I don't tell you enough how remarkable you are. You are the best husband I could imagine - you know when to push me and when to let me be. You surprise me with little gifts now and then (and it's not about the gifts, it's the fact that you were thinking of me), you make me laugh, and you have this soft side that I love, yet you can be the biggest pain in the ass (which challenges me and pushes me to be patient). Overall, you are the best thing that ever happened to me because together, we have built something special.
You love our daughters in a way only a daddy could. They will always have a strong father figure in their lives, and for that, I am so, so thankful. You are amazed by Annessa and you love watching her grow. One of my favorite parts of the day is at night, in bed when we re-hash that funny/smart/crazy things she said or did that day. You are meant to be the dad of daughters.
What is even more remarkable to me is that you do all of this without your own legs. I watch you struggle day after day with the changes this has brought. Each day I think about how faithful you are. You could give up but you don't. I know we are a big reason that you push on, and I can't tell you how loved that makes me feel. If I had one wish, I wish "that day" two years ago never happened. I wish you could run (not that you liked to....). I wish you could walk through the woods instead of ride your 4-wheeler. I wish we could go on a walk. I wish we could walk on the beach and play in the ocean. I wish you didn't have to think "is it worth it" before you climb up the stairs or go to a new restaurant. I wish you could run beside Annessa as she tries to ride without training wheels. I wish you could dunk a basketball like you used to (because I have a feeling you still could). The list goes on. I know you wish these things too.
But I can't end this letter on such a sad note, can I? Today you beat the odds. You are out bow hunting again. Is it different? Yes. But are you doing it? Yes. And the truth is, even though I wish "that day" never happened, I would not chose a different path. My life is good - it's full of love and I have you and God to thank for it.
I will never forget the phone call. The helicopter. Pam. The wall I kicked. The family that surrounded us and the friends that comforted us. I will never forget. But I will never stay there either. We have great things in store for us. I'm not sure what, but there is no one else I would rather be with as I find out.
Thank you for holding on- that day and every day.
I love you ,
Autumn
You love our daughters in a way only a daddy could. They will always have a strong father figure in their lives, and for that, I am so, so thankful. You are amazed by Annessa and you love watching her grow. One of my favorite parts of the day is at night, in bed when we re-hash that funny/smart/crazy things she said or did that day. You are meant to be the dad of daughters.
What is even more remarkable to me is that you do all of this without your own legs. I watch you struggle day after day with the changes this has brought. Each day I think about how faithful you are. You could give up but you don't. I know we are a big reason that you push on, and I can't tell you how loved that makes me feel. If I had one wish, I wish "that day" two years ago never happened. I wish you could run (not that you liked to....). I wish you could walk through the woods instead of ride your 4-wheeler. I wish we could go on a walk. I wish we could walk on the beach and play in the ocean. I wish you didn't have to think "is it worth it" before you climb up the stairs or go to a new restaurant. I wish you could run beside Annessa as she tries to ride without training wheels. I wish you could dunk a basketball like you used to (because I have a feeling you still could). The list goes on. I know you wish these things too.
But I can't end this letter on such a sad note, can I? Today you beat the odds. You are out bow hunting again. Is it different? Yes. But are you doing it? Yes. And the truth is, even though I wish "that day" never happened, I would not chose a different path. My life is good - it's full of love and I have you and God to thank for it.
I will never forget the phone call. The helicopter. Pam. The wall I kicked. The family that surrounded us and the friends that comforted us. I will never forget. But I will never stay there either. We have great things in store for us. I'm not sure what, but there is no one else I would rather be with as I find out.
Thank you for holding on- that day and every day.
I love you ,
Autumn
