Love What Matters

I Looked My Husband’s Killer In The Eyes

Love What Matters Story on facing Justin's killer in the court room.

Photo of Jessica Ayers and Justin Ayers and Jessica Ayers and son

When a complete stranger fires a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun at your home and kills your husband, you tend to place blame. Five years ago, this happened to me. One second I was a new mom with a 3-day-old baby, the next I was a widow. About 20 minutes after the incident, I sat in a chair on my back porch (slightly drugged up) and stared blankly at the home where my husband’s killer was illegally squatting. I felt numb, angry, and in shock. As the police took him away, I held onto my baby while constantly shaking my head in disbelief. Had he done it on purpose or by accident? 

Click Here for the full story on...

Love What Matters logo

Love What Matters—I Love Both of My Rings, Decades Apart

“For my September wedding last year, I did something atypical. I put on not one, but two sets of wedding rings—one on my right hand (from my first marriage) and one on my left. In case you might think I’m some sort of psycho who is still in love with her first husband, you could be right. But let me back up a bit because it isn’t what you might think. It’s not like my first husband is happily remarried with kids or living a scandalous bachelor life. I’m not holding on to some hope of us getting back together one day. Why? Because I didn’t actually take our wedding rings off by choice—I took them off because he died.

For the Full Story, Click Here

Finding Friendship Amongst Tragedy

Love What Matters Essay

I have a new story up on Love What Matters. This one is a little different than usual. Instead of exploring my relationship with Justin, or Don, it explores the bond that was formed between Justin’s little Cousin, Shelby, and I. She and I went through very different, yet similar experiences after both witnessing Justin’s murder. In the end, it was the love we found in one another, amongst so much heartbreak that gave me a sister.

Read the full story below.

“I’ve always heard that some of the strongest bonds can form through tragedy. I never realized how true this statement was until I experienced it for myself. My husband Justin was killed five years ago, and not a second goes by that I’m not haunted by the circumstances that took his life. A stray bullet with a probability of one in infinity somehow managed to kill him on impact, three days after I delivered our son. I not only lost my husband of 10 years (who was also my high school sweetheart), I also had to bear witness to his death.

For the full story click here

Love What Matters Story

I've recently been published on Love What Matters— a website devoted to sharing inspiring stories of love and loss.

If you already follow my blog, you know my story by now. But for this article, I dove a little deeper into the foundation of my relationship with Don, and with Justin. Check it out…..

‘I gave birth, my life was complete. 3 days later, a stray bullet crashed through our window, striking my husband.’ Widow finds love after loss with old friend, hopes her son knows how ‘truly loved’ he is by ‘both of his dads’

“Five years ago, my husband Justin and I were waist deep in OB-GYN appointments, baby books, baby names, and nursery colors. ‘I don’t like the typical blue,’ he said. ‘Let’s go less traditional.’ ‘How about lime green and black?,’ I suggested. Picking nursery colors might not be a big deal to a guy, but to an expecting mother, it’s crucial. ‘Sure, that sounds cool,’ he responded, and with that, we began designing our baby’s future nursery.

For the rest of the story CLICK HERE