Hey! My name is Emily. I’m originally from Oregon but my family and I live in cold Idaho now. I met my husband Josh when we both were in college at Brigham Young University – Idaho. We got married about 6 months of meeting, we were engaged only 62 days, but it was worth it, we got married on 8-8-08, which is a pretty nice anniversary. Our daughter, Sophronia, was born the day before my husband graduated and before my final semester. We were both finishing finals while I was in the hospital. I did finish my sociology degree. Since we finished school I stay home with my daughter and my husband builds and designs websites. One of my favorite things to do is dance. I teach a little dance class for my daughter and her friends and find any excuse to dance for myself. I also love reading and playing games.

How did you meet?

My husband, Josh, remembers meeting me a different time then I remember meeting him. We met in college but apparently our first meeting was when my roommate and I were visiting some people in the apartment next to the one Josh lived him, as we were leaving he and his roommates were just getting back home from somewhere, we introduced ourselves to all of them and then promptly forgot their names and appearances. Josh remembers me from this, but a couple weeks later when we ran into each other again I had no idea who he was. The meeting I remember was one of those get to know you socials, where they played a bingo-type game where you get people to sign your paper for different squares that say things like “was born out of the United States” and stuff like that. I was being a grump and just sitting at a table not really playing when Josh came and sat down by me. He said “I bet you think I want you to sign my paper, but I don’t, I just wanted to get to know you.”

What did you do on your first date?

Our first date was to a concert on campus, “Acoustic Cafe” where people could sign up to play and sing. It was the same night my parents were coming from out of state to visit me, my sister, and my grandparents who lived nearby. After the concert my parents picked us up and we went to my grandparents and played games with my sister and her boyfriend. I’m sure it was pretty intimidating to meet my family on our first date but it did work out.

What’s the best romantic getaway you’ve been on?

For our honeymoon Josh and I got a small beach house in Seaside, Oregon. It was quite an ordeal reserving it because the company had originally told me they wouldn’t rent it out to anyone under 25, but we explained it was our honeymoon and they let us rent it as long as my mom would sign on the rental contract. It was tiny, two rooms and a half bathroom but it was perfect for us. It was August of 2008 so we watched a lot of Olympics and walked the beach and ate a ton of ice cream. We took one day and just drove down the coast.

What would the ultimate romantic getaway be?

I think the ultimate getaway for us would be a place where we really could feel like we didn’t have to do anything. I think a cruise would be a good fit for us because we don’t have to cook or plan or see others if we don’t want to. There are things to do but we could still have the freedom to sleep in if we wanted or stay in our room all day if we wanted.

What are your songs or favorite albums that make you think of each other?

On our first date someone played Jason Mraz’s song “I’m Yours.” It was the first time Josh had ever heard it but I was familiar with it and I couldn’t help singing along a little. Since then I think it has always been considered our song. There used to be a Facebook application that would allow you to send songs to other people, we used to send songs back and forth and there were two Josh sent me that still will always make me think of him; “Breathing” and “Whatever it Takes” by Lifehouse. I hadn’t heard them before and at the time I thought “Breathing” was the most romantic song he could have sent me.

If you were to make a special dinner for him, what would you make?

My husband likes comfort food, a lot. Some of his favorites are beef stew or pot roast. But an easier and cheaper favorite of his, and one I make when I want to make him something I know he will like, is smothered chicken. I’ll give you the original recipe although I almost always half it.

Smothered Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts- cut in halves
2 Tablespoons of flour
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk (just use soup can to measure)
salt
pepper
noodles
cheese

Directions: Put chicken pieces in crock pot, sprinkle flour, salt, and pepper on them. Mix the soup and milk, pour over chicken. Cook 4-6 hours. Shred and serve over noodles with grated cheese on top.

What’s the coolest gift you ever bought him?
At one point I found a good deal on the first few seasons of Smallville. Josh had expressed an interest in watching it and so for his birthday that year I gave him the first five seasons of Smallville. It has been really fun because it’s a show that he likes and I like, rather then always watching the things I am interested in and he is willing to watch we get to watch something that is really one of his favorites. Another thing is something that we haven’t used yet, we really want to be able to travel to new places but we never feel like we have the money to, so I try and put a little money aside when I can and then on holidays I will give him what I have saved up and we put it into a bank account reserved for traveling.

What is/are your favorite gift(s) that he bought for you?

One of the best gifts that my husband has given me is a gift card to Barnes and Noble, and he watched our daughter for an afternoon so I could go read some books and get a treat there and then pick a book to bring home. It was such a nice and relaxing afternoon, I didn’t have to think about what else I should be doing or hurrying through my shopping trip, I could really take the time to peruse the books like I enjoy doing. When I came home the house was cleaned and he had made dinner. On the note of dinner though, I always love it when he gets gift cards for new places to eat. I love to try new restaurants and I love not cooking dinner.

Finish this sentence, ‘It makes me laugh when my husband…’

I am not sure how to explain it but I can’t ever help but laughing when my husband imitates me. If I am being grumpy or silly and he acts how I am acting it just makes me laugh so much. He is also very good at funny voices, he can imitate Muppets or TV characters and that make me laugh as well.

What are some every day ways that you show love for each other?

Something simple that I do to show Josh that I love him is to let him sleep in. When we have a day with no plans (not totally common) I make sure to get up with our daughter and I usually take her somewhere so we aren’t in the house being loud. Small things like doing the dishes or picking up my daughters toys really make me feel loved. It doesn’t have to be much but I always feel so much more relaxed when my house is clean.

What are some things you like to do together?

We are game players. We like all kinds of games, relaxed party games to really strategic games. Some of our favorites are Ticket to Ride and Bang! The Ticket to Ride Asia Expansion has a version to play on teams and I like playing on my husband’s team, not always against him. We also watch a few TV shows together- Smallville, The Office, Spy, and Once Upon a Time. I don’t know if he likes it as much as I do, but I love it when we go shopping together, for groceries, clothes, or whatever, I don’t like to shop alone but I love even just walking through Walmart with him.


If you could give your husband anything, what would it be?

If I could give Josh anything I would like to give him a trip to England and Ireland or a hot air balloon ride. The list of things that he wants to do in his lifetime is short but both of those are on it. If I can help fulfill some of his bucket list I would do it. I love to be able to give experiences rather then things.

What cologne do you love your husband to wear?

My husband doesn’t wear cologne much but he has the Dove Men+Care Moisture Body Wash and I really like that smell. He uses it instead of shaving cream, I love the smell of his face after he shaves. Also, when we were dating I thought he always smelled so amazing, I finally figured out the source of the good smell it was the fabric softener he used when he washed his t-shirts. It wasn’t a brand I was familiar with but the smell of Suavite Ultra- Field Flowers will always make me smile.

Finish this sentence, ‘My husband is especially attractive when…’

My husband is especially attractive when he dresses nicely. He doesn’t have to dress up for work so it is nice when he wears a dress shirt and slacks. I also find him attractive when we he is playing with our daughter. I love to watch him be a good dad.

Finish this sentence, ‘I love my marriage, because…’

I love my marriage because we really are a partnership. I don’t know how it happened but we seem to be on the same page with almost everything, even things we didn’t talk about before we got married, like how we feel about certain politics and policies, we usually agree. I am so lucky to be married to such a good and honest guy. My favorite part of every day is the time I get to spend with him. I don’t know what I would do without his help and support in my life.

~ Emily