Sweet Blessings

My daughter Abby is taking the Dental Apptitude Test today from 11:00 to about 3:30. She has studied a long time for this test. She also teaches science and attends UT (she is still an Aggie) taking Organic Chemestry and Genetics. It would be great if she made the score she needs on the first attempt. Please lift her up in prayer today as she takes this test. I believe in the power of prayer. Pray that her mind will be clear and focused. Pray for the strength she will need to endure the day. Pray that the Form of today's test is the easy Form. That last line comes from a mother's heart. Thank you so much for your prayers. No matter how old they get, they are still your babies.

Lisa Williams
Third Grade Teacher
Pullen Elementary

• She has my prayers Lisa! Gig' em Abby! Tara
• Oh, Lisa you must be so proud. What an accomplishment!! I willdefinitely keep her in my prayers. Melissa A Flanagan
• bless her heart..i am in : )Have a great day!<>
• Morning! Well, Abby is first on my mind, heart and prayers this morning. I know she will do well. She is so unbelievable. I'm sure others have taken all of the practice tests, but I've never actually met anyone who has. That had to prepare her in addition to her hours and hours of studying. I'm going to put her on the prayer list at my Bible study this morning. Yesterday praying about spider bites and today the DAT! Great to see you guys two nights in a row! Fun to see Bret and Lisa, too! xoxo Patti Seidler
• Father God, I pray for Abby today as she takes this very important test. She has worked hard preparing for the test and I pray you will bless her efforts. Help her to be comfortable and keep her mind as ease knowing you are there with her. Help her to be able to think clearly and recall all she has learned. I do pray the test will be easy for her because of her preparation and your presence. I pray she will score above a 20. I also begin to pray for the committee that will decide who gets into dental school. I pray they will see Abby as one they must admit. Lord, I know she will use her talents to your glory. Amen Carol Tommey
• Boys and girls,
  My sister is taking the DAT exam today, trying to get into Dental school at 11:00. A quick prayer for a clear mind would be greatly appreciated.
  Bret
• Just wanted to let you know that I've prayed for Abby! Let me know how she does! (I prayed for you too!!!!!) Lisa Bently
• Bret, Best wishes to your sister! Richard Thomas
• I will pray!!! She is going to do FANTASTIC!!! Rhonda Martin
• . . .and I would greatly appreciate you adding my son, Lindsey, to thissame prayer. He is taking the DAT next month! Thank you so much for your prayers. No matter how old they get, theyare still your babies!Patti Spillman
• I am and will be praying!!! Theresa Thacker
• I will certainly pray for her success today.Medley Hart
• Hey Abby,I just wanted to offer you a word of encouragement today and let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! I know you'll do great! Have a great day! Betsy
• Hey Abby,
  How did your test go yesterday? I was thinking about you yesterday and hoping it went well. And then last night, Wade even said something about it (which I thought was unusual). So just wanted you to know we were thinking of you. Hope it went well. Take care.
  Love ya,Brittany
• Dear Abby, I had absolutely no doubt that you would shine on the DAT. I prayed during your test that you would be calm and able to show off yourvery best, because your very best is just so amazing. I know how hard you studied. Your success is well deserved. I was watching your mom as she received your call yesterday afternoon. I could tell by the tears rolling off her chin that your scores were fabulous. We are thrilled for you! Enjoy celebrating that this part is done! Love you, Melody P.S. Keep your cel lphone handy. Angel has given me a list of people to call and told me many times that I am to call YOU on my way to the hospital. I'll be talking to you very soon, Auntie Abby.
• We are all still in such a state of celebration. We rejoice with you knowing that God has honored your tremendous efforts. Everyone is so proud of you. You are (and always have been) so blessed of the Lord with your abilities of the mind. You, however, have been blessed onceagain because you also have the focus it takes to channel that gifttowards your goals. I know, when you are a dentist, God will smile every time He sees you use this gift to minister to others. I love you, and now I want you to take care of You! Spend time withErik and just have some fun. Go shopping, cook, visit friends. Inother words "Get a Life!"Talk to you soon. Mom

To my "team",

Mom forwarded all your responses to her "plea for prayer" and I just sat at the computer and cried feeling so blessed to have such amazing people on my side. So many people who don't even know me prayed for me today and that is the most amazing feeling in the world. During the test I sat at the computer waiting for the second half to begin after my break and thought about everyone that was praying for me and how good the Lord is and I wrote at the top of my scratch paper "The Lord is my shepherd - I shall not want!" I truly lack nothing considering the friends and family He has given to me! And the glory is His. Thanks again for your prayers! It sure worked!

Abby Mann

On to the next!

So, after the test yesterday, I stopped by RRCA and told Susan and Becky that I'm cutting loose of teaching per the wise advice of my husband and I'm charting a new course. I've talked to Mandy and Dr. Jean, both of whom were optimistic about me finding a position. Mandy said she'll need someone this fall if she finds someone to associate with so she can cut back. Sounds like a plan. I'm going to Dallas this weeked to help Kevin in the clinic, so he can teach me how to assist. Then I'll have experience for the mission trip to Acuna. Then I'll have lots of experience so that I can find an assisting job (in case it doesn't work out with Mandy or anyone else). 'Cause I'm sure not teaching. Plans, plans, plans. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.”

How about Organic test next week! Gotta pick up the slack and focus. Studying starts today. Or did it ever really end?

Stick a Fork in Me, I'm Done!

Rest for the Weary

All in all, I'd say it's time. My scores fluctuate around 20, so that must be a good thing. I'll take my last test tomorrow and I'm done. Then it's the real thing and I pray that I won't have to talk about scores ever again. His will be done. Next time I'm on, we'll know.

3 days to go....

I cannot believe that it's so close! I've done little else but go over flashcards and take practice tests. Here's the latest:

Bio-22
Chem-19
Organic-25!
PAT-23
Reading-21

I need to continue what I'm doing, take some more tests, especially math, and pray for a reasonable exam on Tuesday! I feel like I'm to the point where I know where my definite weaknesses are and I just need to nail them down: titrations, solubilities, aromatic reactions. I'll go over what I missed on the ADA's test tomorrow, study a ton, take a math test, and another natural science test. I'm not too worried about the reading or PAT, but I do need to make sure the math is fresh so I have the speed I will need to finish that booger when I'm exhausted after four hours of testing. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope it's not a train that is about to run me over!

Spring Break Day 2

Tired. Need sleep. No cold. Bio-19 (still) Chem-21 (finally) Organic-19. We'll try again tomorrow. ã

Spring Break Day 1

Studied biology all day and took a practice test. Everything's a 20 which is way better. Unfortunately, I've found that this one book has typos in it, which is frustrating. Really obvious questions are worded incorrectly or the answer key is just wrong. Basic stuff, like catalysts lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction and transcription uses DNA as a template to make mRNA. Really easy stuff where their answers are most definitely wrong. So my scores stated above are adjusted for the ones that I just can't get around. Doing better, but still time to improve. Latest math is a 21/20 after two practice tests, so that's much better. PAT stands at 21 and Reading at 21/20. Word on the street is that it is typical to get 2-4 points higher on the real deal. Let's hope they're right. And that the tickle in my throat is not Erik's cold. To sleep and to fight...

Here we go!

Spring break has arrived and the race to the finish has begun. After my embarassing 16 on the math section, I rallied today with a 21 and I feel like I have a much better grasp of what to expect and the pace I need to take. I actually finished with 8 minutes left this time! Trig sucks. But I'll work on that tomorrow. Erik said he had time to jot down bits of info before the test started, so I think I'll have to draw my triangles for quick reference. More math tomorrow, then science gets hit hard. I at least need to take the 3 practice tests on computer, but I'd like to get in as many as possible. We'll see. They're exhausting, so I don't want to overdo it, but I need to be ready.

I got the go ahead from Dr. Iverson about writing a letter when I get an A. Notice I said "when." I don't think It'll be an issue, although I have a long way to go. Three more tests. I got a 100 on my Genetics test, so that should be in the bag as well. Again, still 2 tests to take, but it should be fine. So far it's a lot of the stuff we learned in Micro. Speaking of, I think I've decided to ask D'Maris instead of Dr. Iyer because her letter will be more personal...maybe Judy, I just don't know. I need to decide quickly, though. As soon as the DAT is over, I need to send out packets to get these letters coming in as soon as possible. Kevin, Dr. Nation (man, I'm iffy on him....) and D'Maris can get those back pretty soon. I'll have to wait on Dr. Iverson for my grade, but that'll be ok. It's nice to have this almost taken care of.

BTW, 100 on my genetics test!

I've talked to Dr. Jean, and the girl next door works at a dental office, so she's on the lookout for me. I'll see if Mandy is at church tomorrow and if not, I'll call her. I ran the waiting to start working until after the mission trip idea past Erik and he was fine with it. It makes sense.

So, lots of work to do!

Checking In

Lots of little things going on, but nothing huge. Here's the score:

• Did very well on my genetics test...no score yet, but based on the answers, I'm doing great.
• 21 on the PAT, 21 on the reading, taking math again tomorrow, hope to take another practice test before the weekend. If I get it to where all I really need to focus on is science during spring break, I think I'll be good. Anything in the 20's!
• Talked with Dr. Jean about the probability of getting an assisting job with no experience and learned about the 3 tests assistants must take to be registered...another hoop, but definitely a possibility. I hope to talk to Mandy this weekend, and maybe even hunt down Dr. Smith at church. We'll see.
• Went to the application meeting for the Health Professions Office at UT. I need to ask for recommendations ASAP from Drs. Iverson, Iyer, and Allen-Mierl. I need to get the stuff to Kevin and Dr. Nation as soon as the DAT is over. So much to do!
• So I'm thinking that this is a possible plan: use the end of May/beginning of June to apply to dental school, maybe volunteer at an office, learn some ropes, go on the mission trip to Acuna and learn to assist with Dr. Smith, get a job as a dental assistant! That's just my plan. Only God knows what's going on, so I'll have to pray and see.