We're Back! Again!

Holy cow, it's been over a year since I last attempted to keep people up to date on the happenings of us, and in a year, so much has changed!
One of the biggest updates is that I am pregnant, and nearing 20 weeks! We cannot explain to you the joy and love we have for this child already, knowing completely that this is the Lord's doing and timing.  Many of you may know that in November of 2009, after only five months of marriage, I found out I was pregnant.  After having shared the joy of our expectancy with all of our family, the good news was closely followed by the devastating news of a miscarriage in December.  Although heartbreaking, the Lord showed us through that time that He is Creator, Sustainer, and Comforter.  And after having decidedly left our attempts at having children up to the Lord since then, there is such peace in knowing He would give us a child in due time, in His time.  I can't believe we're almost halfway there!
My pregnancy has been pretty great thus far, no sickness and little to no nausea.  The biggest side effect has just been my diminished ability to get a good night's sleep due to discomfort and not being able to lie on my back. 
After having given it some thought, Dan and I have decided we're not going to find out what we're having.  To be completely honest, I've always thought people that wish to do that are crazy, and as it turns out, I'm married to one of them.  Dan put a bug in my ear about week 13 or 14 about not caring what we're having as far as genders go.  His reasoning was that if we don't care, why find out? I know, I know, not knowing "pink" or "blue" does limit a pregnant woman's decorating abilities, but I had decided long before I was pregnant I was going to do one nursery scheme, and one nursery scheme only.  No matter how many kids I had, no matter boys or girls.  One can't go wrong with white, brown, cream and gray.  (Really interesting colors I know, but you should see my closet.......full of clothes these colors and these colors only)  They are classic colors, and besides, my husband's frugality and hardcoreness in Dave Ramsey kind of limits the possibility of fanciful themes at this point in our lives. Okay, enough about the pregnancy/the baby for this post.
The most recent update is that Dan started a new job on Monday.  Dan decided back in August that, after having worked for Level1 for almost three years, it was time to move on.  He then enrolled in some math classes at MCC and was on track to obtain his teaching certification in hopes of becoming a teacher and coach.  He realized after some prayer and thought that this is not what he felt like he should do afterall.  He had been working at the sale barn in Meridian for about the last 3 months and really enjoyed it.  (i think mainly because he was 1. getting to see his friend Domel everyday (which enabled me to see Sarah some weekends :)) and 2. getting to learn all about cows and feel like a cowboy :))  Anyway, the drive back and forth began to wear on him, and him staying at his dad's several times a week began to wear on me.  We had been praying and praying for something to become available here locally and sure enough,  Dan began his job with the City of Woodway on Monday.  Although it's not something Dan sees himself doing for the rest of his life, it is something that he's okay doing at this stage in our lives due to the City's job security and benefits.  So needless to say we're thankful for both this provision and for Dan's willingness to work at this job.......and overwhelmed by God's faithfulness. 
I diligently intend on doing better at this blogging thing, mainly because now, I finally have things to blog about.  Forgive me for not posting pictures yet of my bump. (yes, it's there......IN FORCE.) :) I'll try to figure out the whole posting of pictures thing.  Until then, be patient with my blogging skills and don't mind the plain layout and such. It's a work in progress.......................Have a great Wednesday!

much needed update

Here is a much needed update about what has been going on in our lives! We are still alive and well and have been experiencing so many exciting things. Last Thursday, May 6th, I graduated from dental hygiene school. Finally! PRAISE GOD! This past Monday, May 10th, I started my new job! PRAISE GOD! Tuesday, May 11th, I found out I passed my state board WREB exam with an almost perfect score! PRAISE GOD! God is so good!
Dental hygiene schools don't really celebrate graduation, they celebrate "pinning." My pinning ceremony was so personal and so sweet because there were only 10 of us, along with our family and friends. It was such a wonderful time to celebrate with my classmates and instructors. Throughout the entire ceremony, I was humbled by thinking about just how God had orchestrated my entrance, transfer, grades, tests..........everything. I was truly in awe of how good our Father is and was completely humbled. It is a wonderful feeling to wake up everyday now and know I don't have any homework, projects or rotations to do. This moment was 6 years in the making. That's how long I've been in school. And it will have to take an act of God to get me to ever go back to school. :)
My new job is even more evidence as to God's goodness. I have the privilege to work for a dentist whose office I observed earlier this semester. This dentist, and seemingly the entire staff, are followers of Jesus. The office is unbelievably state-of-the-art and looks more like you've walked into a spa rather than a dental office. While I am not able to practice until I have my license in hand (which usually takes about 2-3 weeks) he is allowing me to work 4 days a week assisting, helping with office work, observing the procedures, and familiarizing myself with how things will be once I begin "working." I will be cleaning teeth Thursdays and Fridays, and if I'd like, have the option to help around the office Mondays and Tuesdays for some extra hours. The dentist says that it's seems as though the office will be busy enough come early fall to have me cleaning teeth 3, maybe even 4 days a week. Unreal. I am still going to work as much as I can at Amelia's. I may work some Wednesdays and some Saturdays just for extra $ and all of the great perks of working there...........like..............CLOTHES! :) It has dawned on me, however, that my weekly wardrobe will largely consist of scrubs. Oh well.
Dan is so excited that I'll finally be working, and that we'll be able to have more of a routine. And he's pretty pumped about free dental everything too. :)

Anyway, consider yourself caught up on the lives of Daniel and Jenny Dagley, for now at least. Since I feel as though I'll have a bit more time now that I'm done with school, I'll try to write more often. Lesson for the day: God is crazy good.

Spring "Break"

The headline pretty much sums it up. It's spring, I'm technically out of school for the week, but it has been anything but a break. I take my National Board Exam for dental hygiene school in roughly 2 days. Oddly enough, 2 days is exactly the amount of time I've given thus far to preparing for the test. Sounds crazy right? Not only crazy, but incredibly dumb. Please consider that most of my fellow classmates began studying last summer, as in almost a year ago, for this test. Why, in my insanity, I thought that 4 days would be enough is beyond me.

Daniel and I fasted last Tuesday through Friday for a job interview he had, and needless to say, I'm hoping the power of our fasting will transfer to this week! By no means am I expecting the Lord to bless my lack of preparedness; however, that's EXACTLY what I'm hoping will happen.

I've realized though, over the course of having been in school for 6 years, that regardless of how much studying I do for school, if I'm not studying the Word and spending time with Him, I do not make the grade. Example: In my time at Texas A&M, while I sought the Lord more there then I did at Tech, I still was not walking in accordance with His Word and I definitely wasn't committed to consistent, connecting time with Him daily. I could study...............read hundreds of pages................and still just attain mediocrity in school. By the grace of God I graduated.

Dental hygiene school, as I've stated before, separates the women from the girls. My hygiene school experience in itself is testament to the Lord's provision and steadfast presence. When I started at Tyler, I was away from everything I knew; Daniel, my family, a church body I loved, most of my friends. But during this time, I grew more in the Lord than I ever had. I began to hear His voice and sense His direction and presence! I'm a preacher's kid, raised in church all of my life, and had never had these things! It was the ability to discern His voice that opened up the ability to transfer to Temple, and obedience that saw it through.

At Temple, things were different. Harder. But the Lord was there, He had guided me there. He began to spring up within me a hunger for the deeper things of Him. Can you say Baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is this hunger that ultimately drove me to commit to spending time with Him before studying. Often times, as aforementioned, I would wait until the night before a test or the day of to begin studying. And I knew that if I didn't spend time with Him first, any studying I did would be for nothing. I would take the test, perhaps filled with more of His peace than knowledge of the subject I was in, and I would make a good grade--no, I take that back-- a great grade. Am I boasting? Not of myself. Of the Lord. Of His goodness and faithfulness. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying forsake studying or forsake preparedness. I'm just saying don't forsake time with Him.

And man, if you've never taken a test in the power of the Holy Spirit, it will blow you away. There was one test where I literally asked Him several questions of which HE gave me the answers! I mean how do I explain that to my classmates who would ask me how I knew the answer?! Ummm, the Holy Spirit told me?! Nuts!

My sweet friend Alli told me once that the Lord must really want me to be a dental hygienist. I asked "Why do you say that?" Her response was "Because He is choosing to bless you, despite your lack of effort." How undeservedly true. I think it boils down to God, loving to be God, and loving to do crazy stuff that can't be explained except by just giving Him the glory. So pray that I continue to make time for Him above anything else, even above studying for this test and that His glory would be evident in it.

Back in the Game

Oh my goodness! It's been a while since I've even thought about blogging. But seeing as how I'm looking for every possible thing imaginable to take the place of studying for my national board exam, why not? And why not start by devoting an entire post to wine.

This past weekend, Daniel and I were invited by Nathan (Dan's older brother) to come to Wimberly and enjoy some time away in the Hill Country. On Saturday, we all met Dan's Mom, Booker, Uncle Brent and Aunt Tiff at the Fall Creek Vineyard and Winery. Formerly, my knowledge and experience with wine was limited to Ruinite Lambrusco, probably the cheapest "best" wine I'd tasted. I had no clue as to the "flavors, notes and aromas" each wine has, and the best food pairing. And I still don't.

But having tasted a series of 7 to 8 wines, I DID, however, find the wine that Jesus probably drank; in that it was the best ever. Twin Springs, Sweet Red.

That's right, it's a red wine, it's sweet and you can drink it with absolutely anything. It doesn't instigate a crazy "holy smokes, that's regretfully strong" kind of face when you drink it. It is so good. You must put it on your list to try. It's cheap, too. Usually just 5 or 6 bucks a bottle.

Next up, in close second is Kim, Booker, Brent & Tiff's favorite; Ed's Smooth Red.

It is Smooth. Like silky cashmere smooth. It's not a sweet wine, but it's definitely not a crazy, bitter one either. Both are exclusively bottled at Fall Creek in Tow, Texas. H.E.B. sells both, as does some other local stores.

Moral of the story: branch out a little. Regardless of whether or not you like wine, try one. Or both.

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!