Apparently We're Moving...

About a week ago we got a call from our landlord with some bad news. The city was onto him. The zoning laws in this area of Provo, which we knew nothing about when we signed our contract here a year and a half ago, say the owner cannot rent out the house to two sets of renters. Right now we are renting the basement and other people are renting the upstairs. The owner either has to be living in the house to rent part of it, or be renting the whole house to one family. In short, the way it was being rented was unlawful, and we will have to move out by August 1st. After all, we can't really afford to rent out the whole house.

We had considered renting the house with Ben and Sydney (who are having trouble finding a new place to rent because they bought a puppy), but because there are two kitchens in the house, it's not legal. It's complicated stuff, but I called the city to check, and the answer was no. So the house hunt begins.

I probably spent a good 3 hours looking at listings on KSL today while I was at work. Work has been slow lately. We checked a few places out tonight, and I'll call a few more tomorrow. One was small, dark, and too much like a basement. It was a basement, in fact, but not as finished as the one we are currently living in. The next was nice, and we filled out an application, but there were a lot of people interested in it. Unless the current renters really take pity on us for our tale of woe, we probably won't get it. The last was very nice, but too expensive with internet and utilities thrown on top of rent. It's probably the kind of place we'll want to look for when we move for medical school. Not dumpy, student housing, but nothing too fancy.

I'm not too upset about moving. To be honest, I had come across something online about zoning laws in Provo several months ago and suspected that our landlord was renting improperly. I didn't think we'd actually get booted over it, but here we are. I guess someone down the street from us called the city to report the situation. I am a little annoyed that it had to happen right when classes were starting for us. The first day of class was today, people! If we are lucky enough to get into the apartment we applied for we'll be moving out of here within a week. Yikes. It would have been great to do all of this 2 months ago when we were just working. On the bright side, it's summer time and there are plenty of apartments posted right now. We'll find something. We might find something to move into by July 1st, but most likely we'll be moving at the end of July. Right when the term gets crazy with exams and papers, most likely. :-)

I am sad to be leaving our ward, though. Spencer and I aren't really that good at making friends and being outgoing people. It takes us a while to get to know a ward and feel like we're really a part of it. We like our ward right now, and it will be sad to leave, especially with such short notice. This Sunday could be our last Sunday there!

A Big Decision

I made a big decision this week. I spent the whole week making it, really. I talked with Spencer, prayed, read my patriarchal blessing, made a pros and cons list, talked with someone at the physical therapy clinic I shadow at, and prayed some more. I am not very good at making these kinds of decisions, but I did it. I've decided not to do physical therapy school. Now, hang on and listen. I am still going into physical therapy, but I have decided to become a physical therapy assistant instead of a physical therapist. It makes more sense. It better fits what I am looking for in a career. I feel good about this decision.

I have been planning on physical therapy school for a long time, but there has been a lot of agonizing and tears over it. (Just ask Spencer.) I feel like I could do it if I wanted to, and it would work out, but I always had a struggle in the back of my head about how it would really work out, and what it would mean for other plans in my life. Physical therapy school is 3 years, year round (9 semesters). By the time school is over we'd probably want to be starting our family and I would only want to work really part time until my kids are older. Besides, 4 more years is sounding like a really long time to wait before starting our family.

To become a physical therapy assistant (PTA), all you need a 2 year associates degree. The program is 4 semesters. So, in a way it seems like I'd be moving backwards in my education. However, I've spent a lot of time shadowing at a physical therapy clinic in Provo. PTAs can do nearly everything a PT can do. They cannot to evaluations or discharges. However, when it comes to hands-on treatment, PTAs do nearly all the work. In most clinics, PTs will do very little with the patients beyond evaluations and discharges. As a PTA I will have more of the patient interaction I want and less paperwork. It makes more sense for a PTA to work part time than for a PT. When I really think of the experience I want with work or my career, it fits better with what a PTA does.

So, yes, school will be easier. I will be paid less. I will have less control over the patient's treatment plan. On the other hand, we will be able to start our family sooner (don't hold your breath waiting for an announcement), school will be less expensive, and I think I will be happier. For me, school is not just about the salary I'll make at the end or the degree I'll hold. It's about learning, enabling myself to better serve others, and being able to support my family in any way I might need to. I'm not losing any of those things.

MCAT Scores Are IN!

Well, they just posted the MCAT scores for Spencer's test date. They have reaffirmed that I married a smarty pants. I am so proud of Spencer and all the hard work he put into studying for this.

HE GOT A 34!!!

Here's the breakdown: 10 on verbal reasoning, 12 on physical sciences, and 12 on biological sciences

Each section is scored out of 15, and the scores are scaled, so the difference between a 10 and an 11 is much greater than the difference between a 14 and a 15. This chart shows the percentiles.

Now that we have this exciting news, he can move forward in finishing up and submitting applications. For those of you who are interested, these are the schools Spencer is currently planning on applying to.

University of Michigan
Michigan State University
Wayne State University
Central Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Medical College of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
Mayo Medical School
University of Minnesota
Baylor College of Medicine
Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Rocky Vista University (DO)
University of Texas at Houston
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine

We are so happy.

Moore Family Vacation

 This family vacation was so perfect. I think everyone made some really great memories, and it was so great to see EVERYONE (except Benjamin)! I took more pictures at the beginning than later on because everyone else had their even nicer cameras out. But here's what were on mine! Spencer and I flew out with Miranda Wednesday afternoon, right after we dropped Benjamin off at the MTC. We didn't get into Minneapolis until like 10 pm, but we did make it. Barely. We ended up being delayed on the runway in Salt Lake for about an hour because Denver airport was too busy. Honestly, I'm not sure how that happens. Do they not expect some planes to show up or something? Anyway, we made our connection in Denver without a minute to spare. We ran to our gate and everyone else had boarded. Lucky for us, Frontier Air always departs late. Just kidding. I'm pretty sure they were holding the plane for us because there were several people making that connection.

Anyway, we got into Minneapolis late. I was starving, so I was very happy that AnnaMarie had picked up a big box of tacos from Taco Bell. I ate 4. We chatted for a while then went to bed. James and Miranda got to see each other for the first time in weeks, so they stayed up later.

The next morning the we got to see the kids. The girls were so excited to see us. That's always fun for me. :-)

 Caroline picked up Marianne, Seth, and William from the airport and came over with Calvin, Sophie, and sweet little Hannah. Ryan was at school. Hannah gives the best snuggles. It was so fun to see Jack, Aiden, and William together.

 Spencer played this map puzzle with the Jane and Sophie for a while.

 Sophie wanted me to read to her, and then Jane and Katie joined in.

 Adien's a fun kid. He loved being up on my shoulders. Jack didn't.

 Spencer and Tyler got to drive together with all of the stuff we were bringing to the cabin. AnnaMarie and I drove with these 5. (Katie and Jane are on either side of Calvin.) Jack and Aiden slept for most of the ride, and the three in the back listed to books on CD, so AnnaMarie and I had some time to chat.

 This is the cabin we rented. The picture is taken from the dock. We had a teeny bit of beach and a paddle boat. Michael and Caroline brought a canoe and all the fishing gear we could handle.









There was a nice firepit, a great yard, and a nice, big deck. We pretty much just spent the week hanging out.










We had campfires. (And talks with pyromaniac Calvin about campfire safety.)

 We ate a lot. On our meal day, Spencer and I made chicken tikka masala. I was a little nervous that people wouldn't like it, but everyone seemed to. Here is the recipe for anyone who wants it, by the way.








I snuggled Hannah every chance I got. She mostly sleeps, but I got a few smiles out of her when she was awake.

 Michael and I went fishing and caught 2 each! It was a bigger deal until everyone else started catching like 5 a day. Michael brought home a LOT of frozen fish fillets.

 James and Miranda enjoyed the lake. For about 2 minutes before running back to the hot tub. I didn't bother getting into the lake. It wasn't hot enough outside for it to be comfortable for me.

 More Hannah.

 Spencer caught lots of fish. Like 20. Seriously.

 Hey, look! More fish! Everyone is showing how many of them they caught.

 Checking out the fish mouths.

After the vacation was over we were back at AnnaMarie and Tyler's for an evening. Jack just looked so cute sitting there eating his pretzels. :-)










This vacation was so perfect. I only ran away to hide by myself once in the whole week. The kids were really good. The adults got to spend time together in the evenings thanks to early bed times. Marianne and I were successful in completing a dress for Christy in our week there. I hope it fits her alright. It's cute, but I didn't get a picture of it. We ate as many s'mores as we wanted. The food was great, and each person only had to do dishes for one day. Of course, the help was appreciated when it wasn't your turn, but you didn't have to. We finally got to meet William and Hannah. It was sad not to have Benjamin there, but he'll be home just in time for the next Moore family vacation! We love our family.

Goodbye to Benjamin

On Wednesday, June 5, Benjamin entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) to start out on his big adventure to serve the Lord and the people of Russia for two years. Spencer and I were lucky enough to spend a couple days with him and to drop him off! If you want to know more about what they do in the MTC, click here for an article that describes it. Benjamin, like tens of thousands of other young men and women, is sacrificing 2 years of his time to bring the peaceful, joyful message of the Gospel to others. He is bringing the joyful message that Christ lives. He died for us to enable us to return to the presence of Him and our God. Benjamin is bringing the message of eternal families, and of true, everlasting joy. Many people will slam their door in his face, rejecting his message, but some will listen. Those that do will find the answers they have been searching for. They will find out where they came from, and why they are here. They will learn that they are children of a loving, eternal God, whose first priority is them. Benjamin is sacrificing two years because sharing that message is more important than anything else he could do in that time.

He flew into Provo on Monday evening, so we went to the airport to pick him up. After a very long delay (his flight had to turn around and go back to Phoenix, Arizona for repairs halfway through his flight), he finally came in. Spencer and I got to spend a little time in Salt Lake City wandering around the new mall up there until his flight came in. It was a nice, unexpected sort-of date. Miranda's (James's fiance) parents wanted to meet Benjamin before he left for the MTC, so we stopped by their house on the way home. Miranda's mom was nice enough to make us some gourmet cupcakes for a snack! They were delicious.

We got back pretty late, and the next morning Spencer and I went to work. Benjamin went with us so he could have the car to run some last minute errands and to go see some friends. Tuesday night, we got to go to the temple together, which was so nice. (Spencer had to stay home to get the lawn mowed before we left for the family vacation.)

After we got done at the temple, Benjamin decided that he absolutely could NOT wait 2 years to see the new Star Trek movie, so we went to see the 10:30 showing. It got over at 1:00 am, but it was a good movie. I think he almost cried during the previews for new movies that he won't be able to see until he comes home.

 

Benjamin spent a good part of Wednesday morning repacking everything that somehow exploded out of his suitcase since Monday. He had his last skype with Dad and Christy, too.

 We let him choose where to eat. He wanted something healthy, so we did Zupas. :) I love that place.

 Getting in his last moments on facebook for two years. How will he survive without it??

 He seemed pretty excited, and not nervous at all. Deep down, I'm sure he was.

 This line of missionaries extended around the whole MTC, waiting to escort the new missionaries and help them with their luggage. 900 new missionaries entered the MTC that day, and there are nearly 4,000 missionaries training there right now. What an amazing time for Benjamin to be joining those ranks, to spread the beautiful message of the Gospel to the world.

Here we all are, saying goodbye to the little fella'. See you in two years, Benjamin! Amazing experiences and blessings are ahead for you.











P.S. If anyone wants to email him, you can at mooreb@myldsmail.net. He'd love to hear from you!