I'm a few days late, but here it is! A catch up session!
Lets head back to March first and PERU! Peru was phenomenal. Marcus and I went with a humanitarian group known as Idaho Condors, to Cuzco Peru and far out-lying villages to deliver basic medical and dental needs to those who otherwise have none. It was an experience that truly changed out life and our outlook. For Marcus as a pre-dental student, the experience was irreplaceable. Words can't explain much of what we saw and what we were able to do. Peru is by far one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen in my life. We were able to do some touring as far as Machu Picchu went and that ladies and gentlemen is a place beyond what the imagination and pictures can produce. Marcus spent much of his time doing numbing and extractions under the supervision of dentists and also worked extensively translating for the English speaking dentists. I started out in the Medical group but after a severe burn found myself in the dental group where my chances of seeing the sun were limited. I assisted in cleaning all the tools for the guys, doing fluoride on the kids, and organizing who was going where based on their needs. It was so fun, and rewarding beyond what we could have comprehended. The food was amazing, the villages were humbling, the view and the mountains were breathtaking, and the trip as a whole left a deep engraving of memories on our hearts.
Next on the list GRADUATION!! I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Radiographic Sciences from Idaho State University. I was so excited and it has been a nice break from the school life! I am currently working at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls (yes...the drive is awful) as a PRN radiologic technologist. I have also picked up some PRN hours at a community care urgent care center, and lastly I work as needed (usually a few hours a week) at the women's prison taking xrays up there! That...is an interesting job :) It is fun though and nice to get a few extra hours here and there. Not to mention, the prison equipment requires me to use film so its good for me to have to think a little more than todays digital setting require.
Onto Marcus! In May Marcus finished school for the semester. He had a WEEK to study for the DAT (Dental Admissions Test) before summer school started full force. He had studied some throughout the semester but being bogged down with classes such an organic chemistry...it didn't leave him much time. So I went to Emmett to study for my boards and left him in Pocatello to prepare for the test of his life! (Until his dental school boards of course) That is kind of where Reina came in :) He had made a deal with me that if he got the score he wanted on the test that we could finally find our Malshi girl to join the family. Needless to say, my husband is AMAZING and so insanely gifted when it comes to school that he nailed the test and Reina soon was found ;) In all seriousness though, he did very well on the test and the next week dove into summer school. 8 weeks of physics! He is such a go-getter. When we got married he swore to me he was going to be a dentist in 7 years. I told him he was crazy, but sure enough, he will graduate with his Bachelors in Zoology as a pre-dental student in just THREE YEARSs and start dental school! I don't know how he does it. I really don't!
Reina as a puppy when we found her via the internet!
So Marcus started summer school and I got busy working. June came quickly and the National Dental Application opened up. We had a lot of help preparing for it from our friend Jeremy Walker and without him would have been lost! He has been giving us play by plays from the beginning and still does! We were ready for the application and had it submitted within a week of its opening. Im somewhat biased, but all I could think as we filled out the neverending application was "DANG he is the best candidate there is!" So there we were, 14 schools later and with a massive dent in our bank account. But we were on our way!
Now Marcus is back in school, has received and attended multiple schools interviews, and now we sit! With dental schools, no school is legally allowed to mail letters of acceptance until December! Even then, it could be May before we hear from other schools. So we will see what December brings us, we are excited to get any news at all. Knowing nothing can be hard. Its starting to drive us crazy.
One interview he had was to the Univeristy of Louisville in Kentucky. I was able to join him for this one as it was close to Nashville were Derrick and Kara now live with their children. We had so much fun visiting them even for just a few days. We hate having all of our nieces and nephews far away, its been hard! Some in Nashville, others in Texas, 1 in Utah and the rest in Challis. Its just crazy! So it was fun to be able to see them. And who knows, maybe we will end up there! We would only be about 2 hours away if that was the case. We are excited to see what our options are and what the future has in store.
Marcus has never been one to worry, and from him I learn a lot in that aspect. He looks to the Lord for everything. My anxiety seems to get the best of my especially regarding things like dental schools, acceptances or denials, etc. But with everything in our marriage, whether it be money or school or knowing what to do with a job, just anything, marcus has always and will forever be the calming factor in our home. He is the first to suggest prayer or fasting about something. When tears well up in my eyes and I feel my heart start to race wondering what will happen next, he is there with a big smile, arms to wrap around me in comfort, usually words that will make me laugh, and a prayer that brings peace throughout our home. I know whatever December and its following months bring, we will be ready for. I also know that it will be what is supposed to happen; what is meant for our little Thayn family. We are so excited about whats to come but we are certainly enjoying the now as well.
Sorry, long!!! But it was a catch up!
A great week wished to all!
A.
