Okay friends, so I have been putting this off for a very long time and its time to step up and make it happen......so here goes.
Most of you that read this site really know me and probably have known me for quite some time now. I have learned over the last few years of my time here at Teen Mania to just be content. Be content for what I have, content for what is to come and to even be content with what I don't have. I consider myself to be a pretty giving person, and I'm sure that my mom would agree that all of my life I tend to give too much to other people without really thinking about the consequences. Now you might wonder where I am going with this.........well this is going to be a bit of a selfish post, so please bear with me.
For most that really know me, you know that physical appearance isn't a number one priority in my life. I live by the mentality that what you see is what you get......I'm not concerned about peoples feelings based on my appearance. For the most part I don't feel like this is necessarily a bad thing because I can tell who my real friends are by the fact that they can see past the physical imperfections to the heart. BUT, as I get older I am finding it more and more difficult to leave "problems" alone and just live life and one in paticular is getting to a point that it is time for me to get it dealt with.
Some of you are confused but for the most part, most of you know that I am talking about the number 1 physical feature on myself that I really don't like.....my smile. I thank you to those of you that allow me to laugh and show my true self without a judgemental thought of why I look the way I do or whatever. It is time though for me to do something about it and I am sending out this request to all of you, my friends, to help me in an endeavor that I am about to start.
Almost $20,000......that is an estimate of what it will cost to begin surgery on my mouth to correct years of neglect on my teeth. Like I said before, even though I don't enjoy the way I look, I don't let it hinder who I am or what God has called me to do. You know that when I set my mind to something I do it and don't let petty things stand in my way. I have gotten to the point that my choices are almost being made for me in the sense that I can no longer bear with the pain and situation that I am in with this problem that I have been struggling with my whole life. I am putting this on xanga for several different reasons.......1 being that it is easier to reach everyone at once as nobody reads long emails, although if you've read this far in xanga, I'm surprised! and the second reason is that I am hoping someone out there that might not even know me might read this and have an idea of a solution that I can look into.
I have researched every discounted and free treatment solution I can think of but cannot find anything that will actually work so I am asking you for your assistance. I have had several faithful friends support me financially but most importantly through prayer and relational support and it is soooooooo much appreciated. I know that most of you reading this don't have the means to financially support a financial project like this but I also know that many of you might know people that do so I would ask that you please forward this on. As well I am opening this to you my friends for your prayers, assistance in any way and just your all around support as I try to make this happen. My goal is to have a brand new smile by May 1st, 2008. If you would like more information at all or anything, please email me at nathan.clingman@teenmania.com or if you would like to make a financial contribution you can do so through paypal by donating to the account I have setup under my email address listed above.
If you've read this far, your a trooper and I appreciate you a ton! :)
