The update, thus far

Well Joseph and I have been praying and have been really looking into the military for our occupation. Yesterday we got a peaceful answer that it was. We plan to join the Army in the near future. Today has been an overwhelming day of emotion for me, but knowing how I felt yesterday, the peace of mind, I know that it is the right decision for our family. Joseph feels good about joining the Army and that it is the right thing for him to do and feels great Peace with it. Even though it is terrifying for the both of us, it is right. You cannot deny the power of the spirit.

This is our story and how it started up to now. It is long so you really don't have to read it but I needed it for me so that I can look back on it and know how I feel. Every other day is a roller coaster of emotions for me that I am trying to accept.....just to let you know I support my husband 100% in his choice and I know that I know it is the right choice for our family at this time.
The Story~
One year ago....
Joseph has always been a rancher/farmer and has loved it very much and has never seen himself doing anything else. Last year He went to work with Valley county sheriff with the jail and marine patrol. We looked into this as maybe a career or something but Joseph just did it because it was "A job". It has been a trying year because we want to be here on the ranch but feel like it is time for us to leave for a while and then come back.
A month ago.....
Joseph doesn't want to leave the ranch but as his wife I was feeling it and shared it with him. Over this last month it has been hard to know what we are to do. Things we were trying didn't work out and we looked into things but just came to dead ends and didn't feel one way or the other. We know we needed to find a job and probably leave the ranch for a while and we looked at a few options but nothing really felt right. We scanned over the military a few times but nothing serious just thinking about it here and there but didn't want to go there so we didn't.
Monday....
I was fasting and praying for my husband and for things to work out somehow. I was hoping that Joseph would find hope and become himself again. (this has been hard on him)I got my scriptures out and read in Alma 32 about Faith. We turned in another loan application and to no surprise we were rejected again. I told him that I could go and work and he said in a joking way, totally not serious the, "I would join the Army before it came to that." That evening we had a good talk and things started changing after that. He was beginning to Hope again. We seemed at a stand still so we got Joseph's patriarchal blessing out and started reading it and seeing if anything stuck out to us or gave us a little inspiration. WE were thinking of his strengths and what he would be good at. This was our list.
.... Physical work, Family, outdoors, strategic mind in some cases and likes challenges in some cases.......
We read Joseph's occupation paragraph in his patriarchal blessing again and there were things that stood out to us. It said that we would have guidance we needed when it came time to choose a profession. It said to choose that which would bring happiness and fulfillment and would allow him to serve. Then it went on talking more about that and that he was called to serve others and be a blessing to them. And then it said that he would be blessed from harm and danger and from evil and accident.
This was all in the section under the occupation and it stuck out to us and we decided to look more into the military.
Tuesday.....
Joseph had looked a few different things over on this day and in the afternoon he decided to look a little bit more into the Army. I was like whatever, this is just a thought that would pass....then I was getting the boys a snack in the kitchen. It hit me then. I knew that everything up to this point was preparing us for something more. Something we didn't expect. The spirit was enlarging my heart and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I knew it was time to leave but I didn't know where or what we would do. We looked at things for a while on the Army and surprisingly we felt OK about it. I had a meeting that night and shared my experience with them and that increased my faith and testimony on what I had felt earlier that day.
We kept praying for guidance and for the spirit to be with us as we looked more into the Army. Wednesday we did chores around the house and Finally sat down and wrote out all the questions we had and researched more about the Army and family life.
Thursday....
WE went down to Meridian and my mom watched our boys that day as we went to the the Army recruiters office to get more info and to get our questions answered. They were straight up with us and their answers. Joseph then took a pre test for the ASVAB and scored in the 77 percentile. They said this to be good and so we scheduled to come down next week to take the ASVAB test. Once he would take the test he would be able to sit down with the recruiters and see what his score was, where he would be qualified and what jobs would be available to him. We will see what happens at this point. (back to Thursday) While we were there at the office I had a distinct thought that me and my family would be very much taken care of especially when I would live on post. After we got all our info we left and decided to go to the Meridian Cemetery where both of our grandparents are buried and go say hi to the gravesides.
the cemetery.....
We went and got a blizzard at DQ and shared it as we walked and talked a the cemetery. We got there and talked about our memories with our grandparents and then started walking around the beautiful, peaceful cemetery. It was like 90 degrees outside and there was wind and a bit of rain and it felt great to be out there walking around. We started going over the information out loud to each other and how we felt and what our thoughts were. We had an emotional time with laughs too walking around the cemetery for about an hour. This was the breaking point, the starting of a new chapter. We knew and the spirit witnessed to us through our hearts that this is what we needed to do as a family. Joseph felt great Peace and seeing that helped me to open up and let the spirit talk to me too. This was a wonderful bonding time for Joseph and I and we needed that.
After that we went back to my parents home and hung out with our kids.
The temple....
The next morning we got up and got ready for the temple. We sat in the bathroom, since it was 5:45 in the morning as to not wake up anyone, and read president Uchtdorfs talk in the ensign. (the first presidency's message) We then went to the temple with our decision and felt PEACE. Joseph felt it right off. I was struggeling with the fact and was emotional. I then read in Alma 32 again and read the versus 28-33. That was my answer and I felt it. I knew that I had felt the promptings of the spirit letting me know what was right. I knew that what i was feeling was a fire in my heart that was making me cry and I was at peace.....
Now......
Well at this point we know that our lives are going to be changing rapidly and we feel the adventure starting up in our lives. Last night on our way home we stopped at the veterans memorial cemetery where my Grandpa and grandma Haskett are buried. I went and visited there gravesides and had a good cry. Joseph and I went up to the look out at the top of a hill under a big American flag and I wrestled with my emotions and how I was feeling but holding each other under that flag I knew what I would have to do. I knew that my husband would be serving this country and I was proud of him for making this choice. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about what I felt there under that flag holding my husband in my arms. It was a very emotional experience for me and Joseph still felt at Peace and knew it was right. This gave me the increasing Faith and courage that I needed to know what we were doing was OK and that things would be OK. This was a very good memory making experience with my hubby and all the feelings i felt I don't think I can even convey through words.
Continue to pray for us as we continue this road and that Joseph will do well on the test next week. the higher your score the bigger the difference it will make in job choices and opportunities and in rank.
That is our story thus far and we look forward to many wonderful spiritual memories to be made here and in the future.