iluvTXskies's Xanga

goin' to the chapel and we're....

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:29:32 GMT

...gonna get ma-a-a-rried.

(recent pic from Oct. 31)

It has been a long and interesting road for Candice Leticia Ibarra and Norman Nery Bún...

just about 2 years ago, Norm and I went to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

we had a funny conversation about how since we weren't ready to be married, I'd turn him down, even if he asked right then. He didn't think it was that funny, but later we laughed about it. On Saturday, October 24, 2009, we went back to the JTG at my request...and after a lovely stroll to a quiet place, Norm read me a poem he'd written. It was lovely and creative and talked about our journey to where we are now and how God was leading us to the next step...and he rhymed this into the last line:

"Candice Leticia Ibarra, will you be my bride?"

Of course, by this time I was crying because of the beauty of the poem and the direction I knew it was heading...he was beside me on one knee with a beautiful ring in hand...

me: "um...let me think about it...." "just kidding, YES!!!"

celebration ensued. We had a lovely rest of the evening in San Francisco and I'll have to post more pictures later b/c he has them on his camera.

my happy happy face :)

**We haven't set a date, but are thinking something small in late 2010; fall/winter in San Francisco or surrounding areas**

words fail me

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:12:51 GMT

i feel like i need to put this somewhere that needs more than 140 characters and xanga was my old faithful when it came to deep, meaningful things.

i just need to say that it's so bizarre to me to think that someone who I have seen as invincible (albeit eccentric and misunderstood at best) for my whole life is gone.

Michael Jackson represents not just an era, but for so many my age and a bit older (and younger), a lifetime! You don't often think about death until it's staring you in the face. A terrifying car crash, a loved one diagnosed with a fatal disease, murders in nearby cities. And the whole world...really, practically the WHOLE world will be mourning the loss of this man. My hope is that people will not just remember him, but look inward to examine the state of his/her heart.

in reading Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, our small group just discussed the fragility of life and the hope that we can somehow live up to the role God has for us in this thing called life. So often I do my own thing...I want the things that I want, that others say I should want, things the media tells me I need....

all I need is You, Lord....is You, Lord...
all I need is You.

Praying for the Jackson family during this tragic time...especially for MJ's 3 children....

twenty eight

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:36:41 GMT

I thought my 28th birthday would pass without much hullabaloo. Just a day at work and a quiet dinner with my honey.

Instead, I ended up being transported to Stanford Hospital via ambulance after wrecking my car on the freeway on the way home.

I'm alive and have no major injuries to speak of. All of my bones and internal organs remain intact though it feels as though I was dumped on by a load of very heavy objects.

Note: The crash was, in fact, my fault. This is sad news as I typically pride myself on being a fairly safe driver. I can drive in foreign countries, in San Francisco, and even Texas. However, last night I let myself be distracted momentarily and that's all it took to look up and see the cars stopped in front of me.

I had about 1 second to react and it wasn't enough, so I slammed into the back of the SUV and then off to the right into some shrubs and bushes. My car plowed through and the airbags deployed and I crashed through the foliage and eventually came to a stop. My windshield was partially caved in and my rear view mirror was in my lap. I was quite shaken up and then people arrived. A good samaritan named Brad calmed me down until the sheriff arrived. He held my head and neck (something about C-Spine) until the firefighters came. the firemen got me out of my car onto a backboard. I'll admit I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to get my chubby self out of the car without a lot of work. but they did and got me to the gurney. the paramedics asked where I was in pain. It was my right ankle and left knee. Then it came. scissors cut open my (brand new just got them online) favourite black pants from American Eagle. I commented to them that they were new and expressed my horror about them being cut but they kind of chuckled and said they needed to do it to check my injuries.

I'll cut to the chase...they transported me in an ambulance to Stanford (about 20 min) and there, they proceeded to cut the rest of my (all NEW) clothes off leaving me the dignity of my underoos and covered me with hospital garb. They took xrays of my aching parts and found out that I had no fractures. They pressed my belly and examined my neck. after about an hour or more, they let me go home. My mom and Norm met me at the hospital and heard my woes of not only being shamelessly disrobed, but by having nothing left to speak of in the way of new birthday clothes....simply my birthday suit. They gave me sweats to remedy this predicament and while it was an unworthy substitute, I was grateful. Everyone was so kind at the hospital.

We came back to my house and Norm stopped to get my presents from his house and pick up root beer for the pizza we were all going to partake of for my birthday supper. We ate and laughed as I recounted the funny parts of this very traumatic story. I'm still recovering and need to go and nap now that I've sat and typed all of this.

I appreciate the love and prayers and support that people have given. Thank you.

God, thank you for keeping me safe and alive. I know I'm nothing without you and I'm so grateful for the chance to see another day. Thank you for my family who loves me. thank you for Norman, who adores me and celebrates me every day. thank you for my church family - who faithfully prays and loves and supports me. Thank you for all the people who helped me, please bless them as they continue to serve those who are hurting and in pain. I love you and am blessed to be called yours.

summertime, and the living is..

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:56:50 GMT

so busy!
I don't know about all that "easy" business.

Summer was filled with crazy work stuff (trips, retreats, pastors on vacation), parties, and weddings, showers, babies, on and on and on...

I've put a few more pictures on flickr (see right------>).
Saw American Idol Contestants, RJ Helton & Frenchie Davis (awesome!)
Hung out with friends and family...church buddies and work friends...
Saw Idina Menzel.
Last weekend alone I went to a Forty-Niner game w/my sis, took a sunset/moonlit dinner cruise w/Norm (adorable & romantic & so much fun!), and then I sang on the worship team at church on Sunday.
Last night a group of us went to worship at Jubilee with Hillsong United (see Tony's blog)
so so much more...
but i'm tired and need to go home. (still in the office)
tomorrow's a staff day away...hope to put up summer pictures soon. stay tuned.

iTunes and music

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:08:07 GMT

Guess who I saw on Tuesday night with my Norm? (hint: see above) yes, it was awesome. i'm sorry you're jealous. I love my baby and that's where he wanted to go. so off we went. We saw Bon Jovi AND Daughtry. Even one song where Chris sang along w/Jon! :)

So it's been a bit of a musical time for me...let me continue whilst changing the subject...

I've had iTunes for awhile now...the count of my library nearing 4000on my home comp and currently 1715 at work. I've been purchasing music from time to time, but lately maybe more than normal. It's too easy, you know? click a button and the music is there! Colbie Caillat, Brooke Fraser and most recently, Starfield have been added. All of which I'm supremely satisfied with.

I got inspired by a pastor I work with to make one of my playlists an iMix. I had to tweak a bit and rearrange, but I'm pretty happy with it. now you can view it and choose to buy the songs if you'd like. honourable mention: Evie Haskell is featured in my mix and not that anyone will really see it or buy it, I thought it was cool to include her b/c I think she has a phenomenal heart and a spectacular voice. Beyond even that, she has a ginormous heart for worship. I admire her. Also featured are Beth Dillon, Starfield, Paul Baloche, Vicky Beeching, Lincoln Brewster, and my beloved Hillsong United feat. Brook Fraser. Check it out by clicking here (opens in itunes).

Tonight, there is a farewell party for the worship pastor of the church I work at. He is faithfully going onto whatever God calls him into next, which is [somewhat unfortunately] out of PCC. However, we rejoice in what God has done through him here and celebrate his family's next steps. I wasn't really going to go, but I think I will pop in for a bit to show my support and hang with some cool folks from PCC.

I may take up blogging again. it's good for my head. good for my heart. some public, some private...anything to get me writing again.

grace. peace. love to you. Soli Deo Gloria

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:22:04 GMT

All dressed up for the Mardis Gras themed (3rd annual) Halima Smile Fund Gala

In the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park (SF)

on my birthday.

and I got a job :) I start January 3rd...details to follow. thanks for your faithful support and prayers.

internet rambling

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:40:08 GMT

I had an interview with a company today who is a leader in innovative uses of wiki technology.

they're all about collaborative works, making business better, and technology as a means to business productivity.

Good stuff. I've been lagging in my internet associations. a bit of a "fast" if you will. It has been good, cleansing. Now I only use the computer to check my banking and pay bills, and for e-mail. Occasionally I find myself wandering through youtube, but not too often. Wikipedia has been my recent "go-to" information source, though about.com and monster.com have been helpful in the job search/interviewing process. Anyway. I've been using a blackberry, too. I'm finishing this entry on it, in fact.

I think I will buy it from mi madre. Unless anyone else wants to get me the Pearl for christmas ;). Sending my sis her b-day/christmas package today. I've sent her a couple cool things :). Yay!
I'm done. Be back later...

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:23:11 GMT

I thought I'd post my final India update as a video and short synopsis. many of the pictures of kids were from the Charlie's Lunch outreach we did in feeding 50 children. Also, we visited another village where the children (like in so many other places) sang and danced for over an hour and then sat attentively for another 2 hours for lessons. These kids taught me so much about God's love, serving Him, and worshipping with abandon. Their hearts are so full of JOY and they sing so loudly their praises to the King. We all know that we are fortunate as Americans to live in such a blessed nation with all our our gadgets, toys, entertainment, and stuff. It's a sobering thing to be among people who get by with much less and live fulfilled lives in Christ. Before I left, a former mission trip leader of mine wrote to me about India as he had gone to the same city (Hyderabad) in July with Teen Mania:

"You see there, in a much more crystal clear, way how consumed with idols and false gods we humans are; there they can have 6 arms or elephant tusks, here they can be the neighbor’s car or the number of digits on our paycheck, or the image in the mirror."

So I saw that I could make a tiny impact in the lives of people there - and that's significant. However, if I do nothing to share the message of Jesus' saving grace and love to the people living all around me who are equally enslaved by their own idolatry, am I really being as effective as I possibly can be? Probably not. I may not be called to live overseas and take the gospel to unreached places, but I want my heart to be willing to go wherever to share His hope with whoever needs it - even if that's to my neighbours across the street or the homeless in San Francisco.

As you celebrate this holiday, Thanksgiving, thank God for the grace He's extended to you. I need to thank Him every day. and I don't.

Thank you, God, for saving me.

Thank you for loving me enough to send your most precious asset, your son.

Thank you for giving me a loving family, for surrounding me with people who care about me.

Thank you for bringing a godly man into my life to show me a glimpse on earth of what your love is like.

Thank you for giving me many opportunities to share your love with others; may I be diligent in doing so.

love God, love people

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:02:14 GMT

I really like this album a lot. my dad is playing it in the other room. this song came on and brought me back to a time when this song echoed the prayer of my heart. i'm getting back there.

I want to be where You are
I want to know Who You are
So when You call my name
I'll say to You here I am
I'm listening Lord speak to me
I want to see how You see
Change my heart Lord make me holy
If there's anything in my life
That doesn't honor You tonight
I'm listening Lord speak to me
Speak to me

and i want to go watch this movie in the theatre. i saw a sneak preview in may...but i want to see the finished product with my honey...we shall see.

BELLA

singapore

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:54:59 GMT

There is so much to say about our last week in India...

The mud fort children, the large AG church I sang at, the village Sunday service which lasted for several hours, the other village with children singing, and countless other memories....

I'll make it brief when I do put an update up and put some pictures for those who tend to get distracted by too many words in a row.... I can be that way also.

For now we are back in a CLEAN place....Singapore. We are killing time waiting for a hotel room (transit hotel at the airport where you can get a room for 6 hours to rest) that we can get a good "night's" rest in since it is about 5:30 am Hyderabad time (we arrived 1 hour ago) and about 8 am here. I purposely did not sleep on the 4 hour flight over so that I could crash out here in Singapore. Our next flight leaves around 5 pm so we'll get some good movie time in before going to sleep for awhile. It's quite a long flight and we'll arrive in SF around 6 pm on the "same day" that we left. It's the 8th here on the other side of the world.

It was strange...the Hyderabad airport was very primitive and small and still a little dirty. We stepped onto the plane and instantly felt a little more "civilised". Even here in Singapore...where I feel a little closer to home (in cleanliness and modernity), I don't want to lose what I felt in India...I don't want to grow far from how God has burdened my heart for those people who live with so much less.

Thank you so much for your kind comments, e-mails, and mostly prayers. I have really felt them. God is so good. See you here, there, or in the air.