And Sound. . .

Well Joe is finally there and is as safe as one can be. If anyone desires his address you will have to let me know. I would post it but for security reasons I would rather not. We are able to chat via the internet pretty well so that has been really nice. Nothing else has been happening around here. I've been pretty busy with stuff around the house so it's not that exciting.

Danny's really starting to move around more and I just know that one of these days I'm going to turn around and wonder where he's gone off to.

Hyrum's almost done with school. Only a week and a half left for him and his mommy's very excited at getting a break from bringing him and picking him up.

Emma is Emma. She just runs through the house screaming, "I'm daddy's princess!!!"

Porter is playing with his brothers and sisters more. He loves to give Danny kisses now and is really starting to acknowledge that he's in our home.

Well that's my update for now. This weekend we are headed to the zoo for mother's day so perhaps some pictures then.

About Us Tag!!

Okay, I've been tagged by Amanda and I was going to try to be all fancy like she did it but quite frankly I haven't the time, so mine may be boring, but that's just life. I pick a wedding picture because I look the best in those. After four kids, I'm more self conscious about how I look in pictures.

1. Favorite Food:
Joe--noodles (cooked or not)
Ruth--5 cheese pizza

2. Middle Names:
Joe--Royal
Ruth--Erika

3. Favorite Holiday: (now this one is tough because we both like so many)
Joe--anything with really good candy ;) so Easter or Christmas would top that list.
Ruth--Thanksgiving

4. Favorite Place to Be:
Joe--Anywhere but where he is right now (and I'm sorry for any crassness here but as Joe and several men from his unit call it--Asscrackistan)
Ruth--with Joe.

5. Bad Habit:
Joe--eating too much junk.
Ruth--Soda all the way.

6. College Major:
Joe--although he hasn't completed it, I think he's finally settled on Political Science-Policy.
Ruth--English, and hoping to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (emphasis on Marriage and Family)

7. Favorite Color:
Joe--many, but we'll say blue.
Ruth--too many to count, but let's settle with Scarlet.

8. Name of Past Pet:
Joe--Peaches and Cream
Ruth--Puddles

9. Place I'd Like to Visit: (now this is another where there are too many to list)
Joe--Russia, Germany, Scotland, . . .
Ruth--Germany, Scotland, England, . . .

10. Age at Next Birthday:
Joe--the big 30!!
Ruth--the big 30!!

I tag Kerrin, Naomi, Desi, and Melinda. Have fun!!! And as a friend of mine always says, "Don't forget to blow skittles!!"

Happy Birthday Joe

Well today my sweetheart joins me on the fast moving train to 30; he is 29 today. I had the privilege a month ago. I hate that we have to be apart because this day is mighty special for me. It's the day that the greatest man in all the world was born. I love Joe so much. I miss him terribly. I hope and pray that he does something fun for himself for his birthday. I'll send birthday wishes from home, and pray that the time will fly until we can be together again.

Joe was born the 1 May 1979 in Vernal, UT to Reid and Sheryl Merkley. He is the oldest of their four children. He was named Joseph Royal Merkley. He has three younger siblings: Rodney, Jennifer, and Naomi; and one great step brother Geoff. Joe lived his very young life in Vernal and then moved to Logan, UT while his dad finished school and then to North Salt Lake where he grew up. His mother passed away when he was only 12 and then the family was blessed with a wonderful StepMother about a year later. Joe is a magnificent brother and a wonderful son and an extraordinary husband and father.

Joe and I met at BYU. When we first met, we didn't much like one another. Joe began dating my best friend. I was endowed and used to get a group together weekly to go to the temple. Joe was the only one who always went with me and over the time of being temple buddies, we became very good friends. My girlfriend broke up with him at Thanksgiving, and by Christmas I liked Joe quite alot. I went home to Illinois for the three week break, all the time emailing each other like twenty times a day. Four days after coming back to Utah, Joe asked me to marry him. I thought he was joking at first, and was like "are you serious?" He assured me that he was and I of course said yes. We were married the 28 April 2001 in the Manti, UT temple. It was the most wonderful day. I thought no other could be better and then I woke up the next morning next to the most amazing man in all the world, and every day since, I still can't believe how blessed I am to have this wonderful man in my life.

Joe joined the Utah Army National Guard when we were only 6 months married. He's been working or training with them full time ever since. He is currently deployed and will be gone from our little family until end of February or beginning of March 2009. We miss him desperately. The children love their daddy so very much and I love and miss my sweetheart more than words can begin to express. God be with him until we are again together. And may he have a very Happy Birthday.

7 Years!!!

Happy Anniversary to me and Joe!!! We made it to seven years without any itching. This year though we are celebrating it apart from one another. Joe is back in Washington for now and I am here in Utah. We did get to celebrate a bit while he was home though so I really don't have much to complain about. At least I got some time.
Anyway. . . Here we are 7 years ago to the day. It was a wonderful magical day. For those of my friends who don't know, we were married 28 April 2001 at 10:30 a.m. in the Manti, UT temple. For April it ended up being a beautiful day, and in Utah that is saying alot. I was so happy that day. And now, after 7 years, I am even happier. That day I thought I could never love Joe more, and now with each passing moment my love for him only grows deeper. He is an amazing husband. So strong, so smart, so wonderful. He sacrifices so much for me and our family. He is so good at making sure I always know how much he loves me. He is my best friend. I love that we can talk about anything and everything. I love that the Lord blessed me to fall in love with my best friend. He is my world. Lord bless him while we are apart.
Joe is also an amazing father. I was told that it would be difficult for me to conceive and instead, we were blessed with Hyrum nine months after we were married. They've been coming about every two years since. So 4 in 7 years. Joe's never flinched. He's always taken such good care of his family regardless of the sacrifices. He is a wonderful father. His babies love him very much. I love to watch them with their daddy. It's such a beautiful site to see your babies looking up at their daddy with such love and admiration. We are all so proud.
This isn't the best picture of me, but it's the most recent that I have. I am so proud of my husband. We serve our country together. I hate this war and I hate that he has to be gone, but I am also so proud of him and the ideals that he holds. We both believe that one must be doing something to change this screwed up world we live in. If people with belief in the potential of this world and country aren't willing to stand up, this world will only continue to spiral completely out of control. We may be like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dam, but I figure at least we will be fighting to make the world a better place, and that's gotta count for something.