After two failed marriages, and three kids, I decided that life was not worth making another mistake. I had three children to raise. I would do what I must. My children must grow up without fear I had to raise my kids to grow up with no more nightmares, no more fears, and no more tears,

I was content to live my life alone, Still, I dreamed of finding a man, someone I could trust with my heart. I gave in, no more men for me. I finally quit looking; I was content to live my life alone. Then one day I met a man who seemed lonely and alone like me. However, he was too young for me I thought. Nevertheless, the heart knows no age limits, and my heart yearned for someone to trust with my love all the love in my heart, then one day I met the other half of my heart. His little brother was my son’s best friend.

He came to my house one day looking for his little brother, thinking the two boys would be together. When we started seeing each other, we spent all night talking; it was as if our souls connected. We seemed to have a special connection that many people envied and misunderstood. My family was sure he was using me. Our relationship was to have a life of its own.

We seemed to have no real differences,

We spent all our time together: While he was at work nights in a convenience store, I went too, mostly to keep him company and do my homework at the same time.

During the days, he drove me to college, and even attended class with me. At the time, we started seeing each other, my youngest son was 5 years old, and his father had not

Seen him since he was a baby, I dreamed of them having a daddy as wonderful as my daddy had been before he died. Joe became my Rock of Gibraltar: steadfast and true from the day we met all the way down the altar. Many men would run from a woman with three kids in tow, But not my Joe.

We met in 1989, and lived together until 1993; we were both afraid to make another mistake. By November 1993, we were sure we were destined to be together. I still did not know how long we could we could make a lasting life together. In November 1994 we were still surviving together, we had the entire natural up and downs that come with any marriage involving the combing of two families, and children. I was still afraid to trust in his love. I was afraid that if I did not agree with everything he said he would leave me alone again. Finally, I began to trust in his love

Trough a strange occurrence one day he started perpetually arguing with every thing I said and for a long time I took it and then one day, I was having a bad day and I snapped!

The argument was over something silly, I don’t even remember what. It was something to do with my son Chris.

I was standing at the dryer, and I slammed shut the dryer door, hard enough to be heard next door and I started screaming at him, that I was tired of giving in to him. When I settled down, he said, “I didn’t go away did I. I’m still here, I love you and you couldn’t drive me away with a sledgehammer. From that day on, I trusted in his love. We’ve had our difficulties, that’s true, but he’s stuck by me through everything that came our way. Like finding out, I had MS, but though everything that came our way. We’re still together after all these years, from 1989 through 2002 and we always will be.

Suzy Ford

September 2002