Amazingness!!!

So tonight I met the MOST amazing person. Her name is Sarah Weber, and she works at Crossroads Community Church. She is also the wife of my former student teacher in Calculus, which is how we became acquainted. We emailed for a couple days, then texted, and then tonight we finally got the opportunity to meet each other! We met at Lava Java, and they played the August Rush soundtrack which is one of my all time faves!!! Sarah did most of the talking, which is totally fine with me, and boy did she have some great stuff to say! I was pretty much sitting in awe the whole time at how every single word related so much to what I was going through or had gone through in the past. She told me about how she had asked God for someone in which to make an investment, and I had been severely needing someone to fill the role that she is now playing for so long! Amazing how God fits the puzzle pieces together just right... :) Seriously I am at such a loss for words that I really can't write anymore, even though there is so much more to be said. Thanks so much Sarah!!!

Now if you all will excuse me...I believe I have a list to start... :)

Bittersweet Day

Wow posting two times in one day! Don't you guys feel special! For those of you who don't know, I am in Kentucky this weekend because my mother decided she wanted to come see her boyfriend for Mother's Day (yeah makes me feel so great...). So I figured I would make the best of it and get out of the house for awhile today. I went to see my cousin Ethan play baseball. They lost, but it was still fun. I got to spend some time with his older brother, Michael, who has basically become like a big bro to me too. My aunt and uncle were there, along with my cousin Amy. After the game, I went with Amy and I few other people to get fitted for the Bridesmaid dress for Amy's wedding. It was so gorgeous and getting to actually put it on just makes me so much more excited for the wedding!!!! We also went to eat at Fazolis. I always have to go there when I'm in KY since Greenville got rid of all their Fazolis. We met back up with Ethan and a few other people to go see Ironman, which was amazing!!! I really want to go see it again! Not to mention I just loved hanging out with my cousins in general. We love to pick on each other, especially little 5'2" me and my 6'4" cousin!

There is something so different about the feeling of KY compared to my Greenville home. Maybe it is just because I am surrounded by family, but I love it here. Not like a "I want to live here forever" feeling, but just a great place to get away feeling. It is just so relaxing to come here and spend time with those I love.

But I also realized it is still very hard for me to be up here. I still feel like I should be going to the radio station to hang out with Austin. As we drive around I remember Austin and I hanging out there or talking about something stupid that related to those places. But tonight I did something very different than I would normally do. Usually I just try to block it out. Tonight though, I talked to God about it. I turned it over to Him and asked Him for healing. I thought I had gotten over all that mess, but being up here made me realize I'm really not. I also realized I can't do this on my own....as I have done in many other areas of my life in the last week. It really amazes me how coming into the right connections can completely change the way I view God and my relationship with Him. Thank you Hal and Sarah!

So while we are on the topic of them, I figure I'll post my most recent piece of artwork. It is the first colored pencil piece that I have ever done, and I am so proud of it...and so happy that I got to give it to two amazing people! I hope they enjoy it!!!

Hello Everyone!

Hey everyone! To be honest I just started this blog so I could keep up with others that I am interested in reading, but I figure I can keep you updated on myself in the process! Considering I am mainly involved in horses, the main focus will be my journey through the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Program. For those of you who don't know what this is (which is probably most of you!), let me explain.

I was introduced to this program when I moved to my current barn, Dark Horse Equestrian Centre. It focuses on building a relationship and line of communication with your horse using a language they understand. You see, horses are prey animals, and we humans are predators, so innately we don't speak on the same terms. As humans, we want to treat a horse the same way we would want to treat a dog, a fellow predator. This involves reward and punishment...it doesn't work for a horse!!! Horses are interested in safety. They need a leader in the relationship, which is where many people fail with their horse. Parelli is all about teaching the human, not the horse, which is what sets it apart from most other programs. It has 10 levels...levels 1-3 are homestudy, and beyond that involves being in the Professionals program. Parelli is a program that will change your life in many more areas than just horsemanship, and that is why I love it! More informations at www.parelli.com

Ok so now you at least somewhat understand the program I am involved in. So, I guess now I should introduce you to my baby girl and how I got her! I have wanted a horse for as long as I can remember, but the terms were just never right until the summer of 2006. The amazing barn owners, Bekah and Tony, helped we work with my parents and finally I got the approval to get my horse (well actually I just started looking and my parents kind of accepted that I was on a mission). I looked at a few other horses first and they were nice, but nothing ever "clicked." Tony found Callie as they were going to look at a stud for one of their mares. He immediately texted me, but being the good girl I am, I don't check my texts as school (well I didn't then hehe). I called him afterschool and he explained her to me. The description was my dream horse...until he got to the never been ridden part. I had always wanted a Paint, and here was one that was affordable and gorgeous. But I wasn't really sure if I was ready to start my own horse. I went to see her with Bekah and Tony one day, and as I soon as I set my eyes on her I knew she was the horse I wanted. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours messing around with her, seeing what she would tolerate and whatnot. She had a really sweet nature and Bekah told me she didn't think it would be too hard to start her. After that day, I set it up to go ahead and purchase her from Teresa. So on June 12, 2006 we finally got to pick her up and bring her to Dark Horse. My friends wondered how I wasn't jumping off the wall, but truthfully I was so excited I just didn't know what to do with myself! It was amazing getting her off the trailer at DH and knowing that she was mine. I didn't have to share her, and I could progress her training in anyway I liked.

Well, she wasn't as easy to start as everyone thought. We found out she really loved to buck, which is not fun! But I stuck with her through thick and thin, and now I have a horse who loves to play and be ridden. We are now in our Level 2. We are about to start Level 3 with the groundwork! That is a HUGE milestone for me! She is my reminder that God loves me...everytime I see her I am reminded of Him.

Here are a couple of pictures from the early days. :) I will try to post some of her very first ride, and her very first day at Dark Horse soon.





And a couple of her now...





Those of you who know me know that I am pretty random...so don't think I will only posting about Callie! I am aiming to keep you guys updated on everything! :D