Our Love Story - Pt 2

Yesterday I began telling about mine and Drew's love story (pt 1) where I left off with the first date that Drew and I had -Lunch. The next night we went out again, this time my friend Casey came too. See, Casey and I already had plans to go out that night but after the day before I really wanted to include Drew too. I really wanted to see him again. What Casey and I had planned was well out of Drew's element but he agreed to come anyways.

By the end of the night I was left with an uneasy feeling that maybe we weren't a match made in Heaven. Drew was quiet...I was not. He was a sweet gentleman and I was used to bad boys. I had a history of being the bad girl and wasn't sure he could accept that.

I don't remember if he called me or if I called him the next few days but we ended up talking again all the same. Casey assured me that I needed to keep talking to him and see what could come of it. Even though I had a few doubt something kept pulling me back to him. He kept wowing me with his humor and kindness.

One night a week or so later he asked if I wanted to come to his house and watch a movie and get some pizza. Nervously, Hudson and I went to his house and that's where everything changed. I've never seen a man so awesome with a child that was not his own. Hudson was generally a shy child until he gets to know someone but he was so comfortable with Drew. It wasn't a forced I-need-to-impress-this-girl-by-being-nice-to-her-son kind of thing either. He was genuine and Hudson could tell. When we got home Hudson asked me if we could go back to his house again and my heart melted.

Over the next month we were pretty inseparable. I met his kids and absolutely adored them. I was quickly falling for Drew but didn't have to nerve to tell him...I mean we had only known each other for about 2 months. Then on February 27, 2009 I was in a horrible car accident. It was my fault and I spent the next 2 days in the hospital and Drew never left my side. At the hospital's emergency room ambulance bay is where Drew and my Step-dad first met...crazy huh? When I was able to leave the hospital Drew said he would take me home to my apartment and it was a very emotional ride too. I cried nearly the whole way (about 40 minutes) thinking about close I was to being killed in that wreck. He helped me into my apartment and gave me the biggest hug and began crying too. That's the first time he told me he loved me and it scared him so bad that he came close to losing me in such a horrible way.

That June I drove to Dallas (about 3 hours away) to be with him as his daughter (almost 1 at that time) was about to undergo her 2nd open heart surgery. Later that month he proposed to me and I could not have been any happier. I was so excited to have him as mine and to be getting 3 new beautiful kids too!

On November 7, 2009 we said our I-do's in his Aunt's home with just our very close family and friends. Later that night we had a big party at his sister's house where all of our friends came to celebrate with us. The next week we went to Gulf Shores, AL, Destin, FL, and on the way back home we stopped in New Orleans, LA. We had a great week on our honeymoon and I could see then all I had to look forward to for the rest of my life.

The next year or so is more of a blur than anything. It has a tremendously hard time for us as we were going through some excruciatingly painful child custody battles with his ex-wife. It's not a subject I like to talk about much now for a few reasons but the best part is we were still able to keep the kids 50% of the time like we had been doing all along. Since then things have been so much better between everyone and for that I'm so grateful. It's easier on the kids and parents!!

Our love story doesn't end there or where we are now because we are constantly writing it. Each day there are new surprises, excitement, love, learning and so much more. Drew has taught me so much about love and patience and letting go of the little things. I'm still hard-headed and stubborn as all get out but I'm trying daily to let go of all that too. The Lord is #1 in our marriage and with HIM we will continue to grow as one heart and the rest will fade away. We still have days were we don't like each other but we go to bed loving each other every night. We are young and still have so much learning to do. I can't wait to spend the rest of life with this amazing man and our beautiful kids.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones and continue to show them how much you care each and every day of the year.

You are loved,
Ashley