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From This Day Forward: A Love Story of Faith, Hope, and Forgiveness
Like many relationships, after eight years of marriage and two kids, Amy and Matt had drifted apart. They started fighting, lost trust and respect, and their marriage spiraled down. Instead of dealing with the problems, Amy started to drink. She lost her job, she gained weight, she neglected her children. And then one day, she went too far. Even though she knew she'd had too much to drink, she got behind the wheel of her car and in a drunken blackout crashed head first into a tree. Only when she came to—to the sounds of her daughter's screams—did she remember . . . both her children were in the car with her. After this ultimate betrayal, Matt was done. He filed for divorce.
But this is a story of miracles.
Combining the heart wrenching blow-by-blow devastation of Beautiful Boy , and the inspiring devotion found in The Vow, From This Day Forward has all the drama of a Lifetime Movie, with a universal message for anyone who strives to love one person no matter what happens. With heartrending honesty Matt and Amy tell a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. It is a story with the power to help others find the strength to take that first step in the right direction, to start a conversation with the one they love, to repair, rebuild, and restore, because once we understand the power of forgiveness, no relationship is ever past hope.
But this is a story of miracles.
Combining the heart wrenching blow-by-blow devastation of Beautiful Boy , and the inspiring devotion found in The Vow, From This Day Forward has all the drama of a Lifetime Movie, with a universal message for anyone who strives to love one person no matter what happens. With heartrending honesty Matt and Amy tell a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. It is a story with the power to help others find the strength to take that first step in the right direction, to start a conversation with the one they love, to repair, rebuild, and restore, because once we understand the power of forgiveness, no relationship is ever past hope.
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
2 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Amy Baumgardner
1 bookAmy Baumgardner is a freelance writer, mother and wife. She was born in Philadelphia and holds a Master's degree in Educational School Counseling. Amy attributes her happiness to her faith and devoted husband.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 25, 2014
I won this book on a contest from Goodreads.
Amy & Matt Baumgardner met on a bus taking them to middle school. Although Amy was new to Oxford she was a force to be reckoned with. Amy & Matt became good friends in middle school and when they both went to different universities they became disconnected. Finally, eleven years after that bus ride to school, Matt & Amy were married. Amy was always the 'party girl' and Matt the good looking athlete. Since before they married, Matt & Amy were always asked to all the parties which always centered around alcohol. But when Amy got pregnant, Matt would go to his bars after work leaving sober, pregnant Amy at home alone. This began to deeply annoy Amy & she resented Matt for this. Not long after Gavin was born, Amy realized she was pregnant again, and again Matt did the same thing. After Amy had her second child, her pent up resentment resulted in her drinking 'a lot'. To the point all she thought about was 'when is it time for my next drink'. As things began to spiral out of control, Amy began leaving her children alone at home so she could go bar-hopping. But the straw that broke the camel's back was when a drunken Amy took the kids in the car and got into a horrific accident. So now with a whole lot of debt to deal with and Amy in rehab and the threat of jail time hanging over her head, will Amy ever be able to get 'the proverbial monkey off her back' and is there any chance at all for Amy & Matt to reconcile and be a family again? But first & foremost, will Amy ever be able to forgive herself.
An excellent story of love, heartache, addiction and forgiveness. Fabulous!
Amy & Matt Baumgardner met on a bus taking them to middle school. Although Amy was new to Oxford she was a force to be reckoned with. Amy & Matt became good friends in middle school and when they both went to different universities they became disconnected. Finally, eleven years after that bus ride to school, Matt & Amy were married. Amy was always the 'party girl' and Matt the good looking athlete. Since before they married, Matt & Amy were always asked to all the parties which always centered around alcohol. But when Amy got pregnant, Matt would go to his bars after work leaving sober, pregnant Amy at home alone. This began to deeply annoy Amy & she resented Matt for this. Not long after Gavin was born, Amy realized she was pregnant again, and again Matt did the same thing. After Amy had her second child, her pent up resentment resulted in her drinking 'a lot'. To the point all she thought about was 'when is it time for my next drink'. As things began to spiral out of control, Amy began leaving her children alone at home so she could go bar-hopping. But the straw that broke the camel's back was when a drunken Amy took the kids in the car and got into a horrific accident. So now with a whole lot of debt to deal with and Amy in rehab and the threat of jail time hanging over her head, will Amy ever be able to get 'the proverbial monkey off her back' and is there any chance at all for Amy & Matt to reconcile and be a family again? But first & foremost, will Amy ever be able to forgive herself.
An excellent story of love, heartache, addiction and forgiveness. Fabulous!
June 30, 2015
thank you so much for sharing your life. You both are truly an inspiration. You showed that you can over come, get thru and survive together as a team. Together is the operative word.
For all young couples this should be a must read before they say their vows. I feel that it would get show exactly what those vows are meant to be. Not just "I'll stay with you only as long as there are no big issues like financial or bad health problems".
I will say that I had fun trying to remember who was doing the talking.
October 1, 2014
RECEIVED FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS.
If you are a friend of Bills, you 'get' this read. For everyone else, your heart will break and then be healed as you read on.
This is a lovely story, once you see the big picture. A story from and for the soul.
If you are a friend of Bills, you 'get' this read. For everyone else, your heart will break and then be healed as you read on.
This is a lovely story, once you see the big picture. A story from and for the soul.
July 6, 2019
This book was wonderful. It gave me a new perspective on life, love, and forgiveness. It taught me that although life can be messy, it can also be beautiful. And the mistakes we make in life don't have to define who we are.
September 18, 2014
Amy and Matt Baumgardner had it all: two great kids, a great marriage that was based on an almost love at first site meeting, and a wonderful lifestyle. Until, that is, Amy's longstanding drinking problem smacked her in the face when, driving intoxicated with her two young children in the car, she had a terrible accident that landed her in the hospital and almost killed her young daughter.
The story is told with alternating narration from Amy and Matt, which provides two different points of view on their lives and on Amy's spiral fall into serious alcoholism. Amy becomes paranoid, convinced that Matt is having an affair with a waitress at his weekend bartending job, and the marriage begins to crumble. She relies on alcohol to get her through the day, falls into depression, and is a full-fledged alcoholic during the span of four years, all of which leads to the nearly fatal accident that serves as her wake-up call; she enters rehab, slowly patches things up with Matt, they rebuild their marriage, and live happily ever after.
While I feel deeply for the Baumgardners and what they endured, this is not a well-written book. The writing is unsophisticated and formulaic, and while the story is of course important, this book adds nothing to the "I had a terrible tragedy and survived" sub-genre of memoirs. I've read many stories, memoir and fiction, that are in that category: many are very, very good, some are very, very bad, and some are simply not very well done. From This Day Forward falls into the "not very well done" category. While Matt and Amy are courageous in putting their private, sad, but ultimately redemptive story in front of a public audience, the quality of the writing and what I found to be the absence of a real voice from either Amy or Matt left me feeling like I'd read a not very good novel.
I realize that there have been some very positive reviews of this book. I have no quarrel with this story - it is all too common - and I am glad that Amy Baumgardner received the help she needed and that her husband Matt was able to stand by her during all of her travail and that they were able to emerge from this period of trial stronger and more dedicated to each other and their children. I just wish they could have told their story better.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
The story is told with alternating narration from Amy and Matt, which provides two different points of view on their lives and on Amy's spiral fall into serious alcoholism. Amy becomes paranoid, convinced that Matt is having an affair with a waitress at his weekend bartending job, and the marriage begins to crumble. She relies on alcohol to get her through the day, falls into depression, and is a full-fledged alcoholic during the span of four years, all of which leads to the nearly fatal accident that serves as her wake-up call; she enters rehab, slowly patches things up with Matt, they rebuild their marriage, and live happily ever after.
While I feel deeply for the Baumgardners and what they endured, this is not a well-written book. The writing is unsophisticated and formulaic, and while the story is of course important, this book adds nothing to the "I had a terrible tragedy and survived" sub-genre of memoirs. I've read many stories, memoir and fiction, that are in that category: many are very, very good, some are very, very bad, and some are simply not very well done. From This Day Forward falls into the "not very well done" category. While Matt and Amy are courageous in putting their private, sad, but ultimately redemptive story in front of a public audience, the quality of the writing and what I found to be the absence of a real voice from either Amy or Matt left me feeling like I'd read a not very good novel.
I realize that there have been some very positive reviews of this book. I have no quarrel with this story - it is all too common - and I am glad that Amy Baumgardner received the help she needed and that her husband Matt was able to stand by her during all of her travail and that they were able to emerge from this period of trial stronger and more dedicated to each other and their children. I just wish they could have told their story better.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
August 13, 2016
This was a very touching story about love, abuse, lost, pain as they try to find their way through a tough life. Alcoholism is a serious issue that so many have, even when most lose everything they never find their way out. I wouldn’t say this was a well told story but a very touching one. Many things drives us away from each other, mostly those we love push us away as we make excuses for things we have done. This is the case for this couple, it was nice to see they were able to work things out and become a family through their fight with life and each other. My hats off to both Amy and Matt for fighting to keep their family together and in hopes that their story will help others find their way. Sometimes the only way to help is to come clean yourself. I am so glad Amy found her way out of the bottle and to a happy life in return she now has her family where she needs them with her. It was nice Matt come through this trying time and stand by the women he loves.
I can’t say this is the best story I have ever read but it sure is the most touching one. When I picked this out on NetGallery it sure wasn’t what I thought I was getting. I have to say I did enjoy the read and it was a very touching read which turned out to be a real life story of a couple who found their way back even through the hells they put themselves in.
I can’t say this is the best story I have ever read but it sure is the most touching one. When I picked this out on NetGallery it sure wasn’t what I thought I was getting. I have to say I did enjoy the read and it was a very touching read which turned out to be a real life story of a couple who found their way back even through the hells they put themselves in.
October 7, 2014
Love can overcome many things even when you doubt that it can. The Baumgarner's proved that with work it can help heal wounds that you think are unforgivable and unhealing. Scars remain to remind you of what you overcame (alcoholism and a near tragic accident) and the healing of a broken marriage. Work, love and trust are the themes of this quick read. Love can heal but not without scars.
October 15, 2015
Great story about forgiveness and reconciliation in marriage. I especially liked that the wife addressed how she dealt with being ostracized by members of her small town by putting her focus on her own family.
September 22, 2014
Wow. Matt and Amy really put for worse to the ultimate test. So glad that they were able to pull through and wish them a happy future.
I received this book from goodreads giveaways.
I received this book from goodreads giveaways.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews