Dental Implants Phase Five & Some Other Updates

We made our way up to Dr. Egbert's last Wednesday. The metal piece has come back finished.

(hey look, that's my name! :D )

About a month ago, the doctors made the impression of my other teeth, of where the posts

were, and of where the metal piece needed to be put.

All we did this appointment was try the metal piece in. And you know what? It felt weird feeling something inside that side of my mouth again. I have been with all of 4 of my bottom teeth missing for 16 months, plus another they removed for the implants last August.

When they screwed in the metal part, I felt like I was in my own superhero movie. With just the metal in, I felt like it was an upgrade into me becoming some type of titanium werewolf. (My college friends, I hope you laughed at that part-- werewolf, see what I did there?)

Now that I tried it in, and it fits, the next step is for making it look good. They put the actual teeth on (well, I guess not actual teeth). But do you want to hear the BEST NEWS? I have a date. A date to get my teeth PUT IN. In my mouth.

I WILL HAVE A FULL SMILE AGAIN. And if you can't tell how excited I am, give me a call and I will fill ya in. Countdown to April 24th begins now. #23days

-------

Some part of me still does not know why I have had to go through this, why I am still around Cedar, why I'm here and not in the mission field. But I have had a few answers. When I first was getting ready to move out, I thought, Man, I'm going to make so many new friends. Just ready to embrace the whole college experience, you know? But last semester was hard. I loved church, I loved school, but I just felt alone.

Throughout the last few months, I've been struggling. But I went to church. I went to FHE. I went to ward prayer. I kept doing the things I know I was supposed to be doing and where I was supposed to be. And fast forward now, April, I have seen some of my prayers answered. I have made friends with some outstanding people. If I had not been going to church, ward prayer, or FHE, I would not have started hanging out with them.

My life is incredibly blessed. I've said many times that I am not where I thought I would be right now. BUT I am finally, finally happy with it. I know without a doubt that I am where I am for a reason. For a few reasons.

Life is good. Seriously.

--------

I joined one of those Facebook bandwagons. It's a challenge called "100 Happy Days." (website is here) The challenge entails just what the title says. Choosing a platform such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, post a picture or status EVERY DAY for 100 days. It can be something you're grateful for, someone you went to lunch with, just about anything.

"It is not a happiness competition or a showing off contest. If you try to please/make others jealous via your pictures - you lose without even starting. Same goes for cheating." (100happydays.com)

I've enjoyed it so far. It's given me a chance to appreciate even the little things I am grateful for (and also a chance to improve my photography!). I have noticed that even in just eight days, I've seen a change in me already. Sometimes I've thought, Huh, what can I post today? And I look for those moments. Just the last few days I've thought, Hey, I want to do that! Well, I've had to do that tomorrow. Or Wednesday. And basically I have the next five days lined out... but I'm loving it.

Here are some of the pictures I've done so far. I'm not posting them here to boast or anything because, like that quote says, I would have already lost. I'm showing because I'm telling you because I want to show you just a few tidbits of what I'm grateful for...

And with that, keep running.