Blessings and Answers

At the end of September I went to an orthodontist to have my first consultation for braces.  I have wanted to have them for a while now, so Chris and I decided now is as good a time as any to get started on this process.  We went to see Dr. Graf here in Utah county.  He did a quick look at my mouth and gave us a very rough diagnosis on my treatment plan and options that were available to us.  We were not expecting to hear what he had told us.

We were told that I have an open bite.  That is where the top and bottom set of teeth do not touch.  I have a about a 3mm gap from one set of teeth to the other.  In order for me to have a perfect smile, I would have to have oral surgery.  The oral surgeon would have to take out part of my top jaw so everything would work out the way that braces should.  They would have to go in through my soft palette and take out a pie shape cut with the point in the front of my face, and getting into a bigger cut going towards my throat area.  Dr. Graf told us that he was about 95% sure that this was going to be our only treatment option for me.  We were given the price, and it was not cheap.  There was no way that we could come up with $17,000 in order pay for that surgery.  Plus, I would have 6 weeks of recovery time and most of that time I would be on a liquid diet.  

As we got ready to leave he said that he wanted me to come back in in a couple of weeks for x-rays, pictures, and to get a mold of my mouth.  Then I would have an additional consultation meeting with him to have him say for sure what my options were.  We left very worried, and I left in tears, and very defeated that straight teeth was not something that I could have right now in my life, if ever. We would have to wait for a few years so we could get our finances in order.  We did not rule anything out until we had the final consultation with Dr. Graf.

During the 4 weeks of waiting time that we had, I said prayer after prayer pleading that we would know what to do, and that something would happen for us financially when the time was appropriate and we felt it was the time for us to go ahead with the procedure.  I prayed for an answer everyday, and I always had a prayer in my heart.  I know that things would work out how they were supposed to.  Even if it wasn't the way that I wanted them to, they would work out.  Our answer finally came last night.  I had my final consultation, and after looking at my x-rays and pictures Dr. Graf told us that he could fix my teeth to 90% perfect, and with that option there would be no surgery involved.  I would just have to have the braces.  I still have the option of surgery, but it is not my only option.  The cost is no longer $17,000.  I knew at that moment that my prayers had been answered.  This is the time that this is all supposed to happen in my life.  It is a true blessing in my life to know that I have a Heavenly Father who is watching out for me and helping me along this earthly journey.  Knowing what we know now is wonderful news, and we plan on continuing forward with everything in February of next year.

My Brother the Missionary

My baby brother Zach is currently serving in the Buenos Aires Argentina mission.  He is coming home in 7 months, or as my mom likes to count, by transfers.  According to my mom he has 4 transfers left, and on the 5th one he is coming home.  He comes home the second week of May.  He is going to be home before I know it and I can not wait!!  I have had some pretty mixed emotions about him being gone.  I know that he is doing a good thing.  Going on a mission is the best thing for young men to do, but knowing that doesn't make me miss him any less.  It has been hard for me the whole time he has been gone, but it has been the worst the last couple of months.  I miss him everyday.  I miss him to the point that sometimes I can't control my tears of sadness.

 

Me, Zach, and Ami.  Jake was on his mission when this picture was taken.

Zach and I had not always been so close.  We never fought as children growing up, but we never really hung out together either.  It has only been the last few years that him and I have grown very close as brother and sister.  He would come to Provo and spend 3 or 4 days with me and Chris, even if we had nothing planned for those few days.  He just loved being with us and around us.  Whenever we would come to Clinton he would drop whatever he was doing so that he could spend time with us.  Even if that meant leaving his best friend Carson for a few hours.  It was wonderful being able to build that friendship with him.  I would definitely consider him one of my best friends.  We have very similar personalities, sense of humor, and thoughts on how to handle life, and we have bonded over that.  We both do not like conflict and will do anything to make sure there is peace in any tense situation.  It has been wonderful.  I know that we will still be just as close when he comes home too.  I can not wait to catch up and start a new relationship and friendship with him.  

Taken at my wedding dinner.

I know from phone calls on Mothers Day and Christmas and from weekly emails that he has not changed at all.  The only change that I have noticed is that he is more mature with life.  He has grown up a lot, but he is still my little brother.  I love him and miss him dearly.  I look forward to the day that he can call me just to talk, or send me a hysterical text about the most random thing he could think of.  He loves making people laugh, and everyone that meets Zach loves him.  He has a very easy going personality and makes friends very easily.  

Chris and Zach the day Zach opened his mission call.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say, I hope that he returns home safely and just as Zach as ever.  I miss you and love you Zach.  I am looking forward to May when we get to see each other again.

My life in a nutshell...

For those of you who know me, you know that a blog is the last thing that I would think about doing.  But I had to see what all the hype was about.  I hope that you enjoy my posts.  I would also love to have any input on how to make my blog better.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions.  I would love to hear them.

Since this is my first post ever I am going to fill you in on my life.  I am from Clinton, UT and currently live in Provo, UT.  I had a pretty normal childhood nothing too traumatic or eventful.  I sang with a choir call Kids Are Music for 12 years, and I miss it every day.

I love my family very much.  There are 4 kids in the family.  I have 1 older sister and 2 younger brothers.  I am the second of the bunch.  My sister Ami is married to Ryan, and they have 2 kids, Kenlee, who is almost 4, and Tyson, who is 8 months. Jake got home from his mission about a year ago.  He served in Independence, Missouri and loved every minute of it.  Zach is currently on his mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  He comes home in 7 months.  He is having the time of his life.

Okay, a little more about me.  My husbands name is Chris, he is 25, and he is from Provo.  He is a graphic designer with a degree from UVU.  He has his own business called Gardner Design Studio.  He is very talented at what he does too.  Take a look at his work www.gardnerdesignstudio.com.  Our first date was September 19, 2008.  We instantly hit it off.  Our first date was the best first date I have ever been on.  We both had such a good time together that our second date was the next day.  We saw each other 3 or 4 times a week until the day that we got married.  We were married in the Timpanogos Temple on June 27, 2009.  We went on our honeymoon to Italy and loved every minute of it.  I am so happy and I grow more in love everyday.  I am so glad that I married my best friend.