I started to go out with a year after my husband’s death

This also told test is based on a conversation with Mindy Rouse, owner of Moo Moo farm. It was published for duration and clarity.

When my father Put me at a blind meetingI did not know that I was about to meet my life partner. I was only 21 and still at university. My father was a farmer and he put me in place with the son of another farmer.

I didn’t know what Jamie would look like, but I was happy when I saw him. More than looks, I was struck by the right person he was. It was a breath of fresh air to go out with someone who was as attached to agriculture and faith as me. We ate pizza together, then Jamie showed me on his family farm. Three years later, we had a big marriage in my original church, then we went simple honeymoon in Myrtle Beach. Jamie needed to be back to pick wheat on the farm.

It didn’t bother me. Life with Jamie was my fairy tale dream life. We had three boys in about eight years. When we discovered that we were pregnant again, it was a surprise. We did not discover sex until birth, and I finally had my little girl.

Jamie died in our room after a massive heart attack

Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2020, Jamie and I were in bed watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. I heard a little sigh as if it would expel the air. When I looked, her eyes were rolled back in his head.

I immediately called 911. The distributor told me to wake up my eldest son – who was 13 years old – so that he could help me put Jamie on the ground. I made the RCR until the ambulance arrives. Then, paramedical paramedics took over for about an hour. In the end, they couldn’t do anything: Jamie was declared dead in our room.

We learned later that he had three blockages in his heart, which led to a massive heart attack. We thought he was in perfect health. He had only a physique six weeks ago.

Jamie was only 43 years old when he died. I was 36 years old and our children were 13, 9, 5 and 3 years old. Life as we knew.

We moved about a year later and began to rebuild

In the months following Jamie’s death, I survived. The family has remained almost every evening. At Christmas, I asked them to go home. I wanted to be Santa Claus for me and Jamie. Waking up with the children, but without my husband, was heartbreaking. But I prepared them for a big breakfast, just as Jamie usually did. In the years since the years, I have tried to keep our family traditions so that children always feel a link with Jamie.

The children were out of school for a week, but I took a three months leave Of my work as an occupational therapy assistant in a local school. I made mourning advice and I focused on learning who I was and what I was doing with this life that I never wanted.

I knew I wanted to sell our house, where Jamie was dead. About 15 months after his death, I bought a small farm on the same road that I grew up, about 15 minutes from Jamie’s family farm. This is where children and I started to rebuild our lives.

I needed to love and be loved after losing Jamie

Agriculture was so important to me and Jamie. He never raised animals, but he wanted our children to experience the responsibility of living on a farm. Today, children and I have tons of animals on our farm, including cows, horses, alpacas, goats and poultry. Recently, the farm has become our company: the weekend, we organize birthday parties and other agro-tourism events. Everything is dedicated to Jamie, and a huge family photo on our barn is read as follows: “Your inheritance will live.”

Like many couples, Jamie and I talked about what we wanted the other to do if we die. He told me that he wanted me to continue to live and that I find a partner who loved me and the children. I know that it was the real wish of the heart of Jamie, and it brought me comfort after his death. That, and my faith.

I started to go out about a year after Jamie’s death. I needed to love and be loved when it had been torn from me so suddenly. I knew that nobody would be Jamie, but I hoped to find someone who was as good as him in his own way.

I now go out with Brooks, the man I know will be my second husband. Brooks frequently hears Jamie’s name. He likes when I share stories about Jamie because it helps him feel connected to me. Now, with my new partner, I can continue to live and honor Jamie’s life.