I know it seems like it would be a lot easier to skip all of this bad, hard stuff. My best friends found love really easy. They didn’t have to take the path I took. They got married at twenty-three, found the guys they were going to be with, and are still with them. I didn’t have that. But a lot of other things did come easy to me. Whatever it is that challenges you, it forces you to grow up. It forces you to look around you and make do with what you’ve got. And it forces you to be grateful. Because no one is going to have a perfect life forever; I think it’s written on our birth certificates that we’re going to have hard times. And as hard as my hard times were, I would absolutely do it all again. I would feel that pain again, and I would cry myself to sleep if it led me to this outcome and the utter and complete completeness that I currently feel.
I cherish every good moment in my life right now, because I know there’s a chance that it’s not going to be this perfect again. But no matter what happens, I believe we all have a path to get to our happiness, whatever that is, and so if I do ever lose it, I will definitely find it again. And for right now, while I’ve got it, and I’m home in Dallas with Tye and our daughter, or traveling with them to do work that I love on Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and The Insider, I want nothing more than to celebrate how I got here.
Because things lined up the way they did for Tye and me, we can’t help but believe that some things are just meant to be. I feel like I’ve been living in a fairy tale for the past two years, and every time I look at my life and can’t imagine it any better, it somehow surprises me and does get better. My biggest accomplishment of late is definitely the birth of our daughter, Ava Grace. And again, I’m looking at my life, and I don’t know how it can get any better, but I know it will. Being at peace with my personal life makes everything else fall into place. I have my husband, my baby girl, and my puppies—I have so much love. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me, but I’ve become pretty good at expecting the unexpected.
And that’s the real story of my reality—so far.
The good ol’ Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader days . . .
The photo that captures the true spirit of my twenty-fifth birthday . . . paper hat, birthday sticker, classy sash-—and take note of the necklace from Tye.
The St. Patty’s Day parade where I ran into Tye for the first time after D-Day (yes, that would be dump day). Note my fake smile.
My reaction to getting a text message from Tye after not hearing from him in months! Yes, I was lying on the ground . . . in a public restroom . . . I know!
The Valentine’s Day that Tye and I spent hidden at his house . . . Having our own private dance party.
The first picture Tye and I ever took together, spring of 2007.
Our first Hollywood event, the Us Hot Hollywood party that Tye and I attended during Dancing with the Stars.
Shooting my People magazine cover. First photo shoot ever!! Very nervewracking!
Tony and I before we danced our cha cha cha.
Dancing with the Stars finalists.
Our first vacation together in St. Lucia! I guess he does look a little like Ty Pennington?!
At the Oscars for Good Morning America (in the pouring rain), and yes, that’s George Clooney behind me, who I had just interviewed.
The night Tye and I got engaged—definitely one of the happiest days of my life.
Our wedding ceremony.
In New York to host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. Tye and I got a special sneak peek at the ball!
Celebrating my first Mother’s Day with my new family!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have to thank my husband, Tye, for everything that has happened in my life over the past several years. Odd as it sounds, I thank him for the person he was when we first met, and what we went through. If he hadn’t broken my heart, my whole story wouldn’t even exist. So thank you, Tye, for starting this crazy journey we’ve been on. And thank you for choosing me to spend the rest of your life with. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift ever: our little girl. It’s been a wild ride . . . it’s been a crazy ride . . . but it’s been a great ride. Thank you for being you, and loving me just the way I am. I love you.
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My Reality Page 22