One Month Later.............

Sorry it's been so long since the last entry. I started a little thing called school, and it's been pretty crazy around here. I'm also trying to work while going to school. I did it for all of my undergrad, but trust me, dental hygiene school is a whole other ballgame. School has gone well thus far. I'm getting to see harder patients this semester which is exciting, yet scary. After having seen what I'm starting to, it would make you ask the question "Have these people ever picked up a toothbrush?!" But because I have a weird affinity for seeing immediate change, I love cleaning teeth. And oddly enough, the more stuff that there is to clean, the easier it is. It's just like mowing a yard. The grass was tall, now it's short. Voila! How satisfying to witness immediate change! I have my competency (my timed exhibition of how well I can clean someone's teeth for a grade) on Monday morning. Please be praying it goes well! To God be the glory!

It's On. (And Off)

I am completely excited. Since the beginning of our marriage, I've been trying to combat Daniel's not-so-healthy eating habits. It's not that Dan eats bad, it's just that he's NEVER had to watch what he eats for fear of putting on weight. He can't gain weight to save his life. He is 100% pure muscle. Me on the other hand, I have a little bit more padding. If I even look at a donut, it attaches itself to my rumpus. Anyway, after hours of conversation and helpful information from friend Sarah Crawford, I'm beginning to see the benefits of natural eating. As in organic. All the way.

While the transition has been definitely gradual and at times sneaky, (as to not alarm Dan that he's eating healthier) I already feel better. Thankfully, Daniel has caught on. We bought the book The Seven Pillars of Health. It is a Biblically based book on eating naturally, focused on seeking to uphold and take care of "our temples." It is a 50 day devotion-style book with healthful, Biblical principles for each day. Unfortunately, we only have one book....................and Daniel is working out of town this week in Austin.................and he has the book. So I guess I'll catch up. I'm so excited about learning more about eating healthfully and naturally. It's on!

The thing that's off is our cable service. Yes, we are discontinuing our cable. Why? Although I haven't completely convinced myself that I won't be bored out of my mind, we're looking forward to not having it. We don't really watch TV all that much, but when we do, we do it wholeheartedly. I mean lay-on-the-couch-not-moving-for-6-hours watch it. We have many things we would like to do around the house, many books we hope to read, and housework that is continuous. More TV in our relationship means less conversation--a dangerous habit in a new marriage. More TV means less working out, and so many other things! Plus, while reviewing our finances, we realized we could save $500 a year by not having it! Be more productive and have and extra $500? We're chancing it! God bless Dan though. It's gonna be a tough fall without Fightin' Texas Aggie and Dallas Cowboys football, hunting shows galore, and the possibility of seeing the Rangers go to the playoffs. Be praying for us. :)

Back to business.

I'm counting down the days until I no longer have freedom. Meaning I start back to school in less than a week and a half. Am I registered? Do I have a clue what my schedule is? Have I attempted scheduling any patients? Have I bought books? The answer (to every aforementioned question above) is simply NO. I am seriously lacking the desire to do any of this because I know once it starts, it goes until graduation next May. Don't get me wrong, I love cleaning teeth and probably gross many people out with my love for looking in mouths. It's just that these next two semesters present the greatest of challenges, as in, harder patients, national boards, community service projects, plus bookwork and so on. Not to mention 2 hours of my day are spent driving to and from Temple. Eek! Grace Lord, I need grace! Marriage will also be considerably different. I took two classes this summer and have worked consistently. Although the combination was at times annoying, for the most part, I was able to maintain the house, cook and clean easily. All I can say is that I hope Dan doesn't mind leftovers when school starts. I'm praying that the Lord gives me a supernatural ability to be organized and energized enough to keep Him as my first priority, and Daniel as my second, no matter what project is due, or how nasty someone's teeth are. I can't even begin to tell you how the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to be doing what I'm doing and where. I'm the first and only transfer to Temple's Dental Hygiene program. Coincidence? No, Jesus. Plain and simple. Have I made pretty good grades? Yes, but not by my power. Example: the week of our wedding. If anyone ever tries to plan a wedding amidst having transferred schools and moving, don't do it. (unless you have a supermom like mine) Anyway, so about midway through the semester, I find out that my Nutrition final is the Monday of the week of our wedding. Stay calm. So the time closes in, and before you know it it's the weekend before our wedding, A.K.A. moving time. That weekend, I was in charge of getting the house cleaned and ready to move into, which left about an hour to study for my comprehensive Nutrition final Monday morning. I've realized that when it comes to school, if I'm gonna study anything at all, it needs to be the Bible and to give the Lord His time first and foremost. And that's what I did. And praise the Lord, He blessed it! I got a 95 on the final after studying an hour! Is any human capable of that? No! By His power, all things are possible!
With the start of this new semester does come the time of the year I love most- fall. Dan and I have been working on sprucing up the backyard and the front so we can enjoy the Texas fall when the time comes.
It's not just the changing of leaves or the warm feeling you get from seeing pumpkins and little goblins, it is peace. It is solace. It is the Lord's handiwork at its finest. And I absolutely can't wait.
The fact that dove hunting season opens September 1st and deer season follows in November doesn't hurt either. :)
So to sum it up, I'm praying for an inward peace for this next school year. I'm praying for motivation to want to go to school and give it everything I've got. I'm praying for boldness to lay hands on and share the Gospel with my patients and the girls in my class. After all, people can't really object when you've got your hands in their mouth! :) I'm praying for balance when it comes to being a follower of Jesus first, a wife second, and a student. If anyone wants some Jesus along with a clean mouth, give me a call.

Refreshed

So I'm sitting here praying earnestly for the Lord to give me joy and to fill my heart with gladness. Daniel went into work this morning and came back telling me he had to work in Marble Falls this week. As I helped him pack his bags for the third week in a row, I began fighting back the sadness and pity that began to try to cloud my mind. He's been in College Station for the past two weeks working. While Daniel has been gone, Satan has been trying to make me resentful for Daniel's absence and make me feel like Dan's love for me is wavering, and quite honestly, I've been hosting a pity party for myself.....on an hourly basis. Thankfully, the Lord constantly reminds me of His plans during this time and the fact that Satan has no desire other than to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY. During my time with the Lord this morning, he reminded me that Dan's love for me is the driving force for Daniel working as hard as he does to support us. The Lord refreshed me this morning with a passionate desire to support and encourage Daniel, no matter where he is. How could I be resentful? Resentment is NOT of the Lord! Bitterness is NOT of the Lord! Rejoicing is! So that is my desire, to REJOICE and seek to uphold and grow the love the Lord initially planted within both of our hearts for each other. Daniel is my workhorse and for that I am thankful. The Lord works everything for the good of those who love Him. REJOICE in the Lord always, again, I say REJOICE!

Sew Awesome

If any of you know my mom, you know that she is essentially the poster girl for Homemakers of America. She sews, she cooks, she does it all. I would always watch her sew when I was little and even got my feet wet for a while. My mom made ALL of her own clothes in high school and even got voted best dressed. I've always thought it would be neat to know how to sew but I've never had the motivation nor desire to actually take the time to officially learn how. About 3 to 4 years ago, my mom rescued a sewing machine and table out of the dumpster and got it working. Since then, she's been wanting to teach me how. Sarah Crawford has also been learning to sew and has been sharing with me how much fun it is and how surprisingly easy it is! She's a pro! She's already made a robe! So, this week, Daniel worked out of town, and needless to say I had a lot of time on my hands. My mom came, with the sewing machine, on Thursday and spent the night teaching me how to sew. She thought the easiest thing to start out learning to sew would be a baby blanket. (No, not for me) So it's official! (With the assistance of Homemaker B) I made a baby blanket! I legitimately kind of know how to sew! My next project is going to be making some pillows for the living room. I'm so pumped up about sewing now, I even went to Hobby Lobby this morning and bought some patterns and more fabric! I absolutely can't wait to learn more about it and get some more practice. Next thing I want to learn how to do: can things. Jellies, Jalapenos, Pickles, I want to learn how to do them all! :)

A Makeover and the Major Leagues

So here I am, reminiscing about today and am silently wondering to myself how I managed to go from one extreme to another. Okay rewind. To give some background, I spent the better part of my morning discussing how to grow herbs with some of my dental hygiene girls while learning how to make bleaching trays. In an effort to slowly improve my mom's style and ditch the frumpiness, I spent a lengthy but fun 5 to 6 hours picking out clothes with and for my mom at both Goodwill and The Clothesline. I mean I was forever up to my elbows in Ann Taylor Loft Shirts for 4 bucks! You haven't lived until you rummage through "lumps of coal" then finally find a diamond! We got her a new wardrobe of Talbots, Ann Taylor, Old Navy, Gap, and Target goods for about 90$! Can't beat it! I then came home and began to attempt to make somewhat of a gourmet meal. So basically I've been the epitome of a girl today..........that is until now.

I'm currently sitting on the couch in my living room watching a Rangers game with 3 guys--Daniel, Kyle, and my Rusty Bear (our Austrailian Shepherd), listening to them discuss how, if given the chance, they would marry Josh Hamilton in a heartbeat. I find myself chiming in when they talk about sports and almost forgetting that it's not okay to let out a burp. I feel as though I'm suddenly the epitome of a guy instead. I'm praying the Lord would give me an extra dose of girliness tomorrow to make up for it. :) In the meantime, for any single girls reading this, in an effort to find a match for Kyle, here's a few words about our beloved friend Kyle Ogle. Forgive my corny correlations, the terminology was forged into my blood when I married the sports fanatic that is Daniel Dagley.

Kyle plays on Jesus' team. He's humble enough to sit the bench. He doesn't hold back, he swings for the fences in everything he does. Life has thrown him a lot of strikes, but he hasn't struck out. All in all, he's a home run ladies. :)

I know I know, I'm a huge dork, but what's to be expected?! Goodness I need to hang out with girls more!

Here Goes Nothing

Okay, so after some serious thought, and in a valiant effort to phase out my love for facebook, I have decided to start blogging. I have realized after having been on facebook for almost 5 years (gasp!) that in my boredom, it has become my most unproductive use of time. (Not like blogging would necessarily be considered as productive either) Regardless, I have always thoroughly enjoyed writing and am looking forward to doing it on a frequent enough basis to at least make myself feel productive.

Dan, with that precious smirk of his, slightly chuckled when he saw my new web creation because he, of all people, undoubtedly knows that blogging has the potential to suck as much time out of my life as facebook has in the past. I vow this shall not be so. For now anyway.

So here's to the beginning of a potentially beautiful union between a woman and her blog. Here goes nothing.