Two years!

Wow. Its been two years since I last posted on here. I blame some of it on the fact that for awhile I couldn't retrieve my google account due to a lost password, but lets be real...a lot of it is laziness! And its not because a lot hasn't happened in my world. There have actually been a ton of new and interesting things I've wanted to write about but just haven't gotten around to it.

First and foremost...I'm now single. August 2016 is a month I will remember for the rest of my life because that is the month my marriage disintegrated. It was a big change and I won't go into much detail, but the gist of it is my ex was asking me to pretty much be something I am not nor will ever be so it was inevitable that we would part ways. It was very amicable and when we talk I still feel like I'm talking to a good friend. I know there is no animosity on my part, and these last 8 months I've felt like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders as I no longer have to deal with the expectations that were being projected on me. I've gotten to experience living on my own and financial freedom for the first time in my adult life and its been both eye opening and exciting. I've gotten to make plans and do things that would have been hard or impossible to do when having to consider someone else. So all in all, while it is an experience I would not wish upon anyone, it is sometimes something you have to do and I feel like its made me grow up a lot in areas that I've been lacking, after having someone around to help take care of things for the last 17 years basically.

Second, I got a new job about a year and a half ago. I'm so glad I did because it paid me a good chunk more than my prior job. With hindsight, I feel like it happened for a reason-to help prepare me to be on my own financially. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and looking back on my decisions this is one that definitely stands out.

On the animal front- my awesome dog Major passed away right before Thanksgiving 2015, almost to the day that we adopted him. That was really hard. He was my first dog and therefore the best dog. All dogs will forever be compared to him. At the time my ex did not want to get another dog (mainly because he wanted me to have babies, not puppies) but I finally convinced him after a month of being dog-less to get one. In came the best little furball that I could have ever imagined, Choco. He's a F1 Goldendoodle and I really couldn't love this dog more. I think there is a special attachment because I am the one who chose him (laziest puppy in what was left of the litter! Haha), I've had him since he was a puppy, and he has pretty much been my saving grace will going through all my personal drama at the end of 2016.  He helped get me out of the house when I was feeling down (to go for walks, go to the dog park) and just serves as a constant companion. Always up for an adventure, is great at the barn, but also perfectly happy to hang out with me if all I want to do is stay in bed. I really don't know what I would do without him.

In these two years I've also had three new horses, all investments. I still don't have a personal horse and am still riding whatever my trainer has in the barn. Its been fun, but I do sometimes miss having a bond with that one special horse. Arwen is still around, and loving her life as a pasture puff. She had to go on Prascend this year due to testing positive for cushings, but other than that she's still the same old girl. Maybe just a little grumpier. Jynx is still around too. He's almost 16.3 now! He's currently being broke by a cowboy at our barn and is doing great.

I'll have to do a more detailed update on the three horses that have come and gone in the last two years, and also a show update on my hunter debut! Oh and also my complete lack of fitness.