-The Joy of Weekends-

Over the past few months, the weekends haven't come quick enough. Unfortunately, they fly by and before I know it, I'm back in clinic stressing about what requirements I haven't accomplished. Thank heavens for an AWESOME family and FABULOUS friends to make the weekends worth the wait.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Nancy own the greatest corn maze in Logan. Every year when October rolls around, I look forward to our weekend of eating at Angie's Restaurant, readjusting to the northern-cold-air, and making our way through the challenging corn field.

Weekends when Zane visits the Dixie Land are always something I look forward to...they seriously are NEVER long enough.

This moment was a definite picture-taking-must. Chelz asked Zane if he wanted some eggs for breakfast. He mumbled "yeah" through his sleep so she made them up and set them next to him thinking he would eventually get up and eat. This is what I came out to a few minutes later...completely asleep.

This last weekend was a quick trip for Zane, but definitely appreciated and enjoyed by me! After studying all day/night Friday, waking up at 7am Saturday to be to the homecoming parade, and spending the rest of my Saturday morning/afternoon doing sealants in the hygiene clinic, Zane arrived and my "weekend" began.

First on the agenda: Doll up Ms. Chelsea Gould and send her off on her Homecoming Date. She looked stunning in her sassy red heels.

Second: Take Zane to experience In 'N' Out for the FIRST time. His opinion? He compared it to McDonalds...I was so offended! His cheeseburger was a little pinkish and greasy looking, but the rest of the meal was superb-I don't know what he was thinking.

Final event of the night-TRUE REBEL! Zane had no idea what he was getting himself into, but I figured that in my last year here at Dixie-it is about time that I become a true rebel...at least we got free chapstick out of it.

-Gratified-

So now that I am back in the slum of school work and stressing over patients, I decided that I needed a little encouragement to get me going. The first thing that came to my mind was memories of my incredible summer and that is when it hit me- I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I am completely gratified with my life right now and this is why....

I was able to spend time with my family and enjoy the beauty of this awesome earth!

I took an amazing journey across the Pacific ocean to the Philippines where family and friends greeted us and allowed us to enjoy and fall in love with what they call Home.

I took on new challenges and my feet experienced the largest blisters they will probably ever experience...but wow-what a journey! :)

I reunited with family from all over the world as we held the FIRST Anopol Family Reunion

I spent every last second available with this incredibly handsome guy!

As for now...? I am lucky enough to be healthy and to have the opportunity to finish my studies in something that I have been working for since I was 16 years old.

Like I said....I am completely gratified!

-Injections-

From the day we started our journey on becoming a dental hygienist...we knew the moment would come when we would hear the words, "It is now time for you to practice injections on each other."


In most instances in this program, whenever we practiced a new skill, we were all fairly confident when it came to practicing on each other, or if we weren't confident-there wasn't much we could do to really hurt each other. But when you put needles in the picture...it's a different story.


Don't worry...we were all very prepared from practicing on grapes before we went for human flesh.

Emily ready to inject into the "patient"


Megan preparing the needle!


We all took the grape patient/practice run VERY serious...

Grapes...Humans...same thing


Emily did a WONDERFUL job!

Kayla handling that needle like a champ!

I must say that I am extremely proud of myself and my fellow SDHs....we DID it! We all successfully completed our first three injections of our hygiene career. There were quite a few worried faces, sweaty pits, and shaky hands....but in the end-we are all alive.