Ah, love!
Such a topic!
For me, I
had a close, loving family growing up, but we hit some rough times when my
siblings and I were all teenagers in the 1960s, and the closeness often became
strained and rocky, especially with our Dad who felt pretty overwhelmed with
his outspoken, stubborn children. How I longed for the uncomplicated days when
we were smaller!
I’d always gotten along well with boys, and
often preferred their company. But due to a childhood trauma, as I grew older,
I was wary of any romantic relationships, and figured I’d never marry since the
whole dating process appeared pretty scary to me. Though I perceived interest
from various boys during high school, I kept a friendly distance, protecting
myself from the titanic hurts I watched my siblings suffer as they navigated
through their dating years.
Then, in
my junior year, when I was seventeen, I became re-acquainted with a boy who’d
once lived next door to us years back, and who I’d hardly seen in recent years.
He had soulful, dark blue eyes, and a marvelous, quirky sense of humor which
captivated me. He didn’t show any of the annoying romantic attention that
always made me wary, and I delighted in humorous bantering with him, and
sharing comic observations about everything. He was such fun to talk to.
Somehow,
he snuck through my giant defenses, and I found myself fascinated at the
thought of getting to know him as more than a friend. Though I resisted it once
I realized he was becoming romantic toward me, it grew more difficult to push
away the strong feelings I had for him. To his credit, he waited and maintained
our friendship while the attraction deepened. When I finally opened the door to
my heart, he rushed in and though we’ve had our rough times, now five sons and
40 plus years later, he still makes me laugh and is my other half.
We also
shared our spiritual journey toward new birth in Christ in our twenties, and
God has been a huge part of our ongoing relationship. I am well and truly
blessed with love, and children and we even have two grandchildren now. We’ve
never had a regular sort of life, but I’m comfortable being rather an oddball,
and so is my husband, who first taught me to embrace my eccentricities, and
enjoy them, just as he’s always enjoyed his and mine. God makes all kinds of quirky folks, and I’m
so happy to share my life with my husband John, though honestly sometimes he
drives me nuts!!! I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Check out Nancy’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…
A Work in Progress
“Love is kind…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4
$2.99
Prism Book Group
February 26, 2016
Buy on Amazon
About the Book:
There’s something cooking outside the kitchen….
They’ve worked together for two years, but that’s all they have in common. Like
oil and water, they just don’t mix. Julie thinks he’s a shallow flirt, Mark
thinks she’s a cold fish. Despite their mutual dislike, they’ve carved out a
civil work relationship at the restaurant. But after each of their inner worlds
suffer a jolt; the careful, polite kitchen routine becomes a stew of
conflicting emotions. Things are about to get interesting.
My review:
Nancy Shew Bolton, author of other Prism novella favorites of mine, Hidden Storms, and The Right Ingredients (both on sale at 99 cents each), adds another winner to the Love Is line, based on the apostle Paul's famous biblical passage in I Corinthians 13. "Love does not boast" means gifted, talents chefs Julie and Mark, who work at the same steakhouse restaurant, each with their special creative abilities to turn out new special dishes, should not let stress affect their work. When Mark visits a clinic for troubling symptoms, he meets new friends who help him put his life into perspective. But when he learns about Julie's secret outside-of-work life, his sense of duty wars with his curiosity. Used to getting the attention of girls, Julie is a puzzle Mark is determined to unlock. When their lives circle around and a mutual project brings them a fresh purpose, these cooks definitely sizzle.
Told from contrasting viewpoints, A Work in Progress follows two individuals with strong passions as they learn to meld and help each other grow.
