In His  love,

Lauri

THE LYRICS TO "I HOPE YOU DANCE" 
(By Lee Ann Womack featuring the Sons of the Desert) 
The song that was dedicated to her and her brother, Shane, by
her dad.  It was and is their song.
 
I HOPE YOU DANCE
 
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance
And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
 
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
 
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heaven's above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
 
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their years and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
 
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
When one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
 
Dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)
 
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on those years and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

"YOU'VE GOT TO STAND FOR SOMETHING OR YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING" IS ONE OF NICOLE'S (AND HER DAD'S) FAVORITE SAYINGS.  IT CAME FROM ANOTHER SONG HER DAD HAD DEDICATED TO NICOLE AND HER BROTHER, SHANE, MANY YEARS AGO (APPARENTLY SHE LISTENED!).  HERE ARE THE LYRICS:
 
YOU'VE GOT TO STAND FOR SOMETHING
(By Aaron Tippin/Buddy Brock)
 
Now daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this country's shining light
But you could always find him standing up for what he thought was right
 
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right, and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
 
Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house
If daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty just living his advice
Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight
 
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
 
Now I know things are different than they were in daddy's days
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed
 
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

NICOLE'S 18TH BIRTHDAY RECEPTION ADDRESS
GIVEN BY HER FATHER (DANE JOHNSON) ON AUGUST 20TH, 2003:
 
On behalf of myself, Lisa, Shane and both family's, I'd like to welcome you to Nicole's 18th Birthday Reception and thank you for coming.  My intention is to try and keep this upbeat, positive and uplifting in the spirit of Nicole.
 
Back in May we considered having two services for Nicole; one at St. paschal's where Nicole was confirmed and served as a Peer Minister and the other at Calvary community Church here in Westlake where the Nicole and Shane attend with me.  My idea was to have a more positive and uplifting"Celebration of Nicole's Life" type service at Calvary.  But I felt that with all that had been done at Westlake High School, St. Paschal's, the High School Ministry at Calvary, the Young Life Christian Group of Conejo Valley and the Westlake High School Track Team that we were emotionally drained and had done enough.  I then thought that maybe Nicole's 18th Birthday might be a more appropriate time to host a similarly themed reception.  Unbeknownst to me, Pastor Mike Katzenberger had already spent a day preparing a sermon for Nicole and he is here with us today to share some of that with us today.  Thank you Pastor Mike.  The bagpiper represents Nicole's heritage as I am Scottish and her mother, Lisa, is part Scottish and half Irish.
 
Some might question if we should celebrate an occasion such as this, but I would say that a life well lived, as Nicole did, is definitely worth celebrating!  Nicole was an "amazing" young lady.  She exceeded all expectations and was truly a gift from God.  Her optimistic, enthusiastic and energetic spirit and genuine warm and caring personality touched the hearts of many.  The outpouring and support we have seen since her tragedy has been awesome!  I would have to say that I have seen first hand that the rewards of living the "good life" and of making the right choices in your life do not all come in the hereafter.  Having the profound respect, love and admiration of your parents, family, friends, peers, teachers, coaches administrators and all those you have come in contact with in your life or have heard about you - what is that worth?  Lisa and I have had many parents over the years tell us that they have wanted and encouraged their children to be close friends with Nicole because they thought she was such a positive influence on them.  Is that not a wonderful legacy to leave?  Nicole stated in this year's yearbook "Live life like there is no tow morrow.  One day we will all go to sleep forever and what we do now is how we'll be remembered."  I think we can all learn something from Nicole.
 
I tell people to take Nicole with them in their hearts and in their minds.  If we all do that, Nicole's spirit is still with us and she is still having a positive impact on all of our lives.  The best thing we can do to honor her and remember her and what she stood for is to go on with our own lives with a sense of purpose, making the right choices, having a positive influence on others and being "A Difference Maker" ourselves. 
 
As Christians, we believe and know through our faith that Nicole is in the Kingdom of Heaven serving the Lord.  I read a passage in the Bible just last night that was referenced under "Character and Hope" that I thought was very appropriate and would like to share it with you.  It is from Romans 5:1 through 5:5.  It reads:
 
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
 
Nicole's promotion, and her life are definitely something to celebrate.  I'd like to ask everyone to join me in giving Nicole Marie Johnson a "standing ovation" for a life well lived and a job well done on her 18th Birthday!