Today Dereck and I celebrate our 10 year anniversary, which we are not actually celebrating until we go to Mexico in January!!! But I have been very reflective this year about the decision I made 10 years ago to marry Dereck Jacobs. It remains the best decision I have ever made. I love Dereck a hundred times more than I did in 1998, and boy, was I ever in love then!!!I remember the first time I saw Dereck Jacobs. He was shopping at Smith's with his roommates, as was I. Dereck and my sister were conversing and my heart was pitter pattering over this tall, dark, handsome, and genuine Prince Charming.
I saw him next in the accounting lab. He became known to me and my roommates as the "accounting lab boy".
They liked to tease me about him. I never had a crush on anyone like this without even knowing him! One day in the accounting lab he asked if he could sit by me. My heart almost leapt out of my chest. Was this really happening to me? Was the man in my dreams really asking if he could sit by me? The next thing he asked was, "Do you like rodeos?" I told him that I really didn't because I thought it was cruel.
I'm pretty sure that was the wrong answer for this cowboy to hear, but he respected my opinion.
Later that same month I was trying to study for finals and I just couldn't get Dereck Jacobs off my mind. I simply could not concentrate on anything else. I said a prayer, "Please help me to forget about Dereck Jacobs so I can get some studying done." And the still, small voice whispered that I should not forget about Dereck. It was a happily received revelation!
After finals (by the way, I slept through my alarm the next morning and failed a final) and the semester ended, my roommates and I moved into the Elms apartments to be closer to BYU campus and guess who was in my ward AND my Family Home Evening group? My beloved accounting boy! From there things went quickly. There were many Sunday afternoon walks and talks. There was a trip to Canada to meet his family and to see the most beautiful place where he grew up and I fell hopelessly even more in love.
Dereck has remained my truest friend. He has been strong and stable, constant and true, and I love him more every day! Here's to another 10 years and then another 10, and then another 10, and all the way to eternity! I love you, Accounting Boy!
