Shannon here: Candace West shares how she met her husband, plus a chance to win an e-book or signed print copy of her debut novel, Lane Steen. Comment on any post dated Feb 12 – 15 to enter the drawing. Deadline: Feb 23rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Candace:
How I Met My Spouse
I never expected to meet my future husband at a baptizing. And I certainly didn’t expect to meet him when I was the mature eleven-year-old looking down at his ten-year-old freckled face.
Yet I did. Right under a cypress tree along the lakeside as people set out folding chairs while other tuned their guitars. Nearby, my mama snapped open a case and pulled out her accordion.
Sparkles like silver glitter spread across the blue-green water to the distant shoreline. At our feet, water lapped gently at our toes, so alluring, so off-limits on this special day.
Funny, I can’t remember the first thing I said to Aaron, nor the first thing he said to me. I do remember his ruddy head popping around the prickly tree trunk, his raspy voice wisecracking something now fuzzy in my memory. I do remember what I thought, however.
What a pipsqueak!
Little did I dream we would be exchanging vows seventeen years later. Little did I know that when Aaron was fifteen, he prayed that he would marry me someday. When I look back over the journey that brought us from a lakeshore to an altar, I’m amazed at how God worked it out. Despite the detours, misunderstandings, and setbacks, the Lord guided us in His own time and way.
He knew the story of our romance long before we ever did.
About Candace: Candace West was born in the Mississippi delta to a young minister and his wife. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. When she was twelve years old, she wrote her first story, “Following Prairie River.” Since then, she has dreamed of writing Christian fiction. Over the years, she has published short stories as well as poems in various magazines. Since her teenage years, she has written many church plays. In 2018, she published her first novel Lane Steen. By weaving entertaining, page-turning stories, Candace hopes to share the Gospel and encourage her readers. She currently lives in her beloved Arkansas with her husband Aaron and their son Matthew along with two dogs and three cats.
About the book – Lane Steen:
How can she let go of the past when she is forced to confront it?
Kidnapped by her father at two years old, Lane Steen never imagines she is living a lie until a new schoolteacher, Edith Wallace, comes to Valley Creek. Yet Edith is more than a schoolteacher. She is part of the past–a past hidden in a mysterious dream that has haunted Lane since childhood.
At sixteen, Lane yearns to escape from her embittered father’s hatred that engulfs her home. The schoolhouse is Lane’s only escape. Carefully, Edith works to earn Lane’s friendship, but love and trust doesn’t come easy for a heart plagued by hate. But then the truth shatters Lane’s world.
The truth sends Lane on a turbulent search into the past. Leaving Valley Creek behind, Lane reunites with a family she cannot remember–a family that surpasses her wildest dreams. A family that belongs to her.
Despite her newfound joy, her hatred for her father only deepens. Although she desires to experience the faith of her family, Lane can’t cast away one thing she holds closely: the hatred that helped her survive.
Digging into her father’s unbelievable past, she confronts the story behind her father’s ruin. Will she always be bound by hate?
Yet something even stronger binds her. Something stronger than her family, something stronger than her will. She is bound to Valley Creek, the place of her stormy childhood, the place of the man she loves, but more importantly, the place of God’s calling. Ironically, she finds love, purpose, grace, and forgiveness in a place she’d sought all her life to escape.
Can’t wait for the drawing or worried you won’t win? Get your copy now:
Lane Steen – Amazon Lane Steen – BarnesandNoble Lane Steen – itunes
Question for Readers: Have you made any significant acquaintances at a baptism, church service or function? Tell us about it.
Come back Feb 19th for June Foster!
I met my husband in a Singles’ Sunday School class at church. We have been married 40 years and still attend the same church.
That’s a wonderful testimony, Susan! Isn’t it wonderful when the Lord sends the right one to us?
It was because of Candace dad mother and uncle I met the man of my dreams. We met in a revival at her uncles church. He took me out on Valentine’s Day and 39 years we have been happily married two kids four granddaughters and another on the way God knows what is best for us we just have to be patient. Little did I know that my pastor saying we’ve got a guy for you to meet would lead to true love
Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord knows how to work in our lives and give us what we need? A beautiful testimony! Thanks for dropping by, Mary!
Not exactly, but I did meet my husband inside a church building. I worked in the church office at the time. He was stopping in to say hello to my pastor, who he knew from a previous church. My pastor introduced us then and there. We were engaged four months later!
That sounds like a fun story, Katy. A chance meeting that leads to an unexpected romance!
I loved reading both of these posts! The stories are so sweet and heartwarming.
God has amazing ways of bringing people together, whether they be life partners or friends. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Chloe. It’s wonderful to think how the Lord places special people in our path. It can change the course of our lives!
I can’t say that I have, but the good news is I’m still alive, and where there is life there is hope!
That’s very true, Pam. God is good all the time!
I met my husband at church. We have been married 42 yrs.
I can think of no better place to meet someone than at church. Congratulations on 42 years, Brenda!
I met many friends at church. In facet, all of my best friends have been fellow church members. After my husband surrendered to the ministry, we moved away from “home” and everything we knew so he could attend seminary. We made some of the best life-long friends at Seminary.
It’s those kind of special friendships that God uses to enrich our lives. Thank you for sharing, Connie!
I met my husband on a blind date back in 1992. He was so sweet and kind and thoughtful oh yes ! he was a keeper for sure. we married in 1993. He still just as kind caring and loving as he was back then . He’s my very best friend and my soulmate and the love of my life. Right now a piece of my puzzle is missing because he’s working out of town. But god is working on that. POWER in PRAYER. Candace you have a beautiful life and I love your story.
Thank you, Amanda! Your husband sounds like a very special man, and I know he’s very blessed to have you in his life as well.
Hey Candace, aren’t you Sherri’s daughter? I think I know you from Sylvia’s group, but I could be wrong. Anyhoo how cool that you are on my friend Shannon’s blog. <3, I love your story. "What a pipsqueak" ROFL
Hi Cindy! No, I’m a different Candace. 🙂 But I’m happy you dropped by and enjoyed my story! It’s a fun one to tell!
Cindy used to be in ACFW AR, but she moved 🙁 Candace is in the group now, Cindy 🙂
I have a winner! Brenda Murphree won the drawing. I appreciate Candace for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.