Orientation

What do I say? Orientation was awesome! I quit work last week, officially and I have been antsy, knowing that school started this last week for a lot of other people and I have to wait one more week. Well time does fly bc now it's only a couple days away. I forked over $700 for instruments today, received the rest of my books, took a tour of the clinic, and had a BBQ with the 2nd years. (I'll be there next year-finishing up the program.) It will go fast thinking about it, but I'm sure it will seem like an eternity during the process. I'm not scared or anything but I'm anxious to start, to get the whole experience and learn new things. It will be nice to have classes with people that you can work together and you all have the same goal in sight. It's about time is all I can say. I have been looking forward to this for just over 10 years now. FINALLY!!!! 
In the mean time I've picked up sewing/quilting more frequently. Hopefully that can be a stress relief and I can finish the projects that I have started. Isn't that always the problem. I'm also just thinking how nice it is to write all of this down. I probably will start a new blog of my Dental Hygiene experience. I've been debating that-since that will be my life for 2 years, but I don't want to mix it up with our "personal" life. Not that I put anything super personal down here anyway.
Basically, I've been anticipating this chaper in my/our life and I just can't believe it's already here. The anxiety of finding my own patients and making sure I meet all of the requirements-it's kind of nerve-racking. But I've been consoled that "every one" passes their boards. Of course they want to be able to boast of having the best students and program and it's because that's what they prepare for.
Well this new chapter is welcomed with open arms... Let's see where it takes us...

ACCEPTED!!!

I do have to say that this week has been very eventful. From the birth of the newest nephew to getting accepted to UVU's Dental Hygiene program 2011. I received a rejection letter from Weber, which was disappointing but kind of expected. They do accept 30 students a year and that's 16 more than UVU, but Weber had the essay which was the main factor and the one I worried about the most.
UVU though, it was a numbers game with them. They give points based on your grades and scores of Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, your ACT, and the HOAT (health occupations aptitude test).  Well I got an A in Anatomy and Physio. My ACT was a 27, which was better. I did extremely well on the Hoat and my only concern was my B+ in Chem.  So I felt pretty good until I realize that they do only accept 14 students a year and what if someone beat me into the program by a couple points. Oye! The only comfort I had for being accepted was that their response didn't come at the same time my rejection letter came last year, which was the beginning of March. The anticipation was killing me and I just wanted to know.
Now, I'm just excited to start my journey, mainly so I can finish, and finally accomplish something that I've been dreaming/planning to do for a while. I now have that opportunity. 
Thank you UVU-DH!

Joren Knox McCombs

Welcome to the world little buddy...

...formerly known as "Peanut."

                                                  

   

 Grandpa's thumb is as big as his cute little feet.

where does time go?

So I just realized I posted nothing about or in February. Which I think is strange. Only because my applications were due. Feb 1 for Weber State and Feb 11 for UVU.   I remember thinking that March would never come and yet, here it is. The time did go slow and still is since I don't know the verdict, but yet I can't believe how fast the year is going. My sister is having her check-up this morning. She has two weeks until her due date, but we're hoping little "Peanut" gets here soon.
I think I was so caught up in February with so many things. Oh, I don't think I ever announced this... I am going to coach 4th-6th grade girls lacrosse. It's the Thunder team under Bingham Girls Lacrosse. I should be starting practices soon and since I'm new to this whole "coaching" thing, I feel like I have no clue what's going on. I love LAX and I've always wanted to coach so when I saw this opportunity I wanted to take it. It did help me get a discount to the South Jordan Fitness & Aquatic Center. I'm really excited about that, now I just need to use it a little more. :}
We also switched things up in YW so now I teach every Sunday, except for Fast Sunday.  So I was always preparing lessons. I hope these girls get what Heavenly Father needs them to and I hope I am being an effective instrument in His hands.  Luckily for the next couple months bc of Stake and General conference and Easter sunday, my teaching load will be a little lighter. :)
Oh the other thing I did in Feb was go to a Stake Zumba night every Thursday. I really wanted to take that opportunity since I didn't have to pay for each class or a real gym membership to participate. And since there was good participation and everyone who went enjoyed it-they extended it through March. I'm excited and bummed. I had quit volunteering at the JR temple on Thursdays and so I want to go back Thursdays to visit with my sisters. So doing Zumba in Feb I missed that, even though I got some well needed exercise. I want to go to Ward Temple night this Thursday and the following Thursday is Stake Temple night. So sorry Zumba, back burner bc I can't put this off anymore.
It's so hard when you have options and decisions. Why do we have to grow up?

hopeful

So I looked at my "rejection" letter from UVU last year and they typed up the info at the end of the first week of March and I got the letter the following week. A friend of mine who is currently in the Dental Hygiene program up at Weber was notified she got in at the end of the first week of March. So I'm hopeful that I'll know within the next week and a half if I've been accepted somewhere, anywhere.

Ledezma #4-Esteban Ray Ledezma

My sister Keli had her fourth kiddo on December 7, 2010. He was practically unnamed until they left the hospital. They decided to name him Esteban Ray Ledezma (-Littlejohn).  Right now his nicknames are: Ban Ban or Teban. He's still adorable as ever. Of course. I could just gobble him up.

The "E" was because they weren't sure what to name him but they wanted it to start with E since the other kiddos names do too. Evalyn, Eidan, and Ehran. I think Ban Ban looks like Ehran the most. It's the eyes. I need updated photos.


Soon enough I'll be posting about "Peanut". My sister Steffanie is due with her little boy in March. Hurry up Peanut, we're waiting for you! We'll have 4 grandson's and 1 granddaughter. Poor Eva is praying that she'll have a girl cousin, since she didn't get a sister.  Some day Eva. Some day.

5 Year Anniversary

Well more like 5 and a half now. Tyler hit his 5 year mark working at Marriott Guest Services August 15, 2010.

New Year

So when I blogged yesterday, I couldn't believe I hadn't "blogged in" the New Year. YAY 2011!!! Last year was a blast! Our cruise to the Mexican Riviera, Tyler getting called into the Elder's Quorum Presidency, me getting released from Nursery, only to be put in as the Beehive/MiaMaid Advisor, 2 months later. Wow! Tyler hitting his 5 year mark at Marriott in August (I have pictures to post about that) and me working at my dental office for 1 year. We are slowly moving on with school, Tyler working full-time and going to school part-time (with 3 classes each semester). I don't know how he does it? He makes it look easy, but I know that he takes each class one step at a time and studies his heart out. By the looks of it, he is aiming to be done with school by Dec 2012. We are soooo close.

So far this year. We made the decision for me to stop volunteering at the Jordan River Temple on Thursday nights so I could pick up an extra day at work (Thursday) to help pay for school. That's pretty much what my income goes to anyway. I was at the Temple for 2 1/2 years. I feel so priviledged to have been there that long. I miss all of the sisters I worked with there, as well as the Temple Presidency. I love them so much.

Right now I am also working on my essay for Weber State's Dental Hygiene program. It's a beast. I have to get that all sent in before February 1st. So I'm cutting it really close right now. I need to get that in ASAP.  I also, have had my application in to UVU's Dental Hygiene program just before Thanksgiving. So I'm glad I got that done and that I haven't had to worry about it.

Not to mention I'm putting together a baby shower for my sister who is due in March with her first. We call him "Peanut". So those plans have kept me busy as well. I've had the help from my sister Keli, who just had her fourth baby, Esteban, in Dec. (I have pics of him too.) SO cute!

More later...

Drab to Fab

I had totally different intentions when it came to this fabric.

Isn't it gorgeous. I love paisley patterns and warm tones.

But when I realized that it'd never make it to what I had intended. I did the next best thing...

replaced this...

to THIS!

I made a new valence. I LOVE IT!

Now I just need to work on the rest of the bland walls. Although I have already stripped them of their border at the top and wallpaper below the chair rail and repainted that "Sand Pearl".  Little bit by little bit.