Jubilant Heart

I'm only a week late in blogging about the beautiful horse above named

Jubilant Heart.

It was a stormy, tornado-filled afternoon. Of course, I had forgotten my phone at home. After being released from lock-down due to the severe weather at work, I raced home to save the once fluffy -now soaked- white pyrenees inhabiting my backyard. I also retrieved my phone and raced on to my Mom's to get Kahyim. Only after stepping into the house did I bother to scan through the nearly fifty texts asking if I'd been swept away into the sky by one of the many funnels that filled it that day.

At this point, a very peculiar text caught my eye.

Why peculiar?

First, it was from my Dad... the anti-texter.

Second, it was a picture message of a picture of a beautiful paint horse.

Third, it read:

"kahyim has a horse her mom seems to want a horse more dad loves both his girls so he bought kandice a horse too here is a pic of kandices horses father if you want to see your very own horse come out to the parking lot now"

Of course, I immediately called in confusion and after only being asked where I was, was told to stay put and that he'd be there in a second.

Sure enough, up pulls a horse trailer, a Dad in coveralls and a beautiful paint horse.
I know it sounds romantical, but I swear at that moment (as I'm literally hop-bounding down the driveway) the sun peeked out and the light and warmth surrounded the previously dark and drizzly area. It was the most unreal moment.

So, now I embark on a new adventure.

That of training Jubilant.

She is halter- and saddle-broke but has never been ridden.

I shall be the first.

(..and possibly also have my first broken bone-haha).

Waiting

So, as I sit here in anticipation of hearing whether or not I got the job I applied for, I was thinking back to how EXTREMELY excited I was when I got the news that I got this job--my first post-college, degree-related job. I was walking out of the "get me by" job I had taken on as a waitress/bartender for Shadows Brewery that is in the Depot (reference: above picture-lol).
I recall Linda offering me the job mid-afternoon (I had interviewed that morning). I was ELATED. I remember practically skip/hopping down the sidewalk shown above all the way to my car on cloud nine.
I'm sure this kind of excitement could ensue over a job call-back again if, you know, I received a call from National Geographic wanting me to travel the world as a photographer. Haha.
Seriously, though, I greatly look forward to this new endeavor, should I have the opportunity given to me.

Life, after all, is about the JOURNEY... not the destination. I am so grateful for the blessed journey I'm on... and look forward to enjoying all the aspects of it each day... new and old.

Ok... I Get It

Ever have one of those days where something is pounded into your head? Shows up everywhere? It's actually been one of those weeks for me. And it all centers around the ideas above.

Seriously, everywhere I've turned I've run into this type of advice, those verses and even random encouragement. It's easy to say "Ok, I get it" but it's a little harder to follow through on. I am realizing that as laid back as I think I am, I really am a 'take control' type in certain situations. I want WHAT I want and I want it NOW. But that's not all... I'll do what I think I know will get me it too! Ha!

Patience... Waiting for the fulfillment of my requests... Not doing it all on my own...

These are all things I'm learning to practice. :)
HOWEVER, I do believe that there is a need for proactivity once given a response... whether it was the response we looked for or not (the whole ppl trapped on a roof in a flood and refusing the boat b/c "God will save them" type of deal).
Where does that leave me at the moment? Honestly confused.
So blog-ees, when is it time to react and when is it time to "Be still and wait patiently"?

Whoa, Where Do I Start?

Here is a good place:

I received one of the greatest Mothers' Day presents yet this year... A horse!

Blog meet Charlly, Charlly meet blog.

She is a literal dream come true.

A dream I've had since childhood.

Here is the Blog about her!

Then there's the fact that K and I tried out for the Melodrama on a semi-whim last night and received parts as a "Can-Can Cutie" (her) and a "Can-Can Girl" (me). This, I believe, will be an exciting adventure... a fun way for us to spend active time together doing something out of the ordinary for sure!

Then there's an odd answer to prayer... one I'm still figuring out/waiting out. One that's teaching me HARDCORE to not control situations... I'm learning what it means to "wait on God" in a difficult, challenging way.

I had a great weekend. Had a re-introduction to "Life as Kandice either 1. with those crazy pants or 2. with regained confidence". Or both. Yeah, more like both. :) I had a fun-filled night of (literally ALL night) singing karaoke off of my On Demand cable (did ya'll know that karaoke was an option? I didn't... for that, Tim, I owe you something wonderful) with Team Awesome members Tim and Caleb. LOL!!! It was a riot for sure. Something fun I needed. We seriously belted out tune after tune until 4:30 in the morning. I spent some time with my Ma for Mothers Day on Sat. and then had my special Mothers' Day surprise on Sun. I have been out with said surprise (Charrly) every moment possible and am looking forward to a weekend of bonding with her in a few, hopefully short, days!!!

B/C I'm such a proud Mommy, here's a few more pics:

Crazy Pants

Apparently, I put them on last night. They had a good stay in the closet for awhile but it was nice to slip back into them once again. :)

I had a truly, NOT-alcohol-inspired, great girls night with tons of fun and spontaneity. I even did a somersault on the floor of CB&Potts (don't ask-haha). I love being able to be myself- yes, even myself with my crazy pants on- with my girls. I love that they not only aren't embarassed by my sometimes unexplainable goofiness, but that they high-five me afterwards... and are so proud they write this type of beautiful prose the next day: "It was the end result of her performing dramatic monologues in honor of the dessert menu descriptions. You’d have been proud, she was like *tucks and rolls* and was back at the table with nary a curly tendril out of place."

There's just no substitute for friends that love you whether you're over-analyzing everything in life or sporting pants that make you *tuck and roll* on bar room floors.

Even more exciting is the fact that I'm excited to be slapping them on again tonight. It looks like a trio of us- made up of those recently single and scorned no less- will be creating more female-friendly fun...

I'll keep you posted. ;)

Thirty Pound Day

So, the rest of the world (yes you) doesn't need to know what 'thirty-pound-day' stands for but, it's big... to me.

It's more than a number, it's significant as it stands for proof of major change... for the better... in my personal life. It isn't an ending point AT ALL. It is simply motivating, encouraging and worth remembering.

The significance begins with a conversation had in Mexico with my Dad in Dec. of 2006. And, Dad, IF you ever read this, all I can say is, "I did it!" (and "Nanner nanner") JUST KIDDING! :)

It's Been One Year...

...since I graduated from UW.

In ways, the year has flown by. In others, it feels like a literal lifetime ago. There's been so many positive experiences in the last year (ok, I feel like I'm doing the 'Miss USA giving up her crown' speech). Seriously though, I feel I've grown a lot and am so thankful that I followed through on attaining my degree. It has gotten me, and will continue to get me, opportunities I otherwise never would have had. I feel like I've had a good 'beginning' trial run, fresh out of college and am excited for the new and even better adventures to come.

For the most part, I don't regret returning to Cheyenne for this time in our lives. I don't know what the future will hold but it has been nice to re-kindle friendships and family relationships by being in the same town again.

I've found focus (somehow) in many areas amongst the new busier life I lead, and at the same time lost focus for others. Kahyim and I don't have the seclusion, and therefore over-organized/at home/relax time we did in Laramie, BUT I feel that we are both still thriving in positive experiences. I'm glad to be plugged into the Element, as that was a definite void I had in L-town, and look forward to continuing on with what the future holds there.
I've developed amazing friendships, made peace with ones I'd lost and lost a few more. Such is growth + time I suppose.
I had my first "hopeful" relationship post-college (due to my refusal to commit to a relationship while in college) and earlier on, one for mere comfort. I grew from the first mentioned relationship in many ways (ok, still am learning a little-haha) and developed an even stronger sense of what I want in a mate/ a newfound excitement about finding him as well as learning -once again- how to let go of someone when I don't necessarily want to.
I have derived a confidence I've never had before. First as a result of accomplishment, secondarily as a result of enhancing my health and getting myself physically back to where I want to be (still in process... probably always will be). :)

Of course, K teaches me things daily. Things I could learn from no one else... from the result of parenting and by seeing through the eyes of a child again. She's beautiful in every way.

Sadly, I'm out of time. I'm sure I could find plenty more to reminisce over but these are obviously the first things that come to mind.

Until next time...