Romantic Reads: For the Love of Joy

The Story Behind the story For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

When I started writing my novel The Art of Rivers which dealt with the very difficult topic of addiction, I had no idea I’d have the character of Davis Donnelly practically jump off the page with personality.

He was only planned to be a minor secondary character in that story who was a year sober and living in a sober living house. But his wit and his faith and hilarious sayings were such a blessing to me as I delved into such a sad topic to research and address. I believe this character was God’s gift to provide a bit of humor and relief both to me and the reader. He also showed up in the next novel Star Rising as a witty and encouraging friend to the heroine. At that point I knew Davis had to have his own story next.

In my mind, he’d had a tough background where he’d ended up in foster care. I knew that he’d been in the military in Afghanistan and had an IED blow up and kill one of his friends which contributed to his alcohol addiction. But what I didn’t realize right away was that there was a woman in his in past that he hadn’t quite let go of—his ex-wife Joy. Then as she began to fully form in my imagination, she was just as much a hoot as Davis. They were two sides of the same coin. She is a tough country girl who can hunt and fish and give Davis a run for his money, and her quirky colloquialism certainly rival his.

When I planned to write this story beginning in January 2020, I had no idea what a crazy year 2020 would be. Writing romantic comedy while the news is reporting doom and gloom was a challenge, but I also believe perhaps that was God’s plan too. I don’t know about you, but I sure needed something to laugh about!

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Author Bio:

Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner, FHL Readers Choice Winner, and a Christy Award finalist. 

She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. 

She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems.

Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

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For the Love of Joy (book blurb):

Is he married or isn’t he? 

Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. 

Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down.

Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret.

When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.

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Buy For the Love of Joy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
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Connect with Janet:
Website: https://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetwFerguson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janet-w-ferguson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15138027.Janet_W_Ferguson

Falling for Books: Gail's book

The Story Behind the Story Kiss Me Once Again by Gail Kittleson:

When Glenora Carson’s story began to build in my mind, I really didn’t anticipate writing a romance. This World War II story evolved into just that, however.

Never a big fan of the genre, I’ve always wanted stories to be more complicated. What’s there to figure out if you know from the outset that the guy gets the girl in the end? Well, maybe I had a thing or two to learn.

During World War II, everything was complicated. When you’re worried that a brother, sister, or parent may not return from battle, that’s complicated. The whole setting burgeons with complications.

Egotistical commanders may make haphazard decisions that lead to needless deaths. The enemy may flip his tactics and surprise a unit counting on him to act like he always does. This occurred in North Africa when Rommel shocked American commanders by reversing his course.

On the home front, wild things can happen, as well. In Glenora’s case, just when she thought she had most things managed, her father’s health began to decline. Worry about her brother Red’s ship being struck by a typhoon in Nakagusuku Wan, or Buckner Bay, near Okinawa Island, most likely had something to do with that.

Time has dragged on since then, with no word about Red. Is he still alive? If he ever comes home, will he be able to marry his high school sweetheart and take Glenora’s place at their father’s garage? That was his plan before December 7, 1941, but so much has happened in the interval.

For one thing, Glenora has been filling his spot there...will she have to continue wielding her wrench and pliers for the rest of her life? She’s already sacrificed her college scholarship and dreams of teaching home economics to keep the garage open.

Then, out of the blue, a convalescing soldier named Hank returns to town. With his bent for mechanics, his uncle volunteers him to help out at the garage. Thankful she can now devote her time to organizing the books, Glenora attempts to add more figures to the “paid” column.

Relieved of crawling under broken-down tractors and farm trucks to diagnose and fix problems, Glenora can now pay more attention to her other tasks such as housekeeping, gardening, and contributing to the war effort in every way possible. When her mother died a few years ago, all of these responsibilities fell to her—there simply aren’t enough hours in a day.

Hank brings relief with him, but also another complication. Back in 1941, when her beau went down with the USS Arizona, Glenora buried her dreams of romance and having a family of her own. Hank’s presence in the shop urges those dreams back to the surface, but he seems bent on his own dream of studying under the G.I. Bill as soon as the war comes to an end.

On top of that, he’s kind, honest, tenderhearted, and a good worker. If that weren’t enough, he also has a way with her dad.

This is where my plot led me...right into the complications of romance! 

I hope you like this old-fashioned World War II story.

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Author Bio:

Writing from northern Iowa, Gail delves into World War II, such an intriguing era. 

When she’s not researching, writing, or editing, she facilitates writing workshops and classes or hangs out with her husband and grandchildren. 

While she normally writes historical women’s fiction, her latest release (officially available for purchase on December 7, 2018) takes readers into the world of romance.

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Book Blurb for Kiss Me Once Again:

Glenora keeps her heart under lock and key.

No one ever accused Glenora Carson of being a breathtaking beauty. Her talk, gangly figure and angular face are more solid midwestern stock than Hollywood glamour. But Joe liked her. He even told her, “You’re the one for me.”

He gave her a locket with his picture inside, to remind her of him while he was away, serving his country on the USS Arizona.

After December 7, 1941, Glenora shelves her dreams of attending college on the scholarship she was offered by Iowa State University, locks her heart away and focuses on holding down the home front by helping out the family business – Carson’s Garage. 

The grease-stained overalls didn’t do much to compliment her female figure, but they cover her female heart well enough. That is, until Hank Anderson, a wounded warrior back from battle, walks into the garage and into Glenora’s life.

Is an old maid’s future Glenora’s fate, or will Cupid throw a wrench in her plans? 

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Buy Gail's book on Amazon

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Connect with Gail:
Website - http://www.gailkittleson.com/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor
Amazon Author Page - http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson
Twitter - www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Devotionals for the Heart: War, Veterans and Focusing on God

Keep Your Eyes On The Captain

A devotional by Don E. Atkinson

Some years ago, my Dad, a World War II veteran, told me of his voyage across the Pacific Ocean to the South Pacific theater of war. He and approximately 500 other soldiers were boarded on a liberty ship troopship (LST, as Dad so often referred to it) and set sail with a convoy of ships for the South Pacific theater.

LST’s were approximately 57 feet wide, 440 feet long and cruised at 11 knots (13 mph). Being designed as cargo ships, the LST’s were not heavily armed. Consequently, they relied primarily upon destroyers and cruisers in the convoy for protection from enemy aircraft, war ships, and submarines. Approximately 225 liberty ships were converted from cargo use to troop transport ships, able to transport 550 troops. President Roosevelt nicknamed these ships “ugly ducklings.”

Warning: Enemy Submarines and Crazy Kamikazes!

Because of their vulnerability, about 200 liberty ships were lost to submarine torpedoes, mines, explosions, Japanese kamikazes, and other aircraft during WWII. Dad noted there was a freight load of fear among his fellow soldiers. Due to their extreme fear, and in some cases also sea sickness, many soldiers could not eat much. When they noticed Dad eating well they asked him how he had such a strong appetite in such dangerous circumstances?

Look to the Captain

Dad told his inquirers that early in his wartime voyage he “looked up” to the bridge and noticed their captain did not appear worried. So, he asked himself, “Because the captain is calm in this situation, why should I worry?” Dad did not suffer from sea sickness and with a greatly reduced fear and anxiety level, ate well on his wartime voyage filled with several potential dangers.

How are you doing in your voyage of life? Are you fearing possible “emergencies” or “trials” or “losses” in your voyage that might be compared to deadly enemy submarines? Like Dad, look up to the captain of your boat, Jesus, the author and completer of your faith. Regarding the “voyage” ahead for each one of us, the author of Hebrews exhorted his readers:

“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete...So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up." ~Hebrews 12:2a, 3 (The Promise).

Yes, keep your eyes and mind on Jesus. Your boat’s captain is calm, strong, and all-knowing. He will: (1) “lead” you in the various storms of your voyage; (2) help you with “discouragement;” and (3) bring you safely into the harbor. He accomplished this for a WWII soldier years ago and He can do it for you today and in the future!

At the beginning of this New Year, make a resolution to more regularly “look up” and gaze on Jesus, the pioneer and completer of your faith—and the “captain” of your little boat.

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Author Bio: 

Don E. Atkinson was born and raised in Lincoln, NE. He attended Southern Nazarene University (formerly Bethany Nazarene College) and Colorado State University securing a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, he completed his Master of Science degree at Texas A&M University. 

He completed a significant amount of coursework towards a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS).

Don has been active in his local church teaching adult Bible studies and preaching as needed. Married in December of 1982, he has three grown children. Currently, Don and his wife reside near Lyons, NE.

Connect with Don via his website (www.daybydayintheword.org) and his blog (daybydayintheword.blogspot.com).

Celebrate Lit Tour: Blog Stop for Mimi Milan's NEW collection of stories

Note from Alexis: Welcome to my blog's stop on Mimi Milan's book tour for "The Angel Paws Collection"! It's a book containing three novellas that were each written by Mimi. I hope that you will enjoy this feature and my review of her stories.

Name of book: The Angel Paws Collection  
Author: Mimi Milan  
Genre: Multicultural, Contemporary Romance  
Release date: December 7, 2017  

Scent of an Angel

To fight… or fall in love? The only thing Tanner McKoy wants is to disappear into the backwoods of North Carolina, hopefully forgetting about his tour in Afghanistan. However, forgetting seems improbable. And disappearing is impossible when a determined grad student uses her new shelter rescues to track him down. After a miserable breakup with her fiance, Eva Perez returns to grad school to complete her thesis and become a physical therapist. Unfortunately, that means assisting on several case studies – one of which includes a surly army veteran who refuses help. How can she win a battle with someone still stuck in combat mode?  

My Review of Scent of an Angel: This was my favorite story in the collection! The author does an excellent job with character creation and knows how to set the scene. The characters were likeable, challenging, multi-layered and amazing! I loved the way the author told this story and brought the hero (Tanner) and heroine (Eva) together. It was a perfect portrayal of the power of love to heal hurting hearts and rejuvenate the body. Eva is just what the doctor ordered to help Tanner heal completely and Tanner is just the type of man that Eva needs. This story was more than romance, it was about relationships and what happens when you trust God (and a meddling Mom) to work everything out for your good.

Touched by an Angel

*Sweet Contemporary* An explosion during a tour in Afghanistan took Rhett Marshall’s sight, but not his mind. Too bad his family can’t seem to grasp that fact. He’ll do anything to regain control over his life again… even take drastic measures like marrying a complete stranger just so he can call his own shots. Luciana Lopez came to the United States on a student visa – which is about to expire. Unfortunately, finding an employer to petition for her so she can stay in the country has proven impossible. Could marriage to a desperate army veteran be the answer to her immigration problem? Enjoy the second novel in the groundbreaking, heartwarming series, Angel Paws Rescue, that donates twenty percent of proceeds to help army veterans and shelter animals.  

My Review of Touched by an Angel: I enjoyed this story because it was the perfect balance of being sweet on the elements of love yet strong in addressing the real-life issues of racism and discrimination. The author painted a vivid and believable picture of her main characters. The dialogue was crisp in some parts and engaging throughout the story. As a reader of color, I empathized with the characters of color when they faced race-related roadblocks and other ethnic issues that people of color know so well in the real-world. It was refreshing to see some of these issues addressed in Christian fiction because that is rare. So it was great that this author brought a variety of real-world experiences into her fictional story world. Her honesty in storytelling made this novella all the more engaging. 

When Angel Sing

Fast food, fast cars, and fast women… Eddie Rivera, a Chicano rock star hoping to break into the American music scene, has always lived life in the fast lane. The last thing he planned on was a country cutie with the belief that a guy “won’t buy the cow if he’s getting the milk for free.” Can a shot at her lifelong dreams and a rescue kitty help him change her mind? From boys to battlefields, Rachel Linden may have lost her hearing but she has never lost a fight. Of course, she’s never had her dream of singing dangled in front of her either. Is there a strategy she can employ to win a war of wishes… without losing her heart?

My Review of When Angels Sing: As a woman who as a little girl, dreamed of marrying a musician man who can sing, the love story between Eddie and Rachel made my heart smile. I liked the curveballs that the author threw into this story. You'll have to read it to find out what they were but all I can say is that this story will keep you turning the page, wanting to know what happens next! Rachel is spunky yet sweet. Eddie is wounded but wonderful. Even the secondary characters have a life of their own! My only drawback of this story is that the pacing of the plot seemed to move too fast. But overall, it's a great story!

*Celebrate Lit provided me (Alexis A. Goring) with a complimentary copy of "The Angel Paws Collection". My opinions in this book review are my own.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Mimi Milan is an award winning, bestselling author of both historical and contemporary romance. Currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University, she spends most of her time in the suburbs of Charlotte, crafting stories her family and imaginary friends inspire.

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Guest Post from Mimi Milan

I have to be honest. I don’t know why I wrote Scent of an Angel. 

The journey first began when I was asked to join a box set of sweet contemporary romances with seven other authors. Eager for a new experience (my first box set), I immediately agreed. However, I wasn’t sure what I would write. I had never written a sweet contemporary before – only historicals. While clean and even inspirational, my stories were all full of action and suspense, too. That didn’t exactly sound like “sweet contemporary” to me. So, I set out to find stories that would draw inspiration. 

At the same time, I was assigned to read The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. (Did I mention I’m now in grad school?) I couldn’t get the story out of my mind. I kept dwelling on all the pain and suffering soldiers must endure in order to keep the rest of us safe here at home. Their pain doesn’t end, either. Many return to the States with both physical disabilities and mental illnesses that most civilians couldn’t imagine living with. Right then, I knew I wanted to do something that helped the ones that made it back to us. Since the books in my first series, The Jericho Resistance, donates funds to fight against human trafficking, I liked the idea of copying the same model to help support our veterans. That’s when Tanner McKoy and Eva Perez came to life, driving the story and my mission onward.

Touched by an Angel and When Angels Sing were natural follow-ups for the Angel Paws Rescue anthology. Today, I’m pretty fortunate. I was asked to join yet another series, The Twelve Days of Christmas Mail Order Brides. So, I’m about to finish up edits on my contribution, The Dancing Lady. I’m at my kitchen table in my nice, warm two-bedroom home with a cup of coffee and a muffin from my favorite local bakery. The children are still asleep, making the house unusually quiet. Looking out the frosted window at a yard lightly dusted with white, I feel safe and at peace. All is right in my small corner of the world. I thank God for that. I thank Him for the veterans that make it so.

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Blog Stops

Avid Reader Book Reviews, December 7

Artistic Nobody, December 8 (Spotlight)

A Greater Yes, December 9

Carpe Diem, December 10

Texas Book-aholic, December 11

Blogging With Carol, December 12

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, December 13

The Power of Words, December 14 (Spotlight)

margaret kazmierczak, December 14

Christian Bookaholic, December 15

Reading is My Superpower, December 16 (Interview)

Zerina Blossom’s Books, December 17

Books, Books, and More Books, December 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 19

God is Love, December 20

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Giveaway details:

To celebrate her tour, Mimi is giving away a grand prize of The Angel Paws Collection Celebration Tour Giveaway!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5db

25 Days of Christmas Stories: Interview with Paula Mowery, author of Love Again

Welcome Paula Mowery to the blog today! She's a wife to a pastor, mom to a college student, editor and author! Today, she is gladly giving away a free e-copy of her Christmas story, Love Again! Here's the cover photo for Paula's book:

You can enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Now enjoy getting to know Paula, the author of Love Again! 

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*Words by Alexis are in bold, words from Paula are not in bold:

Alexis: Love Again is a Christian romance story. What message are you hoping to convey to your readers through this book? 

Paula: God is there when we experience loss in our lives, and He can even bring opportunity for a second chance at love. Things that we might see as setbacks might really be set-ups from God.

Ben is a soldier who’s returned from his duty overseas to raise his children after his wife dies in a car accident. What—or who—was your inspiration for this character? Describe Ben’s personality, strength and flaws. 

A few years ago my family was vacationing in Myrtle Beach. We love seafood, so we went to a local seafood restaurant. Our waiter was very kind and my hubby asked him a few questions about how he came to be working there. This was his story. His wife had been killed in a car accident and he gave up his career in the military to come home and raise his children. His story sparked the writer in me and I immediately started penning the story of Ben. The character, Ben, is determined and yet conflicted by his grief, which he has never really dealt with since losing the love of his life. He says he wants to move on and make a life for his children, but he deals with memories and guilt of whether he should know happiness or even love again.

Who is Jenna and how does she inspire Ben to “love again”? Give us insight into Jenna’s personality, hopes, dreams and life skills. 

Jenna is fulfilling the calling and desire of her heart by coming to a church in Myrtle Beach to be their new children’s minister. 

Her only knowledge of love has been a distracted and mostly self-centered Peter, who doesn’t understand her calling. Jenna moves to Myrtle Beach and moves in with her former roommate from Liberty University. Jenna meets Ben and his daughter at church and then again in the church’s daycare program. Jenna feels attracted to Ben but doesn’t know if she can compete with the memory of his wife.

Who was Jenna’s ex-boyfriend and why did she break up with him with no regrets? 

As mentioned above, Jenna’s ex-boyfriend is Peter. He is self-absorbed in that he can’t even put down his cell phone to have dinner with her. Then he is demanding in that he assumes that she will not work and just be his wife. He degrades her calling from God. She finally sees Peter doesn’t love her but the person he wants her to be for him and his business.

What is it about Ben and Jenna that instantly draws them to each other? 

The first draw is Ben’s daughter. Jenna knows just how to calm Avery’s nerves when starting the children’s weekday program. Ben is intrigued by how Jenna handles herself and also relieved with the help she gives with Avery.

What was the most challenging part of writing this story? 

The most challenging part was to make sure I was true to how Ben would feel losing his wife, someone he truly loved. I wanted to show the tug-o-war going on in his heart. But I also wanted to make sure it was the male perspective. 

What did you love the most about creating Love Again? 

Personally, I like a story of a second chance at love. And I have no idea what happened to the real Ben - the waiter. I suppose I hoped he got his happy ending with love again too.

What do you want your readers to cherish most about Love Again? 

I hope they’ll cherish the fact that God wants to lead us in our lives. Just as Jeremiah 29:11 says, He doesn’t want to harm us. He wants to give us a future and a hope.

What do you love the most about penning Christmas stories? Why? 

I will have to admit that I haven’t written many holiday type stories. I can speak for this one only. Love Again didn’t have an ending. When my publisher created this Christmas series, I remembered Love Again and knew that ending at Christmas time would round out the story perfectly.

Will you write more Christmas stories in the next years? If so, can you give us a glimpse into what it’s about and when your book(s) will be available for purchase? 

I don’t have a Christmas stories in the works right now, but I’m certainly open to being included in a series of this sort again.

I do have a book coming out at the end of April that is in another series from Prism Book Group. The first of this series which is called Love Is will release around Valentines Day. These books are based on The Love Chapter, First Corinthians thirteen from the Bible. My book is based on the part of the passage that states that love does not dishonor. The name of that book is The Crux of Honor.

Thanks for the interview, Paula! Would you like to share any closing thoughts? 

Thanks so much for letting me share about this story. I hope readers will enjoy reading Ben and Jenna’s story as much as I enjoyed creating it.

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Author bio:

Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. 

Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015.

Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.

As an acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group, Paula particularly looks for romance stories with Christian values at its core. She’s especially attracted to those manuscripts that leave the reader mulling over the story long after turning the last page.

Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and is on the author interview team. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference faculty.

Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.

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Book blurb for Love Again: Ben Jacobsen never thought he would find himself leaving his role as a soldier and living his life without his beloved wife. But, his two young children need a present parent. 

Jenna Campbell moves to Myrtle Beach to take a Children’s Minister position, much to the disbelief of her boyfriend, Peter Callahan.

Through helping Ben’s daughter adjust to the church’s daycare, Jenna is taken by Ben Jacobsen. The feeling is mutual except Ben worries he is betraying his deceased wife.

Can Ben find a way to love again? Will Jenna remain in Myrtle Beach and give love a chance?

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Buy Paula's book:

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1QFa0cH

Barnes and Noble - http://bit.ly/1YdmWXV

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Connect with Paula:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187

Website -  www.paulamowery.blogspot.com 

Enjoy her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com

True Love Stories: I Was Blind But Now I See

"Love at First Sight" apparently not only happens in real-life, it lasts for a lifetime! Such is the story of Ginger Marcinkowski who knew she loved her now husband from the moment their eyes locked. 

God works in mysterious ways-- a saying that rings true for most things in life. But who would have thought that God would bring two people--an American soldier and a rebellious teenager hitchhiking across Europe with her best friend--together at the famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich, GERMANY?

And who knew that after only two days of dating, a marriage proposal would happen? God works in mysterious ways indeed. 

Read on to find out how in Ginger's true love story...

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I Was Blind But Now I See

Ginger Marcinkowski's true love story

An old man kneeled at the foot of a featherbed crowded with children and quietly prayed. He knew their lives were filled with the pain of an alcoholic and abusive father and a rebellious mother. With his voice just above a whisper he asked God to direct the lives of those children and someday provide them with spouses who had hearts for the Lord. I was one of those children and the old man was my grandfather. 

At the age of 17, my best friend and I, both unsaved and rebellious, boarded a Freddie Laker airplane and departed for Scotland where we spent several months hitchhiking across Europe. More than one time, we found ourselves in dangerous situations, but God’s hand was upon us. Late on August 4, 1971, we sat in a Rome train station trying desperately to panhandle enough money to get to Munich, Germany, where money from home awaited. I tried to sell my graduation watch to passing tourists, but no one spoke English. We sat in the cold terminal, lonely and discouraged. Moments later, a woman who’d been watching our dilemma finally spoke. “Girls,” she said in perfect English. “What do you need?” Excitedly, we explained our situation. Without hesitation, she gave us the needed money and promised to pray for us.

Our next day arrival into Munich gave us reason to celebrate. It was my eighteenth birthday. We cleaned up at our youth hostel and departed for a night on the town at the famous Hofbrahaus. As we cautiously stepped inside the doors of the local meeting place, hoots and hollers of joyous patrons filled the air. The sweet smell of bratwurst and hops permeated every corner of the building.

“Hey!” My head swung around in time to catch the wide smile of a uniformed soldier. “American girls!” Another soldier was standing on the table waving his arms. “Over here.” Too young and foolish to refuse, we made our way to the long wooden table where eleven soldiers stood politely, each eager to find a place beside two girls from their homeland. I squeezed in between two of the young men, when one of them exclaimed that the seat next to me belonged to another soldier who had gone to the rest room. We talked and laughed for a few minutes, sharing news of where we were from and what we were doing in Germany.

Signaling my friend that it was time for a powder room break, we excused ourselves and rushed toward the back of the building. As we rounded the corner, I almost bumped into the backside of a soldier bent over a cigarette machine. I gasped and then giggled, poking my friend in the side. “That’s the man I’m going to marry,” I said. The soldier stood and turned around. Our eyes locked and in that one moment, I knew I loved him. Two days later, under the clearest star-studded sky I’d ever seen, he asked me to marry him. 

It’s been forty-three years now. I reflect continually on how the prayers of my grandfather and the grace of God worked to bring us together. Without the kindness of a stranger in that Rome train station, I might never have met the man I so love. Had it not been my birthday, I might have never gone to that restaurant. Had it been any other day, my husband’s Special Forces team would not have been in Munich.

I didn’t come to know the Lord until my late twenties. My husband’s salvation came years later. For thirty-nine years, we never fully recognized how God’s hand had brought us together. Even as Christians, we failed each other so many times in ways that would tear most marriages apart. Forgiveness was difficult and trust elusive. Through it all, God gave us a reason to hang on. Finally, as we fully submitted ourselves to God, we came to recognize His plan for our marriage.

Looking at my precious husband today, I see the true beauty of God’s hand on our lives. Drifting into retirement, our hearts are again as joyous as when we were newlyweds. God brought us full circle so that we’d recognize the promise we made to each other even before knowing Him as our Savior. He made us realize that His hand was on that special moment we first met. It was He who directed every scene to draw us fully into the blessings He has given us today.

Now, when night arrives, my husband and I sneak into our visiting grandson’s bedroom and kneel at the foot of his bed to pray for the Christian woman he will marry some day. As we rise, he kisses me gently as a reminder that someone prayed for us.

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Author Bio: Ginger Marcinkowski is the author of newly released, The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance, a story of one man’s legacy of faith, told through buttons, and widely acclaimed Run, River Currents. She currently writes a monthly column for Book Fun Magazine which boasts over 400,000 subscribers.

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Buy Ginger's books: 

Click here to purchase Run, River Currents 

Click here to purchase The Button Legacy: Emily's Inheritance 

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