Derek and I met at Ridgeview Care Center back in 2010. Both of us were CNA’s at the time. I had to train on day shift for two weeks and then move to my night shift.
I was separated at the time from my Ex husband and I was trying to make it as a single mom. I remember seeing him for the first time standing at the Nurses Desk as I walked in.

One of my fellow CNA’s came into a residents room one day and asked me if I was married or had a boyfriend. I said, separated and kinda seeing someone. She said, ok. I said, “Why?” She said, Oh Derek wanted to know, he said he was going to marry you one day. I laughed and said, Ah, he’s too young. I think we all can laugh about this now, right? I mean how many times I have heard I am to old for him from others. Lol But to think he said this not even knowing me or about me this man said he was going to marry me one day. Wow!

Derek and I got to know each other just from work. He would text me asking me to give him days to work and I of course would say no I couldn’t spare any of my days scheduled being a single Mom. Derek was a hard worker and still is. He was working and going to school to be a Nurse, so he wanted to work all the time to pay for school.

Through the years Derek and I were able to work together and we would talk about our lives and we became friends. Derek was one I could text with a problem and he made things make sense.

I was an emotional basket case with a younger daughter and an older daughter and a soon to be ex- and my wild crazy side was hanging with my girls from Ridgeview. I was mourning the loss of my sister and my Mother was sick with cancer.

Kaycee my oldest- I call my protector the bulldog of my life- and Keirsten my baby who was emotional with the split of her father and I was my TOP priority in my life. And Derek and I would text from time to time- there might’ve been some flirting here and there on both sides but I was still an emotional basket case.

After losing my Mom and finally getting the divorce that was long over due- Derek asked me to go out. There was many talks about there wouldn’t be any kids from me and the age difference and Kaycee who highly was against a relationship for him and I. Kaycee pretty much hated Derek at this point. Our love story is so long so to sum things up here it goes.

We fell in love as we worked together at Ridgeview. He saw me at my worst and he saw me at my best. He survived Kaycee and she gave the approval of us once she saw how happy I was and a smile he always put on my face. My kids saw me unhappy for so long and Derek was just an Angel sent to me. He made me love life again. He made me want to live to see another day. Derek complimented me and helped me with Keirsten. Homework, tying her shoes lol ( don’t even ask) and being someone who she could lean on, and rides to school, and lots of Denny Dates slamming some pancakes lol

People might think WOW the age difference- so for the people in the back….. we know the age difference, we talked about it over and over and at one point I told him to find someone who could give him his own children- his words was he wasn’t leaving. I would try to shove him away and I even had a wall up I didn’t think anyone could break down. But Derek broke the wall and shoved right back and said you can’t make me go away.

Derek is a Dad to Keirsten and a best friend to Kaycee. And a Papaw to Brody. And he is my soul mate, my best friend, my forever. He is my world. Derek is the most loyal man, honest and loyal and a hard worker. Those things I didn’t think existed in men. A man who doesn’t hit, a man who refuses to hurt anyone on purpose. A man who can be trusted and believe me when I say, my saying is, trust is earned not given. With Derek it’s easy- he is so trustworthy.
So many people saw our love story unfold at work. Two people who just worked together, he had his wild crazy side, and I had my wild side going on as well, two people who finally settled down and took a chance on a date that turned into Derek saying- “I heart you” he wouldn’t say I love you, he would say I heart you. I remember the exact day when he looked at me- gently grabbed my face and held it and said, I love you! And that was the start of a beautiful love story. I love how Ridgeview will always remind me of him. And to think I almost didn’t take that job! I am so glad I did!