Montana

This is how we spend most of our time : )



We love Dancing!

Helpin' Out

Last weekend Mom, Seth, and I went to "Little Rig" Grandpa's house to help clean things up so he can move into town. Mostly we worked on clearing out the basement, which has acquired a lot in the last 25 years. Another one of our jobs was to clear out the garage, but unfortunately the hornets had infested the building so we didn't get much done in there. Seth was such a big helper!
Now Grandpa is almost ready to move into town!

It's Harder than it looks. . .

This week's class is on Restorative, and today we had the opportunity to do 2 amalgam restorations. And since we have 5 proficiencies to do this week, we were also given the opportunity to do some of those.
Let me just tell you, using amalgam material for restorations is much harder than it looks! It is so hard to make sure to get all of the grooves, fossas, and ridges just as they should be. The first tooth I did was just an occlusal, so I thought it would be a piece of cake. . . Yeah, I got 70% on it, which unfortunately is not high enough to pass the proficiency. . .
Providentially, my second restoration was high enough to pass the proficiency, but I think my instructor was very merciful in her grading.
I just keep telling myself that I will improve with practice. . . Until then, I pity my first restorative patient. ; )

So that is basically what I'm doing this last week of school. (!)

To Zach. . .

Can't wait to go shooting with you!

Love Shay

2nd Year Dental Hygiene School

I have almost completed the first quarter of the 2nd year of DH school. Only three quarters left!!!! And now that the stress of clinic is over for this quarter (although I still have another week of classes) I am now free to get sick. . . which seems to be what is happening.

People have the most interesting reaction when they find out I am 18 years old and in DH school. My clinic instructor found out this week how old I was and said, "I thought you were like 24! But sometimes you have this kind of insecure look. . ." Umm, what do you say to a comment like that? And then today she told me I was an "embryo." Haha. . .

Most people think that I am some super smart braniac or something, but in all actuality that is not necessarily true. I am where I am because of what the LORD has done through me; it is most definitely not of my own strength or wit. The way I picture it is God saw me and said, "Here is someone who is weak. I am going show myself strong through her."

And here I am. Trying to be a testimony to other of what the Lord has done in my life.

Allison's Wedding

Us with our hair all done
Getting the Bride's makeup done

Me trying to walk not too slow, not too fast



Mr. and Mrs. Luke Strait

Yesterday I went to (or rather participated in) the most beautiful wedding God ever ordained. . .
It was held outside on a hill out in Yacolt with the most beautiful view of God's creation, and the sun shining down on us with a slight, refreshing breeze.
I am so happy for Allison and Luke. I am confident that they will bring the Lord glory with their marriage. . .
I have never seen Allison so happy.

It makes me look forward to the day that I will marry. . . God willing.

A New School Year

Well, the beginning of my second (and last) year of Dental Hygiene school has been a time of "firsts":
For the first time I felt completely inadequate in being a dental hygienist.
For the first time I cried during clinic.
For the first time I feel like I'm truly on information overload.

Life is changing. . . And all I know is that God is in control even when it seems like life is difficult. . . That gives me comfort.