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Our Anniversary

 


Today is Dereck and I’s anniversary. 

We’ve spent over 13 years of our lives together. 


He was the first boy to take me on a date my freshman year of high school. 


He asked me to be his girlfriend the first time on February 14, 2009

Then again on January 24, 2011. 


He was the only prom date I had for all 3 times I went in high school. 


We have our 3 beautiful babies, our farm, and our cows. 


He’s my best friend. 


We might only be 29 and 31 but it feels like we have lived a lifetime together. 


If you would have asked us all those years ago about our life neither of us would have said Autism. 


Now autism is in every aspect of our lives. 


I’m not the same girl he asked to be his girlfriend. 

I’m not the same woman that had our first daughter. 

I’m not the same woman that had our second daughter. 

I’m not the same woman that had our son. 

I’m not the same woman that stood across from him at our wedding. 


Life changes everyone. But stepping into the roll of not just a mom but a caregiver. Not just a mom to 3 but a mom to 2 children that have a lifelong disability. Not just a mom but an advocate. Autism and everything that comes along with it, the good, the bad, the things people see and the things they don’t have changed everything about me, as a wife, mom, friend, and woman.


When you step into this world of having children with disabilities you quickly hear the statistics. Specifically about how these diagnoses can affect your marriage. 

Marriages that have a child with a lifelong disability have a 80% higher chance of divorce. That’s the statistic. 


I want to give so much of the credit to this man. He has been my rock. He supports me in my times of sadness, grief, anger, rage and when I feel like I can’t go any further he is there to pick me up. 

He supports me and trusts me to make the best decisions for our children. He takes on tasks at home to remove things from the load that I carry when he sees my shoulders getting tired. 


He’s the best husband and the best daddy. I can trust that he will be right by my side no matter what obstacle comes our way. 


I’m thankful for him, it may not always be easy but through the good and the bad he’s always there. 


We didn’t see autism in our future but I can tell you with all the challenges that autism brings. It also brings a lot of joy, laughs, love, and a view of this world and the small things in it that we would have never noticed or appreciated without autism in it. 


I can speak for both of us when I say our marriage, Savannah Lynn, Harper Jo, and Dallas Lawrence are and always will be our greatest accomplishments. 


We met so young but our time together will never be long enough. Thank you from making me feel like the only girl in the world and laughing till my stomach hurts.


Happy Anniversary Der. 

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